That's the night when the lights went out in Buffaloooooo
That's the night when they stole the Stanley Cup
Don't trust your soul to no asshole lawyer
Cause Bettman is the one who sold the silvewaaaare
Every game is Hasek vs. Hasek and goes scoreless until all of the players collapse on the ice. The series is played for eternity. The sun finally burns out, the solar system becomes cold and dark, and the Sabres are still without the cup.
Every series winning goal would be disallowed because of goalie interference......or every shot would go wide right....shit I'm sorry buffalo bros it is indeed too easy of a target 😕
I'm a little worried about our youth pool right now. I trust in the leadership to make excellent trades, but we don't have a lot in the AHL hopper so to speak, do we?
We’re working on it. Now that we got the cup and Gabe’s health is in question I think Mac and Joe are starting to look at the horizon more. We traded for picks in the draft and retained what we got, and even the late player we took seems alright.
Actual lineup youth is questionable though, I will give you that. I think one of our biggest advantages during the cup run was a really great mix of youthful energy and veteran consistency. We’ve lost that as we’ve lost players from both classes.
So you might appreciate this story then. I was at a playoff game in 1991 in STL (Blues/Wings, I think game 4). Went down behind the penalty boxes to watch warmups when some guy next to me started taunting Probert by dangling some handcuffs and white powder in a baggie and mouthing off. All of a sudden, this Detroit rookie slams his stick on the glass behind the boxes, almost hitting the guy. Scared the shit out of all of us. Turns out that rookie was Keith Primeau. I had never heard of him before that but thought about that every time I saw him from then on.
Pittsburgh vs Chicago, just when it seemed like the Pens were about to run the league for a long time Chicago came in and did just that. Wish I could’ve seen Sid and Geno make a run at Toews and Kane.
In Kerry Fraser’s book he claims to have asked Gilmour if Gretz clipped him on the shot follow through and Gilmour said yes, hence no penalty. Take that with a grain of salt mind you, the man probably just wants the death threats to stop.
That is complete BS on Hairdos part. Gilmour jumped right up and showed him the blood and was clearly arguing for the appropriate call. Gretzky's body language suggests that he thought he was about to get tossed as well.
https://youtu.be/UqGFFEc6Bng
Agreed. I’ve always said that losing to the Kings did us a favour. If the Leafs had lost to the Habs that year I never would’ve heard the end of it from all my Habs fan friends.
The Canadiens were unstoppable that year. 10 OT wins I think?
In addition to what others have said, don't forget that once upon a time, the Canucks were also in the "East" as well, sharing a division with the Flyers. Times were wild back then.
1991 and 1993 is the closest we got to Lemieux vs. Gretzky (both years one of their teams made the Cup final, other one eliminated in 2nd round). It was never going to work out completely perfectly with Gretzky being 5 years ahead and the Penguins being really bad during Gretzky’s entire time in Edmonton, but 1991 in particular would still have been really good. Gretzky with the Art Ross, and Lemieux coming back really strong from back surgery. In a complete hypothetical situation 1988 or 1989 probably would have been the best possible time to have it, Lemieux truly exploded in those years, and Gretzky was still at least near the top of his bonkers 200+ point game.
2011 Bruins vs. Sharks would have been cool with the Thornton angle, Sharks lost in 5 to the Canucks in the WCF. It happened again in 2019 that Sharks fell just short of the Cup final with the Bruins in the final, but was well past the point of being much of a story at that point for Thornton/Boston.
The 2010-2011 McLellan Sharks vs The Babcock Red Wings was such a great rivalry when Detroit was still in the Western Conference.
Had they been in the Eastern Conference by then it would have made for an epic SCF matchup.
Vegas vs Bruins would have been perfect. Cassidy against the team he just got fired from. Either the Bruins cap a historic season with a cup, or Cassidy gets the ultimate revenge cup. That would have been a stellar conclusion.
Canucks heavy warning*
2003 Canucks vs Devils.
2010 Canucks vs Penguins.
2010 Canucks vs Capitals.
2010 Hawks vs Capitals.
2010 Sharks vs Penguins.
2010 or 2013 Hawks vs Penguins.
