Greatest Playoff Series Ever: 1994 Rangers-Devils Conference Final with Mike Richter & Stephane Matteau

Mike Richter and Stephane Matteau join Neil and Vic to relive the greatest playoff series in NHL history - the 1994 Eastern Conference Final between the Rangers and Devils. From three double-overtime games to Mark Messier's legendary guarantee and hat trick in Game 6, this seven-game war had everything. Hear Matteau describe both overtime winners, Richter walk through his Game 6 brilliance while down 2-0, Neil's fury at Mike Keenan's benching decisions, and the pure joy when "Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!" became the call heard 'round New York. This is the series that defined championship hockey.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Welcome to Episode 3: A Series for the Ages, Eastern Conference Final vs New Jersey Devils

[02:00] - Mike Richter and Stephane Matteau join Neil to relive the greatest playoff series ever

[03:00] - Neil as historian: few series stand test of time like Rangers-Devils 1994, Montreal-Boston 1979 caliber

[04:00] - Two rivals, first vs second overall, both chasing first Cup, Hall of Famers on both sides

[05:00] - Regular season dominance: 6-0 against Devils, Mike in 5 games allowing only 6 goals total

[06:00] - Mike on confidence heading in: trade deadline bolstering lineup, 8-1 through two rounds

[08:00] - Stephane's arrival: no idea what was coming, surrounded by greatness and leadership

[09:00] - Kevin Lowe and Craig MacTavish whispering to Mark what to say next - soldiers behind captain

[10:00] - Game 1: three separate leads, Larmer goal with 9 minutes left, Lemieux ties with 43 seconds

[11:00] - Stephane Richer OT winner: Adam Graves forced to play defense, poke check fails

[12:00] - Mike on momentum shifts: 8-1 doesn't look good when you're 8-2, must-win Game 2 immediately

[14:00] - Game 2: Mark Messier putting team on shoulders - Scott Stevens on his ass, Ken Daneyko hit, goal in 73 seconds

[15:00] - Neil on Mark: "I didn't know he was THAT good" - confidence he gave everyone by his actions

[16:00] - Stephane on Messier's glare: witnessed it from Calgary side losing Game 7 to Oilers

[17:00] - Great players don't get shut down twice in a row - Mark leading by example

[18:00] - Mike's fourth shutout: two-man advantage survival, Bill Guerin glove save, complete team game

[20:00] - Game 3 greatness lost in context: three double OT games total, this one often forgotten

[21:00] - Neil's memory: watching with team doctors, jumping up and down when Steph scored

[22:00] - Mike having a blast: fun slug fest, two best teams seven miles apart, zoo atmosphere

[24:00] - Tommy Albelin consecutive saves: Glenn Anderson crashing into Mike, both making save together

[25:00] - Momentum shift importance: save taken back, then Steph scores the dagger

[27:00] - Series getting nasty: Bernie Nicholls crosscheck suspends him, fever pitch ramping up

[28:00] - Stephane's Game 3 OT goal: "I was just warming up obviously, it was my first double overtime"

[29:00] - Puck in skate, whacking at it, red light, realizing "I scored" - biggest goal of my life at that moment

[30:00] - Claude Lemieux's stick fling against boards: Devils' frustration as series builds

[32:00] - Game 4 unraveling: Devils score twice quickly, Mike pulled in under 17 minutes by Keenan

[33:00] - Mike on Keenan's MO: benching everyone, Jay Wells dying, Leetch off power play

[35:00] - Game 5: Bernie Nicholls shorthanded goal, never feeling in game, losing 4-1

[36:00] - Neil's fury: "unconscionable" pulling Richter, benching Karpovtsev, self-inflicted wounds

[37:00] - "Friendly fire" - five-year project about to blow up at the last moment

[38:00] - Neil on Messier's guarantee: "Thank God, the one guy who has control just guaranteed we're gonna win"

[39:00] - Messier's October 1991 arrival: whole reason for acquiring Mark - slay the dragon moment

[40:00] - Stephane never reading papers: didn't hear guarantee until months later, focusing on must-win

[41:00] - Mike not reading press either: "No problem, we got Steph Matteau"

[42:00] - Context of guarantee: crisis of confidence, press blood in water, Mark walked there by questions

[43:00] - Locker room laughing: "What the F is he thinking?" - even Tikkanen smiled, room exploded

[44:00] - Game 6 reality: down 2-0 first period, on verge of being blown out to New Jersey Turnpike

[45:00] - Keenan moves: putting Kovalev on Messier's wing, Devils' forecheck lightening up, Kovalev scores before second ends

[46:00] - Stephane witnessing greatness: Mike's saves keeping them in game 6-10 times, one more goal would've been over

