2001 Stanley Cup Championship
Colorado Avalanche defeat New Jersey Devils in seven games to win second Stanley Cup.
The 2001 Stanley Cup Final was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2000–01 season, and the culmination of the 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Eastern Conference champion and defending Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils and the Western Conference champion and Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche. It was Colorado's second appearance in the Final, and the first since the team won the Cup in 1996. It was New Jersey's third appearance in the Final and second straight appearance after winning the Cup in the previous year. Colorado defeated New Jersey in seven games to win their second Stanley Cup in franchise history. Colorado's Patrick Roy was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the 2001 playoffs.
- Season
- 2000-2001
- Opponent Defeated
- New Jersey Devils
- Series Result
- Won 4 games to 3
- Key Leader
- Joe Sakic (Captain)
- Goaltender
- Patrick Roy
- Championship Count
- 2nd in franchise history
- Game 7 Location
- Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford
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.
In Their Own Story
The air inside the Meadowlands Arena was thick with tension, a palpable electric hum that seemed to vibrate through the ice itself. It was Game 7, the decider. Colorado trailed by a goal late in the third period, the clock ticking down like a countdown to oblivion. Joe Sakic skated with a quiet intensity, his eyes fixed on the net, knowing this was it—the moment that would define a generation of Avalanche fans. When the puck finally crossed the line in overtime, the roar from the Denver contingent in the stands was deafening, a primal scream of relief and joy that echoed off the rafters, signaling not just a victory, but the return of kings.
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.
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