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Saturday, May 10, 2014

Third String Goalie 5th Anniversary

Yesterday marked the fifth anniversary of Third String Goalie. To date we have made 1597 posts, are followed by 83 people here on blogger, by 296 on our Facebook page, and 774 of the most intelligent people on Twitter.

We've written about jerseys from Alaska to Japan and from Iceland to South Africa, including jerseys from the United States, Canada, Iceland, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, South Africa, Poland, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Japan.

In addition to the countries we've written about, we've also had visitors from 193 different countries and territories, which still shocks us to no end, often wondering what someone from someplace like Nepal or Iran was expecting to find when they arrived here?

We've written about the oldest hockey sweater in existencebrand new releases and sweaters never actually used. we've covered jerseys we love and those we do not.

We've also gone astray a time or two with unexpected stories we felt worth sharing and we sincerely hope you've enjoyed the ride.

As a small token of our appreciation for your readership, all readers who email us their mailing address will receive a Third String Goalie refrigerator magnet for free!

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Also, we are pleased to announce we are having an Anniversary Sale in the Third String Goalie Online Shop Sale!

Prices have never been lower and we have t-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, hoodies, jackets, clothing for kids, tote bags, home & office, mugs and even buttons all featuring our vintage Third String Goalie logo.

Click the image below for The Third String Goalie Online Shop
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Third String Goalie Branded Goods proudly featuring
the Patron Saint of Goaltenders Georges Vezina. 

In honor of our 5th anniversary, we have chosen to feature one of our favorites from our personal collection with the number 5.

Herb Brooks played for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers from 1955-56 to 1958-59, appearing in 75 games as both a wing and defenseman, totaling 18 goals and 27 assists for 45 points.

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Following his college career, he was famously the last player cut from the gold medal winning 1960 USA Olympic team. After watching the USA win the gold medal on TV, Brooks' father turned and said "Obviously they cut the right guy."

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Herb Brooks would go on to become a member of both the 1964 and 1968 USA Olympic teams in Innsbruck, Austria and Grenoble, France. In addition, he would play in five World Championships for the USA in 1965, 1967,1968, 1970 and 1971.

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Herb Brooks as captain of the 1968 US Olympic team

Following his playing career, Brooks would coach the University of Minnesota for seven seasons, beginning in 1972, leading the Gophers to WCHA championships in 1974 and 1975 and capturing the national championship three times, in 1974, 1976 and 1979. His final collegiate coaching record was 175-101-20.

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Brooks between the benches for the Gophers at their quirky
old Mariucci Arena

After coaching Team USA at the 1979 World Championships, he was named general manager and head coach of the 1980 Olympic hockey team, earning a permanent place in history after guiding the team to the famous "Miracle on Ice", where he led a team of college players to a 4-3 victory over the heavily favored Soviet Union and then securing the gold medal versus Finland with a third period come-from-behind victory two days later.

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Brooks as coach of the 1980 US Olympic team

After coaching in Switzerland for a year, Brooks would return to coach the New York Rangers for four seasons, being named The Sporting News Coach of the Year in 1981-82, before return to the college ranks for a year at St. Cloud State before coaching the Minnesota North Stars for a year. He later coached both the New Jersey Devils in 1992-93 and the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1999-2000. His final NHL record was 219-221-66.

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Back in Minnesota behind the bench for the North Stars where he would be reunited with Neal Broten (left) who he coached to an NCAA title with the Gophers and a gold medal in 1980

In between coaching the Devils and Penguins, he also coached Team France at the 1998 Olympics. In 2002 in Salt Lake City, Brooks would once again lead Team USA, making it all the way to the finals and winning a silver medal.

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In 2002 Brooks once again led the US to an Olympic medal

He would be awarded the Lester Patrick Trophy for contributions to American hockey in 1980 as part of Team USA and would win the award again as an individual in 2002. He was also inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990, the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006.

A statue of Brooks stands outside the River Centre in St. Paul, which is part of the complex that includes the Xcel Energy Center, home of the Minnesota Wild.

