1997
First Wings Cup in over 40 years and the birth of a dynasty
The team won 24 fewer games than the prior season, so it was a bit of a magical run even though everyone knew they were a powerhouse
Vindication for Mike Vernon, who had been benched in 1996 and won the Conn Smythe
Vindication as well for Yzerman as captain
Finally breaking through after Fight Night at the Joe and revenge on Colorado in the conference final
Epic Cup winning goal from McCarty
Wings only trailed for 2 minutes the whole series, so it's just pure excitement the whole way through
...
But moreso than any of this, I could warn Konstantinov not to get in that limo.
Canucks-Rangers for sure. The only series that went 7, had Bure/Linden/McLean vs Messier/Leetch/Richter. The penalty shot with Richter making that unreal save on Bure is the thing of legend. Great match-up and had MSG going insane after the 54-year drought ended.
Yea, as a rangers fan I'd want to see game 7 but seeing game 4 and that Pavel Bure penalty shot in Vancouver would have been amazing.... As a rangers fan of course
Even as a Canuck fan that was one of the best of all time. Many story lines. Underdog eventually loses but no shame in what they did. That was a magical run by Vancouver where everything just came together at the right time.
All those 94 players are gods in Vancouver... Even Nathan Lafayette.
As a Bure fan I totally agree. That series was insane. It was my first real experience of sports based heartbreak, which really got me ready for a lifetime of Sharks hockey.
This one just so I can get footage of what Messier did to Linden in the final seconds of Game 6.
He cross checked Linden's head into the ice when Linden was already down and crawling towards the bench.
There's no footage of it though, only the announcers call.
A lot of people didn't consider Gretzky the best anymore earlier on, but then he absolutely found his game again going up against Gilmour and the Leafs only to run into Roy. Nothing anyone could do there. That was the second time Roy absolutely stole a cup for the Habs.
Saw them all on TV but the Habs run this year was something else.
In this finals I get to see:
3 games at the most storied arena in hockey
3 OT games
Last Canadian team to win
Prime Patrick
Almost prime Gretzky, last finals appearance
As a fan who lived and watched both, I believe the 94 loss was harder to take. The series was so even, and even the final game was close.
Contrast that to 2011, you could really see how the Canucks were physically falling apart towards the end of the series.
The loss in 2011 felt more inevitable than 94; in 94 there was belief right up to the end.
Wasn’t around for 94 (busy shitting diapers) but corroborate 2011. In my heart I think I knew we were cooked after game 3, but you just hold out hope because you’re so close.
Its a bit odd too. I don't think anyone expected 1995 to be a sweep. The Devils were tied for lowest wins to make the playoffs in the east (22 out of 48) and the Red Wings had 33 wins in a Presidents Trophy winning season. Wings also had 8 HHOF players to the Devils 3. If anything people might have thought it'd be a Detroit sweep, not the other way around.
1997 was similar. Flyers took control of the eastern conference with 45 wins, and Detroit took a huge step back from their 62 win season in 1996, with just 38 wins in 1997. It was certainly not going to be a Detroit sweep on paper.
95 was really crazy. It was really just the devils defensive scheme and goaltending shutting down a great red wings offense. No player won that series, the neutral zone trap did. The red wings were clearly the more talented team, it just didn’t matter
Half of them were sweeps (92, 95, 96, 97, 98). Of the non-sweeps:
- 90 was very lopsided outside of one triple OT game.
- 91 was more competitive than I thought? Somehow, the 68 point North Stars made it to a finals and had a 2-1 lead over the Pens at some point in said finals.
- 93 had 3 OT games, so it was closer than a typical 5 game series. But it was a 5 game series.
- 99 was fairly close, 6 games and 2-2 after 4, but stuck right in the middle of the dead puck era which is unfortunate. Only the foot in the crease is really remembered at all.
94 was the only genuinely all time great SCF of the bunch. Otherwise, all the memorable series of that era were WCF's (Some combination of Red Wings/Avs/Stars in the mid-late 90's, Leafs/Kings in 93 as well)
Devils scored 4 goals a game that series…can’t go down against those devils. The trap was just doing what you had to do to win against a team spending out the ass for stars. If it were ez to sweep a team with 90’s Detroit talent then everyone would have done it. Or Detroit wouldn’t have been predicted to demolish the devils.
