RALEIGH, N.C., June 10 (UPI) -- The Carolina Hurricanes look to even the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at two games apiece Monday night when they host the Detroit Red Wings at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Raleigh.
Veteran center Igor Larionov became the oldest player ever to score in a Finals game Saturday, netting two goals, including the game-winner with 5:13 remaining in triple overtime, giving the Red Wings a 3-2 victory and a two games to one lead in the series.
At 41 years old, Larionov passed Ray Bourque as the oldest player to tally in the Finals. Bourque, a future Hall of Fame defenseman, was 40 when he scored with Colorado in the 2001 Finals.
Right wing Brett Hull tied the game with 74 seconds left in the third period, deflecting a shot by defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom past 'Canes goaltender Arturs Irbe for his 99th career postseason tally.
The goal marked the third time this postseason that Carolina has surrendered a one-goal lead with less than two minutes to go.
Toronto came back from 1-0 deficits in Games Two and Six of the Eastern Conference finals, scoring with eight and 22 seconds left, respectively, to force overtimes. However, the Hurricanes rebounded by scoring in the extra session to win each game.
On Saturday night, Irbe stopped 50 shots for the Hurricanes, who are making their first-ever appearance in the Finals. His Detroit counterpart, Dominik Hasek, made 41 saves in the victory.
The Red Wings, who are making their 22nd Finals appearance, are two victories away from capturing their 10th Stanley Cup championship.
Should Detroit win the series, it would give Scotty Bowman a record ninth Stanley Cup championship as a coach. Bowman, who led the Red Wings to consecutive titles in 1997 and '98, coached the Montreal Canadiens to five
championships in the 1970s, including four straight from 1976-79. Bowman also led the Pittsburgh Penguins to their second straight championship in 1992 after Bob Johnson, who led the Penguins to the title in '91, passed away.
Bowman was in Pittsburgh's front office in '91. His eight Stanley Cup championships as a coach are tied with the legendary Toe Blake, who was behind the bench when Montreal captured eight titles from 1956-68, including five straight from 1956-60.
The series shifts back to Detroit on Thursday for Game Five.
