On April 29, 1997, the Edmonton Oilers upset the Dallas Stars in Game Seven of their Western Conference Quarter-Finals series, with Todd Marchant beating Andy Moog in overtime. That goal has been played on a regular basis every year on the NHL Network, and has been talked about as one of the greatest moments in playoff history.
Well, that's not fair when it comes to the legacy of Moog, a pretty good goaltender during his era. Everybody talked about how Curtis Joseph, playing goal for Edmonton, was spectacular in helping the Oilers upset the heavily-favored Stars. But did you know that Moog had a career 3-0 record in Game Seven's while with the Boston Bruins? And prior to 1997, Joseph had been spectacular one year but brutal the next? In 1994, Joseph's St. Louis Blues were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Stars. In 1995, Joseph's Blues were eliminated in Game Seven in the first round by the Vancouver Canucks.
Meanwhile, exactly six years prior to the Marchant game, on April 29, 1991, Moog helped the Bruins defeat the Montreal Canadiens in a Game Seven for the first time in the history of that rivalry, stopping 35 shots to outduel Patrick Roy by a score of 2-1. No, Moog never won a Stanley Cup as a No. 1 goalie--he won three Cup rings as Grant Fuhr's backup but was in goal for the Oilers' first Cup-clinching game in 1984 with Fuhr injured--but he was solid in guiding the Bruins to the Finals in 1990, and to the Conference finals in 1991 and 1992. Not only that, Moog led the '81 Oilers past the heavily-favored Canadiens in the first round when he was an unheralded rookie. He also was the starting goaltender in the 1983 playoffs for Edmonton, but unfortunately, the Oilers ran into a red-hot Billy Smith of the Islanders in the Finals.
We'll take some time today to salute Moog for his efforts for the Bruins. Here's a clip of Moog in action against the Canadiens in 1991, courtesy this YouTube video uploaded by dafoomie:
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
"Oh So Close" Remembers Ottawa's Oh-for's in Game Sevens
With the Ottawa Senators' 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers in the seventh game of their Eastern Conference Quarter-Final series on Thursday, it means the Sens are 0-5 all-time in Game Sevens.
Though the Senators didn't move on, it was still a successful season as they qualified for the playoffs--battling the Boston Bruins all season long for the Northeast Division title before finishing as the No. 8 seed in the East--when everybody expected them to be among the worst teams in hockey.
Still, 0-5 all-time in Game Sevens? There's also the fact that in four of those series, the Sens couldn't win important home games to close things out. In the other year, 2004, the Senators could have clinched home-ice advantage with a home victory in their regular-season finale, but lost, and wound up playing Game Seven that year on the road.
Here are the five series for Ottawa which went to a seventh and deciding game:
1997 - Lost 3-2 in OT in Buffalo, first round. Though the seventh-seeded Senators were heavy underdogs, they were facing a Sabres team that was without Hart Trophy-winning goalie Dominik Hasek, who was injured. Ottawa took a 3-2 series lead against Buffalo backup goalie Steve Shields, winning 4-1 in Game Five. Alas, the Sens couldn't close out the series at home in Game Six, losing 3-0 to set up the seventh and deciding game.
2002 - Lost 3-0 in Toronto, second round. The Sens were again the lower seed, finishing six ponts behind the Maple Leafs (100-94). Again, Ottawa won Game Five on the road, 4-2, taking a 3-2 series lead. But in Game Six, the Sens lost 4-3 at the Corel Centre, setting up the return trip to the Air Canada Centre.
2003 - Lost 3-2 vs New Jersey at home, third round. In 2003, the Senators had their best ever season, winning the Presidents' Trophy as the league's best team in the regular season. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Sens fell behind the Devils three games to one before rallying to win 3-1 and 2-1, forcing a seventh game at the Corel Centre. With the game tied 2-2 late in regulation in Game Seven, the Devils' Jeff Friesen beat goaltender Patrick Lalime for the series-winner, ending the Senators' hopes for a Stanley Cup Finals berth.
