Underrated NHL Stanley Cup Moments for Winning Teams: Post Lockout

The Stanley Cup is filled with so much intensity and heart, it is hard to forget so many great moments. Though, a lot of moments are overshadowed by greater ones. It sometimes makes us forget prior key moments that made it possible for one team to win the Cup.

Whether it be a timely save, huge hit or important goal, it is all part of what it takes to win the holy grail of hockey. Here are some overlooked moments in recent championship years. 

2006: Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes and Oilers battled for the Stanley Cup in 2006. Game 1 was a close shootout, being a four to four tie with under a minute remaining. 

Then the series advantage was basically handed to the Carolina Hurricanes by Oilers goaltender Ty Conklin. He was trying to move the puck from behind the net but turned it over to the Hurricanes' captain Rod Brind'Amour. 

If this goal doesn't happen it is very possible the Oilers can win in overtime and the whole face of the series changes. 

2007: Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks and Red Wings were against each other in the 2007 Western Conference Finals. This was a memorable tough series for both teams. The series was tied 2-2 heading into Game 5. The Red Wings held a 1-0 lead with just under a minute to play. 

It looked as if the Wings would hold on to get the 3-2 series lead, but then Scott Niedermayer scored perhaps the luckiest goal of the 2007 playoffs. It deflected off Lidstrom's stick and into the back of the net. Selanne would then score another weird goal from a turnover by Andreas Lilja. 

They got the 3-2 series lead and would win the next game at home to win the series. If they lose this game it could have changed the mindset of both teams coming in and even if they would have won Game 6, they would have had to come back to Detroit for a Game 7. 

2008: Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings were facing the Predators in the first round of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs. The series was at two a piece and Game 5 would head into overtime. Nashville had also tied the game up in the final minute to send it to overtime.

Knowing Detroit's past ability to be knocked out early in the playoffs by less talented teams could not help their mindset when this happened. Luckily for the Red Wings, Johan Franzen would get a break away in overtime to put it by Dan Ellis. 

The Red Wings would win the next one in Nashville to take the series 4-2, but had they lost this game who knows what could have happened. 

2009: Pittsburgh Penguins

The Red Wings and Penguins were in act two of their Stanley Cup appearances. The Red Wings were up in the series 2-1 and also leading the game 2-1 in the second period. Detroit was on the power play looking to get a crucial two-goal lead. 

However, Jordan Staal scored a short-handed goal to tie up the game. It seemed as if the Red Wings were never really the same the rest of the series (except Game 5). If the Red Wings won this game, they most likely would've gone on to win the Stanley Cup. Jordan Staal helped bail his team out of a tough spot and scored the most timely goal of the 2009 season.  

2010: Chicago Blackhawks

The Predators were in the closest series they had ever been a part of at the time against the Chicago Blackhawks. The series was tied 2-2 going into Game 5 and the Predators had a 4-3 lead in the game. Also, Nashville had a five-minute power play and still gave up a short-handed goal with 13 seconds left. 

Marian Hossa would score the overtime winner even though many thought he should have been kicked out of the game for his check from behind. The Hawks would go on to win the series in six, but if it wasn't for Patrick Kane, it would have taken at least seven. 

This seems to be the most forgettable out of the group, because the Blackhawks did really dominate all playoffs, but a lot forget they could have been out in the first round instead of winning a Stanley Cup this year. 

2011: Boston Bruins

It is no doubt that Tim Thomas was the best player of the 2011 playoffs. Might have been the best playoff performance in the post-lockout era. The Canadiens gained a 2-0 lead on the Bruins going back to Montreal. The Bruins would win both games in Montreal, though, taking the series back to Boston even. 

Game 5 would go into double overtime and the next goal would put that team in the driver's seat. Travis Moen and Brian Gionta would get a two-on-one in double overtime and Tim Thomas would shut down the chance. Had it not been for this save, the Canadiens would have probably taken the series and the Bruins' Cup probably never happens.