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...