1997 Stanley Cup Playoffs - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League

National Hockey League

The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

(NHL), began in April, 1997, following the 1996–97 NHL season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series for conference quarter-finals, semi-finals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-seven series for the Stanley Cup.

The Playoffs ended on June 7, with the Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...

defeating the Philadelphia Flyers

Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

in a four game sweep to win their eighth Stanley Cup

Stanley Cup

The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...

championship in their history, and their first in 42 years. Red Wings goaltender Mike Vernon was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy

Conn Smythe Trophy

The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...

as the playoff's Most Valuable Player.

Playoff bracket

Eastern Conference

Montreal vs. New Jersey
Date	Away	Home
April 17	Montreal 2	5 New Jersey
April 19	Montreal 1	4 New Jersey
April 22	New Jersey 6	4 Montreal
April 24	New Jersey 3	4 Montreal	3OT
April 26	Montreal 0	4 New Jersey
*New Jersey wins series 4–1*

Ottawa vs. Buffalo
Date	Away	Home
April 17	Ottawa 1	3 Buffalo
April 19	Ottawa 3	1 Buffalo
April 21	Buffalo 3	2 Ottawa
April 23	Buffalo 0	1 Ottawa	OT
April 25	Ottawa 4	1 Buffalo
April 27	Buffalo 3	0 Ottawa
April 29	Ottawa 2	3 Buffalo	OT
*Buffalo wins series 4–3*

Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia
Date	Away	Home
April 17	Pittsburgh 1	5 Philadelphia
April 19	Pittsburgh 2	3 Philadelphia
April 21	Philadelphia 5	3 Pittsburgh
April 23	Philadelphia 1	4 Pittsburgh
April 26	Pittsburgh 3	6 Philadelphia
*Philadelphia wins series 4–1*

NY Rangers vs. Florida
Date	Away	Home
April 17	NY Rangers 0	3 Florida
April 20	NY Rangers 3	0 Florida
April 22	Florida 3	4 NY Rangers	OT
April 23	Florida 2	3 NY Rangers
April 25	NY Rangers 3	2 Florida	OT
*NY Rangers win series 4–1*

Western Conference

Chicago vs. Colorado
Date	Away	Home
April 16	Chicago 0	6 Colorado
April 18	Chicago 1	3 Colorado
April 20	Colorado 3	4 Chicago	2OT
April 22	Colorado 3	6 Chicago
April 24	Chicago 0	7 Colorado
April 26	Colorado 6	3 Chicago
*Colorado wins series 4–2*

Edmonton vs. Dallas
Date	Away	Home
April 16	Edmonton 3	5 Dallas
April 18	Edmonton 4	0 Dallas
April 20	Dallas 3	4 Edmonton	OT
April 22	Dallas 4	3 Edmonton
April 25	Edmonton 1	0 Dallas	2OT
April 27	Dallas 3	2 Edmonton
April 29	Edmonton 4	3 Dallas	OT
*Edmonton wins series 4–3*

St. Louis vs. Detroit
Date	Away	Home
April 16	St. Louis 2	0 Detroit
April 18	St. Louis 1	2 Detroit
April 20	Detroit 3	2 St. Louis
April 22	Detroit 0	4 St. Louis
April 25	St. Louis 2	5 Detroit
April 27	Detroit 3	1 St. Louis
*Detroit wins series 4–2*

Phoenix vs. Anaheim
Date	Away	Home
April 16	Phoenix 2	4 Anaheim
April 18	Phoenix 2	4 Anaheim
April 20	Anaheim 1	4 Phoenix
April 22	Anaheim 0	2 Phoenix
April 24	Phoenix 5	2 Anaheim
April 27	Anaheim 3	2 Phoenix	OT
April 29	Phoenix 0	3 Anaheim
*Anaheim wins series 4–3*

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference

NY Rangers vs. New Jersey
Date	Away	Home
May 2	NY Rangers 0	2 New Jersey
May 4	NY Rangers 2	0 New Jersey
May 6	New Jersey 2	3 NY Rangers
May 8	New Jersey 0	3 NY Rangers
May 11	NY Rangers 2	1 New Jersey	OT
*NY Rangers win series 4–1*

Philadelphia vs. Buffalo
Date	Away	Home
May 3	Philadelphia 5	3 Buffalo
May 5	Philadelphia 2	1 Buffalo
May 7	Buffalo 1	4 Philadelphia
May 9	Buffalo 5	4 Philadelphia	OT
May 11	Philadelphia 6	3 Buffalo
*Philadelphia wins series 4–1*