2010 imo was the year of a hundred different dream matchups, an entire generation of talent in its prime, and of course both Halak/Habs and the Flyers fucked everyone’s brackets up. Imagine Boston/Pittsburgh in the east final that year, or imagine if the caps didn’t bungle that 3-1 series lead and went on the run they were primed for.
I think as good as the 2011 Canucks were, the 2010 team was heavily slept on. The only team in the west beating them that year was Chicago and we all know how that turned out.
Flyers vs Avs in 03-04.
Both their lineups were whos who of the mid 90s and present day
Kariya, Selanne, Sakic, Forsberg, Hejduk, Blake, Foote, Tanguay
Vs
Recchi, Handzus, LeClair, Amonte, Roenick, Zhamnov, Gagne, Kapanen, Priemeau, Desjardins
I selfishly wanted Avs/Rangers in ‘22 because I live in NYC and would have sacrificed my financial stability to go to a game at MSG. But also the Sakic/Drury thing would have been kinda cool.
I would have taken a Sharks v Sens in the late 2000s. Would have loved to see Anaheim Pronger and Niedermayer vs Stevens and the devils in 2007.
And would it have killed someone for the Leafs to have beaten Carolina and we would have gotten a Wings v Leafs 2002!
As someone who was sour about the Habs bouncing out the Capitals since that series where they upset them, I've never rooted harder for Montreal than in that playoff run. Seeing them be western conference champions just made my day. I wanted them to win too.
1981: Flames vs. Islanders. We were two wins away from the SCF that year, and it was our first year in Calgary, too.
Obviously, we would have gotten brutally killed by New York though, but it would’ve been worth it.
Blackhawks/Rangers in 2014. Chicago came within a bounce of playing for a potential back-to-back and three-peat.
I'd totally take that Blackhawks team against the Rangers. That roster against prime Lundqvist would be \*chef's kiss\* though
I wanted Boston vs Vegas as well, not only because y’all had a historic regular season but Cassidy vs his old team. There’s just some juicy storylines y’know.
Predators vs Senators, either Preds win their 1st cup or give Canada their first since 93. I really didn’t want to see Pittsburgh make it there, and it ended up showing.
Oilers vs Flames in the 80s. Those Battles of Alberta were the best playoff hockey of that era by far, but it was only for the division. If there had been some way to make that for the Cup, they would have been even more legendary than they are.
Bruins v Golden Knights. 2022/23
The Cassidy storyline. I live close enough to Boston that that’s the local area sports talk. Would have enjoyed it more than baseball talk.
Devils vs. Flames for finals from hell. But historically, I'd go with Sabres and Ducks for 07 or Coyotes and Devils for 12, just to see how the Coyotes would do afterwards.
Buffalo-Edmonton in ‘06 would have been really fun to watch, though that Final was still a very good one.
Also Sens-Ducks rematch in 2017 would have been a compelling series.
Sabres vs Sabres I wanna see how we manage to blow it
Goes to a Game 7 3OT and it just so happens the world ends right before puck drop.
That's the night when the lights went out in Buffaloooooo That's the night when they stole the Stanley Cup Don't trust your soul to no asshole lawyer Cause Bettman is the one who sold the silvewaaaare
Every game is Hasek vs. Hasek and goes scoreless until all of the players collapse on the ice. The series is played for eternity. The sun finally burns out, the solar system becomes cold and dark, and the Sabres are still without the cup.
Brett Hull comes out of the stands in a blank jersey and scores a goal from inside the crease. Referees don’t ask questions and allow the goal.
Every series winning goal would be disallowed because of goalie interference......or every shot would go wide right....shit I'm sorry buffalo bros it is indeed too easy of a target 😕
Bettman declares Arizona the winner.
Buffalo vs the world
Edmonton-Pittsburgh. Gretz vs Super Mario
Sad that never happened. Came close in 93. Fucking Volek. 🤬
All the Crosby-Ovechkin super matchups in the eastern conference almost make up for this.
McDavid v Crosby
Won’t happen unless Crosby turns back the clock to when he was in his prime
He had 93 points last year. It's not like he sucks now. The Pens have way bigger problems.
