A few weeks back, the Detroit Red Wings hosted a motif night in a visit by the Colorado Avalanche. It was the perfect means to scatter some nostalgia to a believed run-of-the-mill reduction at the beginning of March.
For all those cognizant of those years, the throwback clips on the broadcast and wrestling movie board represented brilliant memories. But for depending on the emphasize, possibly even toward the age of 30, or anybody under the age of 25, the particulars might be a bit less apparent.
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And what about as we understood that it and for all the show that ended the competition? Eighteen years later today, it feels.
DETROIT, MI – JUNE 13: Head Coach Scotty Bowman (L) and Brett Hull (R) of this Detroit Red Wings celebrate with all the Stanley Cup in the locker-room after removing the Carolina Hurricanes during game five of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 13, 2002 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Red Wings won 3-1. (Photo from Elsa/Getty Images/NHLI)
The Wings and Avs confronted each other in the play occasions between 1996-2002. There were Stanley Cups missing, jaws broken, and vile words revenge and blood. Their meeting at the hey-day of this competition has been a sendoff of epic proportions. It was one-sided and surprising, a stunning knockout punch delivered with a screaming, laughing Red Wings squad that ’d eventually assert their third Stanley Cup in six years, topping the two Cups won by Colorado in that seven-year span.
But before the Wings could pursue Patrick Roy at a 7-0, Game 7 win at Joe Louis Arena, the Wings first had to climb out of a chain hole around the street. And that was once the embarrassment of Roy began.
Giants Colliding (Again)
Entering the season, Detroit and Colorado each had won two cups. That alone could be sufficient to stoke the fires of a competition, even without the regular postseason meetings and exceptionally violent character between both.
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The Avalanche won the first and then the Wings went back-to-back in 1997-98. Colorado reclaimed its location atop the hockey world in 2001, although their bitter rivals out of Hockeytown were upset from the Los Angeles Kings at the opening round, 4-2, after completing the year with 111 points.
Ray Bourque #77 of this Colorado Avalanche lifts the cup Joe Sakic #19 after the Colorado Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils 3-1 in game among the NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche take the series 4-3. (Photo from B Bennett/Getty Images)
That prompted general manager Ken Holland into bring on future Hall-of-Famers Dominik Hasek, Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille into Detroit, a trio which ’d combine more fellow Hall-of-Famers than can be counted on a single hand.
The revamped Wings would make great on Holland’s investment, ending with points and bringing in the President’s Trophy. They cruised through first- and second-round matchups against the Vancouver Canucks — thanks to a bit of help from Dan Cloutier — and St. Louis Blues. The Avs, meanwhile, were forced through a set of Game ’s contrary to the Kings and San Jose Sharks to earn a match with Detroit.
A Duel for the Ages
After Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Final, the New York Times would dub the string “among the playoff rounds. ” (out of ‘HOCKEY; Roy’s ) Gaffe Helps Red Wings Force Seventh Game,’ New York Times, 05/30/2002)
If only rsquo;d they known what’s next.
A Darren McCarty hat tip captured the Red Wings off on the right foot with a 5-3 win in Game 1, but Colorado took three out of the next four to head home with a 3-2 edge. Games 2 and 3 went into overtime, setting the stage for still another overtime in a pivotal Game 5 with the series tied 2-2. The Avalanche completed a 1-0 lead into the third stage before a severely hobbled Steve Yzerman, whoalso & rsquo;d complete the playoffs using a team-high 23 points, then tied things up 0:54 to the next. With just under two minutes to go, Brendan Shanahan ripped off a shot off the post which could have won the game, and swung each one the string ’ excellence in Detroit’therefore direction.
Rather, the game has been won on a goal by Peter Forsberg at overtime.
“I’ll still have questions about that one. ”
Brendan Shanahan, ESPN
Roy’s Way
It’s worth mentioning that despite the Red Wings’ team victory, theyrsquo;d dropped three out of four playoff encounters between the two squads. And at the latest two (4-2, 1999; 4-1, 2000), Detroit had failed to win a game after the Avs place them on the brink of elimination.
Colorado Avalanche center Peter Forsberg (21) slips past the defense of Detroit Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood, left, and center Igor Larionov for the Avalanche’s goal during the third period in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals at Detroit, Tuesday, May 18, 1999. The Avalanche defeated the Red Wings 5-2 to advance to the finals. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The beating in 2000 left Yzerman wondering whether his team had lost its advantage.
“I guess you can say we’ve lost. … I meanthis is the 2nd straight time which we’re out at the next round, and even though we performed better this season than we did last year, the fact that we couldn’t perform if we had to means that something went wrong. ”
From ‘Over and Out: Detroit ousted in second round with a Rocky Mountain Twist Detroit Free Press, 05/06/2000
And then there was the fact it to stave off elimination in Game 6, then theyrsquo;d have to likewise conquer Roy, that ’d gathered a .943 save percentage (SV%) using a 1.91 goals-against average (GAA) at both show mentioned from the Detroit captain. Roy, at age 36, has been likewise having the ideal campaign of his illustrious Hall-of-Fame profession, ending the 2001-02 regular season with career highs in SVpercent (.925) and GAA (1.94) and also a second-place end in Vezina voting.
Do or Die
So here we are. Game 6. The Pepsi Center. Denver, Colorado.
The Avalanche had scored first in each game to the stage, and with the exception of Detroit’s Game-1 win, theyrsquo;d all ended in a gap. Hasek was tested at the opening minutes of Game 6, finding huge ceases on Chris Drury, Eric Messier, and Milan Hejduk at the opening three minutes to help buck the trend that was harmful.
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Detroit bounced back nicely, holding Colorado without a shot for nearly a whole 15 minutes — however that doesn’t even comprise a great chance by Forsberg which has been blasted just wide of the net with about 2:30 left in the opening frame — until the Wings finally caught a break that defined the series under a second to proceed.
Brendan Shanahan #14 of this Detroit Red Wings (Tom Pidgeon /NHLI/Getty Images)
Colorado attempted to clear the puck after a faceoff into Roy’therefore abandoned, however Fredrick Olausson managed to keep it in across the planks. The puck bounced to Sergei Fedorov, who smacked it ahead to Yzerman to get a premium chance in an Roy. The French-Canadian goaltender spun to his back, slamming his arm back on the ice to generate a highlight-reel save about the Detroit captain.
Yzerman corralled the puck minutes after a high shot at Nicklas Lidstrom garnered a rally chance. He looked to the goal mouth, dismissed . This moment, Roy got it together with the glove. Unbelievable.
Considering that the arrangement before the save, the emotion of this show, Roy’s bent for flash, what’s next should be anticipated: The three-time Vezina winner raised his glove into the referee put an exclamation mark. Not part of stated expectations? Losing control of the puck.
Wondering if it was a fantastic idea [Roy] smiled but answered ”I made an outstanding save on Yzerman. It was a save. ” He paused, like replaying the scene. ”It’s poor he said gently.
New York Times
Shanahan, whose chance in Game 5 had chased him over the previous 48 hoursdidn’t even overlook his next chance. He pushed on the loose puck across the goal line to have a 1-0 lead in the final second of the opening stage. Detroit would not give up another goal in the series.
Along with the rest, as they say, is history.
The article Rest Is History: Red Wings Crush Avs at 2002 Cup Conference Final appeared first on The Hockey Writers.
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