Favorite playoff memory: Daneyko recalls 2003 Stanley Cup win with Devils

NHL.com is looking ahead to the Stanley Cup Playoffs by having former players discuss their favorite postseason game. Today, New Jersey Devils defenseman Ken Daneyko recalls the Game 7 victory against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 2003 Stanley Cup Final, a 3-0 win that marked Daneyko's third championship and final NHL game.

Ken Daneyko said he will be forever grateful to late coach Pat Burns for putting him in the New Jersey Devils lineup for Game 7 of the 2003 Stanley Cup Final.
New Jersey's 3-0 win against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim at Continental Airlines Arena allowed Daneyko to end his NHL career in storybook fashion, winning the Stanley Cup for the third time. But his initial reaction when Burns told him he was going to play in Game 7 was, "He's nuts."
The defenseman was a healthy scratch for the first six games of the Cup Final and had accepted that he probably wasn't going to play in the series. At the time, Daneyko was 39 years old and said he was "90 percent sure" he was going to retire after 20 NHL seasons, all with the Devils.
Even if he wasn't going to play, Daneyko wanted to go out with New Jersey winning the Cup again after championships in 1995 and 2000.
"I was more about guys that hadn't won the Cup (previously)," said Daneyko, now an analyst on Devils telecasts for MSG Network. "I'd been a part of it for a long time. I played a lot of games in these playoffs and you need everybody whatever your role is -- big, small or in between. So I was pretty content."
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But after the Devils lost 5-2 in Game 6 at Anaheim, Burns was looking for something to give them an extra spark. On the flight to New Jersey, he asked captain Scott Stevens his thoughts on playing Daneyko in Game 7.
"It was a very easy answer for me, for Pat," Stevens said. "Absolutely, we know what Kenny brings, what his game is. He's not going to hurt us. He's only going to help us by playing a smart, simple, physical game, and that's what he did. He played exactly that way -- smart, simple, physical. … That was a no-brainer for me."
Still, Daneyko said he was surprised when Burns pulled him aside following the bus ride from the airport.
"It was kind of away from everybody and he looks me in the eye says, 'You're in tomorrow night and don't tell anybody, the media or anybody,'" Daneyko said. "I'm like, 'What the heck? … He's nuts. Now, he's making the wrong decision. I haven't played in two weeks.'"
Daneyko and Burns, who died in 2010 following a long battle with cancer, had their share of disagreements during the 2002-03 season. Daneyko said they "almost went to blows" after Burns informed him that he was going to be a healthy scratch for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Boston Bruins. It was the first time Daneyko sat out a game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in his career.
Now, Burns was putting Daneyko back in the lineup with the Cup on the line after he hadn't played since Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Ottawa Senators.
"Pat pushed the right buttons; I'll give him that," Daneyko said. "He always was a guy, God rest his soul, that had a pulse, and he felt Game 7 is a crapshoot even though we've got a little advantage at home. I think he felt, 'We need any kind of extra emotion. Maybe Kenny can bring that.'"

The decision remained a secret until the scratches were announced following warmups.
"The fans went crazy," Daneyko said. "And then when I touched the puck on my first shift, they went crazy. I was so grateful to the fans. That was all about appreciation and respect for what you've done for the organization for all these years. … But now it was about, 'Don't make a mistake and cost us this Stanley Cup series.'"
Daneyko didn't play much (11:23), but his presence helped the Devils close out the series. He was on the ice when forward Jeff Friesen scored to extend New Jersey's lead to 3-0 with 3:44 left in the third period. Burns put Daneyko on the ice again for the final minute.
Daneyko was so excited he dropped his stick at one point and had to swipe at the puck with his hand a couple times before the final seconds elapsed and the celebration began.
A couple days later, Daneyko presented Burns with a victory cigar.
"I went to his office before the team picture or something and said, 'Pat, here's a cigar and I'm forever indebted. Thank you because, I think you know, this is it for me and I couldn't have gone out any better way,'" Daneyko said. "We had a big hug and a big smile. I said, 'Congratulations. Great job. Everything's behind us. We won and I'm very, very appreciative of you putting me in in Game 7.'"
NHL.com staff writer Mike Zeisberger contributed to this report