| | |
| Line 2,034: | Line 2,034: |
| | The Rangers were making their tenth appearance in the Final, first since {{scfy|1979}}. For Vancouver, it was their second, first since {{scfy|1982}}. With the Rangers having 112 points against Vancouver's 85, the 27 point difference was the largest point differential between two teams in a Stanley Cup Final since 1982 when 41 points separated the New York Islanders (118) and Vancouver (77).<ref>{{cite news|quote=The 27-point differential is the greatest, ironically, between Stanley Cup finalists since the last time the Canucks made the trip to this mega-city 12 springs ago.|title=Paper rout for Rangers|date=May 31, 1994|first=Jim|last=Jamieson|newspaper=Vancouver Province|page=A54}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=1982 Canucks were unlikeliest of heroes|last=Olson|first=Arv|newspaper=The Vancouver Sun|date=June 1, 1994|page=E3}}</ref> | | The Rangers were making their tenth appearance in the Final, first since {{scfy|1979}}. For Vancouver, it was their second, first since {{scfy|1982}}. With the Rangers having 112 points against Vancouver's 85, the 27 point difference was the largest point differential between two teams in a Stanley Cup Final since 1982 when 41 points separated the New York Islanders (118) and Vancouver (77).<ref>{{cite news|quote=The 27-point differential is the greatest, ironically, between Stanley Cup finalists since the last time the Canucks made the trip to this mega-city 12 springs ago.|title=Paper rout for Rangers|date=May 31, 1994|first=Jim|last=Jamieson|newspaper=Vancouver Province|page=A54}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=1982 Canucks were unlikeliest of heroes|last=Olson|first=Arv|newspaper=The Vancouver Sun|date=June 1, 1994|page=E3}}</ref> |
| | | | |
| − | In a back-and-forth series that went the maximum, one lengthy drought ended and another began. The Rangers won the Cup, their fourth title, and first since {{scfy|1940}},<ref>{{harvnb|Cole|2004|p=128}}</ref> while the Canucks were the last Canadian team to play for the Stanley Cup until {{scfy|2004}} [[Calgary Flames]].<ref>{{cite web|quote=Calgary is the first Canadian team to reach the Stanley Cup finals since the 1994 Vancouver Canucks...lost...to the New York Rangers.|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2004/05/19/sharks_flames040519.html|title=Flames reach Stanley Cup finals|date=May 20, 2004|accessdate=February 3, 2012|work=CBC Sports|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> At the time, Canada had not had a Finals absence last as long as that from 1994-2004 (10 Years). | + | In a back-and-forth series that went the maximum, one lengthy drought ended and another began. The Rangers won the Cup, their fourth title, and first since {{scfy|1940}},<ref>{{harvnb|Cole|2004|p=128}}</ref> while the Canucks were the last Canadian team to play for the Stanley Cup until {{scfy|2004}} [[Calgary Flames]].<ref>{{cite web|quote=Calgary is the first Canadian team to reach the Stanley Cup finals since the 1994 Vancouver Canucks...lost...to the New York Rangers.|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2004/05/19/sharks_flames040519.html|title=Flames reach Stanley Cup finals|date=May 20, 2004|accessdate=February 3, 2012|work=CBC Sports|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> At the time, Canada had not had a Finals absence last as long as that from 1994-2004 (10 Years).<ref>{{cite news|title=Calgary is Crazed as Playoff Finals Return to Canada|first=Derrick|last=Goold|newspaper=The St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=May 29, 2004|page=OT9|quote=The 10 years since Vancouver lost game seven to the New York Rangers to now is the longest span Canada has ever gone without a visit from the finals.}}</ref> |
| | | | |
| | {{NHLPlayoffs | | {{NHLPlayoffs |
Latest revision as of 21:31, 14 May 2012
The 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League (NHL), began after the conclusion of the 1993–94 NHL season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-seven series for the Stanley Cup.
The playoffs ended when the New York Rangers defeated the Vancouver Canucks in the seventh game of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals.[1] However, this would be the last time Canada would enjoy a Stanley Cup Finals appearance until 2004.
For the first time in history, all four former WHA teams (Edmonton, Hartford, Quebec, and Winnipeg) failed to make the playoffs in the same year. This would not happen again until 2007 a decade after the three latter teams relocated. For the third time in history, every Original Six team made the playoffs in the same season. This also happened in 1978 and 1987, and would happen again in 1996.
Wayne Gretzky missed the playoffs for the first of four times in his career.
