2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs

The 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 11, 2007. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the Stanley Cup. The series ended on June 6, 2007, with the Anaheim Ducks defeating the Ottawa Senators four games to one to win their first ever championship. For the first time in NHL history, neither of the two teams that played in the previous year's Stanley Cup Finals (the Carolina Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oilers) qualified for the playoffs. For the first time since 1999, neither of the two Stanley Cup finalists (the Anaheim Ducks and the Ottawa Senators) had previously won the Cup.

Detroit Red Wings defenceman Chris Chelios made his 22nd post-season appearance, breaking the record for most post-season appearances. The New York Rangers set a new post-season franchise record this year by defeating the Atlanta Thrashers 7–0 on April 17. Over the years, the championship round of the playoffs has been variously referred to as the "Stanley Cup Championship," "Stanley Cup Finals," and, since 2006, "Stanley Cup Final," among others. "Stanley Cup Final" has gained official currency with the NHL and its broadcast partners. Other sources continue to use the name "Stanley Cup Finals" and many use both.

Playoff seeds

After the 2006–07 NHL season, the standard of 16 teams qualified for the playoffs. The Buffalo Sabres were the Eastern Conference regular season champions and were also the Presidents' Trophy winners with the best record at 113 points (53 wins, 22 regulation losses, 7 overtime/shootout losses). The Detroit Red Wings earned the Western Conference regular season crown with 113 points (50 wins, 19 regulation loses, 13 overtime/shootout losses).

Eastern Conference

#Buffalo Sabres - Northeast Division and Eastern Conference regular season champions; Presidents' Trophy winners, 113 points
#New Jersey Devils - Atlantic Division champions, 107 points
#Atlanta Thrashers - Southeast Division champions, 97 points
#Ottawa Senators - 105 points (48 wins)
#Pittsburgh Penguins - 105 points (47 wins)
#New York Rangers - 94 points
#Tampa Bay Lightning - 93 points
#New York Islanders - 92 points

Western Conference

#Detroit Red Wings - Central Division and Western Conference regular season champions, 113 points
#Anaheim Ducks - Pacific Division champions, 110 points
#Vancouver Canucks - Northwest Division champions, 105 points
#Nashville Predators - 110 points
#San Jose Sharks - 107 points (51 wins)
#Dallas Stars - 107 points (50 wins)
#Minnesota Wild - 104 points
#Calgary Flames - 96 points

Bracket

NHLBracket
RD1=Conference Quarterfinals
RD2=Conference Semifinals
RD3=Conference Finals
RD4=Stanley Cup Finals
group1=Eastern Conference
group2=Western Conference
RD1-seed01=1
RD1-team01=Buffalo Sabres
RD1-score01=4
RD1-seed02=8
RD1-team02=New York Islanders
RD1-score02=1
RD1-seed03=2
RD1-team03=New Jersey Devils
RD1-score03=4
RD1-seed04=7
RD1-team04=Tampa Bay Lightning
RD1-score04=2
RD1-seed05=3
RD1-team05=Atlanta Thrashers
RD1-score05=0
RD1-seed06=6
RD1-team06=New York Rangers
RD1-score06=4
RD1-seed07=4
RD1-team07=Ottawa Senators
RD1-score07=4
RD1-seed08=5
RD1-team08=Pittsburgh Penguins
RD1-score08=1
RD1-seed09=1
RD1-team09=Detroit Red Wings
RD1-score09=4
RD1-seed10=8
RD1-team10=Calgary Flames
RD1-score10=2
RD1-seed11=2
RD1-team11=Anaheim Ducks
RD1-score11=4
RD1-seed12=7
RD1-team12=Minnesota Wild
RD1-score12=1
RD1-seed13=3
RD1-team13=Vancouver Canucks
RD1-score13=4
RD1-seed14=6
RD1-team14=Dallas Stars
RD1-score14=3
RD1-seed15=4
RD1-team15=Nashville Predators
RD1-score15=1
RD1-seed16=5
RD1-team16=San Jose Sharks
RD1-score16=4
RD2-seed01=1
RD2-team01=Buffalo Sabres
RD2-score01=4
RD2-seed02=6
RD2-team02=New York Rangers
RD2-score02=2
RD2-seed03=2
RD2-team03=New Jersey Devils
RD2-score03=1
RD2-seed04=4
RD2-team04=Ottawa Senators
RD2-score04=4
RD2-seed05=1
RD2-team05=Detroit Red Wings
RD2-score05=4
RD2-seed06=5
RD2-team06=San Jose Sharks
RD2-score06=2
RD2-seed07=2
RD2-team07=Anaheim Ducks
RD2-score07=4
RD2-seed08=3
RD2-team08=Vancouver Canucks
RD2-score08=1
RD3-seed01=1
RD3-team01=Buffalo Sabres
RD3-score01=1
RD3-seed02=4
RD3-team02=Ottawa Senators
RD3-score02=4
RD3-seed03=1
RD3-team03=Detroit Red Wings
RD3-score03=2
RD3-seed04=2
RD3-team04=Anaheim Ducks
RD3-score04=4
RD4-seed01=W2
RD4-team01=Anaheim Ducks
RD4-score01=4
RD4-seed01-bgcolor1=#00008b
RD4-seed01-bgcolor2=#87cefa
RD4-seed01-border-color=#006
RD4-seed02=E4
RD4-team02=Ottawa Senators
RD4-score02=1
RD4-seed02-bgcolor1=#8b0000
RD4-seed02-bgcolor2=#ffaeb9
RD4-seed02-border-color=#600In each round, the highest remaining seed in each conference is matched against the lowest remaining seed. The higher-seeded team is awarded home ice advantage, which gives them a maximum possible four games on their home ice, with the other team getting a maximum possible three. In the Stanley Cup Final, home ice is determined based on regular season points, giving the Anaheim Ducks home ice for this year's series. Each best-of-seven series follows a 2–2–1–1–1 format. This means that the higher-seeded team will have Games 1 and 2, plus 5 and 7 if necessary, played on their home ice, while the lower-seeded team will be at home for the other games. The format ensures that the team with home ice advantage will always have home ice for the "extra" game if there are an odd number of games in a series.

