 |
| The Stanley Cup |
So
here we are in November, looking at what I believe is going to be a fully
locked-out season. If that’s the case, we will have seen a seven-season stint
of NHL hockey, “between the lockouts.” This time period, between 2005 and 2012,
was the time I will always remember for my love of hockey. The post 2004-05
lockout era was the NHL I was first introduced to; though I watched a few
pivotal playoff games in 2002, 03, and 04, I became a hockey fan in full force
once it returned in the fall of 2005. Hockey Night in Canada has been, without
a doubt, my favourite TV program since.
An
idea I’ve always tossed around was a list of my Top 10 Favourite Playoff
Series. So now that something drastic has happened in the NHL’s timeline, it’s
only fitting that I can now make that list. So here are my Top 10 Favourite
Playoff Series, “between the lockouts.”
Some series that came close, but
didn’t make the Top 10…
Washington
– Pittsburgh, second round, 2009- The Crosby and Ovechkin match-up led to a lot of
hype, with the Pens hanging on to win in seven games. Unfortunately, they
haven’t met in the playoffs since.
Montreal
– Philadelphia, second round, 2008- The Canadiens were down 2-0 in game one and ended
up winning in overtime with a goal by Tom Kostopoulos, but couldn’t match the strength
of the Broad Street Bullies. The Flyers won in five games.
Pittsburgh
– Ottawa, first round, 2010- A series I remember because of Ottawa’s hard fight.
An underdog win in game one, 5-4, the endless scuffles after plays, Andy
Sutton’s monstrous hit on Jordan Leopold in game two, and an epic game five,
which Matt Carkner ended in triple-overtime to give Ottawa the win, and stay
alive in the playoffs. Up 3-1 in game six, the Sens blew it and Pittsburgh won
the series in overtime.
MY TOP 10
 |
| Jiri Hudler lying on the ice after being smoked by Mike Brown, game one of the series |
10 – (2) Detroit vs. (8) Anaheim,
second round, 2009
I felt the Wings should’ve had Anaheim down and
out without much trouble, but the Ducks played hard, and dirty at times,
keeping Detroit on edge every single game. With Lidstrom’s winning goal in game
one, the Wings could have taken solid hold of the series in game two, and
almost did, only to see Anaheim win in triple-overtime…Brad Watson’s call on a
game three goal still rattles fans when they think of the series…(it almost
cost Detroit their playoff run) Needless to say, the Red Wings pulled it
together to win the series in an exciting game seven. Dan Cleary scored the
game-winner with only 3:00 left in regulation, jamming it past Ducks goaltender
Jonas Hiller…Mike Brown’s hit on Jiri Hudler in game one is still one of the
biggest hits I’ve seen on live television.
9 – (2) New Jersey vs. (4)
Ottawa, second round, 2007
The
Senators were the Canadian team I cheered on in the ’07 playoffs, and this
series was one of the first I intensely followed every game of. I was hooked
after a riveting game one, where Ottawa jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first,
somehow holding on to win 5-4. Game two featured a comeback by Ottawa; who down
in the third, pushed the game to overtime with a last minute goal by Heatley.
I’ll never forget Bob Cole’s call in double-overtime, as New Jersey won on a
breakaway. “Langenbrunner…SCOOOORES!!! Game over, series tied!”
 |
| Langenbrunner's double-overtime goal on Ray Emery, April 28, 2007 |
Tom Preissing scored
on a sharp angle shot in game three, giving Ottawa a late 1-0 lead and the game
winner…Game five was the final NHL game in the Continental Airlines Arena, as
Ottawa advanced, beating the Devils 3-2. By now I recognized nearly every
player’s name on the Senator’s roster, and Ray Emery was becoming one of my
favourite goaltenders.
8 – (4) Pittsburgh vs. (8) Montreal, second round,
2010
 |
| Halak became a hero overnight for the Canadiens |
After leaving the
Washington Capitals speechless, the 8th seed Habs had their next
challenge, the defending Stanley Cup champs. In a hard fought seven games,
Montreal captivated fans across the continent, as they defeated Pittsburgh,
highlighted by a come-from-behind win in game four, and jumping to a 4-0 lead
in game seven, sealing Pittsburgh’s fate. Like the Devils’ end in 2007, it was
the Pens’ last game in “the Igloo,” Mellon Arena. Jaroslav Halak became a hero
for Montreal, carrying the team on his back during the playoffs. Following the
win over Pittsburgh, celebration began in the jam-packed streets of Montreal, a
glorious sight.
