= 2001 = 2002 = 2003 = 2004 = 2006 = 2007 = 2008 = 2009 = 2010 = 2011= 2012 = 2014 = 2015 = 2016 = 2017 = 2018 = 2019 = 2020 =
Round One - Conference Quarterfinals
Western Conference
#1 Detroit Red Wings vs. #8 Vancouver Canucks
When the eighth-seeded Canucks won the first two games in
Detroit, things looked bleak in the Motor City. But the winged wonders turned
things around in the nick of time.
GAME ONE: VANCOUVER 4 at DETROIT 3 -April 17
Henrik Sedin won the series opener for his Canucks at 13:59 of overtime, stunning the home team and their fans. Todd Warriner, Andrew Cassels, and Trevor Linden helped get Vancouver to overtime. Detroit got tallies from Luc Robitaille, Sergei Fedorov, and Igor Larionov.
GAME TWO: VANCOUVER 5 at DETROIT 2 -April 19
Todd Bertuzzi, Andrew Cassels, Scott Lachance, Markus Naslund and Matt Cooke all scored to stoke Vancouver to a surprising 2-0 series lead. Dominik Hasek only stopped 15 shots. Nicklas Lidstrom and Steve Yzerman scored for Detroit.
GAME THREE: DETROIT 3 at VANCOUVER 1 -April 21
The Wings end a nine game winless streak, going back into the end of the regular season and beat the Canuckleheads 3-1 on their home turf. The game winner by Lidstrom was scored from center ice! Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan each had a goal and an assist and the lone Vancouver goal came from Todd Bertuzzi on the power play. Bertuzzi had a missed penalty shot at 16:54 of the third.
GAME FOUR: DETROIT 4 at VANCOUVER 2 -April 23
In the first minute of the third Steve Yzerman strikes again for the game winner and the Red Wings pull things even. Detroit's other goals belonged to Jiri Fischer, Chris Chelios, and Kris Draper (empty netter). Vancouver's two goals came from Mattias Ohlund and Matt Cooke.
GAME FIVE: VANCOUVER 0 at DETROIT 4 -April 25
Sergei Fedorov scored two goals and an assist in the Red Wings' third straight win and first shutout of the post season. The other Wings goals belonged to Mathieu
Dandenault (shorthanded) and Boyd Devereaux. All of those were scored in the first.
GAME SIX: DETROIT 6 at VANCOUVER 4 - April 27
Brett Hull scored a hat trick (two power play, one shorthanded) and the
Red Wings complete their comeback and win the series. The other Wings goals
belonged to Tomas Holmstrom, Igor Larionov, and Nicklas Lidstrom (another
shorthanded goal). Vancouver got a goal from
Ed Jovanovski,
two from Henrik Sedin and, during a Hail Mary, one from
Matt Cooke with the extra attacker out at 17:02 of the third.
Red Wings win series 4 games to 2.
#2 Colorado Avalanche vs. #7 Los Angeles Kings
This was a rematch from the second round in 2001, and again
a superior Avalanche team got taken to a Game Seven by an inferior but determined
Kings team.
GAME ONE: LOS ANGELES 3 at COLORADO 4 -April 19
Alex Tanguay and Steven Reinprecht got Colorado up 2-0 but LA tied it in the
second on goals by Bryan Smolinski and Ziggy Palffy. But Colorado scored two
more to take Game One (Joe Sakic and Greg De Vries). LA got another tally from
Ziggy in the third.
GAME TWO: LOS ANGELES 3 at COLORADO 5 -April 20
Joe Sakic scored twice and
Steven Reinprecht got a goal and an assist as the 'Lanche take Game Two. Peter Forsberg and Chris Drury also scored for Colorado; LA got tallies from Adam Deadmarsh, Mikko Eloranta, and Jason Allison.
GAME THREE: COLORADO 1 at LOS ANGELES 3 -April 22
The Kings get one back, trimming the Avalanche series lead to 2-1. Zigmund Palffy scored twice with Jason Allison in between while Colorado could only muster one goal from Brad Larsen in the first.
GAME FOUR: COLORADO 1 at LOS ANGELES 0 -April 23
Colorado wins a very tight Game Four on a second period goal from Steven Reinprecht. Patrick Roy stopped all 32 shots he faced and Felix Potvin snuffed 24 of the 25 shots he faced. LA is on the brink.
GAME FIVE: LOS ANGELES 1 at COLORADO 0 (OT)-April 25
Craig Johnson at 2:19 of overtime keeps the Kings alive in another tight game. Potvin snuffed all 26 shots he faced for the shutout.
GAME SIX: COLORADO 1 at LOS ANGELES 3 -April 27
LA stays alive again on goals by Jason Allison, Brad Chartrand, and Bryan Smolinski. Colorado only answered one of those goals, a second period tally by Riku Hahl (who??).
GAME SEVEN: LOS ANGELES 0 at COLORADO 4 -April 29
Patrick Roy earned his 23rd career playoff shutout as the Avalanche send the Kings home to clean out their lockers. Colorado says NO to the Kings' series
comeback attempt on goals by Chris Drury, Alex Tanguay, Steven Reinprecht, and an empty-netter by Adam Foote.
Avalanche win series 4 games to 3.