Herb Brooks photo Brooksstatue.jpg

Today's featured jersey is a 1958-59 University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Herb Brooks jersey. It also has the ornate Minnesota Centennial patch on the upper left chest. This is a very rare jersey, as it was purchased as part of a custom group order for members of the Golden Gophers online forum and was never available through any online or retail stores. It's customized with the #5 that Brooks wore his senior season with the Gophers and also sports the Goldy Gopher patch on the left sleeve.

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Minnesota Gophers 1959-60 jersey photo MinnesotaGophers1959-60B.jpg

The "Miracle on Ice" was named the Top International Hockey Story of the Century by the International Ice Hockey Federation as part of their centennial celebrations and immortalized in the 2004 film "Miracle".



Friday, May 9, 2014

2014 IIHF World Championships

The 2014 IIHF World Championship begins today in Minsk, Belarus.

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The 16 teams are divided into two groups, with Group A consisting of Sweden, the Czech Republic, Canada, Slovakia, Norway, Denmark, France and Italy, with all games being played at the 9,600 capacity Chizhovka Arena in the southeast of Minsk.

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Group B sees Finland, Russia, the United States, Switzerland, Germany, Latvia, host Belarus and Kazakhstan playing their games are the larger Minsk Arena, which opened in 2010, has a capacity of 15,086 and his home to the KHL club HC Dinamo Minsk. Minsk Arena is in the northwest side of central Minsk, just 22 minutes from Chizhovka Arena, which will allow fans the opportunity to see games at either venue, a chance from the last two years which saw games split between Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden.

This will be the first time the World Championships have been held in Belarus and the format of the tournament calls for each team to play the other seven teams in it's group in the Preliminary Round, which extends from today, May 9th through May 20th. The last place teams in each group will be relegated to Division I Group A for the 2015 season.

The top 4 teams in each group will advance to the Quarterfinals on May 22nd with the winners meeting in the Semifinals on May 24th. The losers of those games will meet the next day on May 25th for the bronze medal while the winners will face off for the IIHF World Championship later the same day.

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For fans in Canada, TSN will show all the Canadian and American preliminary round games as well as each of the eight playoff games. Viewers in the US can watch all of the American games and all eight playoff games on the NBC Sports Network. With the time difference between North America and Belarus, games will air live between mid morning and early afternoon eastern time.


The Belarus National Ice Hockey Team is currently ranked 15th in the IIHF World Rankings and played their first international game in November of 1992 after gaining their independence from the Soviet Union.

The Belarusians have participated in the Olympics in ice hockey three times since 1994. Their best result was a stunning fourth place in 2002 in Salt Lake City after winning their preliminary group, which consisted of Ukraine, Switzerland and France. After placing last in the final round by going winless against the United States, Finland and Russia, Belarus shocked the world by defeating the heavily favored Sweden, winners of Group A, in the Quarterfinals of the Medal Round by a score of 4-3 after Vladimir Kopat famously scored from center ice on a shot that deflected off of Swedish goaltender Tommy Salo's head in what has been called one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history.

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Belarus celebrates their shocking win over Sweden

Their other two appearances resulted in a 7th place in 1998 in Japan and a 9th place in 2020 in Vancouver.

Since gaining their independence, Belarus have been regular participants in the World Championships, first being assigned to Pool C as a new country, the lowest rung of the ladder system. After finishing second in 1994, they earned promotion to Pool B by winning Pool C in 1995. After a third place finish in 1996, they won Pool B in 1997, completing a rise to the Top Division in just four years.

Since rising to the Top Division for 1998, Belarus has only been relegated twice, with both of those being due to a rule which allowed one team from the Far East to remain as a representative from that area of the world despite Japan finishing dead last both times, costing Belarus the right to stay in the Top Division. Each time Belarus were demoted, they earned immediate promotion at the first opportunity by winning their group in Division 1. To date, Belarus' best finish in the World Championships has been a sixth place in 2006, ahead of the United States, Slovakia and Switzerland that year.