7 – (1) Buffalo vs. (4) Ottawa,
Conference Final, 2007
Everywhere I looked, it seemed that Buffalo was
heavily favored to win this series; well that was a mistake…Ottawa fought hard,
harder than I thought they ever could, and won the Eastern Conference Final in
five games. After a convincing 5-2 win on the road in game one, the Sens played
great in game two, topped off by Joe Corvo’s slapshot that skipped past Ryan
Miller, winning the game in overtime. The Sabres got a mulligan in game four,
scoring a mere nine seconds into the game and staving off elimination that
night. |
| Alfredsson's goal, sending Ottawa to the Stanley Cup Finals, May 19, 2007 |
But on a Saturday
afternoon, the Sens were victorious in game five, highlighted by Daniel
Alfredsson’s wrist-shot goal in overtime to win the series. I was pumped;
Ottawa was heading to the Stanley Cup Final! Sadly, the Ducks went on to win
the Cup in five games. Until then, Ottawa had looked unstoppable.
6 – (2) Detroit vs. (4)
Pittsburgh, Stanley Cup Final, 2009
A rematch of epic proportions, Detroit’s
experience against young stars Crosby and Malkin for a second time. The
memories start when I got to attend game one of this series, excited as ever to
watch the Red Wings win 3-1. Game two had a similar result, and featured a late-game
fight between Malkin and Zetterberg. After Pittsburgh tied the series, Detroit
went on a scoring spree in game five, with five unanswered goals.
“CROS-BEE-SUCKS!” became a favourite chant of my friends and I… |
| The Wings celebrate their win in Game One, as I watch from section 226 of Joe Louis Arena |
Unfortunately
for Detroit, they couldn’t finish off the Pens this time, Pittsburgh won games
six and seven, both by a score of 2-1. At the time I was pretty ticked to watch
Crosby skate off with the Stanley Cup in Joe Louis Arena (but I was happy to
see former Leafs defencemen Hal Gill hoist it as well). Sweet revenge for the
Penguins…
5 – (1) Montreal vs. (8) Boston, first round, 2008
 |
| Montreal and Boston lined up for the anthems in the TD Garden |
The first Boston –
Montreal series I witnessed did not disappoint, not one bit. Closely contested,
Montreal had to fight the Bruins for a good seven games. After a 4-1 victory for
the Canadiens in game one, game two ended as a thriller; as Alexei Kovalev
scored on the powerplay in overtime to give the Canadiens another win. Boston
fought their way back into the series though, and Carey Price – only 20 years
old at the time – seemed to be losing confidence. In classic fashion, Montreal
came together for game seven, winning 5-0 at home; Price stopped all shots, and
the Kostitsyn brothers scored three goals. Montreal proved they deserved their
#1 seed.
4 –
(1) Detroit vs. (2) Pittsburgh, Stanley Cup Final, 2008
 |
| Lidstrom lifts the Stanley Cup, Detroit's fourth one in 11 years |
A big deal at the
time, being Sid the Kid’s first finals appearance. The Red Wings’ skill
outlasted the Pen’s young talent; Chris Osgood shutout the Pens in games one
and two. By the time the series shifted back to the Joe for game five, Detroit
was on the verge of another Stanley Cup, resulting in one of the greatest
hockey games I ever watched. Down 2-0, the Red Wings powered to a 3-2 lead, and
had the entire arena in celebration mode. But just seconds away from the Cup, Maxime
Talbot tied it for Pittsburgh, sending the game into an eventual
triple-overtime, which Petr Sykora won for the Penguins. Detroit subsequently
won the Cup in game 6 in front of a disappointed Mellon Arena crowd. The fact
that it was the last final that Bob Cole called for CBC, also gives it a
special place in my heart. Finals play-by-play hasn’t been the same since.
3 –
(1) Vancouver vs. (8) Chicago, first round, 2011
Never have I felt such sweet revenge watching
the NHL Playoffs. I was heartbroken as the Blackhawks ousted the Canucks in
2009 (Sundin’s last goodbye), and then again in 2010. I felt assured 2011 would
be different with Vancouver running away with the President’s trophy, but it
almost wasn’t. |
| Vancouver storms the ice to congratulate Alex Burrows, for his series-winning goal in overtime of Game 7 |
The Canucks took a
dominating 3-0 series lead, only to have it evaporate. Chicago went on a
scoring spree in games four and five, and Cory Schneider nearly took the job of
starting goaltender for Vancouver. Chicago was on the brink of becoming only
the fourth team to comeback after being down 3-0 in a series. It’s a good thing
Luongo started in game seven, he stopped 31 of 32 shots. In a climatic game
that Chicago tied while short-handed late in the third, Canuck Alex Burrows
broke in and ripped a shot past Corey Crawford in overtime, causing Rogers
Arena to erupt in celebration. As Jim Hughson said proudly, “It’s a wonderful
day for an exorcism!” No other game seven has kept me in such anxiety; the
endless sound-off of the Canucks goal horn still roars through my ears… “Burrows!
