The 2002 Stanley Cup Finals

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***Game By Game Recap can be found at bottom of page***

***Scroll down a little for the entire 2002 Stanley Cup Finals schedule***

The Stanley Cup is given to the NHL champion. The Devils won it in 1995 & 2000

-The 2002 Stanley Cup Finals will mark the first time since 1999 that the Devils will not be the Eastern Conference team.

-Detroit is in the finals for the 1st time since 1998, this is their 4th appearance in the finals since 1995. Of those three appearances, they've won the cup in '97 and '98 but lost to the Devils in '95. This is Carolina's 1st appearance in the finals

-Detroit was seed #1 in the West and finished with the best NHL reg. season record. Carolina is #3 in the east. Carolina finished with the second worst record of all 16 2002 playoff teams but was seeded #3 because they won the Southeastern Division title during the reg. season

-Since entering the NHL as the Hartford Whalers in 1979, the Carolina franchise has only won four playoff series including the three they won this year.

-In the three finals since 1995 that Detroit has been part of, their record is 8-4, they swept Philadelphia in '97, swept Washington in '98 but were swept by the Devils in '95

-Carolina is once again playing as an underdog in the 4th round. Since 1994, the Devils are the only Eastern

Conference team to win the Stanley Cup (1995, 2000)

-This is the second time since 1998 that the defending champion has not returned to the finals the following

season. (Detroit '97 & '98, Dallas '99 & '00, Devils '00 & '01)

Goaltending Matchup

Carolina Hurricanes

Kevin Weekes makes 32 saves in his second career playoff start.

Arturs Irbe Kevin Weeks

Detroit Red Wings

Dominik Hasek

THE 2002 EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPION-Carolina Hurricanes

THE 2002 WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPION-Detroit Red Wings

The 2002 Stanley Cup Finals (round 4 of 4)

Red Wings celebrate The Red Wings become the 3rd team of the new century to win the Stanley Cup

#1 Detroit Red Wings vs. #3 Carolina Hurricanes

Detroit wins series 4-1

Wings regular season record: 51-17-10-4=117 pts. (central division champion, reg. season champion, Western Conference champion)

Hurricanes regular season record: 35-26-16-5=91 pts. (southeastern division champion, Eastern Conference champion)

Predicted Winner: Wings in five Final Result: Wings in five

The 2002 Stanley Cup Finals Schedule & Scores

Red Wings vs. Hurricanes

Game 1: June 4th, Carolina 3 at Detroit 2, OT

Game 2: June 6th, Carolina 1 at Detroit 3

Game 3: June 8th, Detroit 3 at Carolina 2, 3OT

Game 4: June 10th, Detroit 3 at Carolina 0

Game 5: June 13th, Carolina 1 at Detroit 3

CUP FINALS IN REVIEW

Intro

For seven years now, or since 1995, an Eastern Conference team has won the Stanley Cup just twice. To narrow it down even more, the Devils are the only team from the Eastern Conference to win the Stanley Cup since 1995. New Jersey won in 1995 and 2000. The last Eastern Conference team other than the Devils to win the Stanley Cup was the New York Rangers 1994. This pattern of Western Conference dominance is coming right after a few years where the Eastern Conference dominated. From 1991-1995 only Eastern Conference teams were champions. Pittsburgh won in '91 and '92, Montreal won in '93, the Rangers won in '94, and of course the Devils won in '95. Since 1995 only four different teams have won the Stanley Cup, those four being Detroit ('97, '98, '00), Colorado ('96, '01), New Jersey ('95, '00), and Dallas ('99). Also it seems as if another and even stranger pattern is developing. In 1995 the Devils won the Cup, in 1996 the Avalanche won the Cup and in 1997 the Red Wings won the Cup-----In 2000, the Devils won the Cup, in 2001the Avalanche won the Cup, and in 2002 the Red Wings won the Cup. Strange huh? So if the pattern continues Detroit will win the 2003 Stanley Cup, Dallas will win the 2004 Cup, and the Devils will win the 2005 Cup!

GAME 1-Tuesday, June 4, 2002 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan

Hurricanes lead series 1-0

The Carolina Hurricanes shocked the Devils in the first round, the Canadiens in the second round, the Maple Leafs in the third round, and now the Red Wings in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Hurricanes defeated the heavily favored Red Wings in overtime in Game 1 in Detroit and they are now three victories away from the first ever Stanley Cup Championship in franchise history. Sergei Fedorov scored on the power play for Detroit but Carolina bounced back to tie it 1-1 when Sean Hill scored on the power play at 3:30 of the second period. Detroit took the lead once again when Kirk Maltby scored at 10:39 of the second. With less then a minute in the second period Carolina's Jeff O'Neil tied the game at 2-2, and the Red Wings were shocked. The scoreless third period led into overtime and it took just 58 seconds of extra playing time for the Carolina Hurricanes to score and go onto win their first ever Stanley Cup Finals game. Captain Ron Francis scored the winning goal in OT and the Hurricanes continue to play against the odds as they lead the series 1-0

Final Score: Hurricanes 3, Red Wings 2, OT

GAME 2-Thursday, June 6, 2002 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan

