That was more or less the exact scenario in 1994, which was the last time the Rangers had reached the Stanley Cup Finals, which they would also go on to win (barely!), to end the 54 year title drought. Before all of that, though, the Rangers were facing elimination in Game 6, when Mar Messier made a famous guarantee - the most famous New York sports guarantee since Joe Namath made good on his guarantee that the upstart New York Jets of the AFL would shock the world and beat the mighty Baltimore Colts of the heavily favored NFL. Messier promised that the Rangers would win, and bring a decisive Game 7 to the more comfortable confine of Madison Square Garden, where the Rangers would feel right at home.
But the Rangers were behind 2-0, and the Devils seemed on the cusp of the cup, when Messier suddenly made good on his promise. The Rangers caught fire, under the leadership of their determined veteran captain, as he engineered an amazing comeback, scoring a hat trick en route to a 4-2, come from behind victory. They would outlast the Devils in overtime in the decisive Game 7, and, of course, would go on to win the Stanley Cup.
So, with the Devils once again up 3-2 in the series against the Rangers, and leading 2-0 at home in the second period at home in New Jersey in a potentially decisive Game 6. And there came the Rangers, suddenly tightening up on defense, and suddenly catching fire on offense, coming from behind to tie it up. It was looking all too familiar to the 1994 series, and Rangers fans were swooning. When New York scored the tying goal, there was a stunned silence at the Rock (the Prudential Center). History seemed to be repeating itself.
But Martin Brodeur pulled himself together, toughened up in the third period, making key saves to keep the Devils in the game, and regulation time expired. It was a nerve wracking break between the end of regulation and the start of overtime.
It did not take too long once overtime started. New Jersey was applying very strong pressure, and Lundqvist and the Rangers defense was withering, in chaos. The puck got loose, and Adam Henrique's instincts were right on the mark, as he raced for the free puck and buried the wide open net in front of him, finally clinching the Eastern Conference Championship for the Devils, and getting the monkey of the memories of 1994 off their back. The Rangers, of all teams, were the hurdle that the Devils needed to get past to reach their fifth Stanley Cup Finals in franchise history. The team that, arguably, had kept the New Jersey Devils in their shadow were themselves overshadowed by the Devils amazing and stellar play, and now, the Devils will aim to hold up the Stanley Cup for their fourth ever.
Let's celebrate the hard fought series and well earned victory right now, and think about the mighty Los Angeles Kings later. Yes, they remain undefeated on the road, which is an amazing accomplishment, and they are on the verge of surpassing the Devils own road mark back in 1995 Stanley Cup playoffs, which was the first time the Devils hoisted the cup.
The New Jersey Devils are, once again, the Eastern Conference Champions, and beat the hated New York Rangers to do it! They earned a shot at the biggest prize in the NHl, by virtue of qualifying for the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2003, and it should be a great series. But for now, let them enjoy this, get a bit of rest, before they focus on the Los Angles Kings. Let's congratulate your Eastern Conference Champions: the New Jersey Devils!
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