FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — There was a period in hockey history when strong coaching was synonymous with low-scoring games. Defensive schemes like the left-wing lock, popularized by figures such as Jacques Lemaire and Darryl Sutter, seemed to drain the offense from the sport.
This era was widely known as the “Dead Puck Era.” Goaltenders` equipment grew significantly larger, and scoring totals plummeted. Notably, between the 2000 and 2004 seasons, three out of five recipients of the Art Ross Trophy (awarded to the league`s top scorer) failed to reach the 100-point milestone.
Considering that history, the current wide-open Stanley Cup Final feels somewhat like a commemoration.
One could view it as a celebration of a time in the NHL where two goals might be sufficient for a victory, and goaltenders like Jean-Sebastien Giguere earned Conn Smythe Trophies with exceptional save percentages, such as his .945 in 2003. Martin Brodeur, who won the Cup that same spring, had a still-impressive but lower .934 save percentage.
Fast forward to today: Florida`s Sergei Bobrovsky currently leads the playoffs with a .912 save percentage. Yet, through the first two games of this Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers have managed to score eight goals against him.
“You reflect on Giguere, his playoff performance… how outstanding he was,” commented Oilers center Adam Henrique, who previously played for the Ducks. “It seems like those days are somewhat behind us now.”
According to some seasoned observers, the initial two contests of this Final have delivered an unprecedented level of action and excitement, potentially making them the most thrilling Game 1 and Game 2 pairing in Stanley Cup Final history.
The first period of Friday`s game in Edmonton, which saw five goals scored within a span of just over 10 minutes (from 2:07 to 12:37), featured a memorable play: a brilliant assist from Connor McDavid to Leon Draisaitl, a moment destined to be highlighted in the Cup`s historical video collections for decades to come.