#3 San Jose Sharks vs. #6 Phoenix Coyotes
They were all fairly tight games but the favored Sharks scored
just a bit more.
GAME ONE: PHOENIX 1 at SAN JOSE 2 -April 10
A blunder by Coyote goalie Sean Burke lead to San Jose's winning goal. He mishandled
the puck while behind the net and Teemu Selanne passed it to Patrick Marleau
for the easy empty net goal. The first Shark goal came from Vincent Damphousse on the power play. Daniel Briere scored in the second for the lapdogs.
GAME TWO: PHOENIX 3 at SAN JOSE 1 -April 12
Daymond Langkow, Daniel Briere and Shane Doan each scored as Phoenix tied the
series with a 3-1 victory. Shane Doan tallied for the Sharkies in the third.
GAME THREE: SAN JOSE 4 at PHOENIX 1 -April 14
On Phoenix's first shot they scored (Shane Doan). But after that it was all
Sharks. Mike Ricci had a goal and an assist, and Patrick Marleau, Adam Graves and Scott
Thornton also scored and San Jose takes a 2-1 series lead.
GAME FOUR: SAN JOSE 2 at PHOENIX 1 -April 16
Mike Rathje and Mike Ricci each pot one as San Jose goes up 3-1 in the series. Radoslav Suchy scored for Phoenix.
GAME FIVE: PHOENIX 1 at SAN JOSE 4 -April 19
In their 10th consecutive first-round playoff elimination since 1987, the Coyotes are put to sleep. Evgeny Nabokov snuffed 22 shots, and Patrick Marleau had a goal and an assist. Adam Graves, Vincent Damphousse and Marco Sturm also tallied for the Sharks
and they order another round.
Sharks win series 4 games to 1.
#4 St. Louis Blues vs. #5 Chicago Blackhawks
It had been a while since the ol' St. Louis/Chicago rivalry
came to a head in a playoff meeting, not since the Blues swept the 'Hawks in
1993. This rivalry was something that Blues and Blackhawks fans have always
held dear and it was an entertaining series -- more so for Blues fans.
GAME ONE: CHICAGO 2 at ST. LOUIS 1 -April 18
Chicago's late game-winning goal came from an unlikely source:
Alexander Karpovtsev, who only scored once in the regular season, capped a Blackhawks
rally to take Game One late in the contest.
Pavol Demitra got things going with a power play goal for the Blues in the
second.
GAME TWO: CHICAGO 0 at ST. LOUIS 2 -April 20
Brent Johnson earns his first career playoff shutout as the Blues even up the
series. Doug Weight and Scott Mellanby made sure his efforts weren't in vain.
GAME THREE: ST. LOUIS 4 at CHICAGO 0 -April 21
Brent Johnson earned his second consecutive shutout as the Blues down the 'Hawks
again.
Jamal Mayers, Scott Mellanby, Pavol Demitra and Scott Young each lit the
lamp with
Keith Tkachuk getting helpers on two of them.
Eric Daze, Alex Zhamnov and Tony Amonte, Chicago's top regular season scorers,
remain quiet.
GAME FOUR: ST. LOUIS 1 at CHICAGO 0 -April 23
The 'Hawks decided that enough was enough, they were going to win one for their
home crowd. They came out and beat up
on the Blues every time they touched the puck with a very raucous Chicago crowd
cheering them on. Unfortunately for them, they still didn't score a goal. Pavol
Demitra was the lone goal scorer of the game and the 'Hawks are on the brink.
They appeared to have scored in the first, but the goal was disallowed after
repeated reviews. Brent Johnson
ties an NHL record shared by three other goalies, the most recent being Frank
McCool of Toronto in 1945.
GAME FIVE: CHICAGO 3 at ST. LOUIS 5 - April 25
The 'Hawks finally ended Brent Johnson's streak (when it happened he got a standing
ovation). After the Blues came out and scored first, a Mellanby power play
goal, Chicago scored three straight in the second:
Steve Thomas,
Kyle Calder (power play), and
Steve Sullivan. But St. Louis tied it, went ahead, and added an insurance tally
on goals by Scott Young, Chris Pronger, Jamal Mayers, and
Keith Tkachuk. The Blackawks are sent packing and Blues advance to Round Two. (I was personally at that game, and lemme tell ya, I'd never been to a louder, more exciting game in my life; I was yelling so hard at one point I got dizzy and had to sit.)
Blues win series 4 games to 1.
Eastern Conference
#1 Boston Bruins vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens
In the biggest upset of 2002, the eight-seeded, but heart-filled
Canadiens, fueled by the cancer plight of captain
Saku Koivu, dashed Boston's Stanley Cup aspirations. It was the first time the
Habs were in the playoffs in four years and they made the most of it.
GAME ONE: MONTREAL 5 at BOSTON 2 -April 18
Donald Audette scored three goals and Saku Koivu, who had played
only the last three games of the regular season after being diagnosed with
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(abbreviated NHL - ironic, no?) during training camp, earned three assists as the Habs
nab Game One. Boston's Joe Thornton scored first, but Audette and the Habs
poured it on. Doug Gilmour and Gino Odjick also tallied for Montreal and Boston's other goal belonged to Bill Guerin on the power play.
