written By MIKE ZEISBERGER -- Toronto Sun
NASCAR, college hoops and the moonshine industry temporarily have been put on the backburner on Tobacco Road.
Ice hockey's the trendy thing in Carolina now, a fact the Maple Leafs are about to discover. As coach Paul Maurice's team prepares to host the Leafs in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final at the Raleigh Sports and Entertainment Arena tomorrow night, Hurricane fever has gripped the Raleigh-Durham area like never before.
After eliminating the Montreal Canadiens with an impressive 8-2 drubbing at the Molson Centre Monday night, the Hurricanes arrived in rainy Carolina in the wee hours yesterday morning to find about 1,000 fans at the airport to welcome home their hockey heroes. Meanwhile, dozens of people braved the drizzly elements in the middle of the night to wait for the ticket office to open. According to team spokesman Jerry Higgins, there were significant lineups at the wickets all day.
The Leafs were 2-2 against the Hurricanes during the regular season, posting single victories at home and on the road. Both teams scored 12 goals in the four-game series.
One of the scariest moments of the Leafs' regular season came late in the first period of a 4-3 loss to the Hurricanes in Raleigh on Dec. 26.
As Mats Sundin was lurking in front of the Carolina net, the stick of Hurricanes defenceman Marek Malik clipped him within a hair of his right eyeball. As blood spewed onto the ice, observers were reminded of the eye injury that almost ended the career of Bryan Berard. Fortunately after a major stitch-up job, Sundin, wearing a visor, returned in the second period and went on to score a pair of goals.
There are a number of interesting connections between the two teams.
Former Leaf Kevyn Adams, who still speaks with close friend Alyn McCauley on a weekly basis, scored a highlight reel goal for the Hurricanes Monday night in Montreal.
"I loved (Toronto)," Adams said yesterday. "The fans were great to me there. The (Leafs) gave me my big break in the NHL and I'll never forget that. Toronto has such a talented team. They can beat you so many different ways."
Meanwhile, the Carolina organization gave Leafs forward Gary Roberts the opportunity to revive his career after sitting out the 1996-97 season with a neck injury. Roberts played for the Hurricanes from 1997-99 and is regarded as one of the most popular players in Carolina history.
Goalie Tom Barrasso, out with a fractured left wrist, played most of this season with Carolina before being traded to Toronto in March.