[George_Bell]

1995 NHL Playoffs



Eastern Conference

The Habs took NY to seven games in last years second round. This year, those two meet in the first round, and it’s another close series, though as the series went on, NY’s superiority began to show. Islanders win in 6 games. Hartford again goes down in the playoffs without much of a fight. The 7th seeded Bruins have a relatively easy time, winning the series in 5. They get the Islanders next. That’s not good for the Bruins. NY looks great. They have no problems with Boston winning the 5th and final game of the series 7-2. Islanders return to the conference finals.



The Sabres had their best season since the late 70’s, and made the playoffs for the second straight season. They found themselves as favourites versus the playoff tested Devils. The experience difference showed. New Jersey was able to shut down Buffalo's offense in just about every game. In their losses, Buffalo scored just once. Devils takes the series in 5. With rumours swirling that the Nordiques will be leaving Quebec City soon, the fans hope a playoff run to the Stanley Cup would stop ownership from making that move. Step one is to beat the Flyers, which they accomplish in five! Step two will be to take out the Devils. Quebec and New Jersey split the first four games, but the Nordiques get big games from their veteran stars, Doug Gilmour and Cam Neely to win in 6. Hockey in Quebec will continue for another week atleast!



Western Conference

Detroit establishes itself as a number one seed and the defending champs by dismissing the Kings in a quick four game series. Mario Lemieux missed the series after suffering a late season injury. It was revealed after the series his season was over after a surgical procedure. The Winnipeg Jets had a horrible finish to the year, and are seen as a prime candidate to get upset. After winning the first 2 games of their series with the Blues, things fell apart. They stopped scoring goals, and lost 3 of the next 4. Dominik Hasek got hurt in game 6, meaning no matter how they do in game 7, his season is over. Goaltending didn’t matter in game 7. The Jets couldn’t score. St. Louis eliminates Winnipeg in 7! The Blues get no time to rest. They have to go to Detroit to play the first place Wings the next day. The fatigue showed, as Detroit led 3-0 after a period. The Blues would lose game one and two, but a home and home series developed. The home team would win each of the first 6 games, forcing a seventh! In game 7, the Blues bucked the trend. Denis Savard records 4 assists. St. Louis slaughters the Red Wings 8-2, ending their repeat attempt.



The battle of Alberta is renewed in the first round this year. The 7th seeded Flames gave all they could, extending the Oilers to 6 games, but I think that was their peak. Oilers advance. Dallas, the 4 speed, looks vastly superior to the Leafs in a 4/5 matchup, winning easily in 5 games. Edmonton starts their series with Dallas strong, but the Stars rebound to win three straight before the Oilers blow out Dallas in game 6 to force a seventh game at Northlands Coliseum. Tied at two in the third, Dino Cicarrelli scores the series winning goal late. Dallas advances to take on the Blues!



Eastern Conference Final


The Nordiques strike first. After falling down 1-0, they rebound with goals from Doug Gilmour and Jason York to take game one, 2-1. New York responds in game two. Mats Sundin gets 2 goals and 2 assits, while Jaromir Jagr and Pavel Bure each score. 4-1 Islanders tie the series.


A big game by Sundin ties the series.

Chris Pronger scores shorthanded in the first period of game three, which have the Islanders a 3-1 lead after a period. That goal was a backbreaker. You can’t allow shorthanded goals and expect to win!! The lead was extended to 4-1, which was too much for Quebec. 4-2 NY wins game three. This Nordiques team doesn’t quit though. Down 2-1 in game four, Mark Wotton, Cam Neely and Jason York score in the third. That’s three straight Quebec goals in the final 5 minutes, to win it 4-2!! Nordiques tie the series!


Pronger scores shorthanded in game three!

Riding the momentum of that comeback, game five is all Quebec. Darius Kasparaitis provides an unlikely source of offense, with 3 points, while Bob Essensa stops 33 shots. 5-0 Nordiques, who are heading home with a chance to clinch on home ice. Tied at one after a period, the Nordiques score three times in the 2nd period to take a 4-2 lead. The Islanders do not roll over with their season on the line though. Jonas Hoglund and Uwe Krupp each score in the opening minutes of the third to tie it. No more scoring occurs, and overtime is needed. They only need 3 minutes of extra time. Alex Selivanov scores the series winning goal for Quebec, upsetting the first place Islanders!! The Nordiques, on the verge of leaving, are going to the Stanley Cup final! 5-4 in OT!



Western Conference Final


Both Dallas and St. Louis get no rest after their 7 game victories. It’s St. Louis’ second straight 7 game series. Game one will be their 15th game in 27 days. Maybe they are fatigued, as after going up 1-0, St. Louis allows 4 straight Dallas goals. Trevor Linden gets 3 points in the Stars series opening 5-2 win. The Blues switch up the script in game two. They fall down 2-0, then score 4 straight in the 2nd period. Peter Bondra ends up with 3 points, including the winning goal. St. Louis ties the series with a 5-3 win.


Linden is big in Dallas' game one win!

Game three, tied at one in the third, sees the Stars score two quick goals in two minutes to open the period. After falling behind, St. Louis is held to just 5 shots in the frame. Not enough to mount any sort of comeback. 3-1 Stars win on home ice. Keith Jones scores 29 seconds into game four for the Blues. After that, the two teams combined for just 32 shots in a defensive war. No offense was able to get going. Jones goal holds up. 1-0 St. Louis ties the series.


Jones gets game 4's only goal!

The Blues continued to struggle to get any offense in game 5, but Dallas did not. The Stars pounded Blues goalie, Clint Malarchuk with 38 shots, and got three by him. Stars goalie Tommy Salo stopped all 16 St. Louis shots he saw. Dallas wins 3-0. St. Louis just can’t score! The way to win when you can’t score is defense, and St. Louis plays their best defensive game in the sixth contest. Dallas is held to 18 shots. Denis Savard does score for the Blues…Twice! His goals were enough. 3-1 St. Louis. The Blues force their third straight game seven!


Denis Savard scores twice in game 6!

The Blues 21st game of the Stanley Cup playoffs starts well. Keith Jones deflects a point shot in early, to take a 1-0 lead, but Dave Manson’s 5th ties it up just over a minute later. Benoit Brunet puts a rebound by Clint Malarchuk, making it 2-1 Dallas. Wally Schreiber scores 20 seconds later, tying it again. I thought this series was ruled by defense!! Before the period ends, Jeremy Roenick gets a wrist shot through Malarchuk. 3-2 Stars.

Bob Bassen and Steve Chaisson score 2 minutes apart early in the 2nd, snatching the lead back for St. Louis. The 2nd period ends by that 4-3 St. Louis score. The Blues add to their lead midway through the third thanks to Doug Weight. Keith Carney adds an empty net goal. St. Louis wins their third game seven!! 6-3 Blues.