Belarus has been flirting with disaster of late, with three consecutive 14th place finishes, one spot above relegation. If they are to avoid relegation again as the host nation, the key game in their efforts will be their second game on May 11th against Kazakhstan, the only team ranked lower in 16th place. Other key games for the Belarussians will be feeding off the energy of the home supporters on May 18th vs. Germany and May 19th against Latvia.

While Belarus has slipped in the World Rankings from a high of 8th as recently as 2009 to their current 15th, they have had a history of sending players to the NHL, including Mikhail Grabovski of Washington, brothers Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn, the late Ruslan SaleiVladimir Tsyplakov and Konstantin Koltsov.

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Ruslan Salei

Today's featured jersey is a 2002 Belarus National Team Vladimir Tsyplakov jersey as worn during their famous upset over Sweden at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Tsyplakov was originally drafted 59th overall by the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL and played for the Kings in five seasons and parts of two more seasons with the Buffalo Sabres before returning to Russia, where he played an additional four years before retiring.

His final NHL totals were 331 games, 69 goals and 101 assists for 170 points.

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Belarus 2002 jersey photo Belarus2002B.jpg

Here are the final few minutes of Belarus' shocking upset victory against Sweden in the 2002 Olympics.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

1994 Canada National Team Joe Sakic Jersey

 The first time hockey appeared at the Olympics was in 1920, which was actually as a part of the Summer Olympics, as the Winter Olympics would not be held for the first time until 1924. Canada would win gold in both hockey's first appearance in 1920 and again in the first official Winter Olympics in 1924.

1920 Canada Olympic team, 1920 Canada Olympic team
The 1920 Olympic Hockey champions from Canada,
represented by the Winnipeg Falcons

Four years later the Winter Olympics were held for a second time and Canada would complete a hat trick of golds, and with that, their third consecutive World Championship, as the Olympic hockey tournament was also considered that year's World Championship up until 1972, when a separate World Championship was held in the same year as the Winter Olympics for the first time.

Canada won the first formal World Championships which were not a part of the Winter Olympics in 1930 and again in 1931. Their fifth World Championship came at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.

In 1933, the United States ended Canada's streak at six with a 2-1 overtime win in the gold medal game, but the Canadians returned to their winning ways in 1934 and 1935. Great Britain shocked the hockey world with a gold at the 1936 Winter Olympics before Canada would win the final three World Championships (1937-1939) before World War II would put the World Championships on hold until 1947, which was won by Czechoslovakia.

Canada would win titles at the 1948 Olympics, 1950, 1951 and the 1952 Olympics before Sweden broke through with their first title in 1953.

1948 RCAF Flyers team, 1948 RCAF Flyers team
The Royal Canadian Air Force Flyers, 1948 Olympic champions for Canada

 The world of hockey changed forever in 1954 with the arrival of the Soviet Union, who defeated the dominant Canadians 7-2 in the final contest.

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The Soviet Union won the World Championship on their debut in 1954

While the Canadians now had some very real competition, they were not down and out my any means, as they rebounded with a first place in 1955, but the Soviets took home their first Olympic gold in 1956. After Sweden won their second in 1957 (with the United States and Canada not attending the tournament in Moscow in protest of the Soviet occupation of Hungary), Canada would win again in 1958 and 1959, only to see the United States win the 1960 Olympics on home ice in Squaw Valley.

The World Championship that Canada would win in 1961 was their 19th (out of a possible 28) since 1920. At the time, only the United States (2), Sweden (2), the Soviet Union (2), Czechoslovakia (2) and Great Britain (1) and dared beat the Canadians at their own game.

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The 1961 Trail Smoke Eaters, Champions of the World

Up until this point, the winners of the Allan Cup, as Canada's senior hockey national champions, would represent Canada at the World Championships and Olympic Games, but beginning in 1962, Canada would implement a new national team program to bring together not just the best club in the land, but now with a focus on the best players from Canada, although these were still amateurs - a key distinction in the face of Soviet and Czech dominance.

