EDMONTON, Alberta — Cam Ward doesn't talk to the goalposts, a la Patrick Roy.

Ward doesn't believe he was reincarnated from a soldier killed during the Spanish Inquisition, which was Gilles Gratton's unique take on life.

Ward doesn't throw up before every game, as Glenn Hall did.

What's this? A goalie who comes across as .... normal.

"I am pretty laid back," said Ward, the rookie star of the Carolina Hurricanes. "I don't try to get caught up in the superstition game. I find that any time I overthink or overanalyze things, that's when you start getting tense. I just try to keep an open mind and go play the game."

Whatever he's doing, it's working.

Only two rookie goalies in the last 35 years have led their teams to the Stanley Cup — Ken Dryden in 1971 and Roy in '86, both with the Montreal Canadiens. Ward is two wins away from joining that exclusive club.

The Hurricanes are up 2-0 on the Edmonton Oilers heading to Game 3 Saturday night, and a big chunk of credit goes to this unflappable kid wearing the pads, catching mitt and mask.

Just 22 and a backup most of the season, Ward bailed out Carolina in its opening-round series against Montreal when Martin Gerber struggled. Sensing that he might have the next Dryden or Roy on his hands, Carolina coach Peter Laviolette stuck with the hot hand.

Ward outplayed New Jersey's Martin Brodeur — a childhood hero — during the second round, and led the Hurricanes to a thrilling seven-game win over Buffalo for the Eastern Conference championship. He hasn't let up against Edmonton, bailing out the Hurricanes with several huge saves after they fell behind 3-0 in the opener, then becoming the first rookie since Roy — there's that name again — to post a finals shutout with a 5-0 win in Game 2.

Now, Ward is back in his hometown, getting ready to play in the arena where he used to cheer on the Oilers from Section 102.

"I'm extremely excited," Ward said, though it sure was hard to tell from the dispassionate tone of his voice. "You're up in the stands watching the Oilers, thinking what it would be like someday to have the opportunity to play on the ice, let alone the Stanley Cup finals. It put a smile on my face."

The Oilers are hoping that being in Edmonton — surrounded by family, friends and perhaps some distractions — will cause Ward to stumble just a bit on his way to hockey history.

"That's going to be tough for him," Edmonton's Ethan Moreau said. "He's a young guy who's back at home. I think we can get to him."