2004 - Lost 4-1 in Toronto, first round. This time, the Sens (102) finished just one point behind the Maple Leafs (103) in this 4-vs-5 first-round matchup. In this round of the Battle of Ontario, Ottawa would have had home-ice advantage, except on the final day of the regular season, the Senators lost 6-0 to Toronto at the Corel Centre to relinquish it. Thus, the Leafs earned home-ice advantage, and went on to eliminate the Senators in Game Seven at the ACC. With the series tied 1-1, Ottawa lost Game Three by a score of 2-0 at home before winning 4-1 at home in Game Four. The Leafs' 2-0 victory in Toronto in Game Five--Ed Belfour's third shutout of the series--pushed the Sens to the brink, but Ottawa responded with a double-overtime victory in Game Six at home to force a seventh game. It was the Sens' fourth playoff series loss to Toronto in four tries.
2012 - Lost 2-1 in New York, first round. Craig Anderson's 41-save, 1-0 shutout in Game Five at Madison Square Garden gave the Sens a 3-2 series lead, giving Ottawa a shot to wrap the series up at home. But it was the Rangers' All-Star goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist, who came through in Game Six, as New York won 3-2 in Ottawa to stave off elimination. Led by Lundqvist, the Rangers completed the comeback with a 2-1 victory at MSG in Game Seven. (Going into Game Seven, Anderson was 8-1 with a 1.42 GAA and .957 save percentage in his career, including playoffs, at MSG.)
Unfortunately for the Senators, they just couldn't win some of those big games at the Corel Centre (now known as Scotiabank Place), and couldn't advance in those series.
Though the Senators didn't move on, it was still a successful season as they qualified for the playoffs--battling the Boston Bruins all season long for the Northeast Division title before finishing as the No. 8 seed in the East--when everybody expected them to be among the worst teams in hockey.
Still, 0-5 all-time in Game Sevens? There's also the fact that in four of those series, the Sens couldn't win important home games to close things out. In the other year, 2004, the Senators could have clinched home-ice advantage with a home victory in their regular-season finale, but lost, and wound up playing Game Seven that year on the road.
Here are the five series for Ottawa which went to a seventh and deciding game:
1997 - Lost 3-2 in OT in Buffalo, first round. Though the seventh-seeded Senators were heavy underdogs, they were facing a Sabres team that was without Hart Trophy-winning goalie Dominik Hasek, who was injured. Ottawa took a 3-2 series lead against Buffalo backup goalie Steve Shields, winning 4-1 in Game Five. Alas, the Sens couldn't close out the series at home in Game Six, losing 3-0 to set up the seventh and deciding game.
2002 - Lost 3-0 in Toronto, second round. The Sens were again the lower seed, finishing six ponts behind the Maple Leafs (100-94). Again, Ottawa won Game Five on the road, 4-2, taking a 3-2 series lead. But in Game Six, the Sens lost 4-3 at the Corel Centre, setting up the return trip to the Air Canada Centre.
2003 - Lost 3-2 vs New Jersey at home, third round. In 2003, the Senators had their best ever season, winning the Presidents' Trophy as the league's best team in the regular season. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Sens fell behind the Devils three games to one before rallying to win 3-1 and 2-1, forcing a seventh game at the Corel Centre. With the game tied 2-2 late in regulation in Game Seven, the Devils' Jeff Friesen beat goaltender Patrick Lalime for the series-winner, ending the Senators' hopes for a Stanley Cup Finals berth.
2004 - Lost 4-1 in Toronto, first round. This time, the Sens (102) finished just one point behind the Maple Leafs (103) in this 4-vs-5 first-round matchup. In this round of the Battle of Ontario, Ottawa would have had home-ice advantage, except on the final day of the regular season, the Senators lost 6-0 to Toronto at the Corel Centre to relinquish it. Thus, the Leafs earned home-ice advantage, and went on to eliminate the Senators in Game Seven at the ACC. With the series tied 1-1, Ottawa lost Game Three by a score of 2-0 at home before winning 4-1 at home in Game Four. The Leafs' 2-0 victory in Toronto in Game Five--Ed Belfour's third shutout of the series--pushed the Sens to the brink, but Ottawa responded with a double-overtime victory in Game Six at home to force a seventh game. It was the Sens' fourth playoff series loss to Toronto in four tries.
