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Mike Modano and his Dallas Stars crushed the hearts of Buffalo Sabres fans one summer night in June 1999.
Do you need something to distract you from the stifling heat?
I’ve been enjoying the offering of 35 years of Stanley Cup Finals on the NHL Network. What they’ve done in their Raising the Cup series, is to take the Cup-clinching game of each year and show it in its entirety. True greatness! (Although not shown in Canada.)
We’ve been able to see some of these games before on their Vintage Games series, but the games are always compressed and chopped up. So when I see that they have five hours dedicated on August 6 for the 1999 game, excuse me while I get a little excited. Few, if any, have that entire game on DVD. Now, because of the NHL Network, we’ll have a chance to throw away our deteriorating VHS tapes of that triple-overtime fingerbiter.
I’ve watched bits and parts of most of the games, including the North Stars loss in 1981 to the Islanders and the 1991 loss to the Penguins. Why? Because they are moments of time that my favorite team will never get back. How great was it to see rookie Dino Ciccarelli, or a young Mike Modano weaving his way through defenders? To see Neal Broten as captain still encouraging his clearly outmanned team?
And what Canucks fan wouldn’t want to see the beloved Trevor Linden single-handedly almost beating the Rangers? Or a Blackahawks fan watch Chris Chelios in his full glory almost decapitating Larry Murphy, or the skinny kid Roenick try to get a puck past Barraso? Even though you know your team didn’t win, how great is it to see your favorite players back in their prime? AND… still on your team!
To me, the worst part of this series has been some of the game presentations. Sometimes you get the CBC coverage, but there have been MSG, and Pittsburgh feeds also. Brutal … that’s all I can say about those Pens’ feeds. Especially against the Blackhawks. Blech! Talk about homers! It makes today’s Avs and Ducks guys seem tame in comparison. (oh, and Jack Edwards, I miss the OLD you!)
Tom Mees former ESPN SportsCenter anchor and hockey play-by-play man.
My favorite game so far has been the 1993 Kings/Canadiens game with the ESPN feed. It wasn’t seeing all the Habs players who ended up in Dallas, or seeing Denis Savard’s eyes glistening as he stood behind the bench, or even Barry Melrose’s superior mullet. Nope, it was seeing Tom Mees again.
Who is Tom Mees you might ask? Tom was hockey on ESPN. He was one of the original Sports Center anchors, but when the NHL started on ESPN in 1987, he became their chief play-by-play guy. He was also instrumental in furthering NCAA hockey coverage, as well as bringing the Frozen Four to national prominence. Unfortunately, Tom died in 1996 of an accidental drowning. During the work stoppage, I often wondered what role his voice could have had in ending that madness sooner.
A few other goodies gleaned from the broadcast?
- That Patrick Roy was about to become the first $3 million goalie.
- That ESPN2 was about to be up and running.
- The interview with Brian Bellows where he talked about how happy he was to win the Cup, but that he wished he could have won it two years earlier for the fans of Minnesota. I may have teared up at that.
So thank you NHL Network for sharing these full game gems with us. I’ll be watching for 1999 and 2000, even though the latter didn’t turn out the way I would have liked.
P.S. This is a tough week for my old Norris Division heart. Congrats to Marty Turco, and a possible congrats to Modano, who I hear is about to sign a deal with the anti-Christ. Patrick Kane is going to score a gazillion goals with Marty’s puckhandling skills, and Mike??? Continue being you.
Photos: Mike Modano from Getty Images; Tom Mees from Wiki Commons.
Well said! I, unfortunately, am not able to get the NHL Network (screw you ten times Time Warner!) but I love watching any of the old stuff when I can find it. And it’s always fun, and tear inducing, to watch the guys we know and love (and sometimes hate!) when they’re in their prime. Since I now seem to eat, sleep, breath hockey….this stuff is nirvana for me.
As for Turco….I think this is the perfect home for him. He’s gonna make those boys in Chicago look faster and more skilled than they already are! Which will be awesome to watch.
And Mikey Mo….I’m hoping that what we’ve heard is just a figment of our imagination HOWEVER, if it’s true……go out kicking ass and taking names!
I agree with you — I’ve caught some old games and it’s been great. I particularly remember the mega OT game you reference and will set my DVR! That was a classic.
I’ve watched that 1994 game many a time — for me, it’s a catch-a-glimpse at the ethereal Bure, whom you know I love. Too bad he had to retire before his time.
I second the kudos to the NHL Network — good stuff!
One other thing of note is that a lot of these games took place before the Internet and before a million replays were at our fingertips. It’s a joy to get to see some of the (relatively) rare moments and, like you said, to get into the flow of the game — not just choppy bits.
It’s been 16 years, I still can’t watch game 7 against the Rangers; but the rest of the years have been great to watch. :)
Tom Mees calling a Hartford Whalers home game… priceless. So glad I have memories of him. People who missed hearing him really missed something special.
Seeing JR (and Chelios) in ’92 *shakes head*… there was a reason he cried people… old-school Hawks fans got it. Of course I had to watch that ’92 game on mute because those Pens announcers… GAH.
’94, which I still think is the best final series ever, was as good as I remembered it.
’95… I loved that series so much, because I’m pretty sure I hate the Wings as much as I love the Hawks, and it was wonderful to see it again.
The Islanders were fun to watch too. I was literally a baby when they were on top, so it was cool to see in a full game why everyone was so crazy over them. Hardly ever do I give props to the NHL network, but this is brilliant. I hope many people are watching because it is so worth it.
I don’t waive the foam finger for the NHL Network but they got it right with this series. And since I am like Karin, I live and love hockey it has been a realy treat to sit back and watch the players of old.
It has been a joy to see the guys I grew up watching and dreaming about playing with come to life again on the screen.
Great post! For as much as I rip on the NHL, they do deserve credit for this tv series.
I’m having THE BEST TIME watching this game tonight. Except I HATE that stupid trumpet and organ! lol! And Capital fans should be ashamed of themselves for having that many Wings fans at Game 4 of the 98 series. Seriously! That was insane!