Best game ever?

[RiaRiaHungaria]

I know this is probably a rather subjective thing, but even so, I'm curious as to what people consider to have been the "best" or most exciting game they've ever seen.

I got to thinking about this in the minutes after the CAN-SVK game ended, which certainly had a very exciting finish.

But me, I think the most exciting game I have ever seen was the 1976 game between CSKA and the Montreal Canadiens. That, IMO, was just an absolutely phenomenal game.

[kun]

No:

Gold medal in Salt Lake!!!

[jukka ruskeeahde]

Hello you all!

Well, probably this depends on the country, you are living in!

For me as a whole, the best performance ever was Team Finland in Calgary 1988.

And thus the best game Finland vs. USSR, that ended 2-1. The victory came out of the blue and our medal-debut turned from the bronze into silver!

All the best
Jukka

[RiaRiaHungaria]

Jukka, I remember that game! I also remember that it caused quite a celebration in my family. :)

[Oz]

Originally Posted by jukka ruskeeahde

Well, probably this depends on the country, you are living in

My thoughts exactly.

Latvia - Belarus 5:4 Torino Olympic qualification's decisive game. Two goals down and less than 7 minutes to go and even a draw favors belarussians. We get a powerplay and coach decided to pull the goalie and within seconds belarussians could and should have scored the fifth goal, but they miss the open net by inches. And then two and a half minute madness and we score 3 goals therefore qualify for Torino 06.



Rough translation of first commentator's sentence: "Less than 7 minutes left and we need a miracle". To be fair - we got one.

I can't imagine better or more exciting scenario for a hockey game.

[RiaRiaHungaria]

Oz: this is a big part of why I started this thread - to find out about great games we might otherwise not know about! Great comeback, and that 5:4 goal was awesome!

[Ouellette]

The best and most exciting game of Team Croatia was in 2005. at WC Div2 in Zagreb against Australia. Five minutes before end of regular time, result was 1:1.

57:41 - captain Gojanović intercepts the puck at blue line and scores SH goal. Dom sportova hall went crazy.

59:19 - Australia were still on PP, as our player got 2+2 because of high-stick. Aussies pull the goalie and score tying goal.

59:59 - Plahutar, who previously served 2+2 penalty, went around Australian goal and put the puck in the upper right corner of Ezzy.

I dont need to describe atmosphere in hall after Plahutar scored...

[Marc Brunengraber]

I'm going to break it into national team games and club team games.

For me, personally, the "best" game ever was the New York Rangers defeating the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals. The championship was the Rangers' first since 1940, breaking what, in New York City, was known as "The Curse."

Tears streamed down my face as the buzzer sounded. For me, it was not just the greatest hockey moment, but the greatest sports moment of my life.

As for national team games, the Miracle on Ice in 1980 was the most historically significant, but I was only eight years old, so while I do have personal recollection of it, the memories are not as strong as events that took place in my adult life.

Therefore, for me, the greatest national team game was the deciding Game 3 of the 1996 World Cup finals, where the USA defeated Canada on Canadian ice to capture the title. Mike Richter was the US goalie, was the tournament MVP, and was a player for my beloved Rangers.

I was in a bar in my hometown, watching the game on a giant screen. It was a small bar, but it was jammed full of people. The entire place was focused on the game, chanting "U-S-A" and cheering wildly the entire time. It was pandemonium when the final buzzer sounded. The entire nation was paying attention to the national team's run at the tournament, and, with the Rangers having won the Cup only two years earlier in 1994 - in the biggest media market in the world, much less America - the American public was paying attention to hockey in record numbers.

Those were great days.

[Ouellette]

As for club team games...well, I will pick first round of EBEL this season.

New club in, for us, new league, starting new pro advanture after 20 years, soldout hall after same number of years, old rival from yugoslavian days, Jesenice. Victory.

It was great feeling and very emotional game for everyone.

[RiaRiaHungaria]

Originally Posted by Marc Brunengraber

For me, personally, the "best" game ever was the New York Rangers defeating the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals. The championship was the Rangers' first since 1940, breaking what, in New York City, was known as "The Curse."

Tears streamed down my face as the buzzer sounded. For me, it was not just the greatest hockey moment, but the greatest sports moment of my life.

Tears streamed down my face then, too, but because that for me was the most heartbreaking hockey moment ever. When Lafayette missed... :( There were so many cries of "fix" in this city that it's unimaginable, and even led to a riot. Ah well. Our day will come.

[Viperdan]

Originally Posted by Oz

My thoughts exactly.

