The 2000 Stanley Cup Final was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1999âÂÂ2000 season, and the culmination of the 2000 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Devils against the Western Conference champion and defending Stanley Cup champion Dallas Stars. The Devils were led by captain Scott Stevens, head coach Larry Robinson and goaltender Martin Brodeur. The Stars were led by captain Derian Hatcher, head coach Ken Hitchcock and goaltender Ed Belfour.
The Devils defeated the defending champion Stars four games to two to win their second Stanley Cup in franchise history. This was the first of two Stanley Cup Final where two relocated teams faced each other; the other being in 2001.
New Jersey entered the playoffs as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference after finishing the regular season with 103 points. In the playoffs, they first swept the fifth-seeded Florida Panthers. In the second round they defeated the third-seeded Toronto Maple Leafs in six games. In the Eastern Conference finals, the Devils defeated the top-seeded Philadelphia Flyers in seven games (in the process becoming the first team since expansion to come back from a 3-1 deficit later than the second round) to advance to the Final.
Dallas captured the Pacific Division title and entered the playoffs as the second seed in the Western Conference after finishing the regular season with 102 points. In the playoffs, they defeated the seventh-seeded Edmonton Oilers in the first round in five games. In the second round, the Stars defeated the eighth-seeded San Jose Sharks, also in five games. In a rematch of the previous yearâÂÂs Western Conference finals, the Stars again defeated the Colorado Avalanche in seven games to advance to the Final.
Despite New Jersey being a lower seed in conference play (4) than Dallas (2), New Jersey's 103 points were one more than Dallas, giving them home-ice advantage in the series. The Devils won the Cup in game six on a one-timer goal by Jason Arnott in double overtime. It was their second Stanley Cup overall and first since 1995.
Petr Sykora and Jason Arnott each recorded 4 points for New Jersey in game one, and Ken Daneyko scored his first goal of the playoffs during the second period. Ed Belfour was replaced in the third period by Manny Fernandez after allowing 6 goals on 18 shots. New Jersey would go on to win the game by a score of 7âÂÂ3, giving them a 1âÂÂ0 series lead.
In game two, Brett Hull scored twice, including the game winner with four minutes and sixteen seconds remaining in regulation. Ed Belfour made 27 saves to secure a 2âÂÂ1 for Dallas, tying the series at a game apiece.
After the teams were tied at one goal apiece in the first period of game three, Petr Sykora scored the game-winning goal on a power play in second period, and Martin Brodeur made 22 saves, giving the Devils a 2âÂÂ1 victory, and a 2âÂÂ1 series lead.
After the Stars took a 1âÂÂ0 lead in the second period of game four, the Devils capitalized three times in the third period due to defensive errors by Dallas in the third period to a commanding 3âÂÂ1 series lead.
With game five being an elimination game, both goaltenders remained unbeatable for over 86 minutes until Mike Modano scored the game-winning goal at 6:21 of the third overtime, deflecting a shot from Brett Hull past Martin Brodeur, giving the Stars a 1âÂÂ0 victory, keeping the Stars' hopes alive and forcing a game six back in Dallas.
After a scoreless first in game one, both teams scored a goal in second period. Neither team scored again until Jason Arnott scored the game winning goal in double overtime to win the game 2âÂÂ1 and give the Devils their second Stanley Cup in five years. Scott Stevens was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for his dominant defensive play, unmatched physicality, and leadership during the playoffs.
This was the first Final that featured two relocated teams competing for the Stanley Cup, as well as the first Final in which both teams had won the Stanley Cup previously after relocation (the Devils in 1995, and the Stars in 1999).
For the Stars, this was the first time since the New York Islanders lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the 1984 Final that a defending Stanley Cup champion lost in the Final. This would happen again in 2001, as the Devils made a return trip to the Final, but lost in seven games to the Colorado Avalanche.
This was the last Stars' appearance in the Stanley Cup Final until 2020, in which they lost in six games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Years indicated in boldface under the "Finals appearance" column signify that the player won the Stanley Cup in the given year.
The 2000 Stanley Cup was presented to Devils captain Scott Stevens by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman following the Devils 2âÂÂ1 double overtime win over the Stars in game six.
The following Devils players and staff had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup
1999âÂÂ2000 New Jersey Devils
In Canada, the series was televised on CBC. In the United States, this was the first year under the new joint American TV contract with the Disney-owned networks ESPN and ABC, with ESPN airing the first two games of the Cup Final and ABC broadcasting the rest of the series. Devils team broadcasters Mike Miller and Randy Velischek called the series on local radio on WABCâÂÂAM 770 in New York City. In Dallas, Stars broadcasters Ralph Strangis and Daryl Reaugh called the series on WBAP 820 AM.