Western Conference

Edmonton vs. Colorado
Date	Away	Home
May 2	Edmonton 1	5 Colorado
May 4	Edmonton 1	4 Colorado
May 7	Colorado 3	4 Edmonton
May 9	Colorado 3	2 Edmonton	OT
May 11	Edmonton 3	Colorado 4
*Colorado wins series 4–1*

Anaheim vs. Detroit
Date	Away	Home
May 2	Anaheim 1	2 Detroit	OT
May 4	Anaheim 2	3 Detroit	3OT
May 6	Detroit 5	3 Anaheim
May 8	Detroit 3	2 Anaheim	2OT
*Detroit wins series 4–0*

Eastern Conference Final

The Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers met in the 1997 Eastern Conference Final. Philadelphia was coming off a relatively easy five-game series win over the Buffalo Sabres. New York, on the other hand, had just pulled off a big upset, defeating the top team in the East, the New Jersey Devils in five games. The Flyers were looking to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in ten years, while the Rangers were looking to advance to the Cup Finals with help from new additions like Wayne Gretzky, Esa Tikkanen, Russ Courtnall, David Oliver and Mike Eastwood.

New York outshot Philadelphia in game one at the CoreStates Center, 25–21, but the Flyers ended up winning, 3–1. Wayne Gretzky had his second hat trick of the playoffs in Game 2, as the Rangers edged the Flyers 5–4. With the series tied at 1–1, the two teams moved to Madison Square Garden in New York for Games three and four. This time it was the Flyers' Eric Lindros who netted a hat trick, as Philadelphia won 6–3. In Game 4, Lindros broke a 2–2 tie with just seven seconds remaining in regulation. The Flyers won 3–2. They now took a commanding three-games-to-one series lead back home to the CoreStates Center for Game 5 on Sunday, May 25. The Rangers scored twice in 26 seconds in the first period to take a 2–1 lead, but the Flyers scored three unanswered goals and won the game 4–2, and the series four games to one. This would be the last playoff game that both Gretzky and Mark Messier would ever play in their careers.

{| cellspacing="10"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | NY Rangers vs. Philadelphia
|-
! Date !! Away !! Home
|-
| May 16 || align="right" | NY Rangers 1 || 3 Philadelphia
|-
| May 18 || align="right" | NY Rangers 5 || 4 Philadelphia
|-
| May 20 || align="right" | Philadelphia 6 || 3 NY Rangers
|-
| May 23 || align="right" | Philadelphia 3 || 2 NY Rangers
|-
| May 25 || align="right" | NY Rangers 2 || 4 Philadelphia
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | Philadelphia wins series 4–1
and Prince of Wales Trophy
Prince of Wales Trophy
The Prince of Wales Trophy, also known as the Wales Trophy, is an award presented by the National Hockey League to the Eastern Conference playoff champions, prior to the final series of games for the Stanley Cup...

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Western Conference Final

The Colorado Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...

and Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings

met in the 1997 Western Conference Final, in a series rematch of the previous year. The defending Stanley-Cup champion Avalanche had just defeated the Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....

in five games while the Red Wings were fresh off a four-game sweep of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Colorado was looking to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals

Stanley Cup Finals

The Stanley Cup Finals is the championship series to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, emblematic of the professional club championship of ice hockey. Although the Cup itself has existed since 1893, an annual championship series between professional teams was not established until 1913...

for the second consecutive year and Detroit was hoping to get back to the Finals for the second time in three years. The rivalry between the two teams was as heated as ever, with the events of the March 26th game still fresh in everyone's mind.

The Red Wings played a determined game one at McNichols Arena in Denver. Brendan Shanahan

Brendan Shanahan

Brendan Frederick "Shanny" Shanahan is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger who currently serves as the National Hockey League's Vice President of Hockey and Business Development and head disciplinarian. Originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils second overall in the 1987 NHL Entry...

broke a 0–0 tie at 1:13 of the first period to give Detroit a 1–0 lead, but a goal by Joe Sakic just 27 seconds later, and one by Mike Ricci

Mike Ricci

Michael Ricci is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers, Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks and Phoenix Coyotes....

at 6:13 gave Colorado a 2–1 lead that they would not relinquish. Avalanche goaltender Patrick Roy

Patrick Roy

Patrick Edward Armand Roy is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Saint Patrick," Roy split his professional career between the Montreal Canadiens, whom he played with for 10 years, and the Colorado Avalanche, whom he played with for 8 years, both of the National Hockey League...

made 34 saves in the victory. In game two, Colorado led 2–0 but Detroit pulled to within one on a power-play goal by Igor Larionov