Series tied 1-1

Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals ended and the Series is tied at one game a piece. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit by a score of 3-1. Carolina, one of the biggest underdogs in Stanley Cup Finals history came close to taking a 2-0 lead over the Red Wings but Detroit had other plans. Kirk Maltby scored shorthanded at 6:33 of the first period and the Red Wings took 1-0 lead but at 14:47 of the period Rod Brind'Amour scored for the Hurricanes to tie the game 1-1. Things stayed tied as the Hurricanes gave all they had and for a second straight game stunned the Detroit crowd by keeping up with the powerful Red Wings. The Hurricanes finally gave through in the third period when Nicklas Lidstrom scored on the power play to put the Wings up 2-1 and then thirteen seconds later Detroit took a 3-1 lead with Kris Draper's goal. The Wings went onto victory and tied the Stanley Cup Finals 1-1. Game 3 will be Saturday night at 8:00 ET in Raleigh and will be televised nationally on ABC.

Final Score : Red Wings 3, Hurricanes 1

GAME 3-Saturday, June 8, 2002 at the Raleigh Sports Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina

Red Wings lead series 2-1

The first Stanley Cup Finals game to ever be played in North Carolina became a classic one on Saturday night into Sunday morning when the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in 3 overtime periods. The 'Canes took a lead 1-0 and then later 2-1 and it looked like they would go on to victory but the Red Wings had other ideas. With just over a minute remaining in the third period and the Hurricanes up 2-1, Brett Hull scored to tie the game. The game went into overtime. The score remained tied through one sudden death overtime and then into a second overtime period. The first two extra periods featured excellent chances and a few penalties but nobody was able to end the game with a goal. As the third overtime went down to the final minutes it was almost certain that a fourth overtime would be needed but then Detroit's 41 year old Igor Larionov ended the game with his fourth goal of the playoffs at 14:47 of 3OT. The Red Wings now lead the series 2-1 and Game 4 will be played Monday night in North Carolina at 8:00 ET.

Final Score: Red Wings 3, Hurricanes 2, 3OT

GAME 4-Monday, June 10, 2002 at the Raleigh Sports Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina

Red Wings lead series 3-1

The Detroit Red Wings shutout the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 on the Hurricane's home-ice. The Red Wings are now just one victory away from winning their third Stanley Cup Championship in six years and their tenth in franchise history. Detroit shutout the Hurricanes on Monday night by a score of 3-0 and can clinch the Stanley Cup at home on Thursday. Detroit goaltender Dominik Hasek is just one of the Red Wings all-stars and future hall of famers who is are getting anxious and excited about winning the Stanley Cup for the first time. On the other side of things, the Hurricanes now trail the series 3-1 and no team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Stanley Cup Finals. Less then fifteen teams have ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in any playoff round. It happened most recently in 2000 in the Eastern Conference Finals when the Devils who trailed the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 defeated Philadelphia in games 5, 6, and 7 to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals and go on to defeat Dallas for the Stanley Cup.

Final Score: Red Wings 3, Hurricanes 0

GAME 5-Thursday, June 13, 2002 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan

Red Wings win series 4-1

The Detroit Red Wings defeated the surprising Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night and won their third Stanley Cup Championship since 1997. The Wings defeated Carolina by a score of 3-1 and won the series in five games 4-1. The Red Wings who were the favorites to win the Stanley Cup since the season began in October ousted the incredible Hurricanes who did the complete opposite of what 99% of hockey fans thought they would do. For Detroit goaltender Dominik Hasek this is his first Stanley Cup win and possibly his last if he retires this summer. Hasek was traded from Buffalo last summer in hope of winning the Stanley Cup just once before he ends his career. Nicklas Lidstrom won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs MVP. Lidstrom is the first European to ever win the trophy. Last year it was won by Colorado goaltender Patrick Roy and in 2000 it was won by the Devils captain Scott Stevens. The Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman announced his retirement after the game. Bowman is considered the greatest coach in NHL history and with his 9th Stanley Cup Championship last night, he holds the record for most championships by a coach.

Final Score: Red Wings 3, Hurricanes 1

STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS SINCE 1990

1990-The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Boston Bruins

1991-The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Minnesota North Stars

1992-The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Chicago Black Hawks

1993-The Montreal Canadians defeated the L.A. Kings 4-1

1994-The New York Rangers defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-3 *Devils lost conference final to Rangers 4-3

1995-The New Jersey Devils defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-0 *Devils won 1st ever Cup as #5 seed in East

1996-The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Florida Panthers 4-0

1997-The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-0 *Devils were #1 seed in East for 1st time

1998-The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Washington Capitals 4-0 *Devils were #1 seed in East

1999-The Dallas Stars defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 *Devils were #1 seed in East

2000-The New Jersey Devils defeated the Dallas Stars 4-2 *Devils won Cup as #4 seed in East

2001-The Colorado Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-3 *Devils lost game 7, 3-1. 2001 Finals were first since 1989 that the two top seeded teams played each other in the Finals. The Devils & Avalanche were both #1 in their conferences

2002-The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 *Devils had worst season since 1996 & were #6 seed in East