New Jersey Devils: 11 Most Memorable Moments in Devils Playoff History

Last year, the New Jersey Devils missed the postseason for the first time since the 1995-96 season. In many ways, it was the end of an era. In that stretch though, and in the years before it, the Devils enjoyed some great successes in the playoff.

They also had some heart-wrenching moments and some moments that made fans sick. It was a complicated time.

With the Devils beginning their new playoff streak this year, let's look back, in no particular order, at some of the most memorable moments in Devils postseason history.

A warning to Devils fans: This is a list of memorable moments—all memorable events. There are many wonderful, emotional moments documented here. There are also some devastating events (I'm sure you know what I'm referring to). I'm just saying, be prepared to see some painful videos.

1997 Conference Quarterfinals, Game 1

The year is 1997. The Devils have made the playoffs after a disappointing 1996 season where they missed the playoffs, despite having won the Stanley Cup the previous year in 1995.

Entering the playoffs, the Devils were the No. 1 seed in the East. In fact, they finished just three points shy of the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.

In Game 1, the Devils were facing the Montreal Canadiens. Up by two late in the third, the Devils were just winding down the game when the puck was dumped into the zone. Brodeur pounced on it, lined up his shot and took it, sending the puck over the red line, with it eventually gliding softly into the back of the Canadiens' empty net.

Marty became just the second goalie to score a playoff goal, joining Ron Hextall. And though Hextall's was shorthanded, Marty managed it without giving up five goals. Both goalies also scored goals in the regular season, and they are the only two goaltenders to ever register two goals.

The Devils went on to win the series in five games before being eliminated by the Rangers in the next round, but the fans already had their memorable moment of the year.

1995 Stanley Cup Finals, Game 2

Scott Stevens routinely built momentum in postseason games and series by crushing opponents. By today's standards, he practically assaulted people. But in his day, he played within the law; he was called for elbowing just four times over his 20-plus-year career. In the art of the open-ice hit, there is perhaps no one better.

It was difficult to watch as a Devils fan. That thrill from seeing a monstrous hit laid down was part of what made that Devils team special. But the terrible effort it took to get the player back to the bench reminded viewers that this was a human being who had just been severely damaged. Either way, if you watched the Devils in the 90's and early 00's, you got used to seeing them. 

One of the most famous examples of Stevens' victims was Slava Kozlov in Game 2 of the 1995 Cup finals.

In a year where the Red Wings were heavily favored to beat the Devils, the Devils had managed a win in Detroit in Game 1. In Game 2, most of the way through the second period, the above incident occurred. Scott Stevens—from a head-on position and with his arm completely down—absolutely demolished Kozlov, knocking him out of the game and playoffs. The score was 1-1 when that happened.

The Devils won that game 4-2. They then returned to New Jersey and pulled out back-to-back 5-2 wins to sweep the Red Wings.

2009 Conference Quarterfinals, Game 7

Things seemed okay in 2009. The Devils made the playoffs, after all. And they were handling the Hurricanes. Sure, the 'Canes had taken them to seven games, but the Devils had the lead. They had the lead very late—two minutes to the next round! And then... they crashed.

Jussi Jokinen scored on a cross-ice pass to tie the game with 80 seconds left. The entire series just became up for grabs. Soon, they'd be headed for overtime, where the first goal wins. But it didn't get that far.

With 31 seconds left, Eric Staal blew a wrist shot past Brodeur on a goal that he probably should have stopped. It was as stunning a collapse as I care to think about right now without depressing myself too much.

2003 Stanley Cup Finals, Game 7

A first playoff goal is always going to be a special moment in a player's career. Scoring that goal in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals would just be insane. But Mike Rupp went beyond even that.

In a series that had already seen three shutouts, Game 7 started out quietly. 0-0 after one. In the second period, Rupp broke the silence by registering his first postseason goal, a goal that proved to be the game-winner.*

By the end of the day, the Devils had won the Stanley Cup, and it all started with Mike Rupp.

*The game-winner because it was a shutout. A shutout by Martin Brodeur. His third of the series. His seventh of the playoffs. Two more than the Cup-losing, Conn-Smythe-winning J.S. Giguere. I'm not bitter.

1994 Eastern Conference Finals, Game 7

This is perhaps the single worst moment in Devils postseason history.

The Rangers and Devils finished one and two in the East, and eventually met in the Conference finals. The Rangers were looking for their first Cup in 54 years, the Devils for their first ever.

The series was length, going to seven games and including three double-overtime games. The Devils managed to get the series advantage 3-2, but a hat trick from Mark Messier in Game 6 tied the series.

In Game 7, it took 59:52 for the Devils to get on the board, but Valeri Zelepukin tied the game at one with 7.7 seconds remaining.

And then... Stephane f***ing Matteau.

Less than five minutes into the second overtime, Stephane Matteau, a truly unexceptional player, scored on a wraparound goal that somehow just went under rookie Martin Brodeur. It was Matteau's second 2OT goal of the series.

Those two goals, along with one he scored in a 3-1 loss in Game 4 loss, account for a quarter of his career's playoff goals, despite the 109 games he played. They were also his only two game-winning playoff goals ever.