After Sweden captured their third title in 1962, the World Championships became the exclusive playground of the communists, and the Soviet Union in particular. The Soviets reeled off nine straight titles from 1963 through 1971, which included the final two Winter Olympics which counted as the World Championship in 1964 and 1968. Their streak was needed by Czechoslovakia in 1972, the first time the World Championships was held as it's own stand alone tournament during an Olympic year.

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The 1971 World Champion Soviet Union team

While the Canadian players were strictly amateurs, the players used by the Communist countries were amateur in name only, as they were paid to be soldiers in the Army, but their assigned military duties were to play hockey, thus maintaining their "amateur" status, which frustrated and angered the Canadians in particular.

Canada appealed to be able to use professional players, which was approved by the IIHF to a limited degree in 1969, declaring that the Canadians could use up to nine non-NHL professionals as a one year experiment at the 1970 World Championships, which were to be hosted in Canada for the first time. However, the International Olympic Committee president Avery Brundage was opposed to the idea of amateurs and professionals competing against each other, and declared hockey's status as an Olympic sport would be in jeopardy if the plan went forward in January of 1970. In the end, the IIHF reversed it's decision and Canada was again told they could not use any professionals.

The Canadians reacted swiftly and decisively, declining to host the 1970 World Championships as well as completely withdrawing from international competition effective immediately until the World Championship was made an "open competition", which would accept all players on an even playing field, which they felt was no longer the case.

Their withdrawal lasted for eight years, causing them to miss seven World Championships as well as the 1972 and 1976 Olympics. During Canada's absence, the Czechs won the World Championship in 1972 and 1976, with the Soviets on top in 1970, 1971 and 1973 through 1975 as well as both the 1972 and 1976 Olympics.

1976 Soviet Union team, 1976 Soviet Union team
The 1976 Olympic gold medalists, the Soviet Union

Finally an agreement was reach which returned Canada to the world of international hockey in 1977 when Günter Sabetzki became the president of the IIHF in 1975 and made the World Championships an open competition, as well as moving them to later in the season, which allowed players not involved in the NHL playoffs a chance to participate. The Olympics were a different story, as they remained an amateur only event, which was still held during the stretch drive of the NHL season.

The effect was immediate, as Canada fielded a team which included none other than two-time NHL MVP Phil Esposito! Canada suffered some growing pains, as the current generation of players was not used to the international game and it's larger ice surface, but still managed a respectable fourth place finish. With the fear that the younger players were losing their place in the World Championships, the IIHF promoted the Under-20 championships to full World Championship status that same year, giving rise to the now immensely popular "World Juniors".

Still, with Canada lacking it's best NHL professionals in the face of the veteran talent from the Soviet Union, the "Big Red Machine" rolled on, winning titles from 1978 to 1983, but the Canadians kept trying, with their efforts rewarded with bronze medals in 1978, 1982, 1983, 1986, and silver medals in 1985, 1989 and 1991 thanks in part to the efforts of the "Program of Excellence", which began in 1983 to put together a national team which would play a full season as a unit in games all over the world, often a combination of top NHL prospects, veteran pros as well as players seeking a team while in a contract dispute with their NHL club on occasion.

Elsewhere in the world, the Soviet Union broke apart in late 1991, throwing their once dominant program into a period of disarray as the Russians sought to reorganize their national team program. Sweden meanwhile, was at a peak with their program, winning gold in 1987, 1991 and 1992, and silver in 1990 and 1993, a tournament won for the first time by Russia, who were again a force to be reckoned with, but not the steamroller they once were.

The world reconvened for the 1994 World Championships in Italy for the first time since 1956, with the 12 participating teams being divided into two groups of six. On April 25th Canada opened the tournament with a 4-1 win over the host Italians with goals by Joe Sakic, Geoff Sanderson, Yves Racine and Mike Ricci. They then hammered Austria 6-1, with Sanderson, Nelson EmersonRod Brind'Amour and a hat trick by Paul Kariya (who led Canada with 5 goals and 12 points) accounting for the goals by Canada.

Germany was downed 3-2 with Brendan Shanahan being the hero of the day, scoring all three goals for Canada. Great Britain was dominated 8-2 with goals from Ricci, Emerson, Shayne Corson (twice), Sakic, Pat Verbeek, Stephen Thomas, and Brind'Amour, setting up a final game with Russia, who were also undefeated.