Igor Larionov

Igor Nikolayevich Larionov is a Russian retired professional ice hockey player, known as The Professor. Along with Viacheslav Fetisov, he was instrumental in breaking the barrier that stopped Soviet players from joining the National Hockey League . He primarily played the centre position, and is...

at 16:51 of the second period. The Red Wings then went on to score three times in the third period to win 4–2 and tie the series at one game apiece. Patrick Roy

Patrick Roy

made 36 saves in the loss. In game three at Joe Louis Arena

Joe Louis Arena

Joe Louis Arena, nicknamed The Joe and JLA is a hockey arena located at 600 Civic Center Drive in Detroit, Michigan. It is the home of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Completed in 1979 at a cost of $57 million, Joe Louis Arena is named after boxer and former heavyweight...

in Detroit, the Red Wings got two goals from Vyacheslav Kozlov

Vyacheslav Kozlov

Vyacheslav Anatolevich 'Slava' Kozlov is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger who plays for Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League. He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion from his years playing with the Detroit Red Wings. He has also played for the Buffalo Sabres, Atlanta Thrashers...

and went on to win 2–1. Detroit won game four as well, 6–0, in an obvious statement to Colorado. Red Wings goaltender Mike Vernon made 19 saves in the shutout and Igor Larionov

Igor Larionov

and Kirk Maltby

Kirk Maltby

Kirk Maltby is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings.-Playing career:...

both scored twice. Detroit now led the series three games to one. Embarrassed and frustrated after such a lopsided loss in game four, Colorado came right back in game five with a 6–0 win of their own. Patrick Roy

Patrick Roy

stopped all 32 shots he faced. Claude Lemieux

Claude Lemieux

Claude Percy Lemieux is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He last played for the San Jose Sharks before announcing his retirement on July 8, 2009. He is one of only ten players in Stanley Cup history to win the Cup with three different teams. His 80 career playoff goals are the...

and Joe Sakic

Joe Sakic

Joseph Steven "Joe" Sakic is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player and current hockey executive. He played his entire National Hockey League career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. In his 20-year tenure, Sakic won the Stanley Cup twice, captured numerous NHL...

both scored two goals. The Avalanche now trailed in the series three games to two. In game six on Monday, May 26, the Red Wings looked to close out the series. Sergei Fedorov

Sergei Fedorov

Sergei Viktorovich Fedorov is a Russian professional ice hockey forward and occasional defenceman...

's goal at 6:11 of the third period gave Detroit a 2–0 lead. Scott Young pulled Colorado to within one, on a goal at 14:48, but the Avalanche could not score the equalizer, and Brendan Shanahan

Brendan Shanahan

sealed the game for Detroit with an empty-net goal at 19:30. The Red Wings won 3–1 and took the series four games to two.

{| cellspacing="10"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Detroit vs. Colorado
|-
! Date !! Away !! Home
|-
| May 15 || align="right" | Detroit 1 || 2 Colorado
|-
| May 17 || align="right" | Detroit 4 || 2 Colorado
|-
| May 19 || align="right" | Colorado 1 || 2 Detroit
|-
| May 22 || align="right" | Colorado 0 || 6 Detroit
|-
| May 24 || align="right" | Detroit 0 || 6 Colorado
|-
| May 26 || align="right" | Colorado 1 || 3 Detroit
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | Detroit wins series 4–2 and
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl
The Clarence S. Campbell Bowl, or simply the Campbell Bowl, is a National Hockey League trophy awarded to the Western Conference playoff champions. It is named after Clarence S. Campbell, who served as President of the NHL from to . The trophy itself is constructed of sterling silver, crafted in...

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Stanley Cup Final

The Detroit Red Wings made their 20th appearance in a Final, first since 1995. The Philadelphia Flyers made their seventh appearance, first since 1987. The Red Wings, who had been swept in their previous appearance, this time swept the Flyers to win their eighth Cup title, and first since 1955.

{| cellspacing="10"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="3" border="1"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="4" | Detroit vs. Philadelphia
|-
! Date !! Away !! Home
|-
| May 31 || align="right" | Detroit 4 || 2 Philadelphia
|-
| June 3 || align="right" | Detroit 4 || 2 Philadelphia
|-
| June 5 || align="right" | Philadelphia 1 || 6 Detroit
|-
| June 7 || align="right" | Philadelphia 1 || 2 Detroit
|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | Detroit wins series 4–0
and Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...

|-
| align="center" colspan="4" | Mike Vernon (Detroit)
wins Conn Smythe Trophy
Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...

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Playoff bracket

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference Final

Western Conference Final

Stanley Cup Final

See also