1985 NHL Playoffs: First and second rounds
(Authors note: I changed the first round from a best-of-five to a best-of-seven two years early. It just felt right)
One of the top teams during the regular season, the Hartford Whalers flew under the radar through much of the year, barely getting a mention in the media. “We definitely feel under recognized, maybe even a little disrespected” said captain Ray Bourque. “I think we’re at that point where this team is capable of winning another championship and I think the people who didn’t give us much credit this year will see what this team is really about.” The Whalers faced adversity almost immediately, facing the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs. After winning game one, the Whalers dropped games two and three to a Bruins team equally desperate to prove themselves. Game four in Boston was a virtual must-win for Hartford. Boston took an early 1-0 lead on a goal from Michel Goulet, but Grant Fuhr stood tall in the Whaler net, refusing to allow the Bruins to take a 2-goal lead. Finally, spurred by the performance of their goaltender, the Whalers tied it on a big goal from Ulf Samuelsson. A pair of quick goals in the third from Bourque and Ric Nettles went on to win the game for Hartford to tie the series. In Connecticut for game five, Bruins veteran Bob Schmatz scored what proved to be the winner while Gilles Gilbert made 38 saves to give Boston a 3-2 lead and a chance to eliminate the two-time defending Conference champs.
Game six would be a higher-scoring affair than the rest of the series had been, with a six goal explosion in the first period that left the teams tied at 3-3. The scoring slowed down in the second period, with Wally Weir’s goal near the end of the period giving Hartford a 4-3 lead. The lead held until a minute remaining in the third period, when Boston pulled Gilbert for the extra attacker. The tactic worked as Roger Kortko tied the game for the Bruins. After leading throughout the second half of the game, the Whalers were now just one bounce away from elimination. Just seven minutes into the first overtime however, Bourque hit Dave Lumley with a stretch pass, springing Lumley on a breakaway. He made no mistake, beating Gilbert for the winner to send it to game seven. Game seven would go to overtime as well, though this time it would not end near as quickly. Both Fuhr and Gilbert were seemingly unbeatable through three extra periods as the game went beyond midnight local time. Three minutes into the fourth overtime, there was a scramble in front of the Boston net. Samuelsson dug the puck out and threw a pass to Lumley, who buried it for his second consecutive overtime winner to eliminate the Bruins. The Hartford crowd erupted, while the Bruins season ended.
Elsewhere in the Whales Conference, the Quebec Nordiques continued their hot streak, defeating the Buffalo Sabres in six games. Washington swept Philadelphia and Atlanta swept the New York Islanders, the only real upset in the Whales.
After taking first place in the Snythe Division, the Seattle Thunderbirds hoped to redeem themselves in the playoffs. Fans figured it would be relatively easy as the T-Birds faced the aging Winnipeg Jets in the first round. In game one, the Jets stunned the Thunderbirds 4-2. Game two would go into overtime, where Kent Nilsson scored for Winnipeg, silencing the crowd at the Seattle Coliseum in what would go on to be the final home game of the Seattle season. The Jets went on to win another overtime thriller in game three before completing the sweep and one of the biggest upsets of the decade.
The Minnesota North Stars also got themselves into a tight spot in their series against the St Louis Blues. The Blues managed to take a 3-1 lead in the series, putting the Stars on their heels in game five. Minnesota had to overcome a 2-0 deficit to survive game five, with Al MacInnes's hat-trick turning the game around before Jim Culhane sealed the win with an empty-netter. Game six nearly went into overtime, when Larry Robinson scored for St Louis in the final minutes to push them into the second round. In other Campbell Conference action, the Houston Aeros beat the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Rockies defeated the Los Angeles Kings, both in five games.
The Colorado Rockies ran into immediate trouble against the Winnipeg Jets. Winnipeg jumped ahead to a 2-0 series lead with Joe Daly appearing to be nearly unbeatable in the Winnipeg goal. Now needing to win at least two games in Winnipeg, the Rockies backs were against the wall heading into game three. Dale Hawechuk scored twice in a 4-3 Colorado win, followed by another dominating win in game four to tie the series. Heading home with all the momentum now going their way, the Rockies now had an opportunity to take the series lead. Scott Stevens scored in overtime to give the Rockies the win and a chance to close out the series in Winnipeg. The Rockies came back from a 2-0 deficit in game six, earning another 3-2 win and advancing to the Campbell Conference Finals for the first time in team history. The St Louis Blues also faced an uphill battle in their series against Houston. It seemed that the Blues were playing the whole series from behind. After coming back from a 2-0 deficit, the Blues struggles in the Lone Star State continued in game five, as Houston once again took the series lead. A big 2-0 victory at home sent the series to game seven, where the their Texas woes finally came to an end in a 5-3 win.
In the Whales Conference, Washington got a scare when the Atlanta Flames took a 2-1 series lead. Beginning in game four, however, Mark Messier took the team on his back, scoring two goals in game four, a goal and an assist in game five, and two more goals in a 4-0 win in game six to send Washington to their first conference final in team history.
Meanwhile, the Nordiques and Whalers played a great Adams Final. Heavily favored to win the Whales Conference title, the Whalers appeared to be in control of the series. Despite dropping game two at home, Hartford dominated the Nordiques at both ends of the ice throughout the first three games, taking a 2-1 series lead. In game four they ran into trouble, giving up a 2-0 lead in the third period as Quebec took the game 3-2. Game five went to overtime and Ron Handy ended it just 28 seconds in with a booming shot from the point, giving the Whalers a chance to take the series in game six. In game six in Quebec City, the Nords never let Hartford into the game. The Stansty Brothers each scored while Phil Housley scored twice in a 4-1 Quebec win. Game seven was close, going into overtime with the two teams tied 1-1. Both goaltenders, Grant Fuhr and Andy Moog were spectacular as one overtime turned into two. Finally, with one minute to go in the second overtime, Nordiques defenseman Borje Salming beat Fuhr with a hard shot to send the Nordiques to the Whales Conference Finals.
Comments appreciated! What do think of the new format?
