The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

**DrJones** · 06-04-2014, 02:49 PM

Re: The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

Originally posted by ImTellinTim

I haven't seen Canucks/Wild yet, so I'm guessing that didn't make the cut. I'm sad.

I was looking forward to your laments over Cloutier.

If I ever do a "Top 10 Playoff Series That Made Me Angry" list, it'll be there.

**DrJones** · 06-04-2014, 03:18 PM

Re: The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

#10 - Oilers def. Stars 4-3 (1997 West Quarterfinal)

I bet nobody expected this one.

High stakes? Legendary teams? No and no. But this series was flat-out fun. The Oilers hadn't been in the playoffs for 5 years (an eternity in Edmonton), and their fans were jacked. The Stars were a very talented, not-quite-ready-for-prime-time, Cup contender. The last 5 games were all decided by one goal, 3 in OT. Edmonton erased a 3-goal deficit in the last 4 minutes of the 3rd period in Game 3 before winning in OT. This series was probably CuJo's high water mark. Tremendous entertainment.

(12:45 to 16:15 for G3 highlights)
(31:40 to 39:15 for G7 highlights)

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**DrJones** · 06-04-2014, 03:38 PM

Re: The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

#9 - Penguins def. Capitals 4-3 (2009 East Semifinal)

Yeah, I know. Game 7 was a dud. Crosby vs Ovechkin is a very tired narrative by now. But this was awesome firewagon hockey, perhaps the peak of the "New NHL" era. Two generational talents in their absolute prime going head-to-head for the first and only time.

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PS: Of all the series I've listed in this thread, this is the only one that I didn't see a single game of while it was actually going on. I was in Europe for the entire 2nd and 3rd rounds, and got back to Canada just in time for Games 6 & 7 of PIT/DET. But I watched every PIT/WSH (as well as CAR/BOS, ANA/DET, and (sigh) CHI/VAN) game in their entirety on the NHL Network during the summer.

**DrJones** · 06-04-2014, 04:50 PM

Re: The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

#8 - Rangers def. Canucks 4-3 (1994 Stanley Cup Final)

**SidVish** · 06-04-2014, 05:55 PM

Re: The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

I was waiting to see that one you just posted.

Great thread. This is bringing up all kinds of emotions both good and bad.

**DrJones** · 06-05-2014, 12:10 AM

Re: The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

#7 - Flames def. Oilers 4-3 (1986 Smythe Final)

The difference between hockey of the mid-80s and early 90s is striking. There's some definite LOL-worthy goaltending here (check out Fuhr allowing a combo Cloutier/Buckner goal in the first clip), but man, was there a lot of skill and hatred on display.

The Flames were the 2nd highest scoring team in the NHL with 354 goals. The Oilers scored 426. Yes, that's correct: Edmonton scored 72 more goals than any other team. BTW, the Blackhawks led the league with 267 goals this season.

I can't really find any highlight packages aside from complete games, so I'll let this guy explain things, LOL.

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Unless you were watching hockey then, it's hard to explain how unbeatable the Oilers seemed back then (the 80s were not exactly a period of parity). The Flames were a consistent thorn in Edmonton's side (as Calgary could hang with them, whereas the Oilers pretty much annihilated all others). But even then, an act of God was required to beat them. And as it so happens...

The Oilers were first in the league with 119 points to the Flames' 89, so even reaching a Game 7 against the back-to-back champs was a major accomplishment. Calgary shockingly jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Edmonton tied the score and were carrying the play. 13-year-old me thought the Flames were toast. We pick up the action with 5 minutes gone in the 3rd period:

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What would've happened if the greatest gaffe in hockey history didn't take place? Do the Oilers win 5 straight Stanley Cups, or would they let off the gas just a little, allowing the Flyers to beat them the following year? Would Patrick Roy become Patrick Roy (because those '86 Habs weren't beating the Oilers, trust me)? Would Pocklington have sold Gretzky to LA in the summer of '88 if the Oilers were going for a record 6th straight Cup?

**DrJones** · 06-05-2014, 12:43 AM

Re: The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

#6 - Red Wings def. Avalanche 4-3 (2002 West Final)

"We come to it at last, the great battle of our time." - Gandalf the White

The fifth and final clash of titans. Two Cups apiece. The Avs had won 3 of the first 4 playoff meetings, but couldn't get past Dallas in '99 or '00. Sakic, Forsberg, Roy, and Blake (plus youngsters Drury and Tanguay) gave Colorado an edge in star power against every team in the league. Every team but one, that is.

Here are the Red Wings' top 9 scorers during the 2001/02 season, in order:

Brendan Shanahan
Sergei Fedorov
Brett Hull
Nicklas Lidstrom
Luc Robitaille
Steve Yzerman
Igor Larionov
Chris Chelios
Pavel Datsyuk

Now read that again. Oh yeah, and Dominik Hasek was in goal.

