Who really scored the game winning and cup clinching goal in game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final? Canes folklore will tell you it was current captain Justin Williams ( we have all seen the clip of him putting it into the empty net). However, the actual cup-clinching goal was scored Defenseman Frantisek Kaberle ! In the second period Kaberle put the puck past Jussi Markkanen to take the 2-0 lead that was never relinquished. That goal makes Kaberle the official cup clinching goal scorer.Kaberle joined the NHL later than most rookies at the age of 25 when he was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1999 NHL draft 76th overall. Traded to the now defunct Atlanta Thrashers during the 1999-2000 Kaberle coincidentally enough scored his first NHL goal against the Carolina Hurricanes beating Arturs Irbe. Kaberle would remain with the Thrashers until after the season canceling lockout of 2004-2005. Prior to the 2006 NHL Season Kaberle brought his game to blue-line in Raleigh.Kaberle dove right in, in Raleigh with his 44 points (6 goals,38 assists) in 77 games leading all Defenseman in scoring during the 2006 run. Kaberle added another 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) in 25 games throughout the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs. A shoulder injury derailed his encore season in Raleigh limiting him to 27 games. Kaberle returned in 2007-2008 yet the injury hampered in production limiting him to only 22 assists and zero goals. After appearing in only 30 games in 2008-2009 Kaberle was bought out and returned to the Czech Republic to finish his career. Over 4 seasons in Raleigh Kaberle appeared in 204 games scoring nine goals and 73 assists for a total of 82 points.Kaberle retired from Hockey in 2012 and now makes his home in Reddington Beach Florida. Yet no matter where he receives his mail you cant really talk about the 2006 cup Final without mentioning Frantisek Kaberle and his TRUE cup clinching goal. Thanks for reading and Redvolution.The Caniac Collector