GAME TWO: MONTREAL 4 at BOSTON 6 -April 21
Brian Rolston scored twice in the first 12 minutes - with Glen Murray and Bill Guerin in between - to
stoke Boston to a 4-0 lead. But Habs' Richard Zednik came back with two of his own along with Patrice
Brisebois to almost erase that lead. But Per-Johan Axelsson extended Boston's lead and Joe Thornton
potted an empty-netter to even up the series.
GAME THREE: BOSTON 3 at MONTREAL 5 -April 23
Saku Koivu scored the go-ahead goal in the third to put the Habs up 2 games
to 1. Going into that period Montreal had been trailing 3-1 but Donald Audette and Doug Gilmor tied things up. Joe Juneau capped the comeback
with an empty-netter. The other goal scorer for Montreal was Yanic Perreault (power play, first goal of the game) and Boston's three goals
belonged to Per-Johan Axelsson (shorthanded), Bill Guerin (power play) and Nick Boynton.
GAME FOUR: BOSTON 5 at MONTREAL 2 -April 25
Boston poured it on to even the series again on goals by P.J. Stock, Bill Guerin,
Martin Lapointe, Brian Rolston, and Sergei Samsonov.
Richard Zednik scored a pair of power play goals for Montreal.
GAME FIVE: MONTREAL 2 at BOSTON 1 -April 27
Montreal again takes a lead in the series, edging Boston on goals by Bill Lindsay
and Oleg Petrov in the first. Boston got a tally from Sergei Samsonov in the
second.
GAME SIX: BOSTON 1 at MONTREAL 2 -April 29
With another 2-1 win, the Habs eliminate the top-seeded Bruins in the biggest
upset of the year. Jose Theodore again held Boston to only one goal - Brian
Rolston, the first goal of the game - with another stellar performance. Montreal
got a goal from Donald Audette in the first as well. Yanic Perreault scored
a power play and game-winning tally in the third while Joe Thornton was off
for a double high sticking penalty (which was called late in the second).
Canadiens win series 4 games to 2.
#2 Philadelphia
Flyers vs. #7 Ottawa Senators
What a frustrating series for the Flyers! In another big upset
in the East, the Senators do the impossible: hold Philly to only two measley
goals the entire series.
GAME ONE: OTTAWA 0 at PHILADELPHIA 1 (OT)-April 17
Roman Cechmanek snuffed all 35 Ottawa shots and Ruslan Fedotenko scored in overtime to give the Flyers a Game One win.
GAME TWO: OTTAWA 3 at PHILADELPHIA 0 -April 20
Patrick Lalime had the shutout this time, making 33 saves to even up the series.
Daniel Alfredsson, Mike Fisher and Jody Hull scored for the Senators.
GAME THREE: PHILADELPHIA 0 at OTTAWA 3 -April 22
Again Lalime shuts out the flyboys and again the Senators score three goals:
Radek Bonk scored his first career playoff goal and Marian Hossa and Daniel
Alfredsson both scored empty net goals in a rare double empty netter game.
GAME FOUR: PHILADELPHIA 0 at OTTAWA 3 -April 24
Again Lalime shuts out the Flyers to tie the NHL record and again the
score is 3-0.
Wade Redden, Sami Salo and Marian Hossa scored for the Sens and Shawn McEachern
had two assists. Philly suddenly finds themselves in dire straits.
"I don't have any answers," said Flyers center Keith Primeau. "If I had answers,
we wouldn't be in the predicament we're in. We better find answers pretty soon,
though." Good call, Keith!!
GAME FIVE: OTTAWA 2 at PHILADELPHIA 1 (OT)-April 26
Hey, the Flyers scored another goal! It was the first goal of the game, even!
A power play goal by Dan Mcgillis. Oh, but they still lost the game in overtime.
7:33 into the extra period Martin Havlat sent the Flyers crashing to Earth.
After that Philly had the dubious distinction of scoring the fewest goals in
a five game series in the history of the NHL. Way to go, Philly! Daniel Afredsson,
who also assisted on the game-winner, got a power play goal in the first to
tie the game up.
Senators win series 4 games to 1.
#3 Carolina Hurricanes vs. #6 New Jersey Devils
The Devils eliminated Carolina easily in their
first playoff appearance as the Hurricanes a few years before. This time it
was the 'Canes who were higher-seeded and looking for revenge.
GAME ONE: NEW JERSEY 1 at CAROLINA 2 -April 17
Rod Brind'Amour and rookie Erik Cole scored 1:22 apart in the first and
Arturs Irbe snuffed 34 New Jersey shots as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the
Devils 2-1 in Game 1. Jersey's Patrick Elias had a power play goal in the third.
GAME TWO: NEW JERSEY 1 at CAROLINA 2 (OT)-April 19
15:26 into overtime Bates Battaglia scored to give Carolina a Game Two win and
a 2-0 series lead. Erik Cole scored the other goal for the 'Canes, his second
in as many games. It was the first time since the Hurricanes/Whalers won back-to-back
games in a playoff series since 1987. Bobby Holik scored for New Jersey.
GAME THREE: CAROLINA 0 at NEW JERSEY 4 -April 21
Brian Rafalski scored a pair of power play goals and New Jersey comes alive with
a Game Three win. Martin Brodeur only had to make 16 saves to get the shutout
and New Jersey's other two goals belonged to Brian Gionta and Bobby Holik.