Now a lot of these stars were at the tail end of their primes (or well past them). But still: Good Lord. This was the Heavyweight Title Fight to determine the champion of the Dead Puck Era. (Cue Devils fans sulking in the corner.)

The only thing that keeps this from the top spot is the Game 7 blowout and the general crappiness of the era. (Despite being stacked with all-time greats, nobody on either team scored 80 points in 01/02.)

But it was an epic nonetheless. Enjoy.

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As always, thanks to Dan Cloutier for making all of this possible.

**Psyblast** · 06-05-2014, 01:02 AM

Re: The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

I can tell you in vivid detail where I was for every single game of that series.

This series is why I could pick Patrick Roy's wife out of a police lineup.

This series is why Selanne's goal for the Ducks in OT on LOLja's giveaway is only the second most heartbreaking Game 5 of my life, even with the Red Wings rebounding to win the final two.

The funny thing is, this wasn't supposed to be the final chapter of the rivalry. Nobody watching that series at the time, including the leadup to Game 7, was thinking, "this is it for this rivalry, winner takes all, the final round." The Red Wings replaced Hasek with CuJo, the Avalanche signed Selanne and Kariya a year later on the same day; I remember an old issue of The Hockey News with a cover talking about "the great arms race" between Detroit and Colorado.

But then Minnesota retired Patrick Roy in Game 7 OT, Giguere swept the Red Wings, Kariya and Selanne had absolutely miserable seasons for Colorado, Hasek decided to unretire and completely nuked the Red Wings' financial situation, along with the locker room, and by the time the two teams would meet again in the playoffs, everybody was gone save for fossilized versions of Sakic and Forsberg and Foote and a couple old relics on Detroit's side. The blood feud was over. The arms race ended with Patrick Roy being jeered off the JLA ice and sitting with a towel wrapped around his neck.

Btw, has anybody ever accomplished what Peter Forsberg accomplished in the 2002 playoffs? He missed the ENTIRE season, and then led the playoffs in scoring! While only playing three rounds!! I hated Forsberg as much as I hated Lemieux on those ******* Colorado teams (for very different reasons, of course).

**Shakes** · 06-05-2014, 11:48 AM

Re: The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

Originally posted by DrJones

#8 - Rangers def. Canucks 4-3 (1994 Stanley Cup Final)

I was wondering where on the list you were going to put this series as I kind of figured this one was going to be there. I always thought that this series was a bit overrated personally because I saw this in 87 (and because I just really hate the team that won). Kind of hard to say 1994 in this years finals.

I hated Lemieux on those ******* NJ teams too Psy so I feel your pain.

**moose141** · 06-05-2014, 12:10 PM

Re: The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

Originally posted by DrJones

#9 - Penguins def. Capitals 4-3 (2009 East Semifinal)

Yeah, I know. Game 7 was a dud. Crosby vs Ovechkin is a very tired narrative by now. But this was awesome firewagon hockey, perhaps the peak of the "New NHL" era. Two generational talents in their absolute prime going head-to-head for the first and only time.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/K4sUAlvlXYU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/FJ7RvJYruEw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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PS: Of all the series I've listed in this thread, this is the only one that I didn't see a single game of while it was actually going on. I was in Europe for the entire 2nd and 3rd rounds, and got back to Canada just in time for Games 6 & 7 of PIT/DET. But I watched every PIT/WSH (as well as CAR/BOS, ANA/DET, and (sigh) CHI/VAN) game in their entirety on the NHL Network during the summer.

A little late to the party but as I went through each of these pages I was waiting to see if this series would make the cut. Unbelievable series, I know from watching it that there weren't a ton of scrums/bad blood but the quality of hockey and pace of the game in this series was fantastic. Not to mention the level that Crosby and Ovechkin were playing at in this series was unbelievable, trading hat tricks in Game 2 and both averaging nearly 2 points per for the series. Not to mention that aside from Game 7 basically every game was decided by a goal with a pair of the games going to overtime.

Doing a great job with all of these recaps, love seeing all of the series from the past! Awesome idea.

**DrJones** · 06-06-2014, 09:49 AM

Re: The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

Originally posted by Shakes

I was wondering where on the list you were going to put this series as I kind of figured this one was going to be there. I always thought that this series was a bit overrated personally because I saw this in 87 (and because I just really hate the team that won).

I certainly wouldn't object to a list that ranked the '87 SCF over its '94 counterpart. My reasoning (beyond the obvious):

- the stakes were higher (New York hadn't won in 54 years; Vancouver hadn't won in its then-24 year history) than EDM/PHI
- the quality of hockey was higher in '94 than '87
- more iconic moments (McLean's 52 saves in G1; Rangers hitting crossbar in OT leading directly to Canucks' GWG; Bure vs Richter penalty shot; Messier hoisting Cup)

Originally posted by Shakes

Kind of hard to say 1994 in this years finals.

You're telling me.

