^[1]Devils-Kings Game 5. ^[2]

Another must-win for Newark, with Stanley in the house again. In fact, I don’t believe Stan’s ever been in the Rock.

Eighteen years ago tonight, another team up 3-1 in the Stanley Cup finals blew a chance to clinch in Game 5 and had to fly across the continent for Game 6 … and ultimately back to the East coast for Game 7. The difference was that that team blew Game 5 at home. Not mentioning any names.

The Kings, of course, are 10-0 on the road, so that’s like being home to them. They haven’t lost two games in a series yet, haven’t lost two in a row at any point, haven’t lost on the road.

I think hockey ends—until after the lockout—tonight.

And of course I love the whole final handshake thing, and the presentation of the Conn Smythe (could a second Connecticut boy and third US-born player win it?) and the Stanley Cup, and the passing it around and just the whole scene. Hope NBC understands how important those moments are.

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Click here for the final results of Sally’s Third Sometimes-annual Paul Mara Playoff Beard competition. ^[3]

Let’s Go Tony! Let’s Go Miami!