1996 Stanley Cup Finals
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The 1996 Stanley Cup Final was the NHL championship series of the 1996 Stanley Cup Playoffs contested between the Western Conference champion Colorado Avalanche and the Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers, two teams in the Final for the first time and that did not exist only three seasons before. It was Colorado's first appearance in the Final, in only their first season in Denver since moving from Quebec City (where they had formerly played as the Nordiques) in 1995. It was Florida's first appearance in the Final, in only the franchise's third season since entering the NHL in 1993. Only two other teams have made their first Stanley Cup Final appearance faster: the St. Louis Blues in their debut season in 1967–68 (they lost the 1968 Finals to the Montreal Canadiens), and the 1928 Cup-winning New York Rangers (who were in their second season of play, having been formed for the 1926–27 season). This was also the first time since the formation of the NHL in 1917 that the two teams competing for the Cup were making their first Final appearance.
Colorado defeated Florida in a four-game sweep to win their first Stanley Cup becoming the seventh post-1967 expansion team and the second former WHA team (after the Edmonton Oilers) to win the Cup. Colorado's Joe Sakic earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the 1996 Playoffs.
Contents
Road to the Final[edit]
Colorado defeated the Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, and Detroit Red Wings in six games each to advance to the final.
Florida defeated the Boston Bruins in five games, the Philadelphia Flyers in six, and the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven.
The series[edit]
Game one[edit]
Tuesday, June 4 | Colorado Avalanche | 3 – 1 | Florida Panthers | McNichols Sports Arena |
The series opened on Tuesday, June 4, at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver. Patrick Roy was in goal for Colorado, and John Vanbiesbrouck was between the pipes for Florida (a rematch from the 1986 Wales Conference Finals when Roy was with the Montreal Canadiens and Vanbiesbrouck was with the New York Rangers). Although Colorado was the heavy favorite in the series, Florida got on the board first on Tom Fitzgerald's goal at 16:51 of the first period. That would be all the Panthers would get, however, as Colorado scored three times within five minutes in the second period. Scott Young scored at 10:32, Mike Ricci scored at 12:21, and Uwe Krupp scored at 14:21. The Avalanche went on to win the game 3–1, with Roy making 25 saves in the victory.
Game two[edit]
Thursday, June 6 | Colorado Avalanche | 8 – 1 | Florida Panthers | McNichols Sports Arena |
Peter Forsberg got the Avalanche on the board first in game two, scoring an unassisted goal at 4:11 of the first period. The Panthers tied the game on Stu Barnes' power-play goal at 7:52. Rene Corbet broke the 1–1 tie with a power-play goal at 10:43, and then Forsberg scored two power-play goals of his own at 13:46 and 15:05 to complete the hat trick. Colorado led 4–1 after just one period. The Avalanche would make it 5–1 with Corbet’s second goal of the game at 4:37 of the second period. Valeri Kamensky followed with a goal just 31 seconds later, and Jon Klemm scored at 10:03 to give Colorado a dominating 7–1 lead after two periods. Klemm would add another goal at 17:28 of the third period. It was the Avalanche’s fourth power-play goal of the game. Colorado won the game 8–1, with three players scoring at least twice.
Game three[edit]
Saturday, June 8 | Florida Panthers | 2 – 3 | Colorado Avalanche | Miami Arena |
The Avalanche went to the Miami Arena in Florida with a 2–0 series lead. Claude Lemieux, back after his two-game suspension, scored the first goal of the game at 2:44 of the first period to give Colorado a 1–0 lead. Florida played determinedly, however, and tied the game on Ray Sheppard’s power-play goal at 9:14. Rob Niedermayer scored at 11:19 to give the Panthers their second lead of the series. The score was 2–1 Florida after one period. At 1:38 of the second period, Colorado’s Mike Keane scored a game-tying goal. Captain Joe Sakic scored the go-ahead goal just 82 seconds later, and Colorado went on to win 3–2 and take a commanding three-games-to-none lead in the series. Patrick Roy made 32 saves in the win.
Game four[edit]
Monday, June 10 & Tuesday, June 11 | Florida Panthers | 0 – 1 | 3OT | Colorado Avalanche | Miami Arena |
With their backs to the wall, the Panthers played a defensive game. Florida goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck went save for save with Colorado goaltender Patrick Roy. The two teams played a marathon game that took until the third overtime period. Uwe Krupp’s unassisted goal at 4:31 ended 44 minutes and 31 seconds of overtime and gave the Avalanche a 1–0 win and a four-games-to-none series win. Goaltender Patrick Roy stopped all 63 shots he faced. Colorado outscored Florida 15–4 in the series, and Patrick Roy stopped 147 of 151 shots, for a save percentage of .974. Joe Sakic was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, having led all skaters in goals with 18, and points with 34. For both Patrick Roy and Claude Lemieux, it was one of their three Stanley Cup wins in eleven years. Roy and Lemieux first won the Cup in 1986 with the Montreal Canadiens. Roy won a second Cup with Montreal in 1993. Lemieux won a second cup with New Jersey in 1995.