After falling behind 1-0, Canada roared back with three third period goals by Sanderson and Sakic before Sakic sealed the victory with an empty net goal with just two seconds remaining to secure the top seed in Group 1 and a date with the fourth place finisher, the Czech Republic (1-2-2) in the Quarterfinals.

The Czech's poor record in the First Round proved deceptive, as they broke out on top with a goal at 4:12. Shanahan tied it for Canada at 12:20 and Kariya put Canada ahead at 5:58 of the second, only to have the Czechs tie it 1:40 later. The game then remained scoreless until Corson broke the tie with 2 1/2 minutes remaining to give Canada a 3-2 win.

Their Semifinal opponent was Sweden, second in Group 2 at 3-1-1, but they offered little resistance to an on-form group of Canadians, who blitzed the Swedes 6-0, with goals coming from Luc Robitaille, who had a hat trick, Sanderson, Kariya and Brind'Amour, setting up a championship final with Finland, who had won Group 2 with four wins an a tie.

The game, played on this date in 1994, saw the teams play the first two periods scoreless before trading goals in the third period, with Brind'Amour scoring with 4:43 left on a power play to tie the score at 1-1 at the end of regulation, as Bill Ranford and Jarmo Myllys stood tall in the nets. Overtime passed without a winner as Canada out shot Finland 5-3, moving the game onto penalty shots.

Robitaille put Canada up 1-0 after the first round and Sakic gave Canada a commanding 2-0 lead after the second. Neither team scored in the third round, but the tide quickly turned as Finland scored in rounds 4 and 5, while Kariya and Verbeek were stopped by Myllys, sending the shootout into extra rounds tied at 2-2. Robitaille, able to shoot again under international rules, converted on his second opportunity after momentarily losing control of the puck, but regained it in time to brilliantly deke Myllys and find the back of the net to give Canada the lead. Randford then stopped Mika Nieminen to secure the first gold medal for Canada in 33 years of waiting, dating back to 1961, when they were represented by the Trail Smoke Eaters in an era long since past.

1994 World Champions

Canada would repeat as champions in 1997, 2003 and 2004 and again in 2007, their 24th World Championship. Additionally, with the inclusion of the NHL professionals in the Olympics beginning in 1998, Canada has also won Olympic gold in both 2002 and 2010, their first since 1952 when they were represented by the Edmonton Mercurys.

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The 1954 Edmonton Mercurys

Today's featured jersey is a 1994 Canada National Team Joe Sakic jersey as worn during the 1994 World Championships during which Canada ended their 33 year World Championship drought. The jersey is a Finnish made jersey produced by Tackla of Finland, but branded as a Reebok jersey, using the dye sublimation process, in which all the graphics are created by injecting ink into the fabric, which is then cured with heat. This jersey also sports a pair of Warsteiner Beer sponsorship logos, giving the jersey it's unique "World Championships" look, as jerseys worn during the Olympics are free from advertising.

This multi-striped style was a short-lived one and only used for the 1994 and 1995 World Championships, as Nike arrived on the scene with all new designs for the 1996 World Championships.

1994 Canadian National Team Joe Sakic Jersey
1994 Canadian National Team Joe Sakic Jersey

Bonus jersey: Today's bonus jersey is a 1977 Canada National Team Phil Esposito jersey. This brash style loudly announced Canada's return to international competition when it was worn at the 1977 World Championships after Canada withdrew from international hockey for eight years in protest of eligibility rules of professional players versus the veteran Soviet players who were able to maintain their amateur status.

Somewhat surprisingly, this style continued to be worn through 1979 and is perhaps the only jersey Canada has ever worn that could not be described as classy or at least attractive, with the exception of the first mustard colored sweaters from 1920, which were revived as an ill-advised throwback in 2004.

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Canada 1977 WC R #77 jersey photo Canada1977WCR77B-1.jpg

Today's video section features a great find, rare footage of the 1994 gold medal final of the World Championships between Canada and Finland. The first five rounds of the shootout are edited pretty tight, so don't blink. Following the game highlights are interviews with many of the players.