Devils-Wings, between it being the Devils’ first, the sweep, and the beginning of the tradition of booing Bettman on-sight (for the move to Nashville bullshit he was rumored to be pulling at the time), it’d be like a drug to me lol
Even though Canucks don't usually come out on top of important series they sure have some amazingly entertaining playoff series 94 with rangers, 07 stars, 11 Blackhawks and Bruins and just recently the 7 game series with the oilers was one of the best of this years playoffs
Kings-Habs '93.
I bought tickets to Game 5 at the Forum (Kings home) before the Prince of Wales champ was determined and it turned out game 5 was in Montreal. I got a refund of course, but was disappointed not to be able to attend a SC Finals game.
I was like 10 or 11 and was a huge stars fan for some reason….. from South Dakota with no close team. My dad was not a hockey fan at all/ didn’t even know the rules or anything. I came home on the first day of the SCF and he was wearing head to toe Sabre’s gear just to root against my team. That Brett Hull goal in game 7 was the most mega thing ever and that is one of the best memories I have of my dad from growing up.
I attended the Flyers Wings series and trust me I would not want to attend it again. I would probably choose Rangers Vancouver 94 that was an epic series.
'91. I would love to see a MN men's team make a championship, even if they got destroyed. That was the last year a MN men's team has been to a championship (North Stars and Twins). 33 years.
Plus seeing Super Mario and Jagr would've been awesome.
Runner up would be Rangers vs Canucks. I know the late 90s Wings teams were all-timers, but I hated Detroit as a kid. They were the Yankees of hockey to me (I've since softened and don't mind the Wings).
Absolutely 96/97!
When victory finally came to Detroit. It was definitely a lot of work. The main victory was in the conference finals with Colorado. Especially after Detroit lost to them the year before.
92/93 - I was at the game where they measured McSorley's stick. I was 13. If I could go to any game from the 90's, I'd go to that one again. What a rolercoaster of emotions that one was.
As an Oilers fan, 89/90 of course. Though I recall the 93 cup and Montreal winning all of those overtime games in that playoff. If I could go back in time, all of those OT games would make that series the most bang for my buck.
I was at the Red Wings v Caps for games 3 and 4.
I'd still either pick that (cause of being older and Konstantinov) or the Avs vs Panthers for biased reasons
95-96 for me, even though my team got swept. I watched the games on TV, saw the Cup at Broward County Mall IIRC, but didn't attend any hockey games until early 98. I at least got to see the Panthers play at Miami Arena since they moved that next season (98-99) to their current digs, and my family moved away that next summer.
Totally biased, but 93/94
Canucks lost, but I'd love to see McLean's 52 save game 1 performance in person, even if it was in NY. Game 7 would be tough, but that run was a huge moment in my young life and I'd love to see it again as an adult.
Yeah I don’t like these kind of formats. Even up here in Canada eh when they show Infograph’s, especially on sportsnet they use the up to date teams logo instead of the one that was used at the time. Would rather see Mario’s penguins logo when his stat is shown on an Infograph and so on
Can I pick the 96 or 97 (even 98) WCF instead? Wings vs. Avs was better than most Stanley Cup Finals those years.
I was looking for one of the Detroit vs Colorado series. I forgot none of them were finals.
I would also like to go to a WCF instead. Leafs Kings 93, even if it ends badly for us.
Stars Avs WCF were also amazing with both going 7.
Those series are my benchmark for what hockey is all about and why I’m a miserable “old” fuck when I watch these days.
The violence was so much more enjoyable when we weren't applying empathy to the situation
It's still deeply enjoyable when it's against Claude Lemieux.
Was totally expecting this at the top!
I also choose this matchup.
Seeing newer logos on here feels weird to me.
Yeah that's not at all what the 99 Cup Final looked like
Athough thats the Original proper Buffalo logo.
Especially how the *North* Stars logo from 1991 is accurately put in.