2012 - Lost 2-1 in New York, first round. Craig Anderson's 41-save, 1-0 shutout in Game Five at Madison Square Garden gave the Sens a 3-2 series lead, giving Ottawa a shot to wrap the series up at home. But it was the Rangers' All-Star goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist, who came through in Game Six, as New York won 3-2 in Ottawa to stave off elimination. Led by Lundqvist, the Rangers completed the comeback with a 2-1 victory at MSG in Game Seven. (Going into Game Seven, Anderson was 8-1 with a 1.42 GAA and .957 save percentage in his career, including playoffs, at MSG.)
Unfortunately for the Senators, they just couldn't win some of those big games at the Corel Centre (now known as Scotiabank Place), and couldn't advance in those series.
This Day in History: Axelsson's Non-Goal
The Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins completed their Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals series on Wednesday night, setting an NHL playoff record in the process. It was the first ever playoff series in league history in which all seven games were decided by only one goal.
Of course, four of those games were decided in overtime, including Game Seven at Boston's TD Garden with Joel Ward potting the series-winner.
Game Seven came almost 14 years to the day of another OT classic at the same venue between the same teams. And that one, like the 2012 clincher, saw controversy in the extra period--though with an entirely different outcome.
On April 26, 1998, the Bruins and Capitals squared off in Boston for Game Three of their Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals series. The teams were tied 1-1 in the series, with the Bruins stealing home-ice advantage away after a big 4-3 double-overtime win in Game Two.
The third game also went to overtime, and the Bruins thought they'd won it when P.J. Axelsson blasted a shot past Capitals goaltender Olaf Kolzig midway through the first OT period. But the goal was disallowed after replays showed that Bruins forward Tim Taylor had a skate in the crease before Axelsson fired the shot past Kolzig. Unfortunately, even though Taylor's skate had zero impact on the play and did not interfere with Kolzig whatsoever, the "foot-in-the-crease" rule stated that the goal had to be disallowed.
The Capitals went on to win the game when ex-Bruin Joe Juneau scored in the second overtime, and would win the series in six games (again in OT in Boston).
Of course, four of those games were decided in overtime, including Game Seven at Boston's TD Garden with Joel Ward potting the series-winner.
Game Seven came almost 14 years to the day of another OT classic at the same venue between the same teams. And that one, like the 2012 clincher, saw controversy in the extra period--though with an entirely different outcome.
On April 26, 1998, the Bruins and Capitals squared off in Boston for Game Three of their Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals series. The teams were tied 1-1 in the series, with the Bruins stealing home-ice advantage away after a big 4-3 double-overtime win in Game Two.
The third game also went to overtime, and the Bruins thought they'd won it when P.J. Axelsson blasted a shot past Capitals goaltender Olaf Kolzig midway through the first OT period. But the goal was disallowed after replays showed that Bruins forward Tim Taylor had a skate in the crease before Axelsson fired the shot past Kolzig. Unfortunately, even though Taylor's skate had zero impact on the play and did not interfere with Kolzig whatsoever, the "foot-in-the-crease" rule stated that the goal had to be disallowed.
The Capitals went on to win the game when ex-Bruin Joe Juneau scored in the second overtime, and would win the series in six games (again in OT in Boston).
Thursday, April 19, 2012
This Day in History: Flames finally win a series (April 19, 2004)
On this day in 2004, the Calgary Flames defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in Game Seven of the Western Conference Quarter-Finals thanks to an overtime goal by Martin Gelinas.
The victory ended a long drought by the Flames, who not only hadn’t won a playoff series since winning the Stanley Cup in 1989 but also had amazingly lost the majority of those first-round series in OT.
In the first round against Vancouver in 1989, the underdog Canucks took the Flames to overtime in the seventh game before Joel Otto saved Calgary with the series-winning goal late in the first OT period. After surviving that tough series, the Flames then went on to win the next two series with relative ease, losing only once against the Kings and Blackhawks and advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. Calgary went on to defeat Montreal in six games, winning its first ever Stanley Cup.
In 1990, the Campbell Conference-leading Flames were once again expected to return to the Finals, but alas, suffered first-round humiliation at the hands of Los Angeles. Calgary fell behind 3-1 in the series—including an embarrassing 12-4 loss in Game Four—before being eliminated on Kings forward Mike Krushelnyski’s OT winner in Game Six.
