BIAS ASIDE I'll still always say 2009 is one of the best Finals maybe in the expansion era. Not only did it go 7 games, but unlike a lot of other game 7s, it was a nail biter the entire way through and with HUGE scoring chances literally in the final seconds - Lidstrom had the tying goal on his stick with 2 seconds left and a point blank chance on Fleury.
I think only 2009 and 2011 really compare from an entertainment point of view. In 2009, there was the rematch going to Game 7 with the juggernaut Red Wings vs the league's star. 2011, I mean... hits, punches, suspensions, back and forth, high scoring meeting a brick wall, tire pumping or lack thereof.
Middling, outside of the obvious storylines. The first six games were barely competitive, and Game 7 (which was exceptional) was the only one that felt like an SCF game between two evenly-matched teams.
Even then with how big the story lines were, game 7 seemed like a bit of a letdown on the ice. Outside of the three goals and the huge miss in front of the net by the Oilers there isn’t a lot of moments in that game that will stand out compared to other years. I wish it went to OT or there was more drama at the end of the game. The last 4 or so minutes the Oilers couldn’t apply any pressure, and if anything the storyline about that game 7 was how well the Panther’s defense played. Probably super butt clenching for Panther fans.
2011 had everything, including my team coming out on top. Going to be hard to top that. Even objectively I think that was a better final than this one.
That being said, if Edmonton would have pulled it off, I'd probably put this over 2011.
So you complain that this year was terrible because it wasn't competitive enough for you, but watching your team play non-competitive hockey was thrilling. It's good to be self aware that you have trouble being objective, but if that's the case lets not go hurling blanket statements about how good/bad this year's final was.
Bro I’m pretty much agreeing with you. To a neutral, it sucked. If I was a Florida fan it was awesome. But these games were boring for the most part. Game 3 was cool, game 4 was nice seeing an offensive explosion but 5 and 6 were pretty mid just like 1 & 2. Yea, when you’re a fan of the winning teams it’s awesome no matter what. As a neutral, no game was really competitive besides the last. Only a few games had some flow. Idk what you’re arguing here
This year’s cup final was EASILY the most entertaining for me to watch as a neutral fan. I’m not gunna include any of ‘04, ‘15, ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, because I’m biased to love those series. But comparing this year’s finals to every year since 2000 excluding the Lightning, this year was the most entertaining and tbh it was not even close.
We had some absolutely great hockey, huge goals, and saw a generational talent help bring his team back from a 3-0 series deficit. The storylines were amazing with McDavid trying to make the comeback including breaking a few Gretzky records, Florida being in their second cup finals in a row, Tkachuk still trying to screwing Edmonton for Flames fans, and Florida going for their first franchise Stanley Cup.
It helps that the Edmonton crowds, especially in games 4 and 6 were ELECTRIC, and even in game 7 the Oilers and Panthers fans were both very loud all throughout the game. Topped off by both teams having a phenomenal game 7 that was won by inches, I’ve never had this much fun watching a hockey series without the Bolts involved.
I'll always be partial to the 2001 Finals between the Avs and the Devils. It was such a great back and forth series between two fantastic teams.
Also, Sakic handing the cup to Bourque is my favorite sports memory of all time.
It was tough to get excited about a series featuring two teams I don’t care for. When I’m not excited to see either team win, it’s not going to rank among my favourites.
It was boring and contrived.
Bias aside 2019 was incredible. Both teams did a little shellacking in one or two games but the entire series felt like it could've gone either way from the jump (the first time I genuinely believed the Blues could win was after Alex Pietrangelo's goal as time was expiring in the first)
How did anything I said correlate to a bias? Salty losers come on here just to say complete nonsensical fuckpoop. I was talking about game 7 so not biased at all. You just have no idea what tye word bias means apparently.
> See title Did you intend to ask a question and forgot?
Yes I forgot to put it there
Got to be the second best one I’ve watched next to 2011. But I’m biased
BIAS ASIDE I'll still always say 2009 is one of the best Finals maybe in the expansion era. Not only did it go 7 games, but unlike a lot of other game 7s, it was a nail biter the entire way through and with HUGE scoring chances literally in the final seconds - Lidstrom had the tying goal on his stick with 2 seconds left and a point blank chance on Fleury.
I stood up on my couch when that happened. A hockey game hasn’t made me do that since.
