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NHL: 30 most unforgettable team runs in league history

By Nick Villano

Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals carries the Stanley Cup in celebration after his team defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals carries the Stanley Cup in celebration after his team defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Martin Brodeur
Martin Brodeur (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/NHLI) /

NHL: 30 most unforgettable team runs in league history: 29. 2003 New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils have had some incredible runs over the years thanks to a rock-solid defense and the exploits of goaltender Martin Brodeur, but the run Brodeur went on in 2003 is one of the greatest of all time. It really is a shame he didn’t win the Conn Smythe Trophy. Nobody has ever had seven shutouts in one playoff year outside of Brodeur’s 2003 run. That includes a ridiculous three shutouts in the Stanley Cup Final.

Before getting to the Final, the Devils made easy work of the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning. This all led to the series everyone wanted to see. The 2002-03 Ottawa Senators were one of the franchise’s best chances to win it all. They forced a Game 7 on home ice when they scored 16 minutes into overtime in Game 6.

It seemed like the Devils blew their chance to end the series, but their quest for a third Stanley Cup could not be stopped. Unlikely hero Jeff Friesen scored with just over two minutes left in Game 7 to give the Devils the lead for the last time in the Eastern Conference Finals. They were then poised for a matchup with the surprise run that was the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

That Stanley Cup series had everything. Brodeur and Jean-Sebastian Giguere put on a show in net. The star power was immense with a chippy Devils team led by Patrik Elias and Scott Gomez on offense and a team of firepower with Paul Kariya and a 40-year-old Adam Oates turning back the clock one last time. The series had so many moments, including that one hit.

Kariya came back after Scott Stevens stole his soul and he scored a goal to lead his team to victory. Part of his career is still on the ice today. But the Devils bounced back from that loss and Brodeur ended the series with a shutout, taking out the Ducks in Game 7. (Again, how did he not win the Conn Smythe when he shutout his opponent in Game 7?) This was an incredibly fun year in the postseason, and the Devils ended up winning it all.

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