All the goals but Gionta's were on the power play.
GAME FOUR: CAROLINA 1 at NEW JERSEY 3 -April 13
It was Bobby and the Brians again. New Jersey evens up the series on goals by
Rafalski, Gionta, and Holik. Aaron Ward scored for Carolina.
GAME FIVE: NEW JERSEY 2 at CAROLINA 3 (OT)-April 24
The 'Canes take a 3-2 series lead on a 3-2 win. 8:16 into overtime Josef Vasicek
put it away for the 'Canes. Kevin Weekes in his first playoff start stopped
40 shots. Martin Gelinas and Jeff O'Neill also scored for Carolina. New Jersey
got tallies from Bobby Holik and Patrick Elias.
GAME SIX: CAROLINA 1 at NEW JERSEY 0 -April 27
It was long-time Hurriacne/Whaler Ron Francis who sent New Jersey packing,
a second period power play goal that made Kevin Weekes' 32 saves and first
playoff shoutout worth it.
Hurricanes win series 4 games to 2.
#4 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. #5 New York Islanders
It was possibly the most grueling, intense, physical series
of the playoffs, fraught with injuries, hot tempers, and bad dispositions.
And it went the distance, to boot. Ah, good ol' hockey!
GAME ONE: NEW YORK ISLANDERS 1 at TORONTO 3 -April 18
Tie Domi scores the go-ahead goal as the Leafs rallied to beat the Islanders
and take Game One. It was fulfilling for Domi, who had missed the final three
games of a losing effort vs. New Jersey in 2001 because of a suspension. Islander
Kenny Jonsson got things going with a power play goal in the first but Toronto
answered with Darcy Tucker, Domi's goal, and an empty netter by Mats Sundin,
all in the third.
GAME TWO: NEW YORK ISLANDERS 0 at TORONTO 2 -April 20
Curtis Joseph made 31 saves to earn a shutout in Game Two for his Maple Leafs.
It was just his third game after recovering from a broken left hand which
was suffered on February 26. The goal scorers for Toronto were Alyn Mccauley
and Tomas Kaberle (empty netter), both in the third, as Chris Osgood, with
24 saves, held the Leafs scoreless through the first two.
GAME THREE: TORONTO 1 at NEW YORK ISLANDERS 6 -April 23
The Islanders, avoiding a perilous 0-3 series trailing, woke up and scored four
power play goals on their way to a 6-1 spanking of the Maple Leafs. Even though
it was Toronto who got things going with Alexander Mogilny's tally in the
first, the Islanders poured it on with Mark Parrish (power play), Brad Isbister
(power play), Michael Peca, Mark Parrish again (power play), Shawn Bates (power
play), and Dave Scatchard.
GAME FOUR: TORONTO 3 at NEW YORK ISLANDERS 4 -April 24
Shawn Bates scored on a penalty shot with a mere 2:32 left in regulation.
That gave the Islanders the win and knotted up the series. The Isles also
got goals from Alexi Yashin, Kip Miller, and Roman Hamrlik. Frustrations
exploded at the final buzzer; at exactly 20:00 of the third Chris Osgood
got called on a rare infraction - "goalie leaving the crease" - as Lapointe
got a roughing, Corson got a cross checking and roughing, and
Tie Domi got a game misconduct.
GAME FIVE: NEW YORK ISLANDERS 3 at TORONTO 6 -April 26
Bryan McCabe lit the lamp twice as the Leafs regained the lead in the series
with a 6-3 rout of the Islanders. They were without captain Mats Sundin who
was out indefinitely with a broken bone in his left wrist. The Islanders also
lost players to injuries, captain Michel Peca and defenseman Kenny Jonsson
who left
in the first period with a concussion and neck strain after being checked
into the boards by Gary Roberts.
He lay on the ice for three whole minutes afterwards. Kip Miller, Trent Hunter
and Adrian Aucoin scored for the Islanders. Toronto's other goals belonged
to Gary Valk, Jonas Hoglund (2), and Darcy Tucker.
GAME SIX: TORONTO 3 at NEW YORK ISLANDERS 5 -April 28
Mariusz Czerkawski scored two goals to keep the Islanders alive and force a
Game Seven. Peca was still out, suffering with a torn knee ligament.
Adrian Aucoin, Alexei Yashin and Miller also scored for the Islanders.
Wade Belak, Jonas Hoglund and Gary Roberts scored for the Leafs.
After Czerkawski's second tally the raucous Nassau Coliseum crowd chanted, "Michael
Peca! Michael Peca!"
GAME SEVEN: NEW YORK ISLANDERS 2 at TORONTO 4 -April 30
Alexander Mogilny scored twice (one of those an empty netter) and Curtis Joseph
stopped 31 shots as Toronto sends the Islanders home - finally - ending a
very violent and long series for both teams. The Leafs' other goals belonged
to Gary Roberts and Travis Green.
Alexei Yashin and Kip Miller scored for the Islanders
Maple Leafs win series 4 games to 3.
Round Two - Conference Semifinals
Western Conference
#1 Detroit Red Wings vs. #4 St. Louis Blues
After losing to Detroit in 1996, 1997, and 1998 in the playoffs,
history repeating itself was something the Blues had hoped would not happen.
Unfortunately for them, that's exactly what happened.
