5 Most Heartbreaking and Disappointing New Jersey Devils Losses Ever

2. June 7th 2001 vs Colorado Avalanche- Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final

Just one year earlier, Jason Arnott scored the clinching goal in the 2 OT in Game 6 of the 2000 Stanley Cup Final. Now with the 2001 season underway, the Devils started their title defense. The 2001 team wanted to push hard for another Cup, and coach Larry Robinson was there to make sure they played harder and harder until they won another championship.

Patrik Elias made his case as one of the best players in the NHL that season. They managed to win the Atlantic Division and secure a one seed in the playoffs. For them to get back the Cup back in their possession, they had to prove why they wanted to win again.

After beating the Hurricanes, Maple Leafs and Penguins, Devils opponent in the Stanley Cup was the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche were the President’s Trophy winners. You may remember certain names from that team, like Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, and a guy who has waited all his life to win a Stanley Cup, Ray Borque. This series turned out to be a great series, with the Avalanche winning the first game in Colorado, showing the Devils that this team was going for a historic Cup win of their own. The Devils won Games 2 and 3 to go up 2-1, but the Avalanche won Game 4 to even the series. Back in Colorado again, the Devils needed a win to try to push the Avalanche over a tiny edge of a cliff while still surviving, and the Devils made sure that would happen as they won Game 5 to get a chance to raise a 2nd Stanley Cup at home.

Now here we are at Game 6. The summary will be short since the Devils didn’t score, and that’s why this is the second-worst Devils loss of all time. The fact that the Devils got shutout at home in this giant game is a travesty. The Devils did get close. Seven minutes in, Scott Gomez had the puck close to Patrick Roy, and it looked like he scored to put the Devils on top early. However, the ref then waved his hands, signaling no goal. From what we saw on replay, Scott Gomez kicked the puck in the net, which any NHL player knows you cannot do. The Avalanche then took control of the entire series.

Late in the 1st period, Adam Foote put the first goal in for the Avalanche to make it 1-0. Then in the 2nd period, a Bobby Holik roughing penalty gave the Avalanche a power play. Ville Nieminen took this as a chance for the team to take a big lead. He deflected a Martin Skoula shot, and it was now 2-0 Avalanche. The Avalanche needed just one more goal to make this almost impossible for the Devils to come back, and with two minutes to go in the 2nd period, one of the best goal scorers in the playoffs got that done for the Avalanche. Chris Drury was able to deke out Colin White and buried it past Brodeur to put the Avalanche up 3-0.

Continental Airlines Arena was in stunned silence. The Devils did not have any answers for the Avalanche. The Avalanche had already won the game, but even though the game was not officially over, Alex Tanguay felt he wanted something to contribute. In the 3rd period, he scored to put this game to rest, Patrick Roy got another playoff shutout of his career to add, and now it all comes down to Game 7.

In Game 7, the Devils’ chances of a title defense were dead. The Avalanche won Game 7 by a score of 3-1. Alex Tanguay had the best game of his career by scoring two goals, and the Avalanche had also won their second Cup in 5 years. However, this Stanley Cup was special because of Ray Borque. Throughout his career, he had never won a Stanley Cup, so to see him win one is heartwarming. If you were a Devils fan at this time, you were very upset when this game was over. Let us be happy that the Devils made 2 cup appearances in a row, so this season wasn’t a big giant waste after all. The Avalanche played better at the right time.

If you think to yourself why wasn’t Game 7 the choice instead of Game 6, let’s explain. The Devils had a chance to win the Cup at home in Game 6, when you have an opportunity you clinch another Stanley Cup at home but fail to score a single goal, it’s worse than losing a Game 7. We at least got a goal in that Game 7.