Ranking List #1 - NHL Stanley Cup Conference Finals Moments

This will be the first of many comparative blogs for certain sports catergories. You may agree or disagree. These are the greatest NHL Conference Finals moments during the time I've followed hockey. They are not necessarily the dramatic or repeated on highlight reels. These moments are simply just well-archived in my mind.

1994 - Devils vs. Rangers
Game 6 - Mark Messier guarantees a victory as the Rangers trail the series 3-2. After the guarantee, he scores a hat trick to force game 7. In the final game, down 1-0, the Devils score in the closing seconds to force overtime. In the second overtime, Stephane Matteau wraps around the Devils' net and stuffs the puck past Martin Brodeur to send the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Finals.

2003 - One Goal
When the Anaheim Mighty Ducks faced the Minnesota Wild, only one puck crossed into the Anaheim net throughout the four game sweep. J.S. Giguere was an outstanding goaltender taking the Mighty Ducks to the SCF for the first time in franchise history.

1996 - Facial
An intense rivalry only started as the relocated Colorado Avalanche (in the previous year played in the Eastern Conference as the Quebec Nordiques) met the President's Trophy-winning Detroit Red Wings. With only one more game to send the Avs to the SCF, Claude Lemieux knocked Detroit's Kris Draper into the top of the board. Draper had dental and facial injuries, along with a concussion from the hit. Detroit's Dino Ciccarelli took such exception to the hit, he couldn't believe he shook Lemieux's hand during the traditional series-ending handshake.

1997 - Avalanche and Red Wings meet again, and benches cross
Colorado Head Coach Marc Crawford began to climb over the glass pane into the Red Wings' bench, appearing to go after Detroit Head Coach Scotty Bowman.

2000 - Stevens Hit
In game 7 between the Devils and Flyers, defenseman Scott Stevens drills Eric Lindros knocking him into a concussion. The Devils went on to win the game, and of course, the series. Ultimately, this is how Lindros finished his tenure with Philadelphia after multiple concussions.