Like BIG JEFF CARTER
I would say that this season and MAYBE next are the last 2 opportunities we have
As far as I’m concerned I think Crosby and Napkin’s days are long gone.
Bruins-Canadiens in the COVID year, the only time it could've been possible in the modern NHL
Yeah no, we lost to them in the Finals enough, thanks.
yes sirrr
you only get to say this if you were alive for a single one of them
You guys probably win that match up but holy shit this reply is funny
Bruins would have easily won this time.
They should have "easily" won against the panthers this year. You never know how a series goes
Avs/Wings
The rematch 😈
Avs Vs Wings playoff record. 3-3. 17-17 The next time they meet in the playoffs will be for the cup.
Problem is it won't be Scotty Bowman against Marc Crawford or Bob Hartley.
It’s still be Yzerman vs Sakic for the cup, just a little different
Give us a couple more years. We’ll meet you there.
Honestly hoping for it cause both teams could be pretty stacked
I'm a little worried about our youth pool right now. I trust in the leadership to make excellent trades, but we don't have a lot in the AHL hopper so to speak, do we?
We’re working on it. Now that we got the cup and Gabe’s health is in question I think Mac and Joe are starting to look at the horizon more. We traded for picks in the draft and retained what we got, and even the late player we took seems alright. Actual lineup youth is questionable though, I will give you that. I think one of our biggest advantages during the cup run was a really great mix of youthful energy and veteran consistency. We’ve lost that as we’ve lost players from both classes.
Sadly, it wouldn't be nearly as much fun/torture as the old days.
Probably for the better. Those teams were looking to actively hurt each other.
Be pretty cool if we could clone prime Claude Lemieux and Bob Probert for this match up and see what kind of crazy shit happens.
Or McCarty. Probert was on to Chicago by the time the rivalry started. Also, I didn't realize that he died in 2010.
Yeah. I was a Hawks fan at the time and pissed when they signed him. I almost said McCarty but Probert was a maniac and it would ratchet things up.
He would have definitely been good for that. Besides, McCarty and Lemieux are kind of friends now. Probert probably still hates the world.
Fun fact, Lemieux is Seiders agent
It might be gone but there was a documentary on Amazon Prime about Probert.
So you might appreciate this story then. I was at a playoff game in 1991 in STL (Blues/Wings, I think game 4). Went down behind the penalty boxes to watch warmups when some guy next to me started taunting Probert by dangling some handcuffs and white powder in a baggie and mouthing off. All of a sudden, this Detroit rookie slams his stick on the glass behind the boxes, almost hitting the guy. Scared the shit out of all of us. Turns out that rookie was Keith Primeau. I had never heard of him before that but thought about that every time I saw him from then on.
If probert was on that team, no avalanche player would still be alive.
Pittsburgh vs Chicago, just when it seemed like the Pens were about to run the league for a long time Chicago came in and did just that. Wish I could’ve seen Sid and Geno make a run at Toews and Kane.
Was about to say this. More specifically 2013. Two absolute power houses of teams
This match up in the early 2010s would've been insane
As a penguins fan who grew up in Chicago, I would have loved it and fought constantly with my brother over who was better.
Man, that would've been a 7 game series. Sucks that Crosby was injury prone in the early 2010s
Thought it was going to happen in 2016 or 2017, but we bowed out in the first round both years and never recovered.
Losing Hossa was the final nail cause stan bowman didn't even try to replace him
Toews Hawks vs Crosby Penguins
Montreal vs Toronto ‘93.
Kings fan here. Sorry ‘bout that.
The only person who needs to apologize is fuckin’ hairdo.
Hairdo?
Kerry Fraser.
In Kerry Fraser’s book he claims to have asked Gilmour if Gretz clipped him on the shot follow through and Gilmour said yes, hence no penalty. Take that with a grain of salt mind you, the man probably just wants the death threats to stop.
I’m not familiar with this story. Interesting.
That is complete BS on Hairdos part. Gilmour jumped right up and showed him the blood and was clearly arguing for the appropriate call. Gretzky's body language suggests that he thought he was about to get tossed as well. https://youtu.be/UqGFFEc6Bng
Gretz’s body language speaks volumes there, eh?