Wednesday, May 7, 2014

1992-93 Montreal Canadiens Vincent Damphousse Jersey

The Montreal Canadiens began the 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs with a first round series against their hated rivals the Quebec Nordiques by losing the first game of the series 3-2 in overtime. After dropping Game 2 by a score of 4-1, the Canadiens were facing the very real possibility of falling behind in the series 3 games to none as Game 3 entered overtime tied at 1-1.

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Patrick Roy holds off the Nordiques

The extra period continued to stretch on without a decision until Curtis Leschyshyn was whistled for a penalty at 9:26, putting Montreal on the power play. Just over a minute later the game ended with the Canadiens regular season leading scorer Vincent Damphousse scoring the game winning goal with assists from Brian Bellows and Eric Desjardins to get Montreal back into the series.

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The battles between Montreal and Quebec were legendary

Game 4 went to Montreal and Game 5 was even at 4-4 at the end of regulation before Kirk Muller won the game for Montreal at 8:17 from Damphousse and Desjardins to put Montreal up 3 games to 2 after trailing 2-0 to start the series. The turnaround was complete after Montreal cruised to a 6-2 win in Game 6 to eliminate the Nordiques and advance to face the Buffalo Sabres in the Adams Division Final.

Montreal took Game 1 by a score of 4-3 prior to Grant Fuhr and Patrick Roy battling it out in Game 2, which ended the first 60 minutes tied at 3-3. It would take 2:50 to decide a winner when Guy Carbonneau got his first goal of the postseason from Serge Savard and Ed Ronan.

It was more of the same as the series shifted to Buffalo, as the two teams again finished regulation deadlocked at 3-3. Gilbert Dionne was the hero that night when he won the game for the Canadiens at 8:28 from Patrice Brisebois and Bellows to put Montreal in a commanding 3-0 position.

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Sabres captain Dale Hawerchuk was given no room to operate

Game 4 saw the now familiar 3-3 score up on the board when the horn sounded to end the third period yet again and Muller got his second overtime winner from John LeClair and J. J. Daigneault at 11:37 to complete the unusual sweep of the Sabres, as every game ended with the identical 4-3 score in favor of Montreal.

Their next opponents in the Wales Conference Finals were the New York Islanders. After winning Game 1, Montreal held serve at home with a 4-3 win in overtime of Game 2 with Stephan Lebeau's goal from Damphousse and Brisebois at 6:21.

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In the trenches with the Islanders and Canadiens

The series moved to Long Island where Glen Healy did his best to stave off the Montreal attack, but his offense could only support him with a single goal and Game 3 also required extra time. It would take 12:34 until the matter was settled in favor of the Canadiens when Carbonneau beat Healy from Benoit Burnet and Matthieu Schneider. The win was Montreal's 11th in a row, tying an NHL record. The Islanders would avoid elimination with a win in the next game, but Montreal would advance to the finals with a 5-2 win in Game 5.

Montreal would face a difficult task in the finals in the form of Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings, who would win the opening game 4-1 in Montreal. Roy would make 37 saves to keep the Canadiens in the game despite being outshot 39-23. Regulation ended tied at 2-2 and the Canadiens evened the series at a game apiece when Desjardins won it for Montreal after just 51 seconds from Brunet and Ronan.

In Los Angeles, Game 3 featured a wild second period, as the Canadiens scored two goals in 21 seconds to take a 3-0 lead, but the Kings roared back with three goals in less than 10 minutes to tie the game at 3-3. Hrudey and Roy put the clamps down and the rest of regulation passed without a goal, sending the game into overtime. It was all Montreal, as they managed three shots on goal within the first 34 seconds, the third one a goal from LeClair from Muller and Bellows.

The fourth game was a very similar affair, as Montreal led 1-0 after one and the bulk of the scoring game in the second, Montreal scoring at 5:24 only to have the Kings score twice to tie the game at 2-2, followed by a tense, scoreless third, sending their third consecutive game into overtime.