Shoots, SCORRRRRRRES!”
2 –
(1) Vancouver vs. (3) Boston, Stanley Cup Final, 2011
The series I couldn’t have been more excited to
see, nothing compares to the fast pace, back and forth match-up I saw in the
2011 Stanley Cup Finals. So much pride on the line; so much to win, so much to
lose. The stars between both teams, and the hate that grew between them as
well. |
| Burrows does it again, this time wrapping around the net and beating Tim Thomas in Game 2 |
After unbelievably
exciting game winning goals by Raffi Torres in game one, and Burrows – 11 seconds
into overtime in game two – Boston humiliated the Canucks on the east coast,
winning 8-1 and 4-1. Not only were Luongo and the Canucks in trouble away from
home ice, but Aaron Rome was suspended for the remainder of the finals for his
hit on Nathan Horton in game three. (A decision that cost Vancouver in the long
run) Once again the tide turned in game five, as Vancouver delighted fans with
a 1-0 win at home. But Boston turned the tide yet again, winning game six in
the TD Garden 5-2.
 |
| The Vancouver riot, which immediately followed the Canucks' Game 7 loss. This time around, the riot was far worse than 1994's loss to the Rangers. |
The deciding game
seven proved to be a dark day in Vancouver’s history, the Canucks lost 4-0 and
ultimately failed their fans. A massive riot developed in the city streets
after the game, with downtown windows smashed and cars set ablaze. The riot
made international news, and gave the city a bad image in the eyes of millions.
One of the greatest NHL playoff runs ended in heartbreak and destruction…Zdeno
Chara’s emotional lift of the Stanley Cup made me start crying in my living
room…Two months of excitement for the Canucks, all the way to a valiant, bitter
end…
1 –
(2) Carolina vs. (8) Edmonton, Stanley Cup Final, 2006
 |
| Roloson after letting in a goal in Game One of the Finals. It was his only game of the series... |
The
first series I had ever been so captivated by, and really the first year I had
ever followed the playoffs. The Oilers stunned the President Trophy winning
Detroit Red Wings in six games, and soon I had found an underdog team to fall
in love with. Edmonton won their series against San Jose in six, and the
conference finals in a dominating five games, to find themselves in the Stanley
Cup Finals.
Game one set the scene for an underdog-style
series. Edmonton climbed to a 3-0 lead, only to have the Hurricanes tie the
game and eventually win 5-4. Dwayne Roloson was injured in the third period,
causing the Oilers to lose a key force in goal. |
| Markkanen was a surprise to everyone, and saved Edmonton when Roloson was lost to injury |
Jussi Markkanen
became the saving grace for the Oilers, and helped force the series to seven
games. Who could forget Ryan Smyth’s winning goal in game three? And in game
five, when the series seemed like it would end any minute, an errant pass at
the blue line gave Fernando Pisani a short-handed breakaway overtime goal,
forcing the finals back to Rexall Place. Bob Cole’s call: “It is Pisani, SCORES!” is one of his greatest he ever made.
 |
| One of the greatest overtime goals of all time, Fernando Pisani in Game Five |
Edmonton’s
near-Cinderella run ended in game seven, as Carolina won 3-1, and Rod
Brind’Amour finally hoisted the Stanley Cup. I admit it, Carolina was the dominant team, goaltender Cam Ward was unbelievable, he completely deserved the Conn Smythe...The series was the culmination of
the first NHL season I regularly followed. With all the suspense, and Canadian
pride on the line, it is still my favourite series…
.jpg)
So in review,
10. Detroit & Anaheim, 2009
9. Ottawa & New Jersey, 2007
8. Pittsburgh & Montreal, 2010
7. Ottawa & Buffalo, 2007
6. Detroit & Pittsburgh, 2009
5. Montreal & Boston, 2008
4. Detroit & Pittsburgh, 2008
3. Vancouver & Chicago, 2011
2. Vancouver & Boston, 2011
1. Edmonton & Carolina, 2006
Let's hope for many more exciting, and top-ten worthy series to come...
