The Best Game 7 Moments in Stanley Cup Finals history
Before we really get started with this list -- which is a look at the best Game 7s in Stanley Cup finals history -- we need to start here: Rangers over Devils, 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. "Matteau, Matteau, Matteau!!!" One of the most incredible hockey moments, and calls, ever. Remember: Rangers hadn't won a Cup in over five decades at this point:
That led to the Rangers beating the Canucks in the Cup Finals (some refer to it as the Tim Robbins/Susan Sarandon finals, as they maintain residences in those locales) in another classic Game 7. This was for the Cup. Here's the end of it:
Most really good Stanley Cup Game 7s have been contested in the past decade, although we're gonna go back a little father for the next clip. 1971: Blackhawks vs. Canadiens. Absolutely iconic clash if you're a hockey fan. You call 'dat "Original Six." Here are clips. Note the off-coloring. That's because the film it was taken from is old and wrinkled:
Back to more modern days. An extremely emotional Cup Game 7 was Avalanche vs. Devils in 2001. Ray Bourque, who had played for over two decades at that point, finally won his first silver chalice. Side note of some interest: the person writing this was in jail for underage attempt to purchase beer the night this happened. Missed it live. Thank God for YouTube, eh? Speaking of --
Some people like to give mad love to 2003 (Ducks vs. Devils) and 2006 (Hurricanes vs. Oilers). Those were decent Game 7s, but nothing great (in our opinion), although Game 7 in 2006 woulda been awesome if the Oilers, a No. 8 seed out of the West that year, had won it all.
A massively underrated Stanley Cup Finals Game 7, though -- part of a massively underrated overall series -- was Lightning vs. Flames in 2004. Tampa Bay isn't necessarily a hockey hotbed, although it became close-to-it in May and June 2004. Calgary is, well, like Cujo when it comes to hockey, sans Danny Pintauro. Too soon? (Too late?) Here's clips of that Game 7:
It should be noted that Game 7 only happened (duh) because of Game 6, which is honestly one of the more incredible hockey games you'll see from across the past few years. And since we started this list with a Game 6 setting up a Game 7, we'll end it with a full-circle inverse (sounds like an X-Games thinger) and show you some of that Game 6 from 2004. We guarantee you that if you run a few of these clips for your friends on Friday, June 12, 2009 -- Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, which hopefully you're watching at Landsdowne Road or Foley's -- you will be the belle of the ball. OK, no guarantees on that. But at least you'll be avoiding painfully awkward silences like the one Sidney Crosby'll have to deal with when this doesn't end well.
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