1996 Stanley Cup

Lore & Background

It was Colorado's first appearance in the Finals, in only their first season in Denver since moving from Quebec City (where they had formerly played as the Nordiques) in 1995. It was also Florida's first appearance in the Finals, in only the franchise's third season since entering the NHL in 1993. Only four other teams have made their first Stanley Cup Final appearance faster: the Toronto Arenas winning the Stanley Cup in the NHL inaugural season in 1917–18, the St. Louis Blues in their debut season in 1967–68 (they lost the 1968 Finals to the Montreal Canadiens), the Vegas Golden Knights in their inaugural year in 2017–18, 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 Finals appearance.

In Their Own Story

The air inside McNichols Sports Arena was thick with anticipation, smelling faintly of popcorn and ice shavings. As Patrick Roy dropped to his knees after the final horn sounded against Florida, the roar of the Denver crowd nearly shook the glass from its frame. Ray Bourque, tears streaming down his face, embraced his teammates on the blue line, the weight of a decade-long quest finally lifting. The confetti began to fall, mixing with the ice spray, as the Avalanche realized they hadn't just won a trophy; they had rewritten their destiny in a single, perfect week.

Reader's Guide

Colorado defeated the Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, and Detroit Red Wings in six games each to advance to the Finals. Florida defeated the Boston Bruins in five games, the Philadelphia Flyers in six, and the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven, becoming the first team from a Southern state to appear in the Stanley Cup Final. The series opened on 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. Colorado won game one 3–1. Game two was an 8–1 Avalanche victory. Game three saw Colorado win 3–2. Game four set a new record for the longest scoreless tie (104:31) in a Stanley Cup Final game; Uwe Krupp's unassisted goal at 4:31 of the third overtime gave the Avalanche a 1–0 win and a four-game series sweep. 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 11 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.

Did You Know?

• Joe Sakic won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, leading all skaters with 18 goals and 34 points.
• Patrick Roy stopped 147 of 151 shots in the series, a save percentage of .974.
• Uwe Krupp scored the game-winning goal in triple overtime of Game 4 to clinch the sweep.
• This was the first major professional sports championship ever won by a Denver-based team.
• Adam Deadmarsh's name was misspelled ADAM DEADMARCH on the Stanley Cup; it was corrected by stamping an 'S' over the 'C' twice.