Top 10 Video Special - Devils moments in the Stanley Cup Finals

There's been a lot of down time between the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Finals.  I decided that now would be a good time to put together the 19th installment of my Top 10 Video Specials series.  I recently counted down the 10 greatest moments in Devils' Eastern Conference Finals history, and now I'll count down the 10 greatest moments in Devils' Stanley Cup Finals history.


#10 - Sykora snipes

With the Devils down in the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals, 2-1, and tied 2-2 late in the third period of Game 4, Petr Sykora made sure that they wouldn't need overtime and that the series would be tied heading back to Colorado.  The Devils ended up winning Games 4 and 5, but couldn't manage a fourth win in the series to win a third Stanley Cup championship at the time.

#9 - Stevens levels Kariya

The Mighty Ducks were on their way to winning Game 6 of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals, but Scott Stevens knew he had to send a message before heading back to New Jersey for Game 7.  He found his opportunity when Paul Kariya was skating through center ice...with his head down.

#8 - Dano puts the Devils on top

The 2000 Stanley Cup Finals weren't remembered for having a lot of goals, but Game 1 did.  This is Ken Daneyko's goal that put the Devils on top, and they never looked back.

What is different about the second half New Jersey Devils?

The New Jersey Devils have not had a season in which they lost more games than they won since the 1990-91 season.  They've made the playoffs every year over the past 13 and missed only once (1995-96) since 1988-89.  During that time, they've won three Stanley Cup championships, made it to the finals four times and haven't gone more than five years without making the conference finals...until now.  2003 was the last time the Devils made it to the conference finals.  This season, the team started the season a miserable 10-29-2, last in the NHL, but since, they have gone 20-2-2, and are now within striking distance of (dare I say this) a playoff spot.  In the first half, the team's theme song could have been "Sympathy for the Devil," but now, you're lucky to be "Runnin' with the Devil."  That, in itself, is remarkable, however, there must be an explaination for this incredible turnaround.  DGA investigates.


Differences between the first half and second half of the season for the Devils (from the eyes of a player):

FIRST HALF - Shoot from anywhere, even if it has absolutely no chance to find its way to the net, let alone in it.
SECOND HALF - Who are we kidding?  We don't play Ottawa every night.


FIRST HALF - Our team spent $100 million on Ilya Kovalchuk, let's make him score all the goals for us.
SECOND HALF - Our team spent $100 million on Ilya Kovalchuk, let's make him score all the goals for us.

FIRST HALF - We get booed off the ice every night, but at least our physical safety is not a factor.
SECOND HALF - Damn, I sure hope our fans aren't as creative idiotic as Toronto Maple Leaf fans.

FIRST HALF - Man, I'm tired.  Maybe I'll just take a shift off.  It's not like John MacLean will notice.
SECOND HALF - Mattias Tedenby can't even take a shower, since he can't work up a sweat, because Jacques never lets him play.

FIRST HALF - Johan Hedberg looks just like he did in Atlanta.  No defensive support and he gets lit up every night.
SECOND HALF - Hmm, maybe Martin Brodeur does have it easy in New Jersey...

FIRST HALF - Another loss, another night of crappy officiating.
SECOND HALF - Another win, another night of crappy officiating.

FIRST HALF - The Devils are absolutely terrible with Jamie Langenbrunner.
SECOND HALF - The Dallas Stars are absolutely terrible with Jamie Langenbrunner.

FIRST HALF - John MacLean cancelled practice today.  He probably had to plan his retirement funds a bit earlier than expected.  At least he left us shooting drills to practice.
SECOND HALF - Jacques Lemaire's idea of shooting drills at targets shaped like John MacLean's face are really working well.

FIRST HALF - "Collapsing" is referred to as something the Devils do every spring.
SECOND HALF - "Collapsing" is referred to as a brilliant defensive scheme that most successful teams impliment to win, yet the Devils constantly get accused of ruining hockey by using it.

FIRST HALF - I thought signing Kovalchuk was supposed to help attendance...
SECOND HALF - Why did we have to come all the way out to Long Island for another sold out home game?

FIRST HALF - Uh-oh, Lou Lamoriello mysteriously brought a bag filled with jars of jelly to his office today.
SECOND HALF - Oh, he just legitimately enjoys eating jelly.

FIRST HALF - Wow, if Jamie Langenbrunner is only worth a 3rd round pick...
SECOND HALF - What?  Jason Arnott brought a 2nd round pick back and the guy who knocked Sidney Crosby out during the Winter Classic?

FIRST HALF - Well, at least I can have a longer summer this year.  I better call my buddies on the Panthers (too bad I don't know anyone on the Panthers...) Maple Leafs to find out exactly how that works.
SECOND HALF - Dammit, I might lose my summer plans!  Oh well, I could always retire, since I have pretty much every record a goalie could ever get.

FIRST HALF - You'll give us a 5th round pick for Kovy?  Hmm...
SECOND HALF - Oh, wait, that Kovy?  He's worth a 7th rounder...

FIRST HALF - Is that the same suit John MacLean wore yesterday?
SECOND HALF - Is that the same piece of gum Jacques Lemaire was chewing yesterday?

FIRST HALF - Pierre LeBlond?  What an idiot...
SECOND HALF - Kris Letang forgot to tie his jersey down?  If he only learned from Andrew Peters last year.  See, I knew that Peters guy was useful for something.

