2001 Stanley Cup Championship

Lore & Background

This was the first Stanley Cup Final since that would be decided in the maximum seven games. This was also the first and, as of , most recent Final since that the number one seeds in each conference met in the Final. This marked the only time in NHL history where two teams who occupied the same market at different times faced off against each other. The Devils were based out of Denver as the Colorado Rockies from 1976 to 1982 and the Avalanche established themselves in the city in 1995 after relocating from Quebec City.

Reader's Guide

Around eight minutes into game seven, Alex Tanguay of the Avalanche scored the period's only goal. Colorado then scored two consecutive goals in the second period: another by Tanguay, his sixth of the playoffs, and a power-play goal scored by Joe Sakic, his 13th of the playoffs. Shortly after Sakic's goal, Petr Sykora and the Devils sprang into life when he scored a power-play goal. It left the Devils with only two goals to overcome, but Roy and the Avalanche would prove too much for the Devils in the third period as Colorado defensively shut the door on New Jersey to win the game and the series.

Did You Know?

• With the win, the Avalanche became the fifth team to win the Presidents' Trophy and Stanley Cup in the same season since the former trophy's introduction in 1985–86.
• This was the first and only Stanley Cup championship for defenceman Ray Bourque, who retired shortly after the series ended.
• This was the last major professional sports championship won by a Denver-based team until 2016, when the Denver Broncos won Super Bowl 50.
• This would also be the Avalanche's last Stanley Cup title and Final appearance until 2022.