**DrJones** · 06-06-2014, 06:35 PM

Re: The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

#5 - Islanders def. Penguins 4-3 (1993 Patrick Final)

"I don't think any team can beat us four times in a seven-game series. We're not going to let that happen. We aren't going to lose." - Kevin Stevens, April 1993

The '93 Penguins were the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions... just like the '86 Oilers.
The '93 Penguins easily won the Presidents' Trophy with 119 points... just like the '86 Oilers.
The '93 Penguins were a ridiculous offensive juggernaut that had 4 players w/ 100+ points... just like the '86 Oilers.
The '93 Penguins had arguably the greatest player ever in his absolute prime, who would win the Hart & Art Ross trophies that year... just like the '86 Oilers.
The '93 Penguins had one of the top 10 forwards of all time as their fifth leading scorer that year (Jagr w/ 94 pts)... just like the '86 Oilers (Messier w/ 84 pts).
If by some miracle the '93 Penguins lost, it might allow an underdog Canadiens team led by Patrick Roy to sneak away with the Cup... just like the '86 Oilers.

Hmmm... the '93 Penguins sure had a lot in common with the '86 Oilers. Any differences?

Well, with 18 games to go in the regular season, the Pens won 17 straight games (still an NHL record) with only 2 going to OT. In their final regular season game, Pittsburgh and New Jersey played to a 6-6 tie (no shootouts back then, folks!). The Pens then won the first 3 games of their first-round series with Devils before (gasp) losing Game 4 and closing out the series in 5. Going into their second round matchup, the '93 Penguins were 21-1-1 in their last 23 games. So they had that going for them, which is nice.

What about their respective opponents? Though not in the Oilers' league, the '86 Flames were pretty good by most standards, #2 in the NHL in scoring, with 3 future Hall of Famers and a handful of All-Star quality players. The '93 Islanders... well, they were okay. Steve Thomas and Ray Ferraro were decent enough. Derek King and Benoit Hogue had 75-point seasons because, well... 69 players had 75+ points in 92/93. Malakhov and Kasparaitis were an intriguing defensive pairing.

But the Islanders had one superstar, and his name was Pierre Turgeon. He led the Isles with 132 points (good for only 6th in NHL scoring, because 1993). Their next-leading scorer was Steve Thomas with 87 points, so if the Isles were to have any chance, the 23-year-old Turgeon needed to shine. And he was pretty good in New York's mild upset of Washington in the first round. In fact, here he is, intercepting a bad Dale Hunter pass and scoring the dagger to give the Isles a 5-1 lead late in Game 6:

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Oh. Seems Dale Hunter was a bit of a sore loser. Good thing his cowardly cheap shot didn't injure Turgeon or anythi --

Oh. Turgeon separated his shoulder, and would miss the Pens series? (Except for a brief Willis Reed cameo in G7.) Well, that's unfortunate. Maybe stellar goaltending could give the Isles a chance. Mike Vernon was a rookie for the Flames in '86, and he'd go on to a Vezina and a couple Cups. Perhaps New York had a young star of their own in net, someone who might be able to shut down --

OH JESUS, THE ISLANDERS GOALIE WAS GLENN HEALY.

Yes kids, this ridiculous, ridiculously entertaining series, one that featured 6-5 and 7-5 Isles wins in Games 4 and 6 in front of raucous Long Island crowds, a 20-year-old Kasparaitis absolutely terrorizing Super Mario, a broken face, a furious Pittsburgh comeback in the last 5 minutes of Game 7 which caused me to declare "F*** this s***!" and drive off to play softball without watching the end of the game (I recorded it, but those bastard Pens were going to win anyway, right? So infuriating!)...

...this series was the greatest upset in NHL history.

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The Islanders haven't won a playoff series since.

**DrJones** · 06-06-2014, 07:39 PM

Re: The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

#4 - Kings def. Blackhawks 4-3 (2014 West Final)

Thankfully, no real writeup needed here. The last three games of the series were simply spellbinding, hockey being played at its highest level. It's gonna take a few years to determine where this series really fits in the "greatest ever" rankings, but it's up there. Slight deduction for the lack of bad blood or rivalry (at least compared to others on this list). Stakes were high, but not end-of-the-world material; neither team's legacy was going to be significantly diminished with a loss.

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NOTE: This was only the 4th time since 1967 expansion that the winners of the two previous Stanley Cups faced each other in the postseason. The others were in 1971 (Habs over Bruins in Ken Dryden's debut), 2009 (Wings over Ducks in a series that probably should've been an HM on this list), and...

**Psyblast** · 06-06-2014, 08:08 PM

Re: The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

Originally posted by DrJones

2009 (Wings over Ducks in a series that probably should've been an HM on this list)

A stunning omission.

**DrJones** · 06-06-2014, 08:18 PM

Re: The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

Originally posted by Psyblast

A stunning omission.

I'll probably look back at this list in a month and completely agree.

Can't win 'em all, I suppose.

The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

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