Ice Hockey Wiki
Register
Advertisement

The 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League (NHL), began after the conclusion of the 1993–94 NHL season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the Stanley Cup.

The playoffs ended when the New York Rangers defeated the Vancouver Canucks in the seventh game of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals.

For the first time in history, all four former WHA teams (Edmonton, Hartford, Quebec, and Winnipeg) failed to make the playoffs in the same year. This would not happen again until 2007 after the three latter teams had relocated.

Hhof stanley cup

The Stanley Cup at the Hockey Hall of Fame

Playoff bracket[]

  First Round Conference Semifinals Conference Finals Stanley Cup Final
                                     
1  New York Rangers 4  
8  New York Islanders 0  
  1  New York Rangers 4  
  7  Washington Capitals 1  
2  Pittsburgh Penguins 2
7  Washington Capitals 4  
  1  New York Rangers 4  
Eastern Conference
  3  New Jersey Devils 3  
3  New Jersey Devils 4  
6  Buffalo Sabres 3  
  3  New Jersey Devils 4
  4  Boston Bruins 2  
4  Boston Bruins 4
5  Montreal Canadiens 3  
  E1  New York Rangers 4
  W7  Vancouver Canucks 3
1  Detroit Red Wings 3  
8  San Jose Sharks 4  
  3  Toronto Maple Leafs 4
  8  San Jose Sharks 3  
2  Calgary Flames 3
7  Vancouver Canucks 4  
  3  Toronto Maple Leafs 1
Western Conference
  7  Vancouver Canucks 4  
3  Toronto Maple Leafs 4  
6  Chicago Blackhawks 2  
  4  Dallas Stars 1
  7  Vancouver Canucks 4  
4  Dallas Stars 4
5  St. Louis Blues 0  

First Round[]

Eastern Conference[]

NY Rangers (1) vs. NY Islanders (8)
Date Away Home OT
April 17 NY Islanders 0 6 NY Rangers
April 18 NY Islanders 0 6 NY Rangers
April 21 NY Rangers 5 1 NY Islanders
April 24 NY Rangers 5 2 NY Islanders
NY Rangers wins series 4–0
Pittsburgh (2) vs. Washington (7)
Date Away Home OT
April 17 Washington 5 3 Pittsburgh
April 19 Washington 1 2 Pittsburgh
April 21 Pittsburgh 0 2 Washington
April 23 Pittsburgh 1 4 Washington
April 25 Washington 2 3 Pittsburgh
April 27 Pittsburgh 3 6 Washington
Washington wins series 4–2
New Jersey (3) vs. Buffalo (6)
Date Away Home OT
April 17 Buffalo 2 0 New Jersey
April 19 Buffalo 1 2 New Jersey
April 21 New Jersey 2 1 Buffalo
April 23 New Jersey 3 5 Buffalo
April 25 Buffalo 3 5 New Jersey
April 27 New Jersey 0 1 Buffalo 4 OT
April 29 Buffalo 1 2 New Jersey
New Jersey wins series 4–3
Boston (4) vs. Montreal (5)
Date Away Home OT
April 16 Montreal 2 3 Boston
April 18 Montreal 3 2 Boston
April 21 Boston 6 3 Montreal
April 23 Boston 2 5 Montreal
April 25 Montreal 2 1 Boston OT
April 27 Boston 3 2 Montreal*
April 29 Montreal 3 5 Boston
Boston wins series 4–3

* Last playoff game at the Montreal Forum.

Western Conference[]