The Avalanche became the third team to win the cup after relocating: the 1989 Calgary Flames won the Cup after moving from Atlanta and the New Jersey Devils in 1995 won the Cup 13 years after they played their last game in the same city and same arena that the Avs played in as the Colorado Rockies.
Rosters[edit]
Bolded years under Finals appearance indicates year won Stanley Cup.
Colorado Avalanche[edit]
Goaltenders | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Catches | Acquired | Place of birth | Finals appearance | ||||
35 | Stephane Fiset | L | 1988 | ![]() |
Montreal, Quebec | first (did not play) | ||
33 | Patrick Roy | L | 1995–96 | ![]() |
Quebec City, Quebec | fourth (1986, 1989, 1993) |
Defensemen | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Player | Shoots | Acquired | Place of birth | Finals appearance | |||
2 | Sylvain Lefebvre - A | L | 1994–95 | ![]() |
Richmond, Quebec | first | ||
4 | Uwe Krupp | R | 1994–95 | ![]() |
Cologne, Germany | first | ||
5 | Alexei Gusarov | L | 1988 | ![]() |
Leningrad, USSR | first | ||
6 | Craig Wolanin - A | L | 1989–90 | ![]() |
Grosse Pointe, Michigan | first (did not play) | ||
7 | Curtis Leschyshyn - A | L | 1988 | ![]() |
Thompson, Manitoba | first | ||
8 | Sandis Ozolinsh | L | 1995–96 | ![]() |
Riga, Latvia | first | ||
24 | Jon Klemm | R | 1991–92 | ![]() |
Cranbrook, British Columbia | first | ||
52 | Adam Foote | R | 1988 | ![]() |
Toronto, Ontario | first |
Forwards | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Player | Position | Shoots | Acquired | Place of birth | Finals appearance | ||
9 | Mike Ricci – A | C | L | 1991–92 | ![]() |
Scarborough, Ontario | first | |
10 | Troy Murray | C | R | 1995–96 | ![]() |
Calgary, Alberta | first (did not play) | |
12 | Chris Simon | LW | L | 1992–93 | ![]() |
Wawa, Ontario | first (did not play) | |
13 | Valeri Kamensky | LW | R | 1988 | ![]() |
Voskresensk, USSR | first | |
14 | Dave Hannan | C/LW | L | 1995–96 | ![]() |
Sudbury, Ontario | second (1988) | |
16 | Warren Rychel | LW | L | 1995–96 | ![]() |
Strathroy, Ontario | second (1993) | |
18 | Adam Deadmarsh | RW | R | 1993 | ![]() |
Trail, British Columbia | first | |
19 | Joe Sakic – C | C | L | 1987 | ![]() |
Burnaby, British Columbia | first | |
20 | René Corbet | LW | R | 1991 | ![]() |
Victoriaville, Quebec | first | |
21 | Peter Forsberg | C | L | 1994–95 | ![]() |
Örnsköldsvik, Sweden | first | |
22 | Claude Lemieux | RW | R | 1995–96 | ![]() |
Buckingham, Quebec | fourth (1986, 1989, 1995) | |
25 | Mike Keane | RW | R | 1995–96 | ![]() |
Winnipeg, Manitoba | fourth (1986, 1989, 1993) | |
26 | Stephane Yelle | C | L | 1993–94 | ![]() |
Ottawa, Ontario | first | |
48 | Scott Young | RW | R | 1994–95 | ![]() |
Clinton, Massachusetts | second (1991) |
Florida Panthers[edit]
Goaltenders | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Player | Catches | Acquired | Place of birth | Finals appearance | |||
30 | Mark Fitzpatrick | L | 1993–94 | ![]() |
Toronto, Ontario | first (did not play) | ||
34 | John Vanbiesbrouck | L | 1993–94 | ![]() |
Detroit, Michigan | first |
Defensemen | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Player | Shoots | Acquired | Place of birth | Finals appearance | |||
2 | Terry Carkner | L | 1995–96 | ![]() |
Smiths Falls, Ontario | second (1995) | ||
3 | Paul Laus | R | 1993–94 | ![]() |
Beamsville, Ontario | first | ||
5 | Gord Murphy – A | R | 1993–94 | ![]() |
Willowdale, Ontario | first | ||
