2004 Stanley Cup Finals (Games 6 and 7)
June 4: As the series shifted back to San Jose for game six, the Sharks were desperate for win after back to back one goal losses. "All we have to do is play our game and we'll win this thing" said Patrick Marleau before the game. The Flyers, on the other hand, were ready to do something not done by the franchise since the Broad Street Bullies of the 1970s, and that's win a Stanley Cup. It looked like Philly's night would be tonight, as the Flyers came out swinging, firing the first 11 shots on goal in the game. However, Evgeni Nabokov would be up for the challenge, only letting one of those shots in, as Keith Primeau would score to make it 1-0 3 minutes in. Nabokov would crack again later in the period with John LeClair putting home a rebound to make it 2-0 Flyers as the period ended. The second period would see the Flyers keep up the pressure, but Nabokov continued to stand tall, almost single-handily keeping the Sharks in the game. The third period would see the Flyers put a third past Nabokov with Tony Amonte scoring on a breakaway as Philadelphia took a 3-0 lead. It looked like the Flyers would finally hoist Lord Stanley and give Philly it's first major championship since 1983. But someone forgot to tell the Sharks that.
It began with LeClair taking a hooking penalty with 9 minutes left in regulation. Just seconds later, Mike Comrie would take another penalty for the Flyers, putting San Jose on a 5 on 3. The Sharks would capitalize, with Marleau scoring to make it 3-1. Just 55 seconds later, Jonathan Cheechoo would put a wrister past Sean Burke to pull the Sharks within a goal. All of a sudden, tension began mounting for the Flyers, as Philly would take more penalties. But San Jose couldn't capitalize, as Burke turned away shot after shot. Finally, with just 19 seconds left in regulation, Marleau would strike again, putting in a rebound past Burke to tie the game, sending the San Jose crowd into a frenzy. Overtime wouldn't last long, as Todd Harvey, who had been quiet throughout the playoffs, would score just 92 seconds in to the extra period to complete San Jose's comeback and send the series to a game 7.
June 6: It all came down to this, one game to determine a champion. 19,000 plus would jam into Wachovia Center for this game. A record TV audience would also turn in, showing ABC and the NHL that Americans cared about hockey. Before the game, the Flyers made a controversial decision to start Robert Esche in net instead of Sean Burke, despite Burke playing well in the last three games. The decision would start off well, as Esche made key saves early on Patrick Marleau. Esche's confidence would pay off, as Keith Primeau would get the Flyers on the board first about 5 minutes in. About 9 minutes later, Primeau would strike again, doubling up Philly's goal count. From there, the rout would be on, as Philly would get another goal before the period ended before scoring two goals in the second to put it out of reach. Wayne Primeau (Keith's brother) would get San Jose on the board in the third, but it was too little, too late, as Keith would complete the first ever Stanley Cup Final Game 7 hat-trick with an empty-netter. The Philly crowd would chant the Final seconds down as the Flyers were Stanley Cup champions for the first time since 1975, and the city of Philadelphia had it's first major championship in 21 years as Keith Primeau accepted the Conn Smythe trophy.
After the game, NHL fans around the world we're left wondering one thing,
How will the lockout go?
June 4: As the series shifted back to San Jose for game six, the Sharks were desperate for win after back to back one goal losses. "All we have to do is play our game and we'll win this thing" said Patrick Marleau before the game. The Flyers, on the other hand, were ready to do something not done by the franchise since the Broad Street Bullies of the 1970s, and that's win a Stanley Cup. It looked like Philly's night would be tonight, as the Flyers came out swinging, firing the first 11 shots on goal in the game. However, Evgeni Nabokov would be up for the challenge, only letting one of those shots in, as Keith Primeau would score to make it 1-0 3 minutes in. Nabokov would crack again later in the period with John LeClair putting home a rebound to make it 2-0 Flyers as the period ended. The second period would see the Flyers keep up the pressure, but Nabokov continued to stand tall, almost single-handily keeping the Sharks in the game. The third period would see the Flyers put a third past Nabokov with Tony Amonte scoring on a breakaway as Philadelphia took a 3-0 lead. It looked like the Flyers would finally hoist Lord Stanley and give Philly it's first major championship since 1983. But someone forgot to tell the Sharks that.
It began with LeClair taking a hooking penalty with 9 minutes left in regulation. Just seconds later, Mike Comrie would take another penalty for the Flyers, putting San Jose on a 5 on 3. The Sharks would capitalize, with Marleau scoring to make it 3-1. Just 55 seconds later, Jonathan Cheechoo would put a wrister past Sean Burke to pull the Sharks within a goal. All of a sudden, tension began mounting for the Flyers, as Philly would take more penalties. But San Jose couldn't capitalize, as Burke turned away shot after shot. Finally, with just 19 seconds left in regulation, Marleau would strike again, putting in a rebound past Burke to tie the game, sending the San Jose crowd into a frenzy. Overtime wouldn't last long, as Todd Harvey, who had been quiet throughout the playoffs, would score just 92 seconds in to the extra period to complete San Jose's comeback and send the series to a game 7.
June 6: It all came down to this, one game to determine a champion. 19,000 plus would jam into Wachovia Center for this game. A record TV audience would also turn in, showing ABC and the NHL that Americans cared about hockey. Before the game, the Flyers made a controversial decision to start Robert Esche in net instead of Sean Burke, despite Burke playing well in the last three games. The decision would start off well, as Esche made key saves early on Patrick Marleau. Esche's confidence would pay off, as Keith Primeau would get the Flyers on the board first about 5 minutes in. About 9 minutes later, Primeau would strike again, doubling up Philly's goal count. From there, the rout would be on, as Philly would get another goal before the period ended before scoring two goals in the second to put it out of reach. Wayne Primeau (Keith's brother) would get San Jose on the board in the third, but it was too little, too late, as Keith would complete the first ever Stanley Cup Final Game 7 hat-trick with an empty-netter. The Philly crowd would chant the Final seconds down as the Flyers were Stanley Cup champions for the first time since 1975, and the city of Philadelphia had it's first major championship in 21 years as Keith Primeau accepted the Conn Smythe trophy.
After the game, NHL fans around the world we're left wondering one thing,
How will the lockout go?
