Stillman's goal puts 'Canes ahead; Goal 8:46 into overtime gives Carolina 3-2 edge.(Sports)

Byline: AARON BEARD Associated Press

Hurricanes 4

Sabres 3

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Carolina Hurricanes looked little like the team that set a franchise record for wins and spent most of the season near the top of the NHL standings.

They did just enough to pull within a victory of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Cory Stillman corralled a loose puck and slid it between Ryan Miller's pads for a power-play goal 8:46 into overtime, giving the Hurricanes a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday night.

Stillman also had an assist for the Hurricanes, who took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series. Carolina, which won 4-0 on the road in Game 4 to tie the series, can advance to its second Cup Finals in four years by winning Tuesday at Buffalo.

"We didn't want to go down there being down 3-2," Stillman said. "We're excited. We're going back and we want to finish it there in Buffalo."

The Hurricanes became the first team to win consecutive games in the series that will provide the opponent for the Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers. And they did it despite playing what captain Rod Brind'Amour said "felt like one of our worst games of the series."

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GERRY BROOME/ASSOCIATED PRESS IT'S A MOSH PIT OF CHEER for Carolina, and its object, Cory Stillman, third from right, who scored the game winner against Buffalo.