2011 NHL Postseason: The four greatest play-off series in National Hockey League History – Part 2
Continuing the list of four of the greatest series in the National Hockey League (NHL) play-offs history, there are still two exciting match-ups which were not mentioned in the previous feature. In part two, we will go back to a time when history was created
and if we look at the current post-season situation, it will seem like history has rewritten itself.
Another series worth mentioning but is not part of the list would be this years’ Western Conference quarter-finals, the Vancouver Canucks vs. The defending Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks. It was surely a wild series in which the Hawks almost
completed a historic comeback after being down 3-0. They won three consecutive but lost in game-seven against the top team in the league. This series will surely be remembered along with the semi-finals in which Detroit attempted the same against San Jose,
for a long time to come.
2004 Stanley Cup Finals (Calgary Flames vs. Tampa Bay Lightning)
Being in Calgary when the Stanley Cup finals were going on between the Flames and the Tampa Bay Lightning was a thrilling moment. Canadian fans were ecstatic to end a Stanley Cup drought for over 10 years and finally bring home the cup where it belonged.
Calgary won their last in 1992, but has struggled since.
Even though the Flames finished sixth in the Western Conference, they made their way up into the Stanley Cup finals in one of the most surprising and unexpected series in history. They defeated the three top teams of the Conference, the Vancouver Canucks,
Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks to finally reach the last stage against an eccentric Tampa Bay team.
The series between the two was electrifying with twists and turns at every step which has created a bitter rivalry among both cities ever since. Calgary got off to a good start by winning 4-1 in game one in Tampa Bay but lost to the same score in game two.
The Flames retaliated and took the lead once again by a huge 3-0 shut-out at the Scotia Bank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, sending the fans into a wild trance. Tampa Bay was on the verge of elimination after Calgary took a commanding 3-2 lead after game
five but the Lightning struck back by winning 3-2 in game six during over-time. Game seven was back in Tampa Bay which made it all the more tense. Ruslan Fedotenko, now a New York Ranger, scored twice in that game and won the Stanley Cup after a close victory
which has always been a shocking memory for Calgary fans.
2010 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals (Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins)
The situation in which Boston was in during the 2010 post-season is much more horrific than it might sound here. In a historic recovery by the Philadelphia Flyers, the Bruins have always had a grudge against them for that and have finally taken their revenge
this time around as they were defeated 4-0 straight in the 2011 semi-finals.
Philadelphia won three consecutive games after being down 3-0 after game three and on the verge of elimination. They forced an unbelievable game seven decider and worked miracles to take down the Bruins with ease. It was 3-1 in Boston’s favour at the end
of the first period, but Philadelphia tied up the match by the end of the second and Simon Gagne scored the game-winner in the third with less than eight minutes remaining.
Game seven was in Boston and the look on the fans faces was priceless when Philadelphia had undoubtedly won the match.
There are a number of series which were equally exciting and fascinating but we will keep those for another day.
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