Going into Game 6 of the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals, the New Jersey Devils had a one game series lead over the Colorado Avalanche. The Devils had the chance to clinch their second Stanley Cup in a row and third in seven years. The year before, they had a chance to close it out on home ice against the Dallas Stars in Game 5, but could not do it. One year later, another chance to lift Lord Stanley on home ice was there for the taking.
Things started off in the Devils favor by getting a power play five minutes into the contest. They could not capitalize on the first opportunity, but immediately after Adam Foote was called for high-sticking. On the ensuing power play, Scott Gomez scored what seemingly was the first goal of the contest and that much closer to the first back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions since the Detroit Red Wings a few years earlier. But referee Dan Marouelli skated over to the time keeper and went upstairs.
The goal was called off because of a “distinct kicking motion”. The Devils would lose the game and the series. The following year was a disappointment after a first-round knockout by the Carolina Hurricanes. Fan favorites Jason Arnott, Peter Sykora, and Randy McKay were traded away. But what if the Gomez goal counted? What if the Devils held onto that lead? How would that have impacted the team the following season and subsequently the Stanley Cup win in 2003? Just how far do the “what if’s” go with one kick of the puck?
In actuality, the Devils were not able to solve Patrik Roy for virtually the final two games of the series, being outscored 7-1. However, in this alternate reality, the goal stands. Gomez scores his second goal of the series to give the Devils a 1-0 lead thirteen minutes into the game. The Devils have the momentum early in Game 6 after winning Game 5 in Colorado 4-1. The crowd at the Continental Airlines Arena is at its loudest with the Cup now 47 minutes away. The veteran leadership of Scott Stevens, Ken Daneyko, and McKay adds fuel to the fire as the Devils cling onto a 1-0 lead.
Lets just say this momentum carries the Devils to a 3-1 win. The Devils get one more in the first period by the ‘A’ Line. Both teams are shut out in the second period as Roy and Martin Brodeur stand on their heads, both knowing what is at stake. Joe Sakic gets a late third period goal, but an empty net goal by John Madden seals the deal. The Devils lift their third championship in seven years and a party in the parking lot two years in a row puts a smile on every Devils fans’ face.
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Where does this leave the team going into the 2001-02 season? The roster seemingly would stay in tact. Alexander Mogilny signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs during free agency, but with the back-to-back Cups, maybe he takes a one-year discounted deal to stay with the established Devils team and a chance for a three-peat. With Mogilny back on the team, the same team that won the Cup one year ago is iced for the start of the 2001-02 season. What actually happened was a mess of hockey, the firing of Larry Robinson, the Jamie Langenbrunner trade, and a six-game defeat by the Carolina Hurricanes.
With the moniker of back-to-back champions, the Devils ride high into the season and go right where they left off. There is no denying the damage to the Devils’ morale the Finals defeat took. With the Stanley Cup win, Larry Robinson keeps his job, and the Devils hold onto Arnott, and buy at the deadline. What is sometimes forgotten is that the Devils actually re-acquired Stephane Richer at the 2002 deadline. Instead of trading for Richer, lets say the Devils go after a big fish also looking for his first Stanley Cup win? Don’t forget, in this reality Ray Bourque never lives his dream.
In this reality, the Devils trade for Adam Oates. Oates was dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers at the deadline in 2002. With the Devils keeping Arnott, Oates adds even that much more offensive power to the fold. It cost the Flyers a 1st, 2nd and 3rd-round picks to get Oates. With the way the Devils drafted, those picks would probably not have amounted to anything. Do the Devils win three Stanley Cups in a row? Highly doubtful. The last team to win more than two Stanley Cups in a row was the New York Islanders when they won four in the early 1980’s.
It is not out of the realm of possibility though to have the Devils win a third Stanley Cup in a row. With a team that knows how to close things out, along with a Hall of Famer like Oates, it is possible. It is also not out of the question that if the Devils lose this hypothetical 2001-02 Stanley Cup Final that General Manager Lou Lamoriello doesn’t make the same trades as he did to set up the 2002-03 Cup winning team.
After losing and thinking the players thought it was easy, he decides to shake things up. Trading away Sykora and Arnott for Langenbrunner and Jeff Friesen and the 2002 Draft.
Either way, the Devils would have three Stanley Cups in four seasons, making them a dynasty. The injury to Scott Stevens during the 2003-04 season would doom any hypothetical team you can come up with. So, in this alternate reality, the maximum amount of Stanley Cups the Devils could win would be four. But realistically three would be the safer bet. It is crazy to think that one goal could have changed the history of an already memorable run by the Devils. As for the player that kicked the puck into the net…
Would Scott Gomez going to the Rangers during the 2007 offseason be that bad if this goal counted and set off a chain reaction and the Devils would end up with five total possible championships? Yes. Yes it would be. It is still the New York Rangers. But the blow wouldn’t be as bad. Gomez, like any player, would trade team success and a Stanley Cup over individual success. So maybe Gomez sees that he won and now wants to make his money. No one can blame him for that at all. He would still be booed, but there would probably have been a moment of applause and a standing ovation beforehand, if this one goal actually counted.