June 1, 1993 Montreal Forum Final Score: Kings 4-Canadian 1
First period
KINGS: Luc Robitaille (Zhitnik, Gretzky) – 3:03CANADIAN: Ed Ronan (unaided) – 18:09
Second period
KINGS: Luc Robitaille (Blake, Gretzky) – 17:41
Third period
KINGS: Jari Kurri (Gretzky, Granato) – 1:51KINGS: Wayne Gretzky (Sandstrom) – 18:02
Guardians
Kelly Hrudey: 31 savesPatrick Roy: 34 saves
Both teams didn’t play very well, but the Kings won 4-1 and you’ll have to revise your predictions. Four, did you say? Five, maybe? Let’s think about six or seven instead, with the identity of the winner still to be determined. The Canadian’s light and mobile defense found someone to talk to yesterday. When you leave Gretzky – he put many to sleep yesterday – and his crew skating at ease, Patrick Roy has to work miracles, which he has been doing for quite a while. But at nearly 40 throws… Luc Robitaille had said the day before that French-speaking Quebecers always gave a little more to the Forum. He was so quiet during the series against the Maple Leafs, Robitaille scored twice on the power play yesterday and seemed quite happy. He is clever, the young man. If the series is played between special teams, as was the case for a long time yesterday, the Canadian risks finding the time long. The Kings’ five-man attack stunned Patrick Roy and his defenders. While that of the Canadian, pressed as it was, did not react very well. Shorthanded, the Kings rush and challenge the opponent. And when you see Scan Hill, an inexperienced player, controlling the puck at the point in front of Gretzky and Kurri, damage is to be expected.
Wayne Gretzky:
“In our meetings, we thought we had to use the emotion of the last two games against the Maple Leafs. I also think the Canadian was a little rusty. Long periods of inactivity are always dangerous. I also think we surprised them with our style of play. They never face teams like ours in their division. But knowing Jacques Demers, his team will be back strong for the next game. Those who believe it will be easy will be surprised. »
Jean-Jacques Daigneault:
“If we don’t play our style, the one that has brought us success since the start of the playoffs, we will be in trouble like we were tonight. It’s not complicated: you have to work with more intensity. We gave the Kings too many overkills, we didn’t hit them enough, and we lacked forechecking bite. »
Guy Carbonneau :
“We let the Kings play their game. We have to realize we’re in the Stanley Cup final. We can’t afford to have passengers on the team… We gave Wayne Gretzky all the space he wanted. I don’t know if nervousness is the cause, but I know you have to wake up. We had talked before the match about the need to hit Gretzky. But we didn’t. »
June 3, 1993 Montreal Forum Final score: Kings 2-Canadian 3 (OT)
First period
CANADIAN: Eric Desjardins (Damphousse, Lebeau) – 18:31
Second period
KINGS : Dave Taylor (sans aide) – 5 : 12
Third period
KINGS: Pat Conacher (Taylor, Granato) – 8:32 CANADA: Éric Desjardins (Damphousse, Schneider) – 18:47
Prolongation
CANADIAN: Eric Desjardins (Brunet, Ronan) – 0:51
Guardians
Kelly Hrudey: 38 savesPatrick Roy: 22 saves
Who prompted the Canadian coach to [make] his gesture towards Marty McSorley at the end of the game to catch the latter at fault with an illegal stick? “Some players [Guy Carbonneau] alerted me to the fact that the Kings had sticks with too much of a curve. But I don’t want to name the players who tipped me off. All that remained was to find the right moment. It is not true that we picked up some Kings sticks at the end of their training. We don’t act that way. On the other hand, at the Canadiens, we are strict on the subject of sticks. A player caught would be heavily fined. The Canadian coach then spoke about the strong performance of his team in this match. “Kelly Hrudey was the big star of the game for the Kings. We wouldn’t have needed extra time if he hadn’t been so solid. I understand why the Kings are in the final. This guy plays the same as Patrick Roy. We had to win this game. We couldn’t leave Montreal down 0-2,” said Demers. Of his tirade with Brian Bellows on the Canadiens’ bench in the second period, Demers said, “I’ll just say Bellows wasn’t playing up to his talent and let him know. »
Barry Melrose, Kings coach:
“I don’t think you have to [make] such a move to win a game. I don’t blame Jacques Demers. We are good friends. But there is a lot of pressure in Montreal and we know what pressure can cause. »
Eric Desjardins:
“For me, it’s an exceptional evening. But the important thing is our victory. Scoring three goals in such an important game, including the overtime victory, is something you don’t even dream of… But I don’t get carried away. As much as you shouldn’t be too down after a setback, you shouldn’t be too excited after a match like this! »
Marty McSorley :
“You have to try everything to win. If I knew ? Do you think I would have played with an illegal stick? I thought he was correct. There is still plenty of hockey to be played. I made a mistake, but I will still be there for the next game. »
June 5, 1993Great Western ForumFinal score: Canadian 4-Kings 3 (OT)
First period
CANADIEN : Brian Bellows (Haller, Muller) – 10 : 26
Second period
CANADIAN: Gilbert Dionne (Keane, Lebeau) – 2:41CANADIAN: Mathieu Schneider (Carbonneau) – 3:02KINGS: Luc Robitaille (Gretzky, Sandstrom) – 7:52KINGS: Tony Granato (unaided) – 11:02KINGS: Wayne Gretzky ( Donnelly, Hardy) – 17:07
Prolongation
CANADIAN: John LeCair (Muller, Bellows) – 0:34
Guardians
Kelly Hrudey: 32 savesPatrick Roy: 30 saves
It’s almost ridiculous. The Glorious surrendered in pain and misery until the end of the third period. Usually it’s 3-3. The perfect situation for the start of extra time. And nine times in a row, nine incredible times in a row, the Canadian has won. And the worst part is that it seems to be getting easier and easier. It can’t be chance, take a coin, flip it and try to get nine heads or nine tails in a row. This is an all-time record, a record that will never be broken. This one is already in the safe. Yesterday, John LeClair scored 34 seconds into the first overtime period. On Tuesday, Eric Desjardins scored after 51 seconds. Monday evening, for the fourth match, the record to be broken will therefore be 33 seconds. And now the Glorious, always lucky when necessary and deserving when necessary too, lead the final two victories to one.