It was a back and fourth battle with chances at both ends as the game carried on. The Kings held a 10-6 advantage in shots before LeClair won the game for Montreal with an unassisted goal at 14:37, Montreal's tenth overtime win of the 1993 playoffs, establishing a single season playoff record. Two day's later the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup with a 4-1 win which required only the standard 60 minutes.

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Montreal hoists the 1993 Stanley Cup,
thanks in part to their overtime mastery

The following season Montreal extended their winning streak in overtime games to 11 with a 2-1 in the Boston Garden over the Bruins in Game 5 of their opening round series on a goal by Muller from Turner Stevenson and Brisebois. All 11 of Montreal's consecutive overtime wins were with Roy in goal, which helped create his reputation as one of the best goaltenders in the history of the NHL.

The Canadiens would miss out on the playoffs in 1995, but return again in 1996, where they would meet the New York Rangers in Game 1 of the opening round. By now Roy had had his falling out with the Canadiens and had been traded to the Colorado Avalanche and Jocelyn Thibault had taken over as the #1 goaltender, and he limited New York to two goals on 43 shots, but Mike Richter did the same for the Rangers and regulation ended deadlocked at 2-2. Damphousse pushed the Canadiens overtime winning streak to 12 with an assist from Brunet at 5:04.

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An Original 6 matchup with Montreal and New York

Back in the postseason in 1997, Montreal was paired up with the New Jersey Devils in the first round, where their overtime mastery continued with a 4-3 victory in Game 4 thanks to a goal by Patrice Brisebois.

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Brian Savage protecting the puck against the Devils

The Habs returned to the playoffs in 1998, winning their first round series against Pittsburgh before being swept by the Buffalo Sabres, none of which required an overtime. Montreal then fell on hard times, missing out on the postseason for the next three seasons, something which had not happened since 1920-1922.

The Canadiens returned to the playoffs in 2002, knocking out Boston in the first round before meeting the Carolina Hurricanes. The teams split the first two games before the third required extra time to break a 1-1 tie, which was settled when Donald Audette extended the Canadiens overtime mastery to an incredible 13 straight wins with a goal at 2:26 on this date in 2002.

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Overtime hero Donald Audette

The streak came to an end two nights later when the teams once again skated into overtime with the game tied at 3-3. Niclas Wallin finally ended the Canadiens incredible overtime winning streak at 13 games stretched out over 10 years of undefeated play in sudden death.

Today's featured jersey is a 1992-93 Montreal Canadiens Vincent Damphousse jersey from the year Damphousse began the Canadiens 10 year, 13 game streak of overtime victories.

The Canadiens equipment staff had a busy season, as the club began the season wearing the 1993 NHL All-Star Game patch on their jerseys. Following the All-Star Game, the club changed to the Stanley Cup Centennial patch, which was worn by all the players that season, with both Montreal and Quebec wearing a special French variation.

Thanks to their playoff success, the Canadiens then had to have the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals patch, again a French version (the first and to date only time one has been worn) added to all their jerseys, quite likely the only time any team in NHL history has worn three unique patches in the same season. Yes, other teams have worn three patches at the same time during a season, but not three different ones in succession.

Montreal Canadiens 92-93 #25 jersey photo MontrealCanadiens92-9325jersey.jpg
photo courtesy of Classic Auctions

Bonus jersey: Today's bonus jersey is a 2001-02 Montreal Canadiens Donald Audette jersey from the player who scored final overtime winner in the Canadiens remarkable streak of overtime success.

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photo courtesy of Classic Auctions

Today's video section is the story of the Canadiens run to the 1993 Stanley Cup, including an incredible  ten overtime victories in the process.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

2005 Team Canada Martin Brodeur Jersey

Born on this date in 1972, Martin Brodeur followed in his father's footsteps and began his international hockey career at the 1996 World Championships, seeing action in three games and posting a record of 0-1-1 as Canada won the silver medal.

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Dennis Brodeur in goal for Canada during the 1956 Olympics

Later that same year he played for Canada in the inaugural World Cup of Hockey, playing in a pair of games with a record of 0-1-0.