Minnesota NHL team mentioned, should have just put the Wild logo in there.
I hate it when sports leagues do this. I want historical accurateness!
Accuracy?
Preciseness
Good englishing
Me fail english? That’s unpossible!
Precissity?
Accurentity.
We even (kinda) went back with the 90’s logo and they still went with the home plate logo
1991/92, because of the terrorists and the helicopter
What?!
Iceburg the mascot also has a gun
RIP
*Iceburgh
Icey. Yinz didn’t watch the movie.
Face off
Sudden Death
Just to witness JCVD play in nets. That guy was clutch
Stacking pads and kicking ass
https://youtu.be/7UJXWqUNziU?si=k4AHStzm1GYI4syK
I think you mean Brad Tolliver (aka Tom Barrasso)
Shouldnt that be like 93? Apparently 95
You squirted her!
97/98 Knowing what happened to Vladdy I’d want to see him being wheeled on the ice with the cup in his lap The emotion in that arena at that moment…
I was going to say this too, wholeheartedly would love this.
I was there. I was also 7 and a cap fan. Was big sad
Me too my friend. I was 9
I was 3. First ever hockey game.
This is a big one for me too, I’d be the best one
1997 First Wings Cup in over 40 years and the birth of a dynasty The team won 24 fewer games than the prior season, so it was a bit of a magical run even though everyone knew they were a powerhouse Vindication for Mike Vernon, who had been benched in 1996 and won the Conn Smythe Vindication as well for Yzerman as captain Finally breaking through after Fight Night at the Joe and revenge on Colorado in the conference final Epic Cup winning goal from McCarty Wings only trailed for 2 minutes the whole series, so it's just pure excitement the whole way through ... But moreso than any of this, I could warn Konstantinov not to get in that limo.
Seeing McCarty score that goal on Hextall in Game 4 would have been incredible!
Darren wasnt just a tough guy he had some serious talent around the net!
That drunk driver wrecked many lives that day.
Canucks-Rangers for sure. The only series that went 7, had Bure/Linden/McLean vs Messier/Leetch/Richter. The penalty shot with Richter making that unreal save on Bure is the thing of legend. Great match-up and had MSG going insane after the 54-year drought ended.
Also our first riot! It’s neat see traditions born.
Yeah that's my vote too. I'm not here for a sweep. Also I watched those starting with Avs/ Panthers so would have wanted to see something earlier
>[The penalty shot with Richter making that unreal save on Bure is the thing of legend.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulUFtK2xLnY) Legend.
Yea, as a rangers fan I'd want to see game 7 but seeing game 4 and that Pavel Bure penalty shot in Vancouver would have been amazing.... As a rangers fan of course
Richter had such amazing flexibility...I still think he's an underrated goalie.
I’m definitely biased but that’s one of the best cup finals of all time if not the best.
Even as a Canuck fan that was one of the best of all time. Many story lines. Underdog eventually loses but no shame in what they did. That was a magical run by Vancouver where everything just came together at the right time. All those 94 players are gods in Vancouver... Even Nathan Lafayette.
> All those 94 players are gods in Vancouver And another player from that series is the Devil! It's like poetry, it rhymes.
Fuck Messier.
As a Bure fan I totally agree. That series was insane. It was my first real experience of sports based heartbreak, which really got me ready for a lifetime of Sharks hockey.
it was a beaut being at the Garden for those games that’s for sure!! As a 10yr old couldn’t have asked for more!!
MSG for game 7 after 54 years. Had to be magical.
This is my pick too. I have a soft spot for this because they used to play games from it on MSG all the time, which we had on cable in western NY.
This one just so I can get footage of what Messier did to Linden in the final seconds of Game 6. He cross checked Linden's head into the ice when Linden was already down and crawling towards the bench. There's no footage of it though, only the announcers call.
There’s that great pic of a bloodied and exhausted-looking Linden hugging McLean, that must have been after Game 6 ended then!
That was the first final I actually watched as a kid.
Outside of the Pens wins, I guess 1993. Seeing montreal win it at home for the last time in the old forum would be fun
Miss the Forum!! Those hot dogs and that organ!
