A trip down memory lane with former Hurricanes radio PxP announcer, Chuck Kaiton

Just a little bit over five hours away from opening face-off between the Hurricanes and the New Jersey Devils.

Game one Eastern Conference semi-final series. And joining me right now on the Adam Gold Show to kind of reminisce and talk about this rivalry as a playoff entity is the one and only, the Hall of Fame voice of the Hurricanes, Emeritus, Mr. Chuck Caton. How are you, sir? I made you an Emeritus. I hope you're okay with that. Oh, yeah, I am but you never know.

I will resurface somewhere like a whale. Maybe. Oh Mike. Oh, wow.

That would that would be fun. All right, so for the last several years. It's been all about the Hurricanes and the Bruins and I get it recency bias three out of the last four years, but only one of those series. The one last year was competitive.

The other two were what were runaways. Hurricanes Devils, even in the the two that were really one-sided series 01 and 06 for various reasons. There was something either spicy or wild about those series.

Well, yes, right. I mean you go back to the old one series. You've got to remember that the hurricane squeaked in and made the playoffs. I think with 88 points and the Devils were the best team in the NHL at that time. They went out to win the cup. So you knew this was going to be a special series. I think the first time around because the Hurricanes much as they've displayed over the last four or five seasons under Rod Brind'Amour had this never say die again.

type of attitude at them. You might recall that New Jersey might have won that series four games to two, but the Devils were up three games to none and then the Hurricanes made it interesting with a couple of wins. So that's all it all started back in 01. Yeah, and even in that series that was the series that Scott Stevens checked Ron Francis right by the boards.

I was sitting right there in the seats and he mean that was the end of front runs season. He came back next year was obviously great the following season. But so that series had that and it also I think you can trace it back to the start of the love affair between the team and the fans because the way the fans celebrated them in game six even as they were, you know, they were easy losers in that game.

Yeah, that that's true. I mean when you look back at it that was probably a turning point for the entire franchise's existence here since the move because really after two dreadful dreadfully painful years in Greensboro, even though they did make the playoffs in that second year and played as you mentioned the Boston Bruins in 99 it really didn't catch on until that series. I think you're right and then it spilled over into all to when the Hurricanes of course beat the Devils four games to two, you know, there were some great games in there because the Hurricanes I think that year Adam you might remember that the Hurricanes won the first game fairly easily and then they won an overtime game as I recall in game two on a Bates Pataglia goal.

The Devils won their two home games. So goes down to game five and the late Joseph was a check was the hero in that one in overtime. Yeah, I've talked to you about I've talked to you about that that game and the save the Kevin weeks made in overtime on John Madden. And I know that cam cam Ward save on Fernando Pisani in the Stanley Cup Finals in game 7 where he flashed the pad out to keep Carolina in a 2-1 lead. I know how great that save was but I still think the week save was the best it might be the best save I've ever seen let alone the best save in Hurricanes history.

Oh, I can't disagree with you because we all remember how athletic Kevin weeks was as a goaltender here was a big guy that moved around extremely. Well, he was very agile acrobatic and I could still see him spinning around and making that save and I can still see John Madden looking up into the heavens at Middlelands Arena there wondering what just happened and you're right that was that was the key. And then of course, you know, what about the the clincher game six was crazy. I mean one nothing when you holding on, you know, I mean Ronnie Francis, I think scored in the second period the only goal of the game right and then it was nuts.

It was it was absolutely crazy that game. Yeah, the the save that weeks made in overtime on maddening actually with there were two saves that he made in that sequence and then to pitch the one nothing shutout in game six and then we get up like there. I could not find audio of it but the game to win by Carolina over New Jersey in the oh six second round where Scott. I think it was Scott Gomez deflects a shot in it. It floats past Cam Ward for I think it was a 2-1 lead or whatever one goal lead with 21 seconds left and then they win the face off so easily and but they bring it all the way back down into their own end Justin Williams and Corey Stillman go get it throw it in front to Eric stall and with three seconds left they somehow tie it. Yeah, they somehow tie it.

