The most iconic playoff series of all-time

[Bear of Bad News]

How many people in Colorado cared in 1996? The team was a novelty in Denver being their inaugural season. The 2002 series probably had the most hype with the Hasek vs. Roy factor. Or 1997 because of the brawl several months prior.

I can assure you that sports fans in Colorado cared. The bolded is a claim you make without evidence - yes, the team was in their first year in Denver, but the city took to it hard especially when Roy arrived.

As a primarily Seattle sports fan living in Denver, I can say largely without bias that this city supports winning teams.

This is a weird thing for you to push on.

The Avalanche sold out every home game from November 8, 1995 through October 16, 2006.

 

[HisIceness]

All 7 games of Bruins/Capitals in 2012 was decided by 1 goal, 4 of those including the 7th, required overtime.

 

[GMR]

Well that’s certainly a take. Dismissing an entire fan base because you want to focus on when the Wings won…..

The Wings/Avs rivalry began with that first series!

Yeah…let’s just dismiss it because you don’t feel the Avs fan base was coming with right kind of motivation.

I didn't dismiss an entire fanbase. Just pointing out it was their first season. First playoff meeting between these teams. I don't believe the most iconic series in league history happened during a team's inaugural season. The rivalry didn't get national attention until after the brawl in May 1997.

 

[McGarnagle]

A common theme I'm noticing in answers here is Claude Julien's Bruins. Their system was basically built to park the bus and play for the tie so you notice that just about every playoff series they had with an opponent in their general skill range from 2009 to 2014 went to seven games and a ton were decided by one goal and went to OT. Plus, they had guys like Lucic and Thornton who would mix it up and play on the edge so it brought a lot of additional physicality.

The irony is that having lived through that era, everyone here was posting about how boring the Bruins were under Claude Julien, how they had no talent up front and were a trap team relying on goaltending and defense. And now when people are asked about the best series of the 21st century they go to 2011, 2013, and the surrounding years as most memorable and most competitive.

 

[VanIslander]

Iconic?

Close your eyes.

Think.

Yeah, 1994, Rangers over Devils.

That's it.



One hundred years from now, 2124, if any hockey playoff series is refrenced (other than the 1972 Summit Series) it'll be the 1994 playoffs. Linden's two goals were meaningless against Messier's cip-clinching goal in game 7 of the finals after he had promised a win a series earlier, and delivered. The magnitude of his accomplishment will only grow with time.

Messier is a top-10 player in NHL history.

 

[Voight]

I can assure you that sports fans in Colorado cared. The bolded is a claim you make without evidence - yes, the team was in their first year in Denver, but the city took to it hard especially when Roy arrived.

As a primarily Seattle sports fan living in Denver, I can say largely without bias that this city supports winning teams.

This is a weird thing for you to push on.

The Avalanche sold out every home game from November 8, 1995 through October 16, 2006.

How do you become a Seattle sports fan living in Denver? I'm honestly curious, since its had teams in all 4 leagues since 1995.

 

[VanIslander]

I met a black guy in Seattle who was a Flyers fan; an Australian in Korea who was a Kings fan; a child in Toronto who was a Coyotes fan.

It's a sport that trancends location. I wanna say it is global but it is best rep'd in North American and European areas; only soccer is global.

 

[EpochLink]

Battle of the goaltenders at their prime: Turco vs Luongo

Dallas vs Vancouver 2007.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

How do you become a Seattle sports fan living in Denver? I'm honestly curious, since its had teams in all 4 leagues since 1995.

Came to grad school, never left except for one year as a professor.

 

[Voight]

Came to grad school, never left except for one year as a professor.

Nerd.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Nerd.

I’m impressed that you’ve been here twelve years and are just now figuring that out.

 

[Cursed Lemon]

Dark horse for DET-ANA 2009, that series was a bloodbath

 

[Midnight Judges]

All 7 games of Bruins/Capitals in 2012 was decided by 1 goal, 4 of those including the 7th, required overtime.

Yeah that was a great hard fought series. Physical and schemes tilted towards defense.

The refs were coming off that Bruins Canucks SCF that went more than over the line. Whistles were swallowed. One free gloved punch to the face was allowed after every stoppage in play lol.