In 1991, Calgary was again favoured in its first-round series, this time against the Edmonton Oilers. Incredibly, for the second straight year, the Flames fell behind 3-1 in the opening round. Yes, Theo Fluery’s Game Six OT winner—which forced a seventh game—was dramatic and memorable, but the Flames lost Game Seven in OT thanks to Esa Tikkanen, who completed the hat trick in the extra period. A stunning series loss, as the Flames had gone 20-1-2 in their final 23 home games during the regular season.
The Flames missed the playoffs in 1992, and were eliminated in the first round in 1993 by the Kings, though no OT was required in that series.
In 1994, the Flames had a 3-1 series lead over the underdog Canucks in the first round, but allowed Vancouver to tie the series. Calgary then lost Game Seven at the Saddledome in double OT thanks to Pavel Bure’s breakaway game-winner. The following season, the Flames lost Game Seven again at the Saddledome, again in double OT in Game Seven, this time to the San Jose Sharks, with Ray Whitney potting the series-winner. In 1996, the Flames were underdogs for the first time for a long time, and were swept by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round… and once again, Calgary was eliminated in overtime, as Joe Murphy did the honours in triple OT at the Saddledome.
The drought was simply remarkable, as the Flames had very solid offensive teams during those years, with guys such as Fleury, MacInnis, Nieuwendyk, Gilmour, Roberts, Suter, Mullen, Otto, and Reichel (who were there either for some or all of those seasons) all capable of scoring goals. But they were always shut down by a hot goaltender every spring.
The Flames didn’t make it back to the playoffs again until 2004, and when they allowed Vancouver to tie the game in Game Seven with five seconds remaining, it felt like déjà vu, with the contest headed to OT in an elimination game*. They had even lost Game Six in triple overtime at the Saddledome two nights earlier, allowing Vancouver to even the series at three games apiece. But this story had a happier ending, thanks to the former Canuck Gelinas, who potted the series-winner early in the extra period. Interestingly, in the three times the teams had met in the playoffs (1989, 1994, and 2004), the victorious team had won Game Seven in overtime on each occasion, with the winning team going on to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Here’s the video of the final few minutes of regulation, as well as the Gelinas goal, courtesy this YouTube video uploaded by tjackson76:
*It certainly felt like that for me, as I was well aware of the Flames’ mediocre playoff OT history. I was watching the game with a buddy of mine, Ian, at the pub. He was cheering for the Canucks while I was rooting for the Flames. When Vancouver tied it with time winding down, the entire pub erupted with joy, with Ian jumping up and down and with me burying my head in my hands. It was an unbelievable finish to regulation. But, as mentioned, this story had a happy ending.
The victory ended a long drought by the Flames, who not only hadn’t won a playoff series since winning the Stanley Cup in 1989 but also had amazingly lost the majority of those first-round series in OT.
In the first round against Vancouver in 1989, the underdog Canucks took the Flames to overtime in the seventh game before Joel Otto saved Calgary with the series-winning goal late in the first OT period. After surviving that tough series, the Flames then went on to win the next two series with relative ease, losing only once against the Kings and Blackhawks and advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. Calgary went on to defeat Montreal in six games, winning its first ever Stanley Cup.
In 1990, the Campbell Conference-leading Flames were once again expected to return to the Finals, but alas, suffered first-round humiliation at the hands of Los Angeles. Calgary fell behind 3-1 in the series—including an embarrassing 12-4 loss in Game Four—before being eliminated on Kings forward Mike Krushelnyski’s OT winner in Game Six.
In 1991, Calgary was again favoured in its first-round series, this time against the Edmonton Oilers. Incredibly, for the second straight year, the Flames fell behind 3-1 in the opening round. Yes, Theo Fluery’s Game Six OT winner—which forced a seventh game—was dramatic and memorable, but the Flames lost Game Seven in OT thanks to Esa Tikkanen, who completed the hat trick in the extra period. A stunning series loss, as the Flames had gone 20-1-2 in their final 23 home games during the regular season.
The Flames missed the playoffs in 1992, and were eliminated in the first round in 1993 by the Kings, though no OT was required in that series.
