1993 Stanley Cup Final

Lore & Background

The series is remembered for Kings defenceman Marty McSorley's penalty late in the third period of game two for using an illegal stick, in what proved to be the turning point in the 1993 Cup Finals. When McSorley entered the penalty box, Los Angeles held a 1–0 series lead, and a 2–1 score in the contest. The Canadiens then went on to score the equalizer on the ensuing power play, won game two in overtime, and then defeated the Kings in the next three games to win the Cup. From the moment that McSorley was called for the penalty, the Kings failed to win another postseason game for the remainder of the 1993 playoffs. Their next postseason win did not come until 1998, when they defeated the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their first-round series.

Reader's Guide

The Kings reached the finals by defeating the Calgary Flames in the Smythe Division Semifinals 4–2, the Vancouver Canucks in the Smythe Division Finals 4–2, and the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Campbell Conference Finals 4–3. The Canadiens defeated the Quebec Nordiques in the Adams Division Semifinals 4–2, the Buffalo Sabres in the Adams Division Finals 4–0, and the New York Islanders in the Wales Conference Finals 4–1. Game one: Kings won 4–1. Game two: Canadiens won in overtime. Game three: Canadiens won in overtime. Game four: Canadiens won in overtime. Game five: Canadiens won at the Montreal Forum to clinch the series.

Did You Know?

• This was the first appearance in the Final for the Kings and the first appearance since the 1920 Stanley Cup Final for a team based on the west coast of the United States.
• The 1993 Canadiens are the last Stanley Cup championship team to be composed solely of North American-born players.
• The 1993 Canadiens are the last Canadian-based team to win the Stanley Cup.
• Eric Desjardins is the second defenceman to score a hat trick in the Cup Finals; Bobby Orr was the first to do so in 1970.
• John LeClair became the first player since Maurice Richard in 1951 to score playoff overtime goals in consecutive games.