[edit] Playoff bracket
| | Conference Quarter-finals | | Conference Semi-finals | | Conference Finals | | Stanley Cup Finals |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 1 | New York Rangers | 4 | | | 1 | New York Rangers | 4 | |
| | 8 | New York Islanders | 0 | | | 7 | Washington Capitals | 1 | |
| |
| | 2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 2 | | Eastern Conference |
| |
| | 7 | Washington Capitals | 4 | |
| | | | 1 | New York Rangers | 4 | |
| | |
| | | 3 | New Jersey Devils | 3 | |
| | 3 | New Jersey Devils | 4 | |
| |
| | 6 | Buffalo Sabres | 3 | |
| |
| | |
| |
| | 4 | Boston Bruins | 4 | | 3 | New Jersey Devils | 4 |
| |
| | 5 | Montreal Canadiens | 3 | | | 4 | Boston Bruins | 2 | |
| | | | E1 | New York Rangers | 4 |
| | | (Pairings are re-seeded after the first round.) | |
| | | W7 | Vancouver Canucks | 3 |
| | 1 | Detroit Red Wings | 3 | | | 3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4 |
| |
| | 8 | San Jose Sharks | 4 | | | 8 | San Jose Sharks | 3 | |
| |
| |
| | 2 | Calgary Flames | 3 |
| |
| | 7 | Vancouver Canucks | 4 | |
| | | | 3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 1 |
| | |
| | | 7 | Vancouver Canucks | 4 | |
| | 3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4 | |
| |
| | 6 | Chicago Blackhawks | 2 | | | Western Conference |
| |
| |
| | 4 | Dallas Stars | 4 | | 4 | Dallas Stars | 1 |
| |
| | 5 | St. Louis Blues | 0 | | | 7 | Vancouver Canucks | 4 | |
- During the first three rounds home ice is determined by seeding number, not position on the bracket. In the Finals the team with the better regular season record has home ice.
[edit] Conference Quarter-finals
[edit] Eastern Conference
[edit] (1) New York Rangers vs. (8) New York Islanders
| New York Rangers won series 4-0 | |
| | |
[edit] (2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (7) Washington Capitals
| April 17 | Washington Capitals | | 5-3 | | Pittsburgh Penguins | Civic Arena | |
| April 19 | Washington Capitals | | 1-2 | | Pittsburgh Penguins | Civic Arena | |
| April 21 | Pittsburgh Penguins | | 0-2 | | Washington Capitals | USAir Arena | |
| April 23 | Pittsburgh Penguins | | 1-4 | | Washington Capitals | USAir Arena | |
| April 25 | Washington Capitals | | 2-3 | | Pittsburgh Penguins | Civic Arena | |
| April 27 | Pittsburgh Penguins | | 3-6 | | Washington Capitals | USAir Arena | |
| Washington won series 4-2 | |
| | |
[edit] (3) New Jersey Devils vs. (6) Buffalo Sabres
| New Jersey won series 4-3 | |
| | |
[edit] (4) Boston Bruins vs. (5) Montreal Canadiens
Game 6 was the final playoff game in the Montreal Forum.
[edit] Western Conference
[edit] (1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (8) San Jose Sharks
[edit] (2) Calgary Flames vs. (7) Vancouver Canucks
[edit] (3) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (6) Chicago Blackhawks
Game 6 was the last playoff game at Chicago Stadium.
[edit] (4) Dallas Stars vs. (5) St. Louis Blues
Game 4 was the last playoff game at St. Louis Arena.
[edit] Conference Semi-finals
[edit] (1) New York Rangers vs. (7) Washington Capitals
| May 5 | New York Rangers | | 3-0 | | Washington Capitals | USAir Arena | |
| May 7 | New York Rangers | | 2-4 | | Washington Capitals | USAir Arena | |
[edit] (3) New Jersey Devils vs. (4) Boston Bruins
| New Jersey wins series 4-2 | |
| | |
[edit] (3) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (8) San Jose Sharks
[edit] (4) Dallas Stars vs. (7) Vancouver Canucks
[edit] Eastern Conference Final
[edit] (1) New York Rangers vs. (3) New Jersey Devils
This was the first Conference Final since 1985 not to feature either the Boston Bruins or the Montreal Canadiens. New York was trying to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1979, while the Devils were trying to advance to their first-ever Cup Finals. The Rangers and Devils finished 1–2 respectively in the NHL during the regular season. Despite the two teams strong regular season records, the Rangers entered the series heavily favored as they had swept the regular season six game series with the Devils. This series was the second time that the Rangers and Devils had met in the post season.
With a minute remaining in game one at Madison Square Garden, New York was leading 3–2. However, Devils forward Claude Lemieux tied the game on a scramble in front of New York goaltender Mike Richter. The Devils went on to win the game on Stephane Richer's breakaway goal at 15:23 of the second overtime. The Rangers evened the series, winning game two in a 4–0 shutout. The series then turned to the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ, for games three and four. Like game one, game three went into double overtime but this time it was New York who won, 3–2, on Stephane Matteau's goal at 6:13 of the second overtime period. The Devils, winning by a final score of 3–1 in game four, evened the series at 2-2. The Devils took the series lead with a 4-1 win at Madison Square Garden in game five.