In 1994, the Flames had a 3-1 series lead over the underdog Canucks in the first round, but allowed Vancouver to tie the series. Calgary then lost Game Seven at the Saddledome in double OT thanks to Pavel Bure’s breakaway game-winner. The following season, the Flames lost Game Seven again at the Saddledome, again in double OT in Game Seven, this time to the San Jose Sharks, with Ray Whitney potting the series-winner. In 1996, the Flames were underdogs for the first time for a long time, and were swept by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round… and once again, Calgary was eliminated in overtime, as Joe Murphy did the honours in triple OT at the Saddledome.
The drought was simply remarkable, as the Flames had very solid offensive teams during those years, with guys such as Fleury, MacInnis, Nieuwendyk, Gilmour, Roberts, Suter, Mullen, Otto, and Reichel (who were there either for some or all of those seasons) all capable of scoring goals. But they were always shut down by a hot goaltender every spring.
The Flames didn’t make it back to the playoffs again until 2004, and when they allowed Vancouver to tie the game in Game Seven with five seconds remaining, it felt like déjà vu, with the contest headed to OT in an elimination game*. They had even lost Game Six in triple overtime at the Saddledome two nights earlier, allowing Vancouver to even the series at three games apiece. But this story had a happier ending, thanks to the former Canuck Gelinas, who potted the series-winner early in the extra period. Interestingly, in the three times the teams had met in the playoffs (1989, 1994, and 2004), the victorious team had won Game Seven in overtime on each occasion, with the winning team going on to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Here’s the video of the final few minutes of regulation, as well as the Gelinas goal, courtesy this YouTube video uploaded by tjackson76:
*It certainly felt like that for me, as I was well aware of the Flames’ mediocre playoff OT history. I was watching the game with a buddy of mine, Ian, at the pub. He was cheering for the Canucks while I was rooting for the Flames. When Vancouver tied it with time winding down, the entire pub erupted with joy, with Ian jumping up and down and with me burying my head in my hands. It was an unbelievable finish to regulation. But, as mentioned, this story had a happy ending.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Honourable Mention: 2000s Vancouver Canadians
I didn't do minor-league sports any justice by excluding them from my book, but how about the 2004-2005 Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League?
The Canadians are the only club north of the border in the eight-team Short-Season Single-A league, and have had some regular-season success since becoming a Northwest League franchise in 2000.
However, a league championship eluded them in the mid-2000s, when the Canadians came "oh, so close." Led by manager Dennis Rogers, the C's won the Western Division title in 2004 with a 42-34 record before losing the League Finals to the Boise Hawks.
Undaunted, the C's came "oh, so close" the following season, coming within a flyball of winning their first ever Northwest League championship. In 2005, new manager Juan Navarette guided Vancouver to a second consecutive Western Division title with a league-best 46-30 record. Alas, the Canadians lost in the League Finals once more, this time to the Spokane Indians in the best-of-five series.
The 2005 loss was very difficult for the C's to swallow, as they blew a 2-games-to-1 series lead to the Indians. In the decisive fifth game at Vancouver's Nat Bailey Stadium on September 12th, a brilliant catch by Spokane leftfielder K.C. Herren prevented the Canadians from taking the lead in the sixth inning, changing the complexion of the game.
With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth, the C's had runners on first and second, when DH Haas Pratt belted a drive to left-center that seemed destined to give Vancouver the lead. To the C's dismay, however, Herren made a terrific over-the-shoulder catch to preserve the tie. The C's couldn't score in that inning.
Inspired by Herren's catch, Spokane went on to tally the go-ahead run in the very next half-inning. In the top of the seventh, centerfielder Joseph Kemp gave the Indians a 3-2 lead by delivering an RBI single. DH Jonathan Higashi added a sacrifice fly to give the Indians what seemed like an insurmountable two-run lead.
Vancouver plated a run in the bottom of the seventh to cut the deficit to 4-3, but Spokane responded with four big runs in the top of the eighth inning to salt the victory away.
Though the final score of 8-3 seemed like a blowout, the Indians knew that the sixth-inning catch by Herren helped turn the game around.
"When the guy first hit it, I thought it was off the wall... It was an unbelievable catch in a perfect spot for us," said right-hander Kellan McConnell, the Spokane pitcher who gave up the Pratt drive [1].