tatistical leaders

katers

"GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes"

(2) New Jersey Devils vs. (7) Tampa Bay Lightning

In the spring of 2003, the Devils and Lightning met up in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, which the Devils won in 5 games in the First series between the two teams. The Devils and Lightning met again in 2007. However, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello, with 3 games remaining in the regular season, fired head coach Claude Julien so that he could coach the team going into the playoffs.

The Devils and Lightning split the first 2 games in New Jersey. The Lightning were able to win Game 3 to take a series lead, but Devil's center Scott Gomez scored the overtime goal in Game 4 to tie the series at 2 games. The Devils then went on to win the next two games to take the series 4 games to 2.

Western Conference Quarterfinals

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (8) Calgary Flames

The Detroit Red Wings tied the Buffalo Sabres for most points in the regular season with 113, but because Buffalo had more victories, Detroit narrowly missed out on winning their third consecutive President's Trophy as the NHL's best regular season team, while the Calgary Flames barely qualified for the playoffs as the number 8 seed with 96 points, 1 point ahead of the 9th place Colorado Avalanche. The Red Wings and Flames met in the 2004 Western Conference semifinals in which the Flames won in 6 games, eventually losing in 7 games of the Finals that year. The Red Wings were looking to silence their postseason critics and advance to the second round after having lost as the number one seed a year earlier to the 8th seed Edmonton Oilers, who also lost in Game 7 of the Finals. The Flames had also been bounced out of the first round the previous season. The Red Wings made several moves at the trade deadline, acquiring Todd Bertuzzi and Kyle Calder while trading away Jason Williams. The Flames made several moves during the regular season as well, trading away Andrew Ference and Chuck Kobasew to the Boston Bruins for Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau, as well as re-acquiring Craig Conroy.

In Game 1, the Red Wings dominated the Flames 4–1, in which Red Wings centre Pavel Datsyuk scored his first playoff goal since Game 7 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals. Pavel Datsyuk scored again just over a minute into Game 2, which the Red Wings won 3–1 to take a 2–0 series lead. But the Flames won both Games 3 and 4 by a 3–2 score, tying the series at 2. In Game 5, the Flames were assessed with several penalties for stick-related infractions during a 5–1 loss, giving Detroit a 3–2 series lead. Most notably, backup goalie Jamie McLennan slashed Red Wings forward Johan Franzen in the stomach only 18 seconds after relieving Mikka Kiprusoff. McLennan was immediately ejected from the game, causing Kiprusoff to return to the net; McLennan was later suspended five games. Flames coach Jim Playfair and the Flames organization were also fined. The Red Wings then eliminated the Flames the next night in Calgary when the game winning double overtime goal was scored, coincidentally, by Johan Franzen. The Red Wings moved on to Round 2 for the first time since 2004.

(4) Nashville Predators vs. (5) San Jose Sharks

The Nashville Predators made the playoffs for the third straight year. Their first round opponent was the San Jose Sharks who had eliminated the Predators in five games the year before. The seedings for both teams were the same as the year before, and once again Nashville received home ice advantage.

Game 1 was an evenly matched game. Both Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov and Predators goalie Tomas Vokoun were well matched. A goal by Matt Carle put the Sharks on the board in the first period. Nashville netted goals from Alexander Radulov and Jean-Pierre Dumont early in the second, but the Sharks responded with three goals to take a 4–2 lead into the third. The Predators tied the game late in the third as Radulov and Dumont each scored a second goal. Patrick Rissmiller won the game for the Sharks 8:14 into the second overtime.