June 7, 1993Great Western ForumFinal score: Canadian 3-Kings 2 (OT)
First period
CANADIAN: Kirk Muller (unaided) – 10:57
Second period
CANADIAN: Vincent Damphousse (Keane, Desjardins) – 5:24KINGS: Mike Donnelly (Granato) – 6:33KINGS: Marty McSorley (Gretzky, Robitaille) – 19:55
Prolongation
CANADIAN: John LeClair (unaided) – 14:37
Guardians
Kelly Hrudey: 36 savesPatrick Roy: 40 saves
A John LeClair goal 14:37 into overtime gave the Canadiens a 3-2 win last night in Inglewood to take a 3-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Canadian could secure the famous cup tomorrow night in front of his supporters at the Forum. The Canadian signed a 10th straight game in overtime and a 12th by a goal. The pace of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals resembled Game 3, with the Canadiens taking a two-goal lead before being overtaken by their opponents in the second period.
Denis Savard :
“I have never been selfish in my life. In 10 or 15 years, if we win the Cup, people won’t ask how many games I played in the final. My name will be engraved on the big trophy and it will be very beautiful. (Savard was on the Canadiens’ roster in the opening game against the Kings. But a foot injury, sustained while blocking a shot in Game 4 of the series against the New York Islanders, prevented him from skating at his taste.) “I am 80% recovered. If the series continues, I may be able to come back. But I so wish it would end soon…”
Luc Robitaille:
“Their defenders are smaller than the ones we faced before, but they are younger and more mobile; they like to support the attack and they remind me of us. Eric Desjardins is probably their best and Jean-Jacques Daigneault is also playing very well. Don’t let them control like we did with Desjardins in Game 2. »
June 9, 1993 Montreal Forum Final Score: Kings 1-Canadian 4
First period
CANADIAN: Paul DiPietro (Leeman, LeClair) – 15:10
Second period
KINGS: Marty McSorley (Carson, Robitaille) – 2:40CANADIAN: Kirk Muller (Damphousse, Odelein) – 3:51CANADIAN: Stephan Lebeau (Keane, LeClair) – 11:31
Third period
CANADIAN: Paul DiPietro (Dionne, Odelein) – 12:06
Guardians
Kelly Hrudey: 25 savesPatrick Roy: 18 saves
Twenty-four, then. Twenty-four Stanley Cups and that of yesterday caused as much frenzy as the others. And the Canadian won the last match in a very traditional way, with an impeccable defense and a collective effort. The final score is typical: 4-1. Four lines, six defensemen… the no-names, as they are called in California, gave their best performance of the series last night in front of their fans and the Kings’ powerful offensive machine was held to very little chance of scoring. Almost perfect work, to the point where Patrick Roy didn’t have to bend over backwards. Big John LeClair, on the other hand, bulldozed several Kings, especially the tougher ones, and he set up two goals, in addition to wearing down defenders in black, it’s possible the guy finally figured out how much damage he could cause. in the opposing team. Paul DiPietro isn’t a star yet either, but he’s got Wayne Gretzky in his pocket, as they say. Amazing, right? And there’s a squad of young, light defensemen, the team’s weakness according to scouts, who have closed all doors in front of the Kings. All of these boys are Stanley Cup champions this morning and if you had made that prediction to them last September, they wouldn’t have believed you.
Patrick Roy :
“Jacques Demers was the key man in this series. His decision to have Marty McSorley’s stick measured and take me out of the net in Game 2 against the Nordiques made all the difference. […] This trophy, I dedicate it to all those who believed in me. During the season, the day after a poll that changed me, there are those who continued to believe in me. If we had lost against the Nordiques, my association with the Canadiens would surely have ended. I would have been traded. But it was in Montreal and nowhere else that I always wanted to play hockey. »
Jacques Demers :
“We called our defense a defense without a name. We were small at the back, but we never gave up. This defense worked with the best goaltender in the NHL to lead us to the Stanley Cup. The watchword was to hit our defenders, but they were like boxers refusing to go down. I would also not like to forget the contribution of our captain. Guy Carbonneau did an outstanding job against Wayne Gretzky in this series. »
Wayne Gretzky:
“I don’t know if I’m going to play next year… It’s not about the contract. Mr. McNall offers me anything I want. I always said I wanted to leave hockey in full glory, I don’t want to wait for someone to show me the door. I think I played pretty well…even if it wasn’t enough. »