GAME ONE: ST. LOUIS 0 at DETROIT 2 -May 2
Dominik Hasek stopped all 23 St. Louis shots he faced as the Red Wings roll to
a Game One win. It wasn't all skill, part of it was luck, as the post was his
friend several times. Brett Hull and Pavel Datsyuk
scored for Detroit.
GAME TWO: ST. LOUIS 2 at DETROIT 3 -May 4
Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, and Luc Robitaille stoked the Wings to a 3-0
lead. In the third, St. Louis began a comeback, getting two goals from Scott
Mellanby, the second with the extra attacker out, but could not tie it up
and fell to 0-2 in the series.
GAME THREE: DETROIT 1 at ST. LOUIS 6 -May 7
It was all St. Louis in this unexpected rout as the Blues spanked the Wings 6-1
to half the Motor's City's series lead. Keith Tkachuk scored first at 5:41
of the first. 27 seconds later the Wings tied it up on a tally by Hull, but
after that the Blues poured it on with goals from Scott Mellanby, and two more
from Tkachuck for his first career playoff hat trick. Pavol Demitra added
a shorthanded tally in the third and Jamal Mayers scored unassisted on one
of the only two shots of the night that backup goaltender Manny Legace faced.
GAME FOUR: DETROIT 4 at ST. LOUIS 3 -May 9
Still riding momentum from the previous game, the Blues came out and scored first
again with Scott Young. But Brendan Shanahan, Jiri Fischer, Sergei Fedorov
and Steve Yzerman scored for Detroit for the 4-1 lead. The Blues, in the final
three minutes of the game, on a hail Mary, pulled Johnson and scored twice
(Scott Mellanby and Keith Tkachuk) but they still fell short and go down 3-1
in the series. The wind came out of their sales when captain Chris Pronger
sustained a torn right knee ligament midway through the first, ending his season.
(He did not come back from that injury - and a wrist operation - till the final
weeks of the next season).
GAME FIVE: ST. LOUIS 0 at DETROIT 4 -May 11
Former Blue Brendan Shanahan had two goals (one and empty-netter) and two
assists and Hasek only had to make 16 saves for the shoutout as the Red Wings
put the Blues away and head to round two. Detroit's other two goals came from
Jiri Fischer and Tomas Holmstrom in the second.
Red Wings win series 4 games to 1.
#2 Colorado Avalanche vs. #3 San Jose Sharks
A series that started out heavy on offense, both teams trading
routs, tapered down to disciplined low scoring games by the end. Colorado is
again taken to task by a lower seeded team.
GAME ONE: SAN JOSE 6 at COLORADO 3 -May 1
Sharks bite first, spanking the Avalanche 6-3. Teemu Selanne scored twice along
with goals by Mike Ricci, Patrick Marleau, Scott Thornton and Bryan Marchment.
Chris Drury, Greg De Vries, and Peter Forsberg scored for Colorado.
GAME TWO: SAN JOSE 2 at COLORADO 8 -May 4
Rob Blake gets two as Colorado blows the Sharks out of the water to even up
the series.
It was the most goals San Jose had allowed in a road playoff game and one short
of a franchise record for any postseason game. The other six Avalanche goals
came from Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, Greg De Vries, Milan Hejduk, Eric Messier,
and Dan Hinote. Patrick Marleau and Stephane Matteau scored for San Jose.
GAME THREE: COLORADO 4 at SAN JOSE 6 -May 6
In another outing heavy on the goal scoring, the Sharks beat up on the 'Lanche
again to take a 2-1 series lead. Patrick Marleau got the game-winner while
Owen Nolan tallied twice - once an empty netter.
Scott Thornton, Teemu Selanne and Adam Graves also scored for San Jose. Rob
Blake scored twice for Colorado, their other two came from Alex Tanguay and
Peter Forsberg (Chris Drury assisted on both of those).
GAME FOUR: COLORADO 4 at SAN JOSE 1 -May 8
Joe Sakic scores twice, Patrick Roy stops 19 of 20 San Jose shots as the Avalanche
even things up again. Rob Blake and Milan Hejduk (empty net) also scored for
the Avalanche. Teemu Selanne scored a power play goal in the second for the
Sharks.
GAME FIVE: SAN JOSE 5 at COLORADO 3 -May 11
See saw, see saw! San Jose again takes the lead after scoring three unanswered
goals in the third and rally to win 5-3 in enemy territory and take a 3-2 series
lead. Those goals belonged to Mike Ricci, Teemu Selanne, and Owen Nolan (empty
net). Marco Sturm and Niklas Sundstrom scored in the second. The three Avalanche
tallies that stoked them to a blown 3-0 lead belonged to Peter Forsberg, Mike
Keane, and Joe Sakic.
GAME SIX: COLORADO 2 at SAN JOSE 1 (OT)-May 13
Discipline and defense finally kicked in in this tight overtime win for the Avalanche.
Peter Forsberg forced the Game Seven on his goal at 2:47 into the extra period.
Other goals: Marcus Ragnarsson (SJ), Steven Reinprecht (COL).
GAME SEVEN: SAN JOSE 0 at COLORADO 1 -May 15
Patrick Roy snuffed 27 San Jose shots and Colorado advances to Round Three --
again. Roy extended his own obscene record with his 22nd career playoff shutout
and tied a record with his 11th Game 7. Forsberg scored for Colorado in the
second period.