Indians skipper Greg Riddoch, a former major-league manager, agreed. "It changed the whole complexion of the game," said Riddoch, the ex-San Diego Padres manager. "Those two runners would've scored" [2].
Meanwhile, the Canadians wouldn't make the Northwest League playoffs again until 2010, losing in heart-breaking fashion in the Western Division playoffs that year to the Everett AquaSox. In Game One on September 6th, the C's rallied from 3-0 and 5-3 deficits, tying the game in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the ninth on second baseman Ryan Pineda's two-out, two-run home run to right in the rain. Alas, the AquaSox then scored four runs in the 10th inning to win 9-5, and went on to sweep the series.
The story turned out to have a happy ending for the C's, though, as they went on to capture their first league championship in 2011, defeating the Eugene Emeralds in the playoffs and the Tri-City Dust Devils in the League Finals.
Let's relive the happy moment for the Canadians, as they get the final out of the championship series in 2011, courtesy this YouTube video uploaded by riderpride56:
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[1] Zack Hample, "Spokane Rules Northwest League," milb.com, September 12, 2005
[2] Ibid.
The Canadians are the only club north of the border in the eight-team Short-Season Single-A league, and have had some regular-season success since becoming a Northwest League franchise in 2000.
However, a league championship eluded them in the mid-2000s, when the Canadians came "oh, so close." Led by manager Dennis Rogers, the C's won the Western Division title in 2004 with a 42-34 record before losing the League Finals to the Boise Hawks.
Undaunted, the C's came "oh, so close" the following season, coming within a flyball of winning their first ever Northwest League championship. In 2005, new manager Juan Navarette guided Vancouver to a second consecutive Western Division title with a league-best 46-30 record. Alas, the Canadians lost in the League Finals once more, this time to the Spokane Indians in the best-of-five series.
The 2005 loss was very difficult for the C's to swallow, as they blew a 2-games-to-1 series lead to the Indians. In the decisive fifth game at Vancouver's Nat Bailey Stadium on September 12th, a brilliant catch by Spokane leftfielder K.C. Herren prevented the Canadians from taking the lead in the sixth inning, changing the complexion of the game.
With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth, the C's had runners on first and second, when DH Haas Pratt belted a drive to left-center that seemed destined to give Vancouver the lead. To the C's dismay, however, Herren made a terrific over-the-shoulder catch to preserve the tie. The C's couldn't score in that inning.
Inspired by Herren's catch, Spokane went on to tally the go-ahead run in the very next half-inning. In the top of the seventh, centerfielder Joseph Kemp gave the Indians a 3-2 lead by delivering an RBI single. DH Jonathan Higashi added a sacrifice fly to give the Indians what seemed like an insurmountable two-run lead.
Vancouver plated a run in the bottom of the seventh to cut the deficit to 4-3, but Spokane responded with four big runs in the top of the eighth inning to salt the victory away.
Though the final score of 8-3 seemed like a blowout, the Indians knew that the sixth-inning catch by Herren helped turn the game around.
"When the guy first hit it, I thought it was off the wall... It was an unbelievable catch in a perfect spot for us," said right-hander Kellan McConnell, the Spokane pitcher who gave up the Pratt drive [1].
Indians skipper Greg Riddoch, a former major-league manager, agreed. "It changed the whole complexion of the game," said Riddoch, the ex-San Diego Padres manager. "Those two runners would've scored" [2].
Meanwhile, the Canadians wouldn't make the Northwest League playoffs again until 2010, losing in heart-breaking fashion in the Western Division playoffs that year to the Everett AquaSox. In Game One on September 6th, the C's rallied from 3-0 and 5-3 deficits, tying the game in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the ninth on second baseman Ryan Pineda's two-out, two-run home run to right in the rain. Alas, the AquaSox then scored four runs in the 10th inning to win 9-5, and went on to sweep the series.
The story turned out to have a happy ending for the C's, though, as they went on to capture their first league championship in 2011, defeating the Eugene Emeralds in the playoffs and the Tri-City Dust Devils in the League Finals.
Let's relive the happy moment for the Canadians, as they get the final out of the championship series in 2011, courtesy this YouTube video uploaded by riderpride56:
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[1] Zack Hample, "Spokane Rules Northwest League," milb.com, September 12, 2005
[2] Ibid.