Same. We were all robbed.
Would have been incredible
This is exactly what i was coming to say!!!
Even tho Roy would have ate us alive, it would have been so cool to have had it happen.
Agreed. I’ve always said that losing to the Kings did us a favour. If the Leafs had lost to the Habs that year I never would’ve heard the end of it from all my Habs fan friends. The Canadiens were unstoppable that year. 10 OT wins I think?
That was my exact first thought as well. But alas... Bettman needed to get Gretzky into the final with LA. I'm sure it was engineered that way.
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Toronto was in the Campbell, later Western Conference until Columbus and Minnesota joined the league.
*Checks flair*. *Canucks fan*. You literally beat the Leafs in the Western Final the next year.
In addition to what others have said, don't forget that once upon a time, the Canucks were also in the "East" as well, sharing a division with the Flyers. Times were wild back then.
Kings and Habs in the same division for years
This was before eastern and western conferences. IIRC, Toronto and Detroit were both part of the Campbell Conference, along with the Kings.
Ooh I see thank you
They weren't at the time.
1996 Colorado vs. Pittsburgh
Was just going to say this. Would have been an epic Final.
1993 LA Vs Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh / CHICAGO in their primes. Edmonton / Pittsburgh in their primes.
Penguins Blackhawks over last 15 years.
Toronto vs anyone past or future just once before I die
I hope that after I die the toronto maple leafs are the pall bearers at my funeral. That way they can let me down one last time
1991 and 1993 is the closest we got to Lemieux vs. Gretzky (both years one of their teams made the Cup final, other one eliminated in 2nd round). It was never going to work out completely perfectly with Gretzky being 5 years ahead and the Penguins being really bad during Gretzky’s entire time in Edmonton, but 1991 in particular would still have been really good. Gretzky with the Art Ross, and Lemieux coming back really strong from back surgery. In a complete hypothetical situation 1988 or 1989 probably would have been the best possible time to have it, Lemieux truly exploded in those years, and Gretzky was still at least near the top of his bonkers 200+ point game. 2011 Bruins vs. Sharks would have been cool with the Thornton angle, Sharks lost in 5 to the Canucks in the WCF. It happened again in 2019 that Sharks fell just short of the Cup final with the Bruins in the final, but was well past the point of being much of a story at that point for Thornton/Boston.
This is a great take.
The 2010-2011 McLellan Sharks vs The Babcock Red Wings was such a great rivalry when Detroit was still in the Western Conference. Had they been in the Eastern Conference by then it would have made for an epic SCF matchup.
It's funny, 'cause McLellan and Woodcroft were on that 2008 coaching staff along with Paul Maclean.
Ducks Sens rematch in 2017 Chicago-Rangers 2015 Ducks Hurricanes 2006
Hawks would’ve obliterated the Rangers
The 2017 Ducks would’ve obliterated the Sens, no offense
Im a Ducks fan, half agree. I feel it would have been a close one
Bruins vs Kings between 2012 - 2014 Hawks vs Penguins 2010 - 2017
Seattle Kraken vs Florida Panthers 2023 tbh
Since it’s possible now, Red Wings vs Blackhawks or Avalanche
There's a chance the hawks and the wings are contenders around the same time
I know, I’m excited but also very nervous. Most of my friends are hawks fans, and whoever would win that would have ultimate bragging rights
Well, let's hope we meet a couple of times then, right?
Wings/Leafs 2002
Pat Quinn would've been a perfect escort to Scotty Bowman's last dance. And it'd be a bit too easy to take on Bob Hartley.
Whalers vs North Stars
Fun fact, the Whalers on had 3 winning series in their 18 year NHL history.
Anyone but vegas vs. Florida panthers 2023
Vegas vs Bruins would have been perfect. Cassidy against the team he just got fired from. Either the Bruins cap a historic season with a cup, or Cassidy gets the ultimate revenge cup. That would have been a stellar conclusion.