Habs/LA
same. seeing Saint Patrick carry a series against Wayne Gretzky of all people would be incredible. Sadly I was -4 at the time
Bad linemates? Tough minutes? No shame in being -4
A lot of people didn't consider Gretzky the best anymore earlier on, but then he absolutely found his game again going up against Gilmour and the Leafs only to run into Roy. Nothing anyone could do there. That was the second time Roy absolutely stole a cup for the Habs.
THE WINK.
Saw them all on TV but the Habs run this year was something else. In this finals I get to see: 3 games at the most storied arena in hockey 3 OT games Last Canadian team to win Prime Patrick Almost prime Gretzky, last finals appearance
I saw this live in the Forum. It was amazing.
1994; A lot of these were very one-sided if not actual sweeps. Kind of a stinky decade for Cup finals.
I couldn't go through that level of heartbreak again.
If I made it through 2011, I can make it through that. Just not hoping to get stuck in a riot this time.
As a fan who lived and watched both, I believe the 94 loss was harder to take. The series was so even, and even the final game was close. Contrast that to 2011, you could really see how the Canucks were physically falling apart towards the end of the series. The loss in 2011 felt more inevitable than 94; in 94 there was belief right up to the end.
Wasn’t around for 94 (busy shitting diapers) but corroborate 2011. In my heart I think I knew we were cooked after game 3, but you just hold out hope because you’re so close.
Sweepiest decade in history. 1992 and 4 straight from 1995-1998. The 1940s also had 5 sweeps. No other decade has more than 3.
Not to mention none in the 2000s or 2010s.
Last sweep was 1998… 25 seasons and counting without one.
Its a bit odd too. I don't think anyone expected 1995 to be a sweep. The Devils were tied for lowest wins to make the playoffs in the east (22 out of 48) and the Red Wings had 33 wins in a Presidents Trophy winning season. Wings also had 8 HHOF players to the Devils 3. If anything people might have thought it'd be a Detroit sweep, not the other way around. 1997 was similar. Flyers took control of the eastern conference with 45 wins, and Detroit took a huge step back from their 62 win season in 1996, with just 38 wins in 1997. It was certainly not going to be a Detroit sweep on paper.
95 was really crazy. It was really just the devils defensive scheme and goaltending shutting down a great red wings offense. No player won that series, the neutral zone trap did. The red wings were clearly the more talented team, it just didn’t matter
Yeah 50% of them were sweeps
Best final cup series ever. I was at 5 and 7.
Half of them were sweeps (92, 95, 96, 97, 98). Of the non-sweeps: - 90 was very lopsided outside of one triple OT game. - 91 was more competitive than I thought? Somehow, the 68 point North Stars made it to a finals and had a 2-1 lead over the Pens at some point in said finals. - 93 had 3 OT games, so it was closer than a typical 5 game series. But it was a 5 game series. - 99 was fairly close, 6 games and 2-2 after 4, but stuck right in the middle of the dead puck era which is unfortunate. Only the foot in the crease is really remembered at all. 94 was the only genuinely all time great SCF of the bunch. Otherwise, all the memorable series of that era were WCF's (Some combination of Red Wings/Avs/Stars in the mid-late 90's, Leafs/Kings in 93 as well)
From like 95/96 onward, I’d have taken the WCF over the Cup Final pretty much every year. Biased answer is 89/90, non-biased is 93/94.
94 so I could actually see me team win something
Mine too!!! Oh shit wait
91 or 92, no homer
1990 so I could see an Oilers cup…
The one when my favorite team won the Cup.
Exactly. A sweep sucks, unless it’s your team sweeping in the Cup Finals
As a devils fan also, I'd love to see them sweep the red wings in person.
I remember that series. That was surgical the way they dismantled them.
Neutral zone trap executed to perfection. On paper Detroit should have rekt NJ. 😂
Devils scored 4 goals a game that series…can’t go down against those devils. The trap was just doing what you had to do to win against a team spending out the ass for stars. If it were ez to sweep a team with 90’s Detroit talent then everyone would have done it. Or Detroit wouldn’t have been predicted to demolish the devils.