You're right. It was a 2-1 game that became 2-2 and then I think I heard you the other day talking. I think with Victoria about Nicholas Valle's goal in overtime in that game and you know, there's a lot of a lot of interesting twists and turns here because I know we haven't gotten to it yet because all nine will be the last series that they played prior to this one and we'll get to it probably in a minute or so, but I just want to tip my hat to the coaching staff because you'll recall Valle's goal was assisted by coach rod Brenda Moore in overtime in that game and it completely, you know, basically gave the Hurricanes the the two games to none lead and they went on to to win that series four games to one in the second round on the way to the Stanley Cup even though we all know what could have happened in the first round against Montreal, but did when they lost their when they lost their two first home games, but yeah, these Devils games the ones coming up. I think are going to be the best ever, you know, Marty Brodure or or rod Brenda Moore or Ronnie Francis or cam Ward, you know with all due respect to all of them. I think this series coming up is going to be a big is going to top it all.

We have to want to play fast is no question about it. But I do want to ask you about the shock at the rock because as good as it was like the Devils were great and the Hurricanes were kind of a surprise. They had the late surge at the coaching change Paul Maurice came in. They brought Eric Cole back from Edmonton middle of the season and they were down three to they win by I think via shutout here in game six and then they go up there and they're down there down a goal with under two minutes left and the rest is just crazy. Well there again, I can remember that very vividly because thanks to pollen and April in the Meadowlands area, even though we were at a little bit south of there in Newark at the Prudential Center. I had throat trouble in that game and because of my allergies.

I was sounding like this during the game. And then when when you only Pitkin and made that pass from the left point across the UC Okanagan tie it. I think a minute 20 left the one you're talking about everybody figured the game, you know, rightfully so was going to go into overtime and I'll never forget visiting with John McClain later as he became Kirk Miller's assistant here a few years later talking about it because McClain was the coach of the Devils at that time and he basically shook his head but the best was yet to come as you alluded to when Eric Stahl came up the ice up the right side. And when I think 32 seconds left he beats Brodeur on the long side. So what do you mean we're going to go into overtime?

It didn't happen, right? But if you'll recall Adam, the Devils had one last chance to score again right at the doorstep. And I can't remember whether it was Brian Janta or Scott Gomez one of those two guys had a great chance in front of the net with like two or three seconds to go. So the Devils almost tied it and set it into overtime.

That would have been poetic justice for the way that series ultimately was played Chuck real real quick before I let you go into thank you so much. What tips this series one way or the other you think? Well, good question. I think both first of all, obviously you can say the cliche of special teams, but I really don't I don't know if it's going to be that much of a special teams about it's going to be who can who's for checking system will last the longest because as you just mentioned these two teams play similarly, they both have speed they both like to get on you deep in the zone. So I think the team that handles that better is going to have an edge and then obviously the goaltending situation which right now you could throw your hands up and say it's questionable for both teams because as well as Frederick Anderson played against the Islanders in that sixth game is Rob Brind'Amour going to have a short leash on Anderson and I'm anticipating he's going to play tonight. Maybe you know better than I do with after practice unless you know, I asked him twice. He wouldn't tell me he wouldn't tell me I asked him twice, but I think it's going to be Freddie tonight, but I think we'll see both goaltenders in the series and I think it's a it's a Kiera Schmid for New Jersey until further notice. He has been too good. Yeah. Yeah.

That's what I was going to say. That's why I'm saying it's up in the air for both teams because Schmidt played very well, of course two shutouts against the Rangers is going to tell you a lot and he seems cool common collected and he's big. So if he continues to play that way the Devils will be satisfied with their goaltending and not go back to Vana check, but so I think it's going to come down to that too.

But I think the for checking who handles the for checking better because both teams are similar how each team handles the other speed game. I think are going to be the two keys to this series Chuck Keaton. You are a gem. I appreciate your time. My friend. I will talk to you soon. Thank you very much Adam. Always a pleasure. Take care. You got a Chuck Keaton Hall of Fame voice of the Carolina Hurricanes.