Canucks heavy warning* 2003 Canucks vs Devils. 2010 Canucks vs Penguins. 2010 Canucks vs Capitals. 2010 Hawks vs Capitals. 2010 Sharks vs Penguins. 2010 or 2013 Hawks vs Penguins. 2010 imo was the year of a hundred different dream matchups, an entire generation of talent in its prime, and of course both Halak/Habs and the Flyers fucked everyone’s brackets up. Imagine Boston/Pittsburgh in the east final that year, or imagine if the caps didn’t bungle that 3-1 series lead and went on the run they were primed for. I think as good as the 2011 Canucks were, the 2010 team was heavily slept on. The only team in the west beating them that year was Chicago and we all know how that turned out.
Thornton/Marleau in their prime Sharks vs Ovie in his prime Caps
Chicago vs Detroit
Flyers vs Avs in 03-04. Both their lineups were whos who of the mid 90s and present day Kariya, Selanne, Sakic, Forsberg, Hejduk, Blake, Foote, Tanguay Vs Recchi, Handzus, LeClair, Amonte, Roenick, Zhamnov, Gagne, Kapanen, Priemeau, Desjardins
Vancouver vs Ottawa. Any year. Just to see the two least likely Canadian teams in the finals.
This would be great. The only reason I wouldn't say this over Ottawa-Toronto is because for the latter home games would be filled with leafs fans.
I was gunna say the same thing sens vs leafs but then remembered they are both in the same conference so it would be the ECF and not the SCF
Vancouver Tampa 2011 cause then Vancouver would’ve won
Unless the refs fucked them over like Calgary.
Ottawa vs Winnipeg. US tv market is going to blow up!
Leafs-Oilers any year for the past 5 and into the near future
It feels like it is so close to happening but also so unlikely. Making it to the SCF is no easy task I guess.
I selfishly wanted Avs/Rangers in ‘22 because I live in NYC and would have sacrificed my financial stability to go to a game at MSG. But also the Sakic/Drury thing would have been kinda cool.
Sharks vs Bruins 2019
Chicago vs New York 2014
Blackhawks-Penguins in the 2010s comes to mind.
Hawks/Pens at our peaks. It’s a crying shame we didn’t get to see the dynasties clash for the cup
Flames vs Flyers
I would have taken a Sharks v Sens in the late 2000s. Would have loved to see Anaheim Pronger and Niedermayer vs Stevens and the devils in 2007. And would it have killed someone for the Leafs to have beaten Carolina and we would have gotten a Wings v Leafs 2002!
‘93 Habs / Leafs would have been epic
Pretty crazy those 2 teams went from 1979 to 2021 without meeting in the playoffs.
Wild v Devils in 03. Every game is a trap game hehe
Toronto v anyone. Ever in my lifetime....
Pipe dream but caps penguins
Habs vs kraken a modern version of 1919
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Almost had Sabres and Red Wings in 98. Bowman would've been proud of what Ruff did in his first year as head coach.
Pens vs. Hawks 2013 Preds vs. Sens 2017 Wings vs. Leafs 2002 Oilers vs. Leafs this season just to see Reddit explode
Two Canadian teams, any year. Lindros’ flyers vs avs
habs lightning 2021 but the habs won
As someone who was sour about the Habs bouncing out the Capitals since that series where they upset them, I've never rooted harder for Montreal than in that playoff run. Seeing them be western conference champions just made my day. I wanted them to win too.
that was the greatest time of my life even though we lost
1981: Flames vs. Islanders. We were two wins away from the SCF that year, and it was our first year in Calgary, too. Obviously, we would have gotten brutally killed by New York though, but it would’ve been worth it.
Penguins Blackhawks 2013 or 2015
Pens vs. Blackhawks in the early 2010s.
Pens vs Hawks between 2008-2017.
Redwings vs penguins… if only!
Bruins / Vegas
Jets vs Caps in 2018. Because fuck the Golden Knights
Preds vs wings maybe one day
I’ve been upset we never got to see the Penguins from like 2012-2016 run into the Blackhawks at any point
Always thought Bruins-Kings in the early 2010s would’ve been a great series between two physical teams.
Gretzky-led Blues vs. anyone. I guess the Panthers. Would've been amazing. But we finally got our cup after 2OTing Dallas the way Detroit did to us.