Despite the fact that his team trailed in the series 3–2, Rangers captain Mark Messier made a highly publicized guarantee that New York would win game six. After trailing New Jersey by a score of 2–1 after two periods, Messier himself scored a third-period hat trick to rally the Rangers to a 4–2 victory. Rangers Coach Mike Keenan said of the guarantee, "Mark was sending a message to his teammates that he believed together we could win. He put on an amazing performance to make sure it happened."[2]
Game seven, played at Madison Square Garden, was a goaltending battle between New Jersey's Martin Brodeur and New York's Mike Richter. Brian Leetch gave the Rangers a 1–0 lead in the second period. Richter, who had shut out the Devils for over 59 minutes, conceded Devils forward Valeri Zelepukin the game-tying goal with just 7.7 seconds remaining in regulation. The two teams played into double overtime for the third time in the series, and for the second time in the series, it was Stephane Matteau who scored the game winner. With his a wrap-around goal coming at 4:24 of the second overtime period, the Rangers won the game 2–1 and the series 4–3.
The Rangers and Devils would later meet again in the Eastern Conference Finals 18 years later.
[edit] Western Conference Final
[edit] (3) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (7) Vancouver Canucks
The Maple Leafs were hoping to make it to Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since winning the championship in 1967, while the Canucks had not made it to the Cup Finals since their Cinderella run in 1982.
Toronto won game one at Maple Leaf Gardens on Peter Zezel's goal at 16:55 of the first overtime period. After that, however, the Maple Leafs could not seem to slow down the bigger, more-powerful Canucks. Vancouver edged Toronto 4–3 in game two, and won shutouts at the Pacific Coliseum in games three and four, by scores of 2–0 and 4–0 respectively. Down three games to one and facing elimination, the Maple Leafs played much better in game five on Tuesday, May 24 in Vancouver. They pushed Vancouver to double overtime but it was Vancouver forward Greg Adams who beat Leafs goaltender Felix Potvin just 14 seconds into the second overtime period to give the Canucks a 4–3 win and a 4–1 series win.
[edit] Stanley Cup Final
The Rangers were making their tenth appearance in the Final, first since 1979. For Vancouver, it was their second, first since 1982. With the Rangers having 112 points against Vancouver's 85, the 27 point difference was the largest point differential between two teams in a Stanley Cup Final since 1982 when 41 points separated the New York Islanders (118) and Vancouver (77).[3][4]
In a back-and-forth series that went the maximum, one lengthy drought ended and another began. The Rangers won the Cup, their fourth title, and first since 1940,[5] while the Canucks were the last Canadian team to play for the Stanley Cup until 2004 Calgary Flames.[6] At the time, Canada had not had a Finals absence last as long as that from 1994-2004 (10 Years).[7]
[edit] References
- Notes
- ^ Cole, Stephen (2004). The Best of Hockey Night in Canada. Toronto: McArthur & Company. p. 128. ISBN 1-55278-408-8.
- ^ Morrison 2008, p. 106
- ^ Jamieson, Jim (May 31, 1994). "Paper rout for Rangers". Vancouver Province: p. A54. "The 27-point differential is the greatest, ironically, between Stanley Cup finalists since the last time the Canucks made the trip to this mega-city 12 springs ago."
- ^ Olson, Arv (June 1, 1994). "1982 Canucks were unlikeliest of heroes". The Vancouver Sun: p. E3.
- ^ Cole 2004, p. 128
- ^ "Flames reach Stanley Cup finals". CBC Sports. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. May 20, 2004. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2004/05/19/sharks_flames040519.html. Retrieved February 3, 2012. "Calgary is the first Canadian team to reach the Stanley Cup finals since the 1994 Vancouver Canucks...lost...to the New York Rangers."
- ^ Goold, Derrick (May 29, 2004). "Calgary is Crazed as Playoff Finals Return to Canada". The St. Louis Post-Dispatch: p. OT9. "The 10 years since Vancouver lost game seven to the New York Rangers to now is the longest span Canada has ever gone without a visit from the finals."
- Bibliography
[edit] See also
| |
|---|
| | | 1890s–1900s | |
|---|
| | | 1910s–1920s | |
|---|
| | | 1930s–1940s | |
|---|
| | | 1950s–1960s | |
|---|
| | | 1970s–1980s | |
|---|
| | | 1990s–2000s | |
|---|
| | | 2010s–2020s | |
|---|
| | | See also | |
|---|
| | | |
|
