The Hurricanes' victory ended Glen Wesley's 18-year drought without winning the Cup. He had played close to 1,500 regular season and playoff games before winning the Cup, the longest such drought in the NHL. Wesley was the last player remaining from the franchise's days as the Hartford Whalers.
Glen Wesley's team secured a victory that ended his 18-year wait for a Cup win, bringing closure to his long-standing goal. Having played close to 1,500 regular season and playoff games before achieving this milestone, he set an NHL record for the longest drought without winning the championship. As the last player remaining from the Hartford Whalers' era, Wesley's achievement was a significant moment in franchise history.