Avalanche win series 4 games to 3.
Eastern Conference
#3 Carolina Hurricanes vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens
Montreal really didn't have much to lose since nobody had
even expected them to make it this far. That can sometimes be dangerous for
the other team. But that was not the case this time.
GAME ONE: MONTREAL 0 at CAROLINA 2 -May 3
Kevin Weekes got his second straight shoutout as the 'Canes take Game One. Ron
Francis and Erik Cole scored for Carolina. Montreal had a golden opportunity
to get some offense going during a five minute power play early in the first
(Jeff O'Neill harshly checked Sheldon Souray from behind and gave him a broken
hand; O'Neill also got a game misconduct) but they could not convert.
GAME TWO: MONTREAL 4 at CAROLINA 1 -May 5
Montreal evens the series on goals by Saku Koivu, Andrei Markov, Doug Gilmour and Bill Lindsay, even though, amazingly, they were
outshot 46-16. Jose Theodore stopped 45 shots, only allowing the goal by Rod Brind'Amour in the second.
GAME THREE: CAROLINA 1 at MONTREAL 2 (OT)-May 7
Donald Audette scored 2:26 into overtime to lift his Habs to a Game Three win
and take the lead in the series. Montreal's other goal came from Saku Koivu
in the first. Bates Battaglia tallied for the 'Canes.
GAME FOUR: CAROLINA 4 at MONTREAL 3 (OT)-May 9
Montreal had stoked themselves to a 3-0 lead, but blew it in the third as Sean
Hill, Bates Battaglia, and, with only 49 seconds to go with the extra attacker
out, Erik Cole scored to tie things up. Niclas Wallin scored on a slap shot through a screen 3:14 into overtime to give
Carolina a great comeback win to tie the series.
GAME FIVE: MONTREAL 1 at CAROLINA 5 -May 12
Artrus Irbe returned and tried to show that he was indeed worthy of being #1
after being benched for five games by Paul Maurice, snuffing all but one of
Montreal's 31 shots. That lone Habs goal was from Karl Dykhuis. Rod Brind'Amour,
Ron Francis, Tommy Westlund, and Bates Battaglia all scored for Carolina.
GAME SIX: CAROLINA 8 at MONTREAL 2 -May 13
Carolina makes Montreal their bitch as the Habs bend over and get ass-kicked
out of the playoffs. A hurricane blew them away in the first as Carolina scored
no less than five times in the first twenty minutes (Erik Cole, Erik Cole again,
Sean Hill, Josef Vasicek, Kevyn Adams). Then the Habs got one from Stephane
Quintal. But in the second Bates Battaglia, Sean Hill, and Jeff O'Neill score
to get the total to eight. Montreal's Donald Audette scored a power play goal
in the third.
Hurricanes win series 4 games to 2.
#4 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. #7 Ottawa Senators
The Senators, after being eliminated the past two years by
the Leafs, were questing for revenge. But revenge they didn't get, blowing
a series lead as Toronto forced a Game Seven and went on to the Conference
Finals. Ottawa still had never advanced beyond the second round.
GAME ONE: OTTAWA 5 at TORONTO 0 -April 24
Senators opened things up with a 5-0 whooping of some Leaf ass. Patrick Lalime
stopped 27 shots for the shutout. Martin Havlat, Radek Bonk and Shane Hnidy
each scored in the first twelve minutes and Todd White and Daniel Alfredsson
potted second period goals.
GAME TWO: OTTAWA 2 at TORONTO 3 (3OT)-April 26
Gary Roberts was the hero of Game Two for Toronto, scoring 4:30 into the third
extra period to even up the series. Travis Green and Darcy Tucker had Toronto's
other goals and Sami Salo and Mike Fisher tallied for the Sens.
GAME THREE: TORONTO 2 at OTTAWA 3 -April 28
Magnus Arvedson got two goals and Daniel Alfredsson got the game
winner as Ottawa regained the series lead. They almost blew it, having to fend
off a late Toronto rally with two goals in the final three minutes scored by
Gary Roberts and - with the extra attacker out - Travis Green.
GAME FOUR: TORONTO 2 at OTTAWA 1 -April 30
Alyn McCauley got two second period goals to again even up the series for the
Leafs. Wade Redden scored a power play goal for the Senators, who almost tied
the game up with 25.4 seconds remaining with a disallowed goal.
GAME FIVE: OTTAWA 4 at TORONTO 2 -May 2
Alfredsson scored the game winner at 17:59 of the third after knocking the shit
out of Darcy Tucker from behind, drawing much ire from Toronto who wanted a
call and the goal disallowed. The crowd turned unruly quickly, tossing trash
on the ice, aiming for officials. Tucker eventually got up on his own. Wade
Redden, Marian Hossa, and Radek Bonk (empty net) also scored for the Senators.
Gary Roberts and Alyn Mccauley tallied for the Leafs.
GAME SIX: TORONTO 4 at OTTAWA 3 -April 30
Mogilny scored the game winner early in the third, Gary Roberts had a goal and
an assist along with Bryan McCabe's goal as the Leafs force a Game Seven. Marian
Hossa, Daniel Alfredsson and Todd White tallied for the Sens.