Detroit (1) vs. San Jose (8)
Date Away Home OT
April 18 San Jose 5 4 Detroit
April 20 San Jose 0 4 Detroit
April 22 Detroit 3 2 San Jose
April 23 Detroit 3 4 San Jose
April 26 Detroit 4 6 San Jose
April 28 San Jose 1 7 Detroit
April 30 San Jose 3 2 Detroit
San Jose wins series 4–3
Calgary (2) vs. Vancouver (7)
Date Away Home OT
April 18 Vancouver 5 0 Calgary
April 20 Vancouver 5 7 Calgary
April 22 Calgary 4 2 Vancouver
April 24 Calgary 3 2 Vancouver
April 26 Vancouver 2 1 Calgary OT
April 28 Calgary 2 3 Vancouver OT
April 30 Vancouver 4 3 Calgary 2 OT
Vancouver wins series 4–3
Toronto (3) vs. Chicago (6)
Date Away Home OT
April 18 Chicago 1 5 Toronto
April 20 Chicago 0 1 Toronto OT
April 22 Toronto 4 5 Chicago
April 24 Toronto 3 4 Chicago OT
April 26 Chicago 0 1 Toronto
April 28 Toronto 1 0 Chicago*
Toronto wins series 4–2
Dallas (4) vs. St. Louis (5)
Date Away Home OT
April 17 St. Louis 3 5 Dallas
April 20 St. Louis 2 4 Dallas
April 22 Dallas 5 4 St. Louis OT
April 24 Dallas 2 1 St. Louis†
Dallas wins series 4–0

* Last playoff game at Chicago Stadium.
† Last playoff game at the St. Louis Arena.

Conference Semi-finals[]

NY Rangers (1) vs. Washington (7)
Date Away Home OT
May 1 Washington 3 6 NY Rangers
May 3 Washington 2 5 NY Rangers
May 5 NY Rangers 3 0 Washington
May 7 NY Rangers 2 4 Washington
May 9 Washington 3 4 NY Rangers
NY Rangers win series 4–1
New Jersey (3) vs. Boston (4)
Date Away Home OT
May 1 Boston 2 1 New Jersey
May 3 Boston 6 5 New Jersey OT
May 5 New Jersey 4 2 Boston
May 7 New Jersey 5 4 Boston OT
May 9 Boston 0 2 New Jersey
May 11 New Jersey 5 3 Boston
New Jersey wins series 4–2
Toronto (3) vs. San Jose (8)
Date Away Home OT
May 2 San Jose 3 2 Toronto
May 4 San Jose 1 5 Toronto
May 6 Toronto 2 5 San Jose
May 8 Toronto 8 3 San Jose
May 10 Toronto 2 5 San Jose
May 12 San Jose 2 3 Toronto OT
May 14 San Jose 2 4 Toronto
Toronto wins series 4–3
Dallas (4) vs. Vancouver (7)
Date Away Home OT
May 2 Vancouver 6 4 Dallas
May 4 Vancouver 3 0 Dallas
May 6 Dallas 4 3 Vancouver
May 8 Dallas 1 2 Vancouver OT
May 10 Dallas 2 4 Vancouver
Vancouver wins series 4–1

Eastern Conference Final[]

The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils met in the 1994 Eastern Conference final.

Background[]

The Rangers had just dispatched the Washington Capitals in five games, while the Devils had just defeated the Boston Bruins in six games (after losing the first two games of the series at home). New York was trying to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since [[1979 Stanley Cup Finals|1979, while the Devils were trying to advance to their first-ever Cup Finals. The Rangers and Devils finished 1–2 respectively in the NHL during the regular season. Despite the two teams strong regular season records, the Rangers entered the series heavily favored as they had swept the regular season six game series with the Devils. This series was the second time that the Rangers and Devils had met in the post season. The series also cemented the legitimacy of the Hudson River Rivalry. The series is also recognized as one of the greatest series in NHL history.

Series summary[]

Game 1[]

With a minute remaining in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden, New York was leading 3–2. However, Devils forward Claude Lemieux tied the game on a scramble in front of New York goaltender Mike Richter. This was a huge goal for the Devils, as they went on to win the game on Stephane Richer's breakaway goal at 15:23 of the second overtime.

Game 2[]

The Rangers came right back and won Game 2 with a convincing 4–0 shutout to tie the series at 1–1.

Game 3[]

The series then turned to the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ, for games three and four. Like Game 1, Game 3 went into double overtime but this time it was New York who won, 3–2, on Stephane Matteau's goal at 6:13 of the second overtime period.

Game 4[]

The Rangers now had a two-games-to-one series lead. Not wanting to go down 3–1 to the best team in the NHL, the Devils came out battling and won Game 4, 3–1, to tie the series at 2–2.

Game 5[]

The Devils dominated Game 5 at MSG, winning 4–1. They now led the series three games to two; they were just one win away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in their history, and they had a chance to do it on home ice, on Wednesday, May 25 back at the Meadowlands.

