This Date in Playoff History: May 19

1974: The Flyers became the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, beating the Bruins 1-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Flyers left wing Rick MacLeish scored the game's only goal and Bernie Parent, who would win the Conn Smythe as the most valuable player of the playoffs, got his second of six playoff shutouts. Philadelphia, known as the “Broad Street Bullies” for their abrasive and physical approach, swept the Atlanta Flames in the first round and came within a loss of being eliminated in the next round when the Rangers pushed them to seven games before beating the Bruins. 

1979: Montreal defenseman Serge Savard, part of the Canadiens' big three defensemen with Larry Robinson and Guy Lapointe, scored the game-winning goal 7:25 into overtime in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final giving Montreal a 4-3 win and a commanding 3-1 series lead against the Rangers. Montreal would clinch its fourth-straight Cup with a 4-1 win against the Rangers two nights later.

1984: Oilers center Wayne Gretzky had 1 goal and added 2 assists and Ken Linesman scored the game-winning goal as Edmonton defeated the Islanders, 5-2, in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, securing the Oilers' first Cup in franchise history. Edmonton center Mark Messier, who finished third on the team with 26 points, despite being the second-line center, won the Conn Smythe Trophy.

1989: Montreal center Ryan Walter scored 38:08 into overtime as the Canadiens beat the Flames 4-3 in Game 3, giving the Flames a 2-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Final. The goal was one of three Walter would score that playoff season. Calgary, however, would come back and win the next three games to capture the Cup.

1998: The Red Wings beat the Blues, 6-1, in St. Louis in Game 6 of their second-round series, advancing to the Western Conference Final for the fourth year in a row where they beat the Stars in six games. Detroit proceeded to win its second-consecutive Cup by sweeping the Capitals in the Stanley Cup Final.

2001: Devils goalie Martin Brodeur records his 12th career playoff shutout in a 5-0 victory over Pittsburgh in Game 4 giving the Devils a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Final. New Jersey would finish off Pittsburgh three nights later with a 4-2 win in Game 5 and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in seven seasons. Brian Rafalski led the Devils in scoring in the series with 5 assists and 8 points. Even more impressive, the Devils’ defense held a team with Jaromir Jagr, Mario Lemieux and Alexei Kovalev to just seven goals in five games.

2007: Ottawa right wing Daniel Alfredsson scored at 9:32 of overtime as the Senators beat the Sabres, 3-2, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final, eliminating Buffalo and advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in modern-day franchise history. The Senators would win only one game against the Ducks in the Final.

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