GAME SEVEN: OTTAWA 0 at TORONTO 3 -May 2
Mogilny strikes again, scoring twice on Toronto's way to a come-from behind series
win, shutting out the Senators and sending them packing in Game Seven. Curtis
Joseph only had to stop 19 shots to get the shutout. Bryan McCabe also scored.
Maple Leafs win series 4 games to 3.
Round Three - Conference Finals (Stanley Cup Semifinals)
Western Conference
#1 Detroit Red Wings vs. #2 Colorado Avalanche
It's the ultimate Western Conference battle royale, Red Wings
vs. Avalanche. The two best teams in the west duke it out, explosive
offense vs. explosive offense, tight defense vs. tight defense. Wife beater
Roy vs. whiny bitch Hasek. Who will come out on top?!?
GAME ONE: COLORADO 3 at DETROIT 5 -May 18
A rare natural hat trick from Darren McCarty in the third lifts Detroit to a
Game One win! It was his first career hat trick - playoffs or regular season.
He had one other in an exhibition game. The other two Red Wings goals belonged
to Tomas Holmstrom and Brett Hull. Colorado scored the first goal of the series,
a power play goal by Joe Sakic early in the first. Milan Hejduk and Alex
Tanguay (power play in the third) also scored.
GAME TWO: COLORADO 4 at DETROIT 3 (OT)-May 20
Chris Drury scores his third overtime playoff goal to lift his Avalanche to a
4-3 victory and even up the series. Forsberg had one of the other goals and
an assist. Boyd Devereaux, Kirk Maltby and Nicklas Lidstrom tallied for Detroit.
The other two Colorado goals came from Alex Tanguay and Greg De Vries.
GAME THREE: DETROIT 2 at COLORADO 1 (OT)-May 22
Fredrik Olausson scored at 12:44 of the extra
period as Detroit wins to take a 2-1 series
lead. The Red Wings dominated, outshooting their opponent 42-21 with Roy doing
all he could to keep it from being a blowout. It was Hasek, who had 20 saves,
who set up the game-winning goal, clearing a loose puck to Yzerman at center
ice, who found Olausson, who then scored his first playoff goal since April 18,
1992 for the Winnipeg Jets vs. Vancouver. Rob Blake, who
got things going with a power play goal in the first, had the lone Colorado
goal. Detroit tied it on a Luc Robitaille goal in the second.
GAME FOUR: DETROIT 2 at COLORADO 3 -May 25
Colorado ties the series again, with Chris Drury striking again late in the third.
The other two Avalanche goals came from Steven Reinprecht and Joe Sakic. Sergei
Federov scored a shorthanded tally in the second to tie it at 1. The Sakic
and Drury goals put the 'Lanche up 3-1, but the Wings came back and got one
from Brett Hull with three seconds left with the extra attacker out.
GAME FIVE: COLORADO 2 at DETROIT 1 (OT)-May 27
Another overtime game and another Colorado win puts them up 3-2 in the series.
6:24 into the extra period Peter Forsberg put the game away, catching the Wings
on a line change. But Forsberg, who was fortunate that the linesmen didn't
see it, was apparently offsides on his breakway play. Steven Reinprecht drew
first blood in the first and Detroit tied it 54 seconds into the third on an
Yzerman power play goal.
GAME SIX: DETROIT 2 at COLORADO 0 -May 29
Brendan Shanahan and Darren McCarty score as Hasek shuts out the Avalanche
with 24 saves to even up the series.
GAME SEVEN: COLORADO 0 at DETROIT 7 -May 31
Hasek becomes the first goalie with five shoutouts in one postseason as his Red
Wings absolutely destroy the Avalanche with a very decisive Game Seven and
series win. Tomas Holmstrom scored two goals and Sergei Fedorov, Luc Robitaille,
Brett Hull, Fredrik Olausson and Pavel Datsyuk each tallied for the Red Wings
as they move on to face the Hurricanes in the Finals. Also Colorado's four
straight Game Seven winning streak comes to an end, which had dated back to
a loss to Dallas in 2000.
Red Wings win series 4 games to 3.
Eastern Conference
#3 Carolina Hurricanes vs. #4 Toronto Maple Leafs
All of a sudden Carolina has a lot more fans! Hmmm...wonder
why? Anyway, Curtis Joseph of the
Leafs gets as close to a Stanley Cup ring as he probably ever will.
GAME ONE: TORONTO 2 at CAROLINA 1 -May 16
Leafs, minus nine regular players - casualties of the previous two series - win
Game One as Alexander Mogilny and Jonas Hoglund score
and Cujo stops 31 of 32 Carolina shots. The lone Hurricane goal came from Jeff
O'Neill, a power play goal in the first.
GAME TWO: TORONTO 1 at CAROLINA 2 (OT)-May 19
13:42 into overtime Niclas Wallin scored to give Carolina their first
win in the series to tie it up. Wallin had been a healthy scratch in 29 games
and had only one goal in the 52 games he played in the regular season. But
this was his second overtime winning goal in the playoffs. Bret Hedican scored
the first goal of the game in the third for Carolina and Toronto's Alyn Mccauley
tied it with only eight seconds left with the extra attacker out.