Latvia - Belarus 5:4 Torino Olympic qualification's decisive game. Two goals down and less than 7 minutes to go and even a draw favors belarussians. We get a powerplay and coach decided to pull the goalie and within seconds belarussians could and should have scored the fifth goal, but they miss the open net by inches. And then two and a half minute madness and we score 3 goals therefore qualify for Torino 06.



Rough translation of first commentator's sentence: "Less than 7 minutes left and we need a miracle". To be fair - we got one.

I can't imagine better or more exciting scenario for a hockey game.

I wish i was at that game, i also with that i could understand what that guy was saying, haha

[Viperdan]

This is going to sound stupied, but ive only ever watched british ice hockey, and the 2nd best match ive ever watched was the Newcastle Vipers vs Hull Stingrays when the Vipers been them 13-3 or something like that, along with the Playoffs 2006,when the Vipers won the Elite League Playoffs, that was the best day of my life, never mind the best match ive scene

That may sound sad, but my life basically is Ice Hockey, im hoping to go to Canada within the next few years to watch "Proper" hockey

Although, a few years ago in the "Guiness Book Of Records" it had the longest game of Ice Hockey ever, I would of loved to be at that game.

[Oz]

Originally Posted by Viperdan

That may sound sad, but my life basically is Ice Hockey, im hoping to go to Canada within the next few years to watch "Proper" hockey

Hockey is "proper" everywhere. Supporting grass root teams or your local side is no disgrace and people should always have at least a soft spot for local sports teams.

[Ouellette]

Originally Posted by Oz

Hockey is "proper" everywhere. Supporting grass root teams or your local side is no disgrace and people should always have at least a soft spot for local sports teams.

I agree !

Living in Canda doesn't necessary means that you are watching "proper" hockey. What if you live in some place in Canada that for example has junior C team ? Is that more "proper" hockey than in Newcastle, just because it is not Canada but England ?

Eh, Viperdan...

[Conesy]

I know for me, cause I'm young (only 18) I haven't seen my fair share of exciting games. But the most exciting game I've seen is the first US-Canada game at the Olympics or the World Junior gold medal game, and for obvious reasons-I was tense as hell. Plus, it's always fun when we play Canada, more so when we win.

On a side note, the most exciting game I've personally played in was my sophomore year of high school hockey, when we game back down 3-2 with 1:45 left in the third period to score, then we scored 10 seconds later to win it. Boy, the other team was pissed.

[Viperdan]

Originally Posted by Oz

Hockey is "proper" everywhere. Supporting grass root teams or your local side is no disgrace and people should always have at least a soft spot for local sports teams.

I agree, I basically Live Ice Hockey and im british, cannot imagine what their like in Canada,
what i mean by "proper", is, Hockey in the UK is much much slower compared to the likes of the NHL,
there was one match a few years ago where someone came over from North America to watch their son play hockey who was playing for the Vipers at the time, and the people I was with started talking to them, and they said it wa much much slower hockey compared to what they are use to, so if you think about it that was, it isnt "proper" hockey,

[Ref72]

for me, 4 games come to mind, all of which I watched;

1. 1975 new years eve game: Central Red Army 3, Montreal Canadiens 3 - I recall a fantastic pace set by the Canadiens at the start and the Red Army playing a patient game relying on Tretiak to keep them in it. Fantastic goal by Kharlomov to tie the game.

2. 1976 Canada cup round robin: Czechoslovakia 1, Canada 0. I know most Canadians focus on the final between these two teams, but for sheer drama, this round robin game was unbelieveable. Canada poured relentless pressure on the Czechs throughout but the Czech goalie played the game of his life and a timely goal in the 3rd period sealed the win for the Czechs.

3. 1987 Canada cup final - game 2: Canada 6, CCCP 5 (2OT) - I am not sure I have ever seen a better game then this one. Skill level of the two teams was incredible with Gretzky, Lemieux for Canada against Makarov, Krutov, Larionov for CCCP.

4. 1972 summit series: Game 8: Canada 6, CCCP 5 - Historical significance. Henderson scoring with 34 seconds to go is hard to top.

[Viperdan]

Originally Posted by Ouellette

I agree !

Living in Canda doesn't necessary means that you are watching "proper" hockey. What if you live in some place in Canada that for example has junior C team ? Is that more "proper" hockey than in Newcastle, just because it is not Canada but England ?

Eh, Viperdan...

haha, Well you know what i mean, hockey in England, well basically the whole of the uk is slow hockey, you go to canada and its uk hockey speeded up by about 5.
haha

Viperdan