The 2002 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Detroit Red Wings and the Carolina Hurricanes, making their first Stanley Cup Final appearance. Detroit defeated Carolina in five games to win their tenth Stanley Cup championship. The Red Wings became the first team in NHL history to win the Cup after starting the playoffs with two losses at home. After losing the first two games in their Conference Quarterfinal to the Vanco...
more
The 2002 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Detroit Red Wings and the Carolina Hurricanes, making their first Stanley Cup Final appearance. Detroit defeated Carolina in five games to win their tenth Stanley Cup championship. The Red Wings became the first team in NHL history to win the Cup after starting the playoffs with two losses at home. After losing the first two games in their Conference Quarterfinal to the Vancouver Canucks, the Red Wings then won 16 of their next 21 games en route to win their third Cup for coach Scotty Bowman. Bowman's win, his ninth, established a new coaching record, surpassing the mark he held with Montreal coach Toe Blake.
The series featured the two NHL franchises Gordie Howe played for. This was the first appearance in the Cup Final for the Hurricanes (formerly the Hartford Whalers), who made an unlikely run to the Cup. While they were seeded third as a division winner, in actuality they had the second-lowest point total (91)...
less