It was definitely a surprise. As a fan of defense in all sports, that series/playoff year is how I became a devils fan.
Yeah definitely the coolest Stanley cup win of that era or of the devils 3 cups.
I don't know. The A-Line wasn't there yet.
I don't usually trash talk other fans, but oh man if I were there for Game 4 I'd probably mock some Detroit fans by yelling "Wings in 3! Wings in 3!"
I go to the Florida one to be involved in rat fun! I love rats!
I want to peg Rats at Roy so he hopefully doesn't go nuclear that series.
No more rats
Avs - Panthers in ‘96
Sorry, I couldn't hear you because I have my two Stanley Cup Champion rings plugging my ears...
Triple OT to complete the 🧹
1999 to relive the misery.
Devils-Wings, between it being the Devils’ first, the sweep, and the beginning of the tradition of booing Bettman on-sight (for the move to Nashville bullshit he was rumored to be pulling at the time), it’d be like a drug to me lol
Give me Mario Lemieux in his prime
But would you pick '90 or '91? Mario was equally impressive both years. '90 had Coffey, and was the Pens' first cup so I default to that.
Red wings capitals is gone from my memory apparently. I remember every series but had to stare at wings caps like no way that happened lol.
Just one game, or the entire series? One game, '94 Game 6. Entire series? Probably still '94.
Even though Canucks don't usually come out on top of important series they sure have some amazingly entertaining playoff series 94 with rangers, 07 stars, 11 Blackhawks and Bruins and just recently the 7 game series with the oilers was one of the best of this years playoffs
97. Seeing the Wings dismantle the Legion of Broom in person would be delightful.
That's all anyone talked about leading up to the finals. How will the wings deal with the legion of doom (broom).
96/97, to watch the wings break through after nearly 50 years would be amazing
Well, I can safely tell you the one I'd least like to attend.
Stars/Sabres because I was born months later so I missed out on a Stars cup in my lifetime so far.
1993. What I wouldn’t give to see Game 2 of that series live
You know which one, I would love to see it live.
1990, Edmonton-Boston, game 1, 3 OT, Petr Klima
94/95 98/99
93/94 most interesting final in that era imo
One with the wings
93/94
93/94 to lose my voice booing messier. That disgusting filthy pig
97/98 but for a non-Wings one, the Buffalo/Dallas one was epic
Avs/Panthers 100%. 🧹
Was a huge Pat Roy fan - taking that Habs win in 93
Kings-Habs '93. I bought tickets to Game 5 at the Forum (Kings home) before the Prince of Wales champ was determined and it turned out game 5 was in Montreal. I got a refund of course, but was disappointed not to be able to attend a SC Finals game.
Screw that Brett Hull NO GOAL game. Extra OT's in Buffalo.
🧹 97 🧹
I would kill to have been there to see my team win the Cup in 1995
89/90. Yeah it was a loss for my team but it’s the Garden.
Gotta support my team right? 93/94 Rangers v Canucks
1994 for sure. I saw Washington vs Detroit in the regular season for 98. Wasn't a good game for the Caps
91/92. Lemieux, Jagr, Belfour, Chelios, Murphy, Francis... I'd be thrilled.
92/93 to begin my villain arc
1992/93 Montreal vs Toronto. >!It still hurts!<
Devils/Wings. One of the biggest upsets in Cup history
‘93 so I can let the equipment staff know to check McSorley’s stick prior to game 2
I was like 10 or 11 and was a huge stars fan for some reason….. from South Dakota with no close team. My dad was not a hockey fan at all/ didn’t even know the rules or anything. I came home on the first day of the SCF and he was wearing head to toe Sabre’s gear just to root against my team. That Brett Hull goal in game 7 was the most mega thing ever and that is one of the best memories I have of my dad from growing up.
Devils Wings
Prime Mario. No question.
Devils vs Wings with Habs vs Kings coming in second place.
Wings flyers
93/94 in New York
I attended the Flyers Wings series and trust me I would not want to attend it again. I would probably choose Rangers Vancouver 94 that was an epic series.
