I'd like to say the 'Matteau, Matteau' game was the worst but I knew the Devils were lucky to have pushed that game 7 to OT. The heartbreak was really on the Messier 'Guarantee' game; because first of all he didn't actually ever guarantee poop. The press just ran with it. But he did play an absolute outstanding game.
ALL that said the game that truly hurt the most was losing to the Avalanche in 2001. That we had two chances to close out Colorado and didn't really play well in either... It wasn't the crying after game 7 that I remember but how truly depressed I felt for weeks..
What makes this even worse (if possible) is the Devils really outplayed the Hurricanes a great deal in that game but couldn't extend the lead. It's shouldn't have even been close. But instead it was an epic collapse.
Easy call for me. The Penguins have had several heartbreaking losses (losing a 3-0 series lead to the Isles in 75, losing in game 5 OT tot the Isles in 82, losing games 6 and 7 to the Flyers in 89, losing game 7 to FLORIDA(!) in 96. But the worst by far was David F’n Volek’s game 7 OT goal in 1993.
Pens pulled the goalie to tie it up in the last minute. I was sure they were going to win in OT. They were so much better than NY on paper. The isles didn’t even have their best player in games 1 - 6.
They were on the verge of becoming a TRUE dynasty with three in a row, cementing their place among the best teams ever and if they had advanced to the final (no sure thing since Roy stood on his head that year) they would have played the LA Kings and we would have gotten to see a Gretzky and Lemieux Stanley Cup final matchup. So disappointing. I was shocked, depressed all summer and bitter for years.
Petr f'n Klima coming off the bench (he sat for the previous 2 OT periods) to score for Edmonton in OT3 to Beat Boston in game 1 of SCF 1990.
Hurt even more as Ranford was MVP that year and Boston traded him away for Moog (nothing against Moog, he was great too).
Location: Hilton Head Island, SC Joined: 02.17.2009
May 21 @ 3:39 PM ET
Grew up an Isles fan. Remember that afternoon playoff game in ‘80 like it was yesterday. Good times!
Biggest heartbreak - Devs losing to the Avs in 2001 in what the media made as the “Ray F’ing Bourke Stanley Cup finals”. We were up 3 games to 2 and winning would’ve solidified the Devils as a true dynasty. I still despise that man!
Location: Hilton Head Island, SC Joined: 02.17.2009
May 21 @ 3:46 PM ET
I'd like to say the 'Matteau, Matteau' game was the worst but I knew the Devils were lucky to have pushed that game 7 to OT. The heartbreak was really on the Messier 'Guarantee' game; because first of all he didn't actually ever guarantee poop. The press just ran with it. But he did play an absolute outstanding game.
ALL that said the game that truly hurt the most was losing to the Avalanche in 2001. That we had two chances to close out Colorado and didn't really play well in either... It wasn't the crying after game 7 that I remember but how truly depressed I felt for weeks..
What makes this even worse (if possible) is the Devils really outplayed the Hurricanes a great deal in that game but couldn't extend the lead. It's shouldn't have even been close. But instead it was an epic collapse. - Queenie_5_hole
Funny we both landed on the same 2001 heartbreak. I didn’t read your post until after I posted, but I certainly had the Rags and Canes games as very close 2nd or 3rd in my mind too
Location: Malkin wants to be The Man, ON Joined: 02.01.2016
May 21 @ 3:48 PM ET
Grew up an Isles fan. Remember that afternoon playoff game in ‘80 like it was yesterday. Good times!
Biggest heartbreak - Devs losing to the Avs in 2001 in what the media made as the “Ray F’ing Bourke Stanley Cup finals”. We were up 3 games to 2 and winning would’ve solidified the Devils as a true dynasty. I still despise that man! - Crushers68
The most recent was the summer of 1992. First the Rangers lose to the Pens in game 6 after winning the Presidents Trophy and what was worse was losing Lindros to the Flyers after thinking we got him. I remember saying to my friends that now Philly is going to win a cup before the Rangers. Bad summer.
Being born and raised in Edmonton, it has to be 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. I was 19 so everything that happened in the 80s, I was just way too young to know what was going on and experience the Oilers Dynasty.
Carolina winning Game 7, just broke me as a die hard fan. The ride was crazy and insane and to experience was like nothing else. Even to this day when they play the Stanley cup montages and I see Brind'Amour holding the cup, it still makes me cringe and sad to think about.
Mine as a Devils fan is easy..Game 6 2001 vs Colorado..after winning game 5 on their ice ice we were all setup to win it all at home then Patrick Roy laid the goose egg on us and the rest is history...would have been awesome to have won back to back!