GAME THREE: CAROLINA 2 at TORONTO 1 (OT)-May 21
Another day, another 2-1 overtime win for Carolina. This time Jeff O'Neill was
the hero 6:01 into the extra period. Ron Francis was the other Carolina goal
scorer. Toronto's Bryan Mccabe tied it in the second on a power play goal.
GAME FOUR: CAROLINA 3 at TORONTO 0 -May 23
Arturs Irbe had to stop 31 shots to get his first playoff shutout to help his
Carolina team jump to a commanding 3-1 series lead. Sami Kapanen and Ron Francis
each had a goal and assist. Jaroslav Svoboda had the other Carolina goal.
GAME FIVE: TORONTO 1 at CAROLINA 0 -May 25
The Maple Leafs stay alive as Darcy Tucker scores in the first and Curtis Joseph
fends off all 27 shots he faced.
GAME SIX: CAROLINA 2 at TORONTO 1 (OT)-May 28
In yet another overtime game Carolina comes up big, eliminating the Maple Leafs
in front of their silent, stunned home fans 8:05 into overtime on a goal by
Martin Gelinas. It will be their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in their
23-year history (Whalers and Hurricanes). The 'Canes scored first, in the third
period, on an unassisted Jeff O'Neill goal. Like in Game Two, Toronto tied
it up with the extra attacker out with 22 seconds left on a goal by Mats Sundin.
Curtis Joseph continues his quest to never win a Stanley Cup.
Hurricanes win series 4 games to 2.
Round Four - Stanley Cup Finals
Detroit Red Wings vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals: not a big surprise.
Carolina Hurricanes: Wait...they're in the Finals?? How did this happen?
Detroit easily motors to yet another championship, as most hockey fans had
predicted. Carolina gives the term underdog a new meaning as Detroit was
one of the biggest favorites to win in NHL history.
GAME ONE: CAROLINA 3 at DETROIT 2 (OT)-June 4
Carolina actually draws first blood in this series, stunning the rabid Detroit
home fans with a 3-2 overtime victory to start off the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals.
Only 58 seconds into the extra period Ron Francis scored, knocking a pass from
Jeff O'Neill over Hasek's pad. Hurricanes are now 7-1 in overtime in '02,
the second most overtime playoff wins in NHL history (Montreal had 10 in '93).
Sean Hill and O'Neill also tallied for the Hurricanes; Sergei Fedorov and Kirk
Maltby scored for the Wings.
GAME TWO: CAROLINA 1 at DETROIT 3 -June 6
Nicklas Lidstrom scored the game-winner, a power play goal with 5:08 remaining
in the third and a mere 13 seconds later Kris Draper scored an insurance tally
as Detroit evens the series up. They dominated, outshooting the 'Canes 30-17
(13 to 6 in the third!). Irbe made some great saves to preserve the tie as another
overtime was looming, but fell short. Kirk Maltby got things started off with
a shorthanded goal in the first and Carolina tied it with their own shorthanded
goal (Rod Brind'Amour) about six minutes later.
GAME THREE: DETROIT 3 at CAROLINA 2 (3OT)-June 8
Carolina didn't win this overtime game! Ancient center Igor Larionov,
on his second goal of the game, 14:47 into triple overtime scored to give his
Red Wings a Game Three win and 2-1 series lead. At 41 he was the oldest player
in the NHL at the time and became the oldest player to score a goal in the Cup
finals. It was the third longest Finals game in NHL history and longest since
Brett Hull scored in triple overtime in 1999. The 'Canes were
actually close to winning it in regulation, but Hull deflected a shot by Lidstrom
into the net with only 1:14 left in the third. The two Carolina goals came from
Josef Vasicek and Jeff O'Neill.
GAME FOUR: DETROIT 3 at CAROLINA 0 -June 10
Dominik Hasek snuffed 17 Carolina shots for his record sixth shutout of the playoffs and
the Wings take a commanding 3-1 series lead. Brett Hull scores and becomes the
fourth player in NHL history with 100 playoff goals. Larionov also strikes again
along with Brendan Shanahan.
GAME FIVE: CAROLINA 1 at DETROIT 3 -June 13
Detroit wins its third Stanley Cup championship in six years and crybaby Hasek
finally gets his first and maybe last Stanley Cup win. Afterwards he said he
was retiring (and then two years later came back of course). Coach Scotty Bowman,
perhaps the greatest in NHL history, also announced his retirement before skating
up for the victory lap around the arena. Tomas Holmstrom got things going in
the second. Shanahan followed that up with a power play goal. Carolina's Jeff
O'Neill answered with a power play goal, but could not muster any more offense.
Shanahan capped it off with an empty netter in the third.
Red Wings win series 4 games to 1.
DETROIT RED WINGS WIN THE STANLEY CUP
Conn Smythe Trophy
most valuable player in the 2002 playoffs:
Nicklas Lidstrom (DET); 5G, 11A (16P), +6, 23GP. First European to earn it.
Sources:
http://nhl.com/cupcrazy2002/firstroundsked.shtml
http://nhl.com/cupcrazy2002/secondroundsked.shtml
http://www.nhl.com/cupcrazy2002/conferencefinalsked.shtml
http://www.nhl.com/cupcrazy2002/playoffsked.shtml
http://nhl.com/cupcrazy2002/index.html
http://www.hockeynut.com/0102/playoffs2002/