By Jordan Long
The 1995-1996 season brought NHL hockey back to the “Mile High City” when the Quebec Nordiques moved to Colorado to become the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche cruised through the regular season winning 47 games while losing 25 and managing 10 ties for a total of 104 points. That was 2nd in the NHL, only the Detroit Red Wings had more at 131 points.
When it came to the playoffs, Colorado knocked off the Vancouver Canucks in 6 games in the first round. The Blackhawks were up next but Colorado finished them off in 6 games. In the Western Conference Finals, they faced the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings were the#1 seed, the President’s Club winner, and set an NHL record for total points. Colorado was trying to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history. On this date in 1996, Colorado was looking for the win to wrap up the series.
Colorado was victorious in games 1 and 2 in Detroit. They beat the Red Wings by a combined score of 6-2. With the series shifting back to Colorado, Detroit won game 3, 6-4. The win cut Colorado’s lead in the series to 2-1. Game 4 was huge. A win by the Avs and they had a stranglehold in the series but if the Red Wings won, the series would be tied at 2. Colorado doubled up Detroit 4-2 to take a 3-1 lead. With their backs against the wall, Detroit responded with a 5-2 triumph. It came down to game 6 on this date back in 1996.
The Avalanche started their future Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy. He was going to give them the best chance to win. On the other end, Detroit went with Chris Osgood. Osgood was hoping to keep the Detroit season going.
Colorado’s captain Joe Sakic opened the scoring with 8 minutes and 3 seconds left in the 1st period. The lead didn’t last long. 3 minutes and 39 seconds later, Detroit tied the game up when Paul Coffey found the back of the net on the power play. That was the end of the scoring in the 1st period.
In the 2nd period, it was all Colorado. They scored two power-play goals by Joe Sakic and Mike Ricci. That put them up 3-1. Peter Forsberg added to the lead with 3 minutes and 16 seconds left to go in the period. Colorado went into the third and final period up 4-1. The Red Wings needed a miracle to get back in the game to send the series back to Detroit for game 7.
Both teams had chances to score in the 3rd period. Neither goaltender allowed another puck past them. Colorado won the game 4-1 and the series 4-2.
Colorado’s goaltender Patrick Roy faced 24 shots and made 23 saves. For Detroit, Osgood struggled with 18 saves on 22 shots.
In the Stanley Cup Final, Colorado swept the Florida Panthers, giving the state of Colorado their first-ever pro sports championship. Today though, we remember the Colorado Avalanche beating the Detroit Red Wings on this date to end the Western Conference Finals.
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