Mike Rupp scored two goals and the New Jersey Devils easily beat Anaheim in 2003. Nobody remembers where they were when Rupp scored those goals for the Devils. Heck, I barely remember even covering the game.
So on Friday night, I'm looking for this Game 7 to be an epic affair that will be remembered as one of the greatest ever played. And with that in mind, I wanted to put together a list of the 10 most memorable Game 7s thatI have watched.
(Keep in mind that I'm 32-years old and any significant Game 7 that occurred in the 1980s happened after I went to sleep. The rules in my house were very clear back then: Fraggle Rock and then straight to bed).
I'm hoping Friday's Game 7 between the Penguins and Red Wings can crack this Top 10 list:
I'm off to cover Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final in Detroit on Friday.
This is supposed to be the greatest spectacle in hockey. But the last time I covered a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final, it was a total dud.
1992 NLCS: Braves vs. Pirates
I honestly don't know how Doug Drabek sleeps at night. After pitching eight shutout innings, he hands the ball over to Stan Belinda with a lead in the 9th inning and watches it evaporate. The worst part is that Barry Bonds couldn't throw out Sid Bream, who had average speed for a Sunday afternoon church softball player. After getting the game-winning hit, Francisco Cabrera disappeared into the sporting vortex and is now hanging out with Chris Kontos, Kevin Maas and Barry Foster.
1997: Oilers vs. Stars
It doesn't matter that Grant Ledyard was Sid Bream on skates. Todd Marchant blowing past him to score the overtime winner for the Oilers was absolutely electrifying. Curtis Joseph's robbery of Joe Nieuwendyk just moments before is one of the greatest clutch saves in NHL history.
1994: Rangers vs. Devils
In the spring of 1994, MSG hosted three of the greatest Game 7s ever and this one might have been tops. Everyone remembers Stephane Matteau's double-OT goal, but often forgotten is the fact that Valeri Zelepukin tied the game for the Devils with less than 10 seconds left in regulation time (Honestly, when was the last time you thought about Valeri Zelepukin?). The best part was the Rangers win delayed the Devils impending reign of boring hockey for one year.
1989: Canucks vs. Flames
I don't care what you say, Joel Otto kicked that puck in. And Stan Smyl shot that puck right into Mike Vernon's glove. And I'm not even a Canucks fan.
1994: Knicks vs. Rockets
If John Starks doesn't go 2-for-92 from the field, the Knicks probably win the NBA final. Ok, I'm exaggerating. Starks was only 2-for-65 from the field. In any event, he might have had the worst Game 7 pressure performance in modern sports history.
2001: Diamondbacks vs. Yankees
Just weeks after 9/11, the Yankees seemed destined to win the World Series. They hit dramatic home run after dramatic home run and every Cinderella ending went their way. Until Game 7 that is, when the shadiest 50-home run hitter of all-time (Luis Gonzalez) punched a shallow fly ball past Derek Jeter to score the winning run. And that officially made Bob Brenly the shadiest manager to ever win a World Series title.
1994: Rangers vs. Canucks
I'm pretty sure Nathan Lafayette still qualifies as a curse word in Vancouver. (Can't you see people at a cafe on Robson Street saying, "Son of a Nathan Lafayette...they forgot my biscotti!") In case you forgot, Lafayette hit the crossbar in the third period -- a shot that could have tied the game. Unfortunately, the Rangers won the Cup and we've been subjected to 15 years of stories about the greatness of the 1994 NY Rangers.
1997: Marlins vs. Indians
Jose Mesa couldn't save the game in the 9th inning and then Edgar Renteria drove home the winning run off Charles Nagy. The Marlins delivered a World Series title to Jim Leyland and Bobby Bonilla, who couldn't win one with the Pirates teams of the early 90s. The Indians were a young, talented team that we all thought would be in the World Series again. We're still waiting.
2000: Devils vs. Flyers
Scott Stevens' hit on Eric Lindros in this game will go down in history as one of the defining moments of both of their careers. But it overshadowed Patrick Elias' heroics late in the game, sending the Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals. And yes - a game in which Brian Boucher was a central figure is in my Top 10 Game 7 list.
1993: Kings vs. Maple Leafs
Yes, this Game 7 should never have happened. (Insert angry Kerry Fraser comment here). But Wayne Gretzky's hat trick at Maple Leaf Gardens has to go down as one of the best performances of his career. His bank shot off Dave Ellett in the third period to seal the game was stuff of legend.
Feel free to add any Game 7s that I may have missed in the past 20 years. And it was purely coincidental that the Leafs multiple Game 7 wins over the Senators did not make my list.
I'm off to cover Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final in Detroit on Friday.
This is NFL jerseys supposed to be the greatest spectacle in hockey. But the last time I covered a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final, it was a total dud.
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