2000 Eastern Conference Finals, Game 7 (Pt. 1)

After four games, the Philadelphia Flyers held a series lead of 3-1. The No. 1 seed Flyers had home-ice advantage in the series, and had three opportunities—two at home—to win one game. That shouldn't be too difficult, right?

Well, it was. The Devils won Game 5 in Philadelphia 4-1. They survived the next game, winning 2-1 in Eric Lindros' return. Lindros also scored a goal in that game. In Game 7, each side tallied a goal, and the teams found themselves tied late in the third period.

Then, finding himself in the right place at the right time, Patrik Elias scooped up a rebound and quickly put it around Boucher, scoring his second of the night and (minutes later) winning the game for the Devils.

2000 Eastern Conference Finals, Game 7 (Pt. 2)

Eric Lindros returned from injury for Game 6 of the series, and it was feared that he might be the momentum they needed. Sure enough, he scored the Flyers' lone goal in the sixth game. But in the seventh game, Stevens managed that thing he's always had a knack for.

Lindros was coming up on the left side, then started cutting toward the middle as he crossed the blue line. He made a couple dekes as he attempted to take on Scott Niedermayer, who was waiting for him. However, with his head down watching the puck, he did not see Scott Stevens positioning himself.

This concussion knocked out Lindros for more than a season, and essentially muted what ever home-ice advantage Philly might have had. Stevens had crushed their collective spirit like he crushed their star.

Lindros actually managed 274 regular season games after this hit, but the resulting concussion undoubtedly altered the star's game and was eventually a key injury leading to the player's retirement at just 33-years-old.

2008 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Game 3

...And then there are the utterly bizarre. Good ol' Sean Avery.

At this point, it's hard to be mad at Avery for this. Sure it was unorthodox, and of course layered with that immaturity that seems to follow Avery everywhere he goes.

It was Game 3 of the first round, and the Rangers had a 5-on-3. Avery immediately went to the front of the net, facing Brodeur, and starting holding up his stick, trying to block Brodeur's vision.

Marty quickly grew annoyed, continually attempting to shove Avery away. Eventually, infuriatingly, Avery was able to score on the play.

Luckily, he wasn't able to gloat for too long, as the league quickly enacted the "Avery Rule," outlawing whatever the hell it was that Avery was trying to do.

Ever classy, Avery ended the series with his reference to the NHL's all-time wins, shutout and everything-else leader as "Fatso."

1988 Division Finals, Game 3

1988 was a pretty exciting year for Devils fans.

The Devils finished the season 7-0-1, squeaking by the New York Rangers and into the playoffs for the first time ever. In the first round, they upset the division-best Islanders in six games, keeping Bryan Trottier without a point.

The next series against the Washington Capitals turned out to be a historic one. The Devils wound up winning in seven games, but it was Game 3 that proved most entertaining.

Splitting the first two games of the series, the Devils returned home to play the Caps. In an unprecedented offensive outburst, Devils' somewhat-good center Patrik Sundstrom scored a hat trick and added five assists, leading the Devils to a 10-4 win.

The eight-point mark had never been hit in a postseason game. Wayne Gretzky got seven points in a playoff game, then did it again and again, but never broke the barrier. The only person to match the feat since then was Mario Lemieux the following season.

In that game, Mark Johnson also scored four goals, while Ken Daneyko added four assists. And just to put this in perspective, Sundstrom finished the other 17 playoff games that year with 12 points. In fact, the eight points was more than he up in any other postseason, period.

After defeating the Caps, the Devils moved on to face the Boston Bruins, which in turn led to another memorable event.

1988 Conference Finals

Okay, so here's how the story goes:

Devils head coach Jim Schoenfield and referee Don Koharski got into an argument in the tunnel after Game 3. It was then that Schoenfield muttered those immortal words: "You tripped and fell, you fat pig. Have another doughnut!"

Schoenfield was suspended for Game 4, but the Devils appealed to the league. Failing there, the team took the leage to an actual New Jersey court. A judge overturned the suspension, and Schoenfield showed up for Game 4.

The referees, insulted that Schoenfield was let off the hook, refused to take the ice. After a lengthy delay, some off-ice officials were brought in to ref. It was arguably the least-professional playoff game the NHL has ever played. The fact that the game featured many brawls did not help.

2000 Stanley Cup Finals, Game 6

It took six games, but the Devils finally beat the Dallas Stars to win their second Stanley Cup. I say "finally", because the series was a lengthy one.

The Devils won Game 1 7-3, seemingly sending a message to Dallas, who came back with a win in Game 2. The Devils won the next two games, setting themselves up for a win in New Jersey. Unfortunately, that win did not come. In an emotionally exhausting affair, the Devils and Stars played 106 minutes of scoreless hockey before Mike Modano was able to break through.

The next game, back in Dallas, the game went into overtime once more, and the teams seemed doomed to another torturous affair.

For a while, it was. But then, eight minutes into the second overtime, the puck went into the corner. Patrik Elias followed after it, finally meeting it and sending a blind pass to center ice, where Jason Arnott swooped in and tapped in the last goal of the season.

And just like that, the Devils had won the Stanley Cup.