Game 6[]

Despite the fact that his team trailed in the series 3–2, Rangers captain Mark Messier garanteed that New York would win Game 6. At first, it seemed his prediction was not going to come to fruition, as New Jersey led game six by a score of 2–1 after two periods. But in a fitting twist of fate, it was Messier himself who scored a third-period hat trick to give the Rangers an incredible 4–2 win.

Game 7[]

Game 7 on Friday, May 27 at MSG was another goaltending battle between New Jersey netminder Martin Brodeur and New York netminder Mike Richter. Brian Leetch gave the Rangers a 1–0 lead in the second period. Richter shut out the Devils for over 59 minutes before Devils forward Valeri Zelepukin scored the tying goal with just 7.7 seconds remaining in regulation. The two teams played into double overtime for the third time in the series, and it was Stephane Matteau who scored on a wrap-around at 4:24 of the second overtime period, to give the Rangers a 2–1 win and a 4–3 series win. Brodeur raced around to the left side of the net and went down in time, but the wrap-around by Matteau snuck by his pads. It was considered a weak goal by Brodeur's standards, but nonetheless gave the Rangers the win.

NY Rangers (1) vs. New Jersey (3)
Date Away Home OT
May 15 New Jersey 4 3 NY Rangers 2 OT
May 17 New Jersey 0 4 NY Rangers
May 19 NY Rangers 3 2 New Jersey 2 OT
May 21 NY Rangers 1 3 New Jersey
May 23 New Jersey 4 1 NY Rangers
May 25 NY Rangers 4 2 New Jersey
May 27 New Jersey 1 2 NY Rangers 2 OT
NY Rangers wins series 4–3
and Prince of Wales Trophy

Western Conference Final[]

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks met in the 1994 Western Conference final. Toronto was coming off a tough seven-game series win against the San Jose Sharks while Vancouver was fresh off a brief five-game series win against the Dallas Stars. The Maple Leafs were hoping to make it to Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since [[1967 Stanley Cup Finals|1967, while the Canucks had not made it to the Cup Finals since their Cinderella run in [[1982 Stanley Cup Finals|1983.

Toronto won game one at Maple Leaf Gardens on Peter Zezel's goal at 16:55 of the first overtime period. After that, however, the Maple Leafs could not seem to slow down the bigger, more-powerful Canucks. Vancouver edged Toronto 4–3 in game two, and won shutouts at the Pacific Coliseum in games three and four, by scores of 2–0 and 4–0 respectively. Down three games to one and facing elimination, the Maple Leafs played much better in game five on Tuesday, May 24 in Vancouver. They pushed Vancouver to double overtime but it was Vancouver forward Greg Adams who beat Leafs goaltender Felix Potvin just 14 seconds into the second overtime period to give the Canucks a 4–3 win and a 4–1 series win.

Toronto (3) vs. Vancouver (7)
Date Away Home OT
May 16 Vancouver 2 3 Toronto OT
May 18 Vancouver 4 3 Toronto
May 20 Toronto 0 4 Vancouver
May 22 Toronto 0 2 Vancouver
May 24 Toronto 3 4 Vancouver 2OT
Vancouver wins series 4–1 and
Clarence S. Campbell Bowl

Stanley Cup Final[]

The Rangers were making their tenth appearance in the Final, first since 1979. For Vancouver, it was their second, first since 1982. In a back-and-forth series that went the maximum, the Rangers won the Cup, their fourth title, and first since 1940.

NY Rangers (1) vs. Vancouver (7)
Date Away Score Home Score OT
May 31 Vancouver 3 New York 2 OT
June 2 Vancouver 1 New York 3
June 4 New York 5 Vancouver 1
June 7 New York 4 Vancouver 2
June 9 Vancouver 6 New York 3
June 11 New York 1 Vancouver 4
June 14 Vancouver 2 New York 3
New York Rangers wins series 4–3
and Stanley Cup
Brian Leetch (NY Rangers)
wins Conn Smythe Trophy


Preceded by
1993 Stanley Cup playoffs
Stanley Cup playoffs Succeeded by
1995 Stanley Cup playoffs


This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Ice Hockey Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA).


Advertisement