[47:00] - Mike refusing to look at bench: "Do not pull me, I felt great, stay the damn course"

[48:00] - Messier's hat trick: first goal changes complexion, third goal - turns around, throws puck straight down

[49:00] - Neil being taunted at Meadowlands: "Back to the drawing board, Neil!" - guy disappearing after comeback

[50:00] - Neil witnessing greatness: Joe Namath Super Bowl, Reggie Jackson 3 homers, now Messier guarantee hat trick

[51:00] - Game 7 setup: Frank Brown's Daily News column simply saying "Thank you" before the game

[52:00] - Brian Leetch's spin-o-rama goal: seeing Billy Guerin do similar move, pulling it out of nowhere

[54:00] - Quick whistle controversy: Billy McCreary with 15-18 seconds left, Mike clears puck but whistle already blown

[55:00] - Valeri Zelepukin goal 7.7 seconds left: blood rushing to head, seconds from Stanley Cup Finals favorite

[56:00] - Locker room between regulation and OT: silent first 5-7 minutes, Kevin Lowe turning it positive

[58:00] - Stefan Richer save before Matteau goal: disappearing puck, ping-ponging in front, getting possession back

[59:00] - Stefan Che shot from left circle: spectacular save, puck leaking out right side of net

[01:00:00] - Kevin Lowe in OT intermission: "If it wasn't so hard, it wouldn't be so much fun when we win"

[01:02:00] - Heavy team advantage: greasy goals from guys like Steph able to get territorial advantage

[01:03:00] - Eddie Olczyk good luck ritual: Game 3 touching stick in hallway, Game 7 dancing with it making Steph relax

[01:04:00] - The goal: good jump, Niedermayer hook turning body toward net, no plan - "pure luck"

[01:05:00] - Hole between Brodeur's glove and post: "I didn't know if I scored or Tikkanen scored, didn't care"

[01:06:00] - Tikkanen claiming he touched it: "I don't care Esa, we're going to Stanley Cup Final!"

[01:07:00] - Mike's perfect view 180 feet away: "Oh my God, did that actually go in?" - slow motion eruption

[01:09:00] - Neil's perspective three stories above: Matteau's reaction told him puck was in before red light

[01:10:00] - Joy equal to final buzzer vs Vancouver: different place in time, same pure elation

[01:12:00] - Soldiers being rewarded: guys doing hard work all year, Steph integrating into veteran team

[01:13:00] - Stephane's gratitude: "Neil had the guts to pull the trigger" - best series ever experienced

[01:15:00] - Neil's final point: take one person out, we don't win - Benny Patrisse to Mike Richter

[01:16:00] - Every single person important: Mark Messier teaching that lesson to entire organization

[01:18:00] - Neil and Steph's first meeting: Bon Jovi concert in Detroit when Matteau was 18, pre-draft

[01:19:00] - Mike's thanks to Neil: "You could have traded me, you made it happen after 54 years"

[01:20:00] - 30 years later: still rock stars in New York, Steph as proud ambassador meeting fans daily

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

#NHLWraparound #NYRangers #NewYorkRangers #1994StanleyCup #MikeRichter #StephaneMatteau #NeilSmith #MarkMessier #NewJerseyDevils #EasternConferenceFinal #MatteauMatteauMatteau #MessierGuarantee #BrianLeetch #MartyBrodeur #ScottStevens #ClaudeLemieux #ValeriZelepukin #BillGuerin #SergeiZubov #AlexeiKovalev #BernieNicholls #MikeKeenan #DoubleOvertime #Game7 #PlayoffHistory #GreatestSeriesEver #HowieRose #MadisonSquareGarden #Meadowlands #BrendanByrneArena #1994Forever #RangersHistory #54YearDrought

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YouTube-Optimized Show Notes - 1994 Rangers Episode 3:

Mike Richter and Stephane Matteau relive the greatest playoff series in NHL history - the 1994 Eastern Conference Final between Rangers and Devils. From three double-overtime games to Mark Messier's legendary guarantee and hat trick in Game 6, this seven-game war had everything. Hear Matteau describe both OT winners, Richter's Game 6 brilliance while down 2-0, and the pure joy when "Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!" became the call heard 'round New York.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Episode 3: Series for the Ages vs Devils [04:00] - First vs second overall, Hall of Famers both sides [06:00] - 6-0 vs Devils in regular season, 8-1 through two rounds [10:00] - Game 1: three leads, Lemieux ties 43 seconds left [12:00] - Momentum shifts: must-win Game 2 [14:00] - Messier puts Stevens on his ass, 73-second goal [18:00] - Richter's fourth shutout, complete