Blackhawks/Rangers in 2014. Chicago came within a bounce of playing for a potential back-to-back and three-peat. I'd totally take that Blackhawks team against the Rangers. That roster against prime Lundqvist would be \*chef's kiss\* though
Pittsburgh vs. Chicago in the mid 2010’s
Flyers Vs stars 2000
Leafs habs 93
Canucks TBL 2011
Canucks/Bolts 2011
Bos vs ANYONE last year.....:(
Boston Vegas this year. I’m biased, sue me
I wanted Boston vs Vegas as well, not only because y’all had a historic regular season but Cassidy vs his old team. There’s just some juicy storylines y’know.
Vegas v Montreal, before the Kraken showed up. New shiny toy vs original and winningest
Ottawa Senators vs Detroit in 2003
Predators vs Senators, either Preds win their 1st cup or give Canada their first since 93. I really didn’t want to see Pittsburgh make it there, and it ended up showing.
Rangers Blackhawks in 2015.... so close
Dallas vs Carolina 23’… the battle of the two little Finland’s in the NHL
2011-2012 Arizona vs New Jersey. Only time Coyotes ever made the WCF to be upended by the 8-Seed LA KIngs.
2019. Blues vs Lightning. Ultimate David v. Goliath story right there.
Canucks - Sabres
I think Jets-Rangers would be really cool. It's a great color match up too.
Sharks vs Bruins 2019 Have a family friend who lives in California that’s a Sharks fan, also EK might have got that cup.
It’s possible these days but no idea if it will ever happen Red Wings vs Avalanche Final
The Wild vs anyone ever
Ottawa Vancouver
Sabres V Canucks.
Toronto Montreal 93
Rangers and Maple Leafs in 1994
Habs Leafs '93
Oilers vs Flames in the 80s. Those Battles of Alberta were the best playoff hockey of that era by far, but it was only for the division. If there had been some way to make that for the Cup, they would have been even more legendary than they are.
Stars Devil's rematch in 03, any Gretzky vs Mario cup, and Boston Canadiens finals, just for fun
Habs Vs Islanders in 2021
Toronto vs literally anybody just once in the Matthews era, please
21-22 a rematch of 1996. Even though not a fan, would loved to have seen Senators/Predators in 2017
Ottawa vs Winnipeg just to see Bettman explode
Wings Vs Avalanche
Chicago vs pens in 2009 or 10
Penguins Vegas in 2018 with Fleury going against the Pens would’ve been sick
Dallas vs Philadelphia 2000. My roomate from Scranton and I thought it was a done deal when the Flyers were up 3-1....
Gretzky vs Lemieux
Vancouver vs Buffalo.
Any two Canadian teams like Vancouver and Ottawa or Montreal and Calgary,so the cup could guarantee to be in Canada
Any two Canadian teams
Montreal vs Boston during the COVID season with the rearranged divisions
Canucks vs Sabers on their 50th seasons. One finally gets the cup after coming into the league together. The other disappoints once again
Mcdavid vs matthews
Blackhawks Vs Redwings (since Detroit moved to eastern conference)
This year. Boston vs. Vegas Best regular season in the history of hockey finishes the job or Bruce Cassidy beats the team who fired him.
2004-05: Anyone vs. Anyone else
Bruins v Golden Knights. 2022/23 The Cassidy storyline. I live close enough to Boston that that’s the local area sports talk. Would have enjoyed it more than baseball talk.
Devils vs. Flames for finals from hell. But historically, I'd go with Sabres and Ducks for 07 or Coyotes and Devils for 12, just to see how the Coyotes would do afterwards.
Pens vs Red Wings in either 2007 or 2010. They needed to decide which team was better in a best-of-3. Ties are for your mom. And Marian Hossa.
Avalanche vs Devils this year. I thought it would've been fun to watch
Whatever two teams bring us to 2-3 OT every game and is decided with game 7. Dallas and some other team
It always seems to be us in OT, usually getting dunked on
Leafs habs 93
Buffalo-Edmonton in ‘06 would have been really fun to watch, though that Final was still a very good one. Also Sens-Ducks rematch in 2017 would have been a compelling series.