New Jersey Devils Stanley Cups: Which One Was Your Favorite?

There wasn’t too much cause for celebration for the New Jersey Devils this season. One of the few events that took place this season that was worth celebrating was the 20th anniversary of the Devils first Stanley Cup. After reflecting of this season and remembering the 20th anniversary celebration, I decided to ask Devils fans which of the Devils Stanley Cups was their favorite.

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Each of the Devils Stanley Cups was characterized by memorable moments and players which will always hold a special spot in the hearts of fans. It all started with the first Stanley Cup in the 1994-1995 lockout shortened season which saw the Devils sweep the Detroit Red Wings in four-games. Then the second of the Devils Stanley Cups was capped off by a

overtime cup winner in Dallas. Also who could forget the third of the Devils Stanley Cups when the Devils won at home in game 7 to edge out the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Cup #1: 1994-1995

The first of the Devils Stanley Cup runs came in a lockout shortened season that saw the Devils enter the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference. The Devils drew the fourth seeded Boston Bruins and would go on to defeat them in the series 4-1 as game 5 would be the last game played in the historic Boston Garden. New Jersey would next face the Pittsburgh Penguins and Jaromir Jagr who would also fall to the Devils 4-1 in the series. Then in the Eastern Conference Finals the Devils took on the Philadelphia Flyers and defeated them 4-2 to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Devils advanced to their first ever Stanley Cup Finals to take on the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings (back then in the Western Conference) were the top seed in the West and were heavily favored coming into the series. However the Devils proved the critics wrong as they swept the Red Wings to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Perhaps the highlight of the series (besides obviously hoisting the cup) was Scott Stevens massive hit on Vyacheslav Kozlov in game 2 of the series.

Cup #2: 1999-2000

The second of the Devils Stanley Cup runs came in the 1999-2000 season that saw the Devils enter the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the 4th seed in the East after a late coaching change replaced Robbie Ftorek with Larry Robinson. After sweeping the Florida Panthers, the Devils then faced the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Devils were able to get by the Leafs in six before having to face the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Finals yet again. This time the Devils would need 7 games to defeat the Flyers. Scott Stevens would strike again and deliver a momentum changing hit on Eric Lindros which not only knocked him out of the game, but changed his career forever.

In the Stanley Cup Finals, the New Jersey Devils would square off against Mike Modano and the Dallas Stars for the first time ever in a playoff series. After splitting the first two games of the series, the Devils took games 3 & 4 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. However the Stars would not go away easy as they temporarily spoiled the Devils and fans 2nd cup celebration by defeating them in New Jersey in triple overtime. The Devils would head back to Dallas determined not to let the series get to a game 7 and it wouldn’t as Jason Arnott one-timed a blind pass from Patrik Elias in the 2nd overtime to clinch the 2nd of the Devils Stanley Cups.

Cup #3: 2002-2003

In the last of the Devils Stanley Cups New Jersey entered the postseason as the 2nd seed in the East behind Ottawa. After defeating Boston 4-1 in the quarterfinals, the Devils also beat Tampa Bay 4-1 due to an unlikely hero in Grant Marshall in game 5. Then in a battle of the top seeds in the Eastern Conference, the Devils would need 7 games to get by the Ottawa Senators and face the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Devils came into the series heavy favorites as the Mighty Ducks were the 7th seed in the West and had to upset some heavily favored teams to reach their first finals appearance in team history. In only the third time in NHL history and first time since 1965, the home team won every game in the series. Home ice advantage proved to be the deciding factor as the Devils won game 7 and the series at home. In another playoff oddity Jean-Sebastian Giguere was named the Conn Smythe Award winner even though his team did not win the Stanley Cup. Scott Niedermayer and his brother Rob also played against each other, adding an added sense of drama to the series.

My personal favorite has to be the 2nd of the Devils Stanley Cups when they defeated Dallas 4-2 in the series. It’s my personal favorite of the three Devils Stanley Cups not just because of Scott Stevens‘ memorable hit on Eric Lindros, but also because of a small detail in game 6 of the cup finals. During that game, Stars defenseman Derian Hatcher hit and injured Devils forward Petr Sykora in the first period. Sykora had to leave the game to receive medical attention at the hospital ultimately breaking up the “A-Line.”

After Jason Arnott scored the game winner, fellow line-mate Patrik Elias donned Sykora’s jersey over his own during the cup celebration on ice in one of the greatest acts of tribute in sports I’ve ever seen. To this day I still have the picture of that team with the Stanley Cup that night and you can clearly see Elias wearing Sykora’s jersey.

Which of the three Devils Stanley Cups is your favorite? Please vote in the poll below and keep checking Pucks & Pitchforks for more great off-season content!