Wallin scores ... in regulation

Chip noted in his Monday Debate topic that a pair of ex-Hurricanes, Niclas Wallin and Ian White, scored for the Sharks on Sunday.

While that's Wallin's fourth career playoff goal, it's his first scored in regulation. The first three, all for the Hurricanes, were overtime game-winners. Ron Francis was the first to call him "The Secret Weapon," after his second, in 2002.

That ties him with current Hurricanes forward Cory Stillman and former Hurricanes forward Martin Gelinas, among others, for eighth all-time and makes him the record-holder among defensemen.

Hard to believe only eight players have scored more OT playoff goals than Wallin. Only two other defensemen in NHL history have scored two (Scott Niedermayer and Eric Desjardins). Anyway, these were his three previous playoff goals:

1. Game 4, 2002 conference semifinals, at Montreal: Jeff O'Neill beats Bill Lindsay on an offensive-zone faceoff, Wallin scores from the right point to complete the Miracle at Molson, 3:14 into OT.

2. Game 2, 2002 conference finals, vs. Toronto: Wallin took a shot, got the puck back from Rod Brind'Amour and teed it up again, firing a one-timer through a forest of legs and past Curtis Joseph, 13:42 into OT. "Our secret weapon got one for us again, " Francis said.

3. Game 2, 2006 conference semifinals, vs. New Jersey: Wallin found himself cutting in with the puck on Martin Brodeur from the right circle. Devils defenseman Paul Martin knocked the puck away, but it deflected off Wallin's right skate and through Brodeur's legs, 3:09 into OT.