FIRST HALF - Still awaiting Anton Volchenkov's first goal as a Devil.  Oh well, he was injured, he'll be fine.
SECOND HALF - Wait, Brett Lebda and Hal Gill scored goals this year?  Gill has...2???

FIRST HALF - Man, this Tedenby kid is fast.  Gionta who?  Stephen?
SECOND HALF - Trevor Gillies had more ice time than Mattias Tedenby last night?

FIRST HALF - I can't believe Matt Cooke has more points than Ilya Kovalchuk.
SECOND HALF - Matt Cooke still has a higher shooting percentage than Kovalchuk...

What does a player go through on NHL trade deadline day?

The NHL trade deadline has come and gone, and while there were not nearly as many trades as usual, players were still nervous about the possibility of getting traded. For some, they did not want to leave their current team, while others couldn't wait to get out. Jason Arnott was traded from New Jersey to Washington on Monday. Here's how Arnott's day went:


--FEBRUARY 28TH, 2011--

6:43 AM - Text message received from Devils coach Jacques Lemaire reading "klurznygbl"  Ignored.

6:46 AM - Incoming call from Lemaire: "Jason?  Oh oops, sorry, wrong number.  Damn these stupid phones."

6:49 AM - Incoming call from Lemaire: "Oh, by the way, Jason, there's no practice today.  Trust me, it's not just for you since you might get traded, it's for everyone."

8:18 AM - Arnott finally wakes up.  He searches for a trade deadline show, then remembers he's in the U.S.A.  He checks Versus and finds hunting, and becomes heavily engaged in the program.

8:22 AM - Arnott falls asleep while watching hunting.

9:03 AM - Breakfast.  Arnott treats himself to leftover waffles from the diner last night.  He immediately thinks about Toronto, and the possibility of being traded to Toronto and having waffles thrown at him.  Well, at least they'll have good maple syrup, Arnott thinks to himself.

9:07 AM - Arnott falls asleep while eating waffles.

9:10 AM - Arnott wakens from a nightmare.  He had been traded to the New York Islanders in his dream.

9:58 AM - Arnott wonders if the Nashville Predators will take him back.  He feels that they are a much more attractive team now.  I wonder if Carrie Underwood has anything to do with that...

10:34 AM - Arnott finishes polishing his Stanley Cup ring, and ponders the thought of being traded to Montreal.  It would be the first time he'd be in a full arena every night since...the Edmonton days.

10:49 AM - Arnott keeps refreshing his internet page, which is glued to "hockeybuzz.com."  So far, Eklund has reported trades for Arnott to Pittsburgh, Montreal, Washington and Siberia.  Eklund's sources are a bit shaky on the Siberia rumor...

12:05 AM - Arnott tunes into NHL Live, only to learn that there have been few trades.  Reality hits him that he probably won't be dealt anywhere, but he logs into his Twitter account, of course disguised so that Lou Lamoriello wouldn't be able to find it, and has Eklund's tweets send to his phone.

12:23 AM - Hunting is still on Versus.

12:47 AM - Arnott calls Lou Lamoriello to hear if there's any news.  Lou's answer: "Everything is status quo."

1:18 PM - Eklund reports that the Washington Capitals are closing in on a deal to acquire Jason Arnott.  Arnott immediately thinks to himself that his chances to go to D.C. are officially done.

1:20 PM - Arnott receives a text from Patrik Elias saying that sources say Arnott's going to Washington.  Arnott replies telling Elias not to believe Eklund, but then Elias tells him that Darren Dreger reported it.

1:44 PM - Dustin Penner to the Kings.  Arnott realizes his small chance to go to Hollywood are gone.

2:01 PM - "Status quo" keeps wandering through Arnott's mind.  Eklund reports that the Arnott to D.C. trade will not go through.  Arnott immediately gains hope.

2:07 PM - Arnott wonders what the return will be for him.  Jamie Langenbrunner returned just a conditional third round draft pick, but then again, he was captain crybaby, right?  Arnott turns on his X-Box and tries trading himself to Washington for a 2nd round pick.  "We here at the Washington Capitals take trading seriously."  Arnott sighs.

2:14 PM - Joffrey Lupul has been traded to the Islanders?  Uh-oh, Arnott panics that the Isles might be trying to pick up another big player, such as himself.

2:17 PM - The Lupul trade was a gag set up by a Toronto Maple Leafs blogger who amuses himself which such humor.

2:26 PM - Eklund now says there's no way Arnott is going anywhere.

2:27 PM - Arnott receives a call from Devils GM Lou Lamoriello informing him that he has been traded to Washington.  To avoid sounding obnoxious, Arnott mutes Lamoriello as Lou spends ten minutes telling Arnott what an asset he was, and Arnott screams in joy.

2:31 PM - Patrik Elias wishes Arnott well in Washington.

3:00 PM - From Kovy to OV, Arnott leaves for the airport.

3:28 PM - On the plane ride, Arnott hopes that the trade won't get rejected by the league.  Not that he has any reason at all to worry about that happening.

5:06 PM - Arnott meets his new coach, Bruce Boudreau, and is informed that the trade did process.  Boudreau tells Arnott that the entire trade was "status quo."  Arnott rolls his eyes...

8:12 PM - Arnott puts Versus back on, only to find a hockey game being televised.  He looks for another channel that might broadcast hunting, but he has no such luck.

2:01 AM - YES!  Hunting!!!