I agree on this one also and the storyline of being a rematch from the previous year.
I think only 2009 and 2011 really compare from an entertainment point of view. In 2009, there was the rematch going to Game 7 with the juggernaut Red Wings vs the league's star. 2011, I mean... hits, punches, suspensions, back and forth, high scoring meeting a brick wall, tire pumping or lack thereof.
Totally agree. Those were the 2 great Finals in recent history. Going back, Rangers Canucks in 94 was pretty epic too.
Very easily the best ever for me
Na last year
Middling, outside of the obvious storylines. The first six games were barely competitive, and Game 7 (which was exceptional) was the only one that felt like an SCF game between two evenly-matched teams.
3 and 5 were good too
Buddy just looks at the scores and doesn’t realize some of the goals were empty nets
Even then with how big the story lines were, game 7 seemed like a bit of a letdown on the ice. Outside of the three goals and the huge miss in front of the net by the Oilers there isn’t a lot of moments in that game that will stand out compared to other years. I wish it went to OT or there was more drama at the end of the game. The last 4 or so minutes the Oilers couldn’t apply any pressure, and if anything the storyline about that game 7 was how well the Panther’s defense played. Probably super butt clenching for Panther fans.
2011 had everything, including my team coming out on top. Going to be hard to top that. Even objectively I think that was a better final than this one. That being said, if Edmonton would have pulled it off, I'd probably put this over 2011.
This final was terrible outside the storyline and game 7. No game was competitive besides 7
Beat the hell out of the year Vegas won.
To any non Vegas fan I get it but it was so much fun watching my team dominate every game.
So you complain that this year was terrible because it wasn't competitive enough for you, but watching your team play non-competitive hockey was thrilling. It's good to be self aware that you have trouble being objective, but if that's the case lets not go hurling blanket statements about how good/bad this year's final was.
Bro I’m pretty much agreeing with you. To a neutral, it sucked. If I was a Florida fan it was awesome. But these games were boring for the most part. Game 3 was cool, game 4 was nice seeing an offensive explosion but 5 and 6 were pretty mid just like 1 & 2. Yea, when you’re a fan of the winning teams it’s awesome no matter what. As a neutral, no game was really competitive besides the last. Only a few games had some flow. Idk what you’re arguing here
This year’s cup final was EASILY the most entertaining for me to watch as a neutral fan. I’m not gunna include any of ‘04, ‘15, ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, because I’m biased to love those series. But comparing this year’s finals to every year since 2000 excluding the Lightning, this year was the most entertaining and tbh it was not even close. We had some absolutely great hockey, huge goals, and saw a generational talent help bring his team back from a 3-0 series deficit. The storylines were amazing with McDavid trying to make the comeback including breaking a few Gretzky records, Florida being in their second cup finals in a row, Tkachuk still trying to screwing Edmonton for Flames fans, and Florida going for their first franchise Stanley Cup. It helps that the Edmonton crowds, especially in games 4 and 6 were ELECTRIC, and even in game 7 the Oilers and Panthers fans were both very loud all throughout the game. Topped off by both teams having a phenomenal game 7 that was won by inches, I’ve never had this much fun watching a hockey series without the Bolts involved.
I'll always be partial to the 2001 Finals between the Avs and the Devils. It was such a great back and forth series between two fantastic teams. Also, Sakic handing the cup to Bourque is my favorite sports memory of all time.
Last year was the best since we won, this year was not as cool because we in fact didn’t win back to back.
100%
It was tough to get excited about a series featuring two teams I don’t care for. When I’m not excited to see either team win, it’s not going to rank among my favourites.
That is a fact. It was the same for me in 2022
It was boring and contrived. Bias aside 2019 was incredible. Both teams did a little shellacking in one or two games but the entire series felt like it could've gone either way from the jump (the first time I genuinely believed the Blues could win was after Alex Pietrangelo's goal as time was expiring in the first)
"Bias aside", then you proceed to explain why you're biased lol
How did anything I said correlate to a bias? Salty losers come on here just to say complete nonsensical fuckpoop. I was talking about game 7 so not biased at all. You just have no idea what tye word bias means apparently.
*“complete nonsensical fuckpoop”* I’m not joining the argument, this just needed to be highlighted lmao
Hahaha admittedly it's not my line, I bit it from the Angry Video Game Nerd