In Game 2, after the Sharks opened the scoring, the Predators went on a scoring spree and ended up winning the game 5–2.At San Jose's HP Pavilion for Game 3, the Predators were considered a big underdog. In five road playoff games in the past, they had yet to win one. The Sharks came out with the greater energy and took the game 3–1.Game 4 was a "must win" for the Predators. However the Sharks once again came out with the greater energy. Even though the Predators capitalized on a late rush, the Sharks held on for 3–2 win and took a commanding 3–1 series lead back to Nashville.In Game 5, the Predators and Sharks exchanged two goals. Late in the third, Sharks captain Patrick Marleau scored the winner to eliminate the Predators for the second year in a row.

Western Conference Semifinals

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (5) San Jose Sharks

The Red Wings and Sharks met in the postseason for the first time since 1994, when the Sharks upset the Red Wings in seven games. Evgeni Nabakov and the Sharks shut out Detroit in Game 1 in Detroit by a score of 2-0, taking a 1-0 series lead. The Red Wings drew even with a come-from-behind victory in Game 2, with Pavel Datyuk scoring the go-ahead goal with 1:24 remaining in the third period.

The series then shifted to San Jose for Games 3 and 4. The Sharks won Game 3 with Jonathan Cheechoo scoring the game winner, taking a 2-1 series lead. After being down 2–1 with less than a minute left in Game 4, the Red Wings tied the game thanks to Robert Lang, and later won in overtime on a powerplay goal from Mathiue Schneider to draw the series at 2–2. Detroit then dominated the Sharks back in Detroit in Game 5, winning 4-1, taking a 3-2 series lead into Game 6 back in San Jose. Two goals from Red Wings winger Mikael Samuelsson and a Dominik Hasek shutout won the series for the Red Wings, moving them to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2002.

Western Conference Finals

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (2) Anaheim Ducks

The Western Conference Finals featured the number 1 and 2 Western Conference teams, the Red Wings and Ducks respectively, competing for a berth in the Finals. This would be the Red Wings' first trip to the Conference Finals since their last Cup win in 2002 (they failed to make it past the second round for three straight seasons afterward despite having terrific regular season records), while the Ducks made it for the second time since their 2003 Stanley Cup run in which they lost to New Jersey in 7 games.

Detroit opened the series at home in Game 1 with a 2–1 victory, with both goals deflecting off Ducks defensemen. Game 2 was a different story as the scoring lead shifting between the teams. With the Wings leading 3–2 in the third period, a goal was ruled when the puck somehow crossed the goal line while settling over Hasek's knee as he slid backwards into the net, thus tying the game and sending it into overtime. Scott Niedermayer sealed victory for Game 2 as he scored in overtime to tie the series.

Game 3 at Honda Center featured one of the most one-sided games witnessed in the playoffs, as the Red Wings blanked the Ducks 5–0 to take a 2–1 series lead. Chris Pronger was suspended by the NHL for Game 4. His suspension was a result of the same hit on Tomas Holmstrom that Rob Niedermayer was penalized for. While Pronger received no penalty for the hit during the game, Pronger was later suspended after NHL officials reviewed the replays, which showed Holmstrom being boarded from behind as a result of a Pronger elbow, drawing blood from a cut on his forehead. In Game 4, without Pronger, the Ducks had to step up their efforts. They dominated the first period with 3 goals, including a power play goal by Ric Jackman, Pronger's "stand in" for Game 4 in his first game of the playoffs. Detroit would came back after trailing 3–1 to tie the game 3–3 in the second period, only to have the Ducks respond with a stunning wrist shot goal from the blue line by Ryan Getzlaf and an empty net goal Rob Niedermayer that gave Anaheim the 5–3 win and tie the series at 2 games.

The tied series returned to Detroit for Game 5. A goal from Detroit defenceman Andreas Lilja early in the second period put Detroit up 1–0. Throughout the game, the Red Wings dominated the play. Despite their controlling of the play, Detroit was only able to score once because of the strong play of Ducks goaltender J. S. Giguere. Finally, after over 59 minutes of play, the Ducks found the inside of net via a power play goal by Scott Niedermayer with just only 47 seconds left in the game. Niedermayer appeared to be attempting a pass to a Ducks player in front of the net, but his pass deflected off Detroit defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom's stick and over Dominik Hasek's glove. Halfway into overtime, Andreas Lilja was making a routine breakout play behind his net when fore checking pressure by Andy McDonald caused Lilja to turn the puck over to Teemu Selanne, who lifted a backhander above a sprawled Hasek to give the Ducks a stunning 2–1 overtime victory and a 3–2 series lead going back to Anaheim.

Game 6 almost seemed to be anti-climatic of Game 5, starting with a short handed goal by Rob Niedermayer. The Ducks extended the lead to three in the second period. Early in the third period, Detroit scored a goal by Henrik Zetterberg. Samuel Pahlsson again extended the Ducks lead by three goals shortly after. Two powerplay goals from Pavel Datsyuk cut the Ducks' lead to only one late in the game. But despite the late period pressure, the Anaheim Ducks were able to hold on and win the game and the series to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time in their history.

tanley Cup Final

(W2) Anaheim Ducks vs. (E4) Ottawa Senators

ee also

*2006–07 NHL season
*2007 Stanley Cup Finals
*List of NHL seasons
*2007 in ice hockey