2000s Montreal Alouettes: The Dynasty that Could Have Been Greater
I didn't do a lot of justice to the Canadian Football League in the book, but as mentioned in the Calgary Stampeders' "The Dynasty that Never Was" chapter, it's goofy to list a CFL team considering if one Canadian club didn't win the Grey Cup, another one would do so.
However, one could make the argument that the 2000s Montreal Alouettes were comparable to the 1990s Stampeders teams in terms of having a lot of regular-season success but not winning as many Grey Cups as they should have.
During the 2000s, the Alouettes appeared in the Grey Cup eight times, winning three championships (2002, 2009, and 2010) but losing the big game in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2008.
My book came out in 2009, so I could very easily have dedicated a chapter to the 2000s Alouettes, as, at the time, the team was 1-for-6 in the Grey Cup before capturing its 2009 and 2010 championships.
In fact, the Alouettes' 2009 Grey Cup victory almost didn't happen, as the Saskatchewan Roughriders, their opponent in the championship game, held a 27-11 lead in the fourth quarter. However, Montreal rallied to cut the deficit to 27-25 late in the game. With the game on the line, Alouettes kicker Damon Duval attempted a 43-yard field goal but missed, seemingly clinching the game for Saskatchewan. However, the Roughriders were called for a too-many-men 10-yard penalty, nullifying the miss. Given new life, the Alouettes went on to win it when Duval's second attempt was good, giving Montreal the 28-27 victory.
In 2010, the Alouettes again defeated the Roughriders in the Grey Cup, rallying from an 11-8 half-time deficit to win 21-18.
While the Alouettes might have atoned for their failures in their Grey Cup appearances earlier in the decade with the victories in 2009 and 2010, the woes continued for the Roughriders. The 2010 season was Saskatchewan's 100-year anniversary as a football club, but despite the long history, the Roughriders have won only three Grey Cups in 18 finals appearances. Saskatchewan won the Grey Cup in 1966, 1989, and 2007, but lost the championship game in 1923, 1928-1932, 1934, 1951, 1967, 1969, 1972, 1976, 1997, and 2009-2010.
Let's relive the epic ending of the 2009 Grey Cup between the Alouettes and the Roughriders, courtesy this YouTube video uploaded by CharlieBoi001:
However, one could make the argument that the 2000s Montreal Alouettes were comparable to the 1990s Stampeders teams in terms of having a lot of regular-season success but not winning as many Grey Cups as they should have.
During the 2000s, the Alouettes appeared in the Grey Cup eight times, winning three championships (2002, 2009, and 2010) but losing the big game in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2008.
My book came out in 2009, so I could very easily have dedicated a chapter to the 2000s Alouettes, as, at the time, the team was 1-for-6 in the Grey Cup before capturing its 2009 and 2010 championships.
In fact, the Alouettes' 2009 Grey Cup victory almost didn't happen, as the Saskatchewan Roughriders, their opponent in the championship game, held a 27-11 lead in the fourth quarter. However, Montreal rallied to cut the deficit to 27-25 late in the game. With the game on the line, Alouettes kicker Damon Duval attempted a 43-yard field goal but missed, seemingly clinching the game for Saskatchewan. However, the Roughriders were called for a too-many-men 10-yard penalty, nullifying the miss. Given new life, the Alouettes went on to win it when Duval's second attempt was good, giving Montreal the 28-27 victory.
In 2010, the Alouettes again defeated the Roughriders in the Grey Cup, rallying from an 11-8 half-time deficit to win 21-18.
While the Alouettes might have atoned for their failures in their Grey Cup appearances earlier in the decade with the victories in 2009 and 2010, the woes continued for the Roughriders. The 2010 season was Saskatchewan's 100-year anniversary as a football club, but despite the long history, the Roughriders have won only three Grey Cups in 18 finals appearances. Saskatchewan won the Grey Cup in 1966, 1989, and 2007, but lost the championship game in 1923, 1928-1932, 1934, 1951, 1967, 1969, 1972, 1976, 1997, and 2009-2010.
