RALEIGH, N.C. — Jim Rutherford found a parking lot party he just couldn't pass up.

The former NHL goalie-turned-general manager has seen many ups and downs with the Carolina Hurricanes franchise that moved in a hurry from Hartford, Conn., and tried to set up shop in multiple areas in the heart of ACC basketball country.

When the Hurricanes earned their second trip to the Stanley Cup finals with a stirring comeback victory over Buffalo in Game 7 on Thursday night, Rutherford couldn't just drive home without a bit of celebrating.

If the Hurricanes defeat the Edmonton Oilers in the best-of-seven series that starts Monday night, who knows where or when the partying will end.

"Tailgating is a big thing here, and I don't usually tailgate," said Rutherford, who became GM of the Hartford Whalers in 1994. "The other night after Game 7, my wife and I stopped to tailgate on the way out with my assistant, Kelly, and I sat in the chair there and I looked around and remember when I came here, it was just a big pile of dirt there.

"Wasn't any arena there, wasn't anything. And I did start to reflect a little on what really went on."

What went on was a moving process that lasted just three months and brought the NHL to Tobacco Road.

The relocation was far from smooth. Team owner Peter Karmanos bought the franchise in June 1994 and left it where it was for the following three seasons. Hartford continued to miss the playoffs, and after the 1997 season the Whalers quickly blew into town as the Carolina Hurricanes.

Team operations were set up in Raleigh, but there was no place there to play. So the Hurricanes called one place home, but were forced to play their games over an hour away in Greensboro.

"I remember when we first came here, you go to different places, you meet different people, and we would actually have to explain to people why we were here," Rutherford said. "You would have to take the time and tell why are you here and you're playing your games in Greensboro.

"So it was a long journey and a very difficult one."

As was the return trip to the Stanley Cup finals.

Four years ago, the Hurricanes were the upstarts, the role currently played by the Oilers, and they knew they were overmatched by the high-powered Detroit Red Wings.