6 | Jason Woolley | L | 1994–95 | ![]() |
Toronto, Ontario | first (did not play) | ||
23 | Rhett Warrener | R | 1994 | ![]() |
Shaunavon, Saskatchewan | first | ||
24 | Robert Svehla | R | 1993–94 | ![]() |
Martin, Czechoslovakia | first | ||
55 | Ed Jovanovski | L | 1994 | ![]() |
Windsor, Ontario | first |
Forwards | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Player | Position | Shoots | Acquired | Place of birth | Finals appearance | ||
10 | Dave Lowry | LW | L | 1993–94 | ![]() |
Sudbury, Ontario | first | |
11 | Bill Lindsay | LW | L | 1993–94 | ![]() |
Bigfork, Montana | first | |
12 | Jody Hull | RW | R | 1993–94 | ![]() |
Petrolia, Ontario | first (did not play) | |
14 | Stu Barnes | C | R | 1993–94 | ![]() |
Spruce Grove, Alberta | first | |
18 | Mike Hough | LW | L | 1993–94 | ![]() |
Montreal, Quebec | first | |
19 | Radek Dvorak | RW | R | 1995 | ![]() |
Tábor, Czechoslovakia | first | |
20 | Brian Skrudland – C | C | L | 1993–94 | ![]() |
Peace River, Alberta | third (1986, 1989) | |
21 | Tom Fitzgerald | RW | R | 1993–94 | ![]() |
Billerica, Massachusetts | first | |
26 | Ray Sheppard | RW | R | 1995–96 | ![]() |
Petawawa, Ontario | first | |
27 | Scott Mellanby - A | RW | R | 1993–94 | ![]() |
Montreal, Quebec | second (1987) | |
28 | Martin Straka | C | L | 1995–96 | ![]() |
Plzeň, Czechoslovakia | first | |
29 | Johan Garpenlov | LW | L | 1995–96 | ![]() |
Stockholm, Sweden | first | |
44 | Rob Niedermayer | C | L | 1993 | ![]() |
Cassiar, British Columbia | first |
Colorado Avalanche - 1996 Stanley Cup Champions[edit]
Roster
- 10 Troy Murray
- 19 Joe Sakic (Captain)
- 9 Mike Ricci (A)
- 21 Peter Forsberg
- 26 Stephane Yelle
- 14 Dave Hannan (also played center)
- 12 Chris Simon
- 13 Valeri Kamensky
- 16 Warren Rychel
- 18 Adam Deadmarsh
- 20 Rene Corbet
- 22 Claude Lemieux
- 25 Mike Keane
- 48 Scott Young
- 2 Sylvain Lefebvre (A)
- 4 Uwe Krupp
- 5 Alexei Gusarov
- 6 Craig Wolanin (A)
- 7 Curtis Leschyshyn (A)
- 8 Sandis Ozolinsh
- 24 Jon Klemm
- 52 Adam Foote
- Coaching and administrative staff
- Charlie Lyons (Chairman/Chief Executive Officer/Owner/President/Governor), Pierre Lacroix (Vice President/General Manager), Marc Crawford (Head Coach)
- Joel Quenneville (Asst. Coach), Jacques Cloutier (Goaltending Coach), Francois Giguere (Asst. General Manager)
- Michel Goulet (Director of Player Personnel), Dave Draper (Chief Scout), Jean Martineau (Director of Public Relations)
- Pat Karns (Athletic Trainer), Matthew Sokolowski (Asst. Trainer), Rob McLean (Equipment Manager)
- Mike Kramer (Asst. Equipment Manager), Brock Gibbins (Asst. Equipment Manager), Skip Allen (Strength-Conditioning Coach)
- Paul Fixter (Video Coordinator), Leo Vyssokov (Massage Therapist)
- Sandis Ozolinsh was first Latvian born-trained player to win the Stanley Cup.
- Uwe Krupp was first the German born-trained player to win the Stanley Cup.
Stanley Cup engravings[edit]
Adam Deadmarsh's name was misspelled ADAM DEADMARCH. This mistake was corrected by stamping an "S" over the "C" twice. Deadmarsh's name was the first player's name to be corrected on the Presentation Stanley Cup.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- Diamond, Dan (2000). Total Stanley Cup. NHL.
- Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-55168-261-7.
Preceded by New Jersey Devils 1995 |
Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup Champions 1996 |
Succeeded by Detroit Red Wings 1997 |