Let's relive the epic ending of the 2009 Grey Cup between the Alouettes and the Roughriders, courtesy this YouTube video uploaded by CharlieBoi001:
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Honourable Mention: 1996-97 Ottawa Senators
On Saturday night, the Ottawa Senators evened their Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals series against the New York Rangers at a game apiece thanks to Chris Neil's game-winner 1:17 into overtime.
It's fitting to take a look back and salute the Senators team from 15 years earlier, one whose season ended in the first round of the playoffs in sudden death in the seventh game.
Okay, the 1996-97 Ottawa Senators weren't going to win the Stanley Cup even if they had gotten past the Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals, but the Edmonton Oilers' upset victory over the Dallas Stars in the opening round that same year is still talked about today as one of the greatest moments in Stanley Cup playoff history.
Today, let's salute the '96-97 Senators, who still had a terrific year as they made the playoffs for the first time in the modern Sens' history thanks to goaltender Ron Tugnutt's performance down the stretch. For his stellar goaltending, Tugnutt was named the NHL's player of the month for April.
The Senators were the ultimate Cinderella story, as they made the playoffs by winning their final three games of the regular season to finish with 77 points and knock off both the Hartford Whalers (75) and Washington Capitals (75). The Sens also had to win their final game to clinch the playoff spot, beating Dominik Hasek and the Sabres 1-0 in front of the sellout crowd of 18,500 in Ottawa on Steve Duchesne's dramatic goal with four minutes remaining. Tugnutt stopped all 17 Buffalo shots for his third shutout of the season, with none bigger than that goose-egg in the season finale.
Though it was heart-breaking the way the Senators went on to lose to the Sabres in the playoffs--losing in Game Seven in OT--it was still a successful season for Ottawa.
Here's the goal that ended the Senators' season, courtesy this YouTube video uploaded by a4u2fear:
It's fitting to take a look back and salute the Senators team from 15 years earlier, one whose season ended in the first round of the playoffs in sudden death in the seventh game.
Okay, the 1996-97 Ottawa Senators weren't going to win the Stanley Cup even if they had gotten past the Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals, but the Edmonton Oilers' upset victory over the Dallas Stars in the opening round that same year is still talked about today as one of the greatest moments in Stanley Cup playoff history.
Today, let's salute the '96-97 Senators, who still had a terrific year as they made the playoffs for the first time in the modern Sens' history thanks to goaltender Ron Tugnutt's performance down the stretch. For his stellar goaltending, Tugnutt was named the NHL's player of the month for April.
The Senators were the ultimate Cinderella story, as they made the playoffs by winning their final three games of the regular season to finish with 77 points and knock off both the Hartford Whalers (75) and Washington Capitals (75). The Sens also had to win their final game to clinch the playoff spot, beating Dominik Hasek and the Sabres 1-0 in front of the sellout crowd of 18,500 in Ottawa on Steve Duchesne's dramatic goal with four minutes remaining. Tugnutt stopped all 17 Buffalo shots for his third shutout of the season, with none bigger than that goose-egg in the season finale.
Though it was heart-breaking the way the Senators went on to lose to the Sabres in the playoffs--losing in Game Seven in OT--it was still a successful season for Ottawa.
Here's the goal that ended the Senators' season, courtesy this YouTube video uploaded by a4u2fear:
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Honourable Mention: 1985-86 Edmonton Oilers
The 1985-86 Oilers didn't make a separate chapter in my book because a Canadian team (the Montreal Canadiens) ultimately won it all that season. Also, since I've already included the 1985-86 Calgary Flames in the book, having both Alberta teams in there seems a bit much.
I did mention briefly about how Edmonton was eliminated in the chapter dedicated to the Flames, noting the fantastic seasons by the Oilers' players including Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri, and Glenn Anderson.
Here's a look at the crucial moments of the Oilers' elimination loss to the Flames in the 1986 Smythe Division Finals, courtesy a YouTube video uploaded by temphockey:
I did mention briefly about how Edmonton was eliminated in the chapter dedicated to the Flames, noting the fantastic seasons by the Oilers' players including Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri, and Glenn Anderson.
Here's a look at the crucial moments of the Oilers' elimination loss to the Flames in the 1986 Smythe Division Finals, courtesy a YouTube video uploaded by temphockey:
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