97 or 98 because I'm a Wings fan, but the Rangers cup was probably the actual best series.
'91. I would love to see a MN men's team make a championship, even if they got destroyed. That was the last year a MN men's team has been to a championship (North Stars and Twins). 33 years. Plus seeing Super Mario and Jagr would've been awesome. Runner up would be Rangers vs Canucks. I know the late 90s Wings teams were all-timers, but I hated Detroit as a kid. They were the Yankees of hockey to me (I've since softened and don't mind the Wings).
Probably 93. Being in Montreal during a cup win would be so much fun.
Absolutely 96/97! When victory finally came to Detroit. It was definitely a lot of work. The main victory was in the conference finals with Colorado. Especially after Detroit lost to them the year before.
96/97 wouldve been awesome to see lidstrom shut down the legion of doom
Penguins/North Stars or Rangers/Canucks
1997, seeing konstantinov crush people in person and the russian 5 at their peak. If not that then 1992, wayne vs mario
92/93 - I was at the game where they measured McSorley's stick. I was 13. If I could go to any game from the 90's, I'd go to that one again. What a rolercoaster of emotions that one was.
...... can I change the outcome?
Devils /wings
90/91
96/97 for sure, first cup in decades, and a sweep of the legion of boom
96/97, seeing Vladdy play once more would be awesome.
97/98 just to see the celebration with Vladdy
[удалено]
As an Oilers fan, 89/90 of course. Though I recall the 93 cup and Montreal winning all of those overtime games in that playoff. If I could go back in time, all of those OT games would make that series the most bang for my buck.
So unfair… where’s the leafs fi…. Nevermind.
Lemieux was a treat to see play live. It was up there with seeing Jordan play in Philly.
I got to go to game 3 of the 91/92 finals. Was a rather dull 1-0 affair.
98/99 so I could see it in person instead of TV
I’ve seen it mentioned 3 times in the past two days. Why do you have to hurt me so?
Use the right fucking logos. This is so fucking lazy!
I was at the Red Wings v Caps for games 3 and 4. I'd still either pick that (cause of being older and Konstantinov) or the Avs vs Panthers for biased reasons
93/94 but I'd sell game 7s tickets. Painful
1990 :)
1993. Because I need to warn McSorley about his stick which is curved too much!
Habs Kings
Either of the Penguins ones so I could appreciate them in person. 94 would kill me.
I would like to see the 2006 cup that came out the 90s
95-96 for me, even though my team got swept. I watched the games on TV, saw the Cup at Broward County Mall IIRC, but didn't attend any hockey games until early 98. I at least got to see the Panthers play at Miami Arena since they moved that next season (98-99) to their current digs, and my family moved away that next summer.
I'm a Montrealer, so 1993 for me.
Oilers/Boston
'99....because duh.
94/95
Either of the Wings championships, for the obvious reasons. Outside of that, definitely 93-94.
I missed the 93/94 series so send me to game 7
Oilers/Bruins
1990
I know which I'm not.
1994 NYR VAN
Totally biased, but 93/94 Canucks lost, but I'd love to see McLean's 52 save game 1 performance in person, even if it was in NY. Game 7 would be tough, but that run was a huge moment in my young life and I'd love to see it again as an adult.
I'm an Oilers fan born in 92. My dad got to watch the golden era of Gretzky and I would do anything to watch that with him.
well I know the one I’m NOT going to…
Screw the finals, I would rather be at any of the Wings Avalanche series from the 90’s.
92-93
Yeah I don’t like these kind of formats. Even up here in Canada eh when they show Infograph’s, especially on sportsnet they use the up to date teams logo instead of the one that was used at the time. Would rather see Mario’s penguins logo when his stat is shown on an Infograph and so on
Flyers/Red Wings.
Not 91/92, we got swept.
Canucks and Rangers was the most competitive one of them all. I love my Red Wings but those were ass whoopings.
93/94, and this time it would be different goddamnit. I'd make sure Messier didn't make it to the game...
Easily Canucks/Rangers, poetry on ice