The Greatest Playoff Series of the Modern Era

[Psyblast]

Quote: Originally Posted by DrJones

2. There was an overwhelming media narrative at the time (and lasted through at least 2008) that Chris Drury was the clutchiest clutch clutcher who ever clutched ("He won a Little League World Series!!1!") and was far more valuable than Daniel Briere, who didn't have Drury's "intangibles". Think about that for a second.

As a Red Wings fan, Chris Drury is the evil insectoid that emerged from the molted skin of Adam Deadmarsh. And nothing anybody says can change my mind.

[DrJones]

I think I'm gonna patent the term "GOAT hammer".

[DrJones]

Quote: Originally Posted by Psyblast

As a Red Wings fan, Chris Drury is the evil insectoid that emerged from the molted skin of Adam Deadmarsh. And nothing anybody says can change my mind.

Adam Deadmarsh was born and raised in BC and played for the Canadian U-17 and U-18 national teams. At the advice of his agent, Deadmarsh switched his playing nationality to American (his mom was born in the US) so that he might become more "marketable" down the road. Deadmarsh gets the bronze behind Greg Rusedski and Sydney Leroux when it comes to Canadian sports traitors (at least Brett Hull had been screwed over by Hockey Canada).

Is it wrong to cheer for an injury, particularly one that cut short a career? Of course it is. Did I cheer like a madman when this happened (I was at this game)? Of course I did.

[gopher_guy]

Loving the history lesson so far, DrJ

[DrJones]

Honourable Mentions #21-25

Ducks def. Red Wings 4-2 (2007 West Final)

Great series. Teemu's biggest goal. Or as Psyblast would call it, "The Day the Terrorists Won".



Hurricanes def. Devils 4-3 (2009 East Quarterfinal)

Another underrated series. Two OT games early in the series, a 1-0 duel between Brodeur and Ward in Game 5 (shots were 44-42 NJ), and a truly stunning Game 7 finish.



Penguins def. Red Wings 4-3 (2009 Stanley Cup Final)

Could easily have made the top 10, but wasn't quite feeling it, despite the dramatic ending. What's more unbelievable: Pittsburgh winning despite receiving zippo from Crosby; Marc-Andre Fleury making arguably the biggest save in hockey history; or CBC using a Coldplay song to awesome, chills-inducing, unforgettable effect?



PS: Please note that the Penguins had no problem with touching the Wales Championship Trophy.

Flyers def. Bruins 4-3 (2010 East Semifinal)

Marc Savard's Game 1 winner was one of the best OT celebrations ever. The Bruins were an OT goal away from a sweep, and had a 3-0 lead at home in Game 7...



Bruins def. Canadiens 4-3 (2011 East Quarterfinal)

Habs win the first two in Beantown, Bruins return the favour in Montreal. OT games in G4, 5, & 7. A classic.





As ridiculous as Jack Edwards' homerism is at times, I've always admired his enthusiasm for calling opposition goals (as opposed to, among others, the truly terrible Paul Steigerwald). I think he'd make a good national announcer for NBC (assuming the Bruins weren't playing). And I say this as a Canucks fan.

[DrJones]

Favourite Random Playoff Game

Penguins 6, Blackhawks 5 (Game 4, 1992 Stanley Cup Final)

Last game of a sweep, but what a game. Pens machine at full throttle. Hawks captain and stalwart mustache wearer Dirk Graham with a first-period hat trick. In the first 5 or so years of his career, Eddie the Eagle would occasionally veer into cartoonishly bad sieve territory, and Game 4 would be one of those nights. Iron Mike gave Belfour the hook (surprise!) and put in the Hawks' 27-year-old rookie backup, some guy I vaguely recalled from Czech teams in old Canada Cups...

[DrJones]

Honourable Mentions #26-30

Canucks def. Blackhawks 4-3 (2011 West Quarterfinal)

The only time in the last 50 years that the defending Stanley Cup champion met the Presidents' Trophy winner in the first round. Suffocating pressure. This series aged me about 500 years. I could probably do a thread on Games 6 & 7 alone. Another time, perhaps.





Sharks def. Red Wings 4-3 (2011 West Semifinal)

Poor San Jose. They couldn't even come up with the most memorable "apocalyptic 3-0 chokejob followed by inspiring/terrifying Game 7 victory over hated rival" of the 2011 playoffs!



PS: Jesus, that goal by Datsyuk.

Capitals def. Bruins 4-3 (2012 East Quarterfinal)

Only 7-game series in NHL history in which every game was decided by 1 goal (and 4 in OT!).



PS: About a month before the 2012 playoffs, I was in New Orleans for a few days. I went to one of the local cemetaries (the one with Nicolas Cage's future pyramid grave) and left an offering at the tomb of a voodoo priestess, asking for bad things to befall the Bruins and Blackhawks that year. Thanks, black magic!

Bruins def. Maple Leafs 4-3 (2013 East Quarterfinal)

The Leafs' only playoff appearance in the last decade ended like this. Ouch.





PS: And yet it was just enough to allow Carlyle and Nonis to keep their jobs. Double ouch.

Blackhawks def. Bruins 4-2 (2013 Stanley Cup Final)

The first Original Six SCF in 34 years, and it did not disappoint. (Except those who had commissioned an asteroid strike that never arrived.) Almost certainly would've made the top 10 if the Bruins had won Game 6.



The lesson, as always: black magic > asteroids.

[DrJones]

One I Missed

Dammit, I knew something would fall through the cracks.

Avalanche def. Blackhawks 4-2 (1996 West Semifinal)

4 OT games. JR vs Roy. Fun, fun series.

(Go to 4:00 to get to COL/CHI)



Tomorrow: the top 10!