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Brodeur wearing the unfamiliar #1 during the 1996 World Cup of Hockey due to Bill Ranford wearing #30

Internationally, Brodeur was a next member of the 1998 Canadian Olympic team in Nagano, Japan, but did not see any game action during the tournament.

Martin Brodeur Canada 1998 photo MartinBrodeurCanada1998.jpg
Brodeur wearing the 1998 Team Canada Olympic jersey

When the Olympics arrived again four years later in 2002, following an opening game loss for the Canadians, Brodeur became the starting goaltender for the Canadians as they beat Germany and tied the Czech Republic before getting on a roll in the Final Round, where they defeated Finland 2-1, destroyed Belarus 7-1 and captured the gold medal, Canada's first in fifty years, with a 5-2 defeat of the United States.

Brodeur Canada
Brodeur celebrates Canada's first gold medal in 50 years

Brodeur was again Canada's number one goaltender for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, leading them to the championship with a 5-0 record and victories over the United States, Slovakia, Russia, Slovakia again and Finland in the championship final.

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Canada began the 2004 World Cup by wearing the 1920 Winnipeg Falcons throwbacks

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Brodeur lifts the 2004 World Cup trophy

Thanks to the 2004-05 NHL season being lost due to the lockout, Brodeur was available to play for Canada in the 2005 World Championships, an event he had not competed in for nine years due to his annual NHL playoff responsibilities with the New Jersey Devils. Brodeur put up a 5-2 record in 7 starts for Canada, defeating Latvia and the United States in Group B play, a loss to Sweden and a narrow 2-1 win over Ukraine in Group F before eliminating Slovakia in the quarterfinals and Russia in the semi-finals before losing 3-0 to the Czech Republic in the gold medal game, leaving Canada with the silver.

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Brodeur wearing the same jerseys as the 2004 World Cup, but with the addition of sponsorship patches on the shoulders, a regular feature of jerseys worn during the World Championships

Brodeur was once more back on Olympic ice, this time in 2006 in Torinio, Italy. Canada began the tournament in good form, defeating Italy 7-2 with Brodeur in goal before defeating Germany 5-1. Brodeur was back in net for the surprising 2-0 upset at the hands of Switzerland. Canada next lost a second consecutive game to Finland before Brodeur got Canada back on track with a 3-2 defeat of the Czech Republic to finish Group A in third place. Canada's tournament ended in the quarterfinals with Broduer in goal, as they lost to Russia 2-0. Brodeur finished his tournament with a 2-2 record in four starts, as Canada failed to score a single goal in both of Brodeur's losses.

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Brodeur wearing Nike's new Swift jersey at the 2006 Olympics

His most recent international experience came in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Brodeur was in goal for Canada's 3-2 shootout win over Switzerland, avoiding a repeat of their 2006 upset at the hands of the Swiss. They then lost 5-3 in a scintillating game against the United States. Seeking a change after their lackluster group play, Canada went with Broduer's several time international backup Roberto Luongo (2004 World Cup of Hockey, 2005 World Championships and 2006 Olympics), who guided Canada to another Olympic gold medal, Brodeur's second.

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Brodeur and Luongo after receiving their gold medals in 2010

Brodeur's record in senior international games now stands at 29 games played, 17 wins, 7 losses and 2 tiesand a goals against average of 2.25, two World Championship silver medals, a World Cup championship and a pair of Olympic gold medals.

Today's featured jersey is a 2005 Team Canada Martin Brodeur jersey as worn by Brodeur in the 2005 World Championships which took place during the NHL lockout season of 2004-05. This style was first introduced for the 2002 Olympics and was worn through the 2005 World Championships.

Brodeur traditionally has been competing in the Stanley Cup playoffs since first breaking into the NHL, as the Devils have made the playoffs ever year of Brodeur's lengthy NHL career, save for 1995-96, the only other time he  was able to compete at the World Championships.

This jersey features the traditional sponsorship patches on the shoulders as seen during the World Championships.

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Here, Broduer speaks during in advance of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

 

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