2001 Stanley Cup Final

Paths to the Final

The New Jersey Devils finished first in the Eastern Conference with 111 points and an Atlantic Division title. Their playoff path went through the Carolina Hurricanes (4-2), Toronto Maple Leafs (4-3), and Pittsburgh Penguins (4-1). The Colorado Avalanche led the league with 118 points, winning the Presidents' Trophy and the Northwest Division. They swept the Vancouver Canucks, then beat the Los Angeles Kings in seven games and the St. Louis Blues in five.

Game summaries

In game one, Joe Sakic scored twice in the first two periods, and Patrick Roy stopped all 25 shots for a shutout. A late goal by Steven Reinprecht was initially waved off but confirmed by video review, leading to a brawl between Chris Dingman and Sean O'Donnell; the third period totaled 44 penalty minutes. Game two saw Sakic score again, but New Jersey's Bob Corkum and Turner Stevenson replied, and the Devils held a 2–1 lead to even the series. In game three, Jason Arnott scored an early power-play goal for New Jersey, but Martin Skoula tied it for Colorado.

Ray Bourque and Dan Hinote added third-period goals, giving Colorado a road win. Game four began with Rob Blake scoring for Colorado; Patrik Elias answered with a short-handed goal. Chris Drury put Colorado ahead in the second, but Scott Gomez and Petr Sykora scored in the third for New Jersey, and Martin Brodeur made 35 saves as the Devils evened the series at two games apiece.

Stanley Cup engraving

Commissioner Gary Bettman presented the Stanley Cup to Avalanche captain Joe Sakic after Colorado's 3–1 win in game seven. Sakic handed the cup to Ray Bourque, who skated with it first, a gesture widely considered one of the most emotional moments in NHL history. The engraved names included Bryan Muir, who played only eight regular-season and three playoff games but received an exemption. Six players—Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Jon Klemm, Stephane Yelle, Patrick Roy, and Adam Foote—also won with Colorado in 1996. David Aebischer became the first Swiss-born and trained player to win the Cup.