Schedule and 2002 Results
Regular Season Records: Detroit 51-17-10-4=116pts, Colorado 45-28-8-1=99pts
Game 1 on Saturday, 18 May: Col. loses at Det., 5-goals-3
Game 2 on Monday, 20 May: Col. wins at Det., 4-goals-3 (OT)
Game 3 on Wednesday, 22 May: Det. wins at Col., 2-goals-1 (OT)
Game 4 on Saturday, 25 May: Det. loses at Col., 3-goals-2
Game 5 on Monday, 27 May: Col. wins at Det., 2-goals-1 (OT)
Game 6 on Wednesday, 29 May: Det. wins at Col., 2-goals-nil
Game 7 on Friday, 31 May: Col. loses at Det., 7-goals-nil

SERIES NOTES:

Post Game 7 Notes: Detroit shuts out the Avalanche in Detroit 7-goals-nil to win their series 4-games-3. The 2002 Detroit Red Wings thus become only the third NHL team to win a best-of-7 series via shutouts in Games 6 and 7. The other two teams to do so were the Detroit Red Wings (in best-of-7 series 77, a 1950 Semis-round series vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs) and the Edmonton Oilers (in best-of-7 series 753, a 1998 Prelim-round series vs. the Colorado Avalanche). The best-of-7 Semis-round Game 7 record for Detroit is now 5-1 (4-1 at home), while that of Colorado is now 0-3 (0-3 on the road; the 0-3 overall record ties the NBA Indiana Pacers for the worst Semis-round Game 7 record in the NHL, NBA, or MLB). The best-of-7 series record for Detroit is now 41-33 and 17-12 in Semifinals play, while the best-of-7 series record for Colorado is now 16-5 and 2-4 in Semifinals play. The win order for Detroit is WLWLLWW: Series 861 is thus the second in the NHL Semifinals, the sixth in the NHL overall, and the eleventh in the NHL, NBA, and MLB overall to follow a WLWLLWW overall; the first best-of-7 series to follow this win order was series 27 -- the 1934 World Series, in which the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Detroit Tigers. The 7-goals-nil victory by Detroit was the most lopsided Game 7 victory in NHL history, breaking the old mark of a six-goal margin of victory in Game 7 play set in series 561 (a 1990 Qtrs-round series, in which Chicago defeated St. Louis in Chicago 8-goals-2) and tied in series 636 (a 1993 Qtrs-round series, in which Toronto defeated St. Louis in Toronto 6-goals-nil). Detroit took a 2-goals-nil lead 3:17 into the game -- that's the second-fastest 2-goals-nil lead in NHL Game 7 history (in best-of-7 series 296, Philadelphia led the Islanders in Philadelphia 2-goals-nil after only 2:27 of 1975 Semifinals Game 7). Detroit took a 3-goals-nil lead 10:25 into the game -- that's the fastest 3-goals-nil lead in NHL Game 7 history (breaking the mark from best-of-7 series 485, in which Philadelphia led the Islanders in Philadelphia 3-goals-nil after 10:41 of 1987 Qtrs-round Game 7). Detroit took a 4-goals-nil lead 12:51 into the game -- that's the fastest 4-goals-nil lead in NHL Game 7 history (breaking the mark from best-of-7 series 168, in which Montreal led Chicago in Montreal 4-goals-nil after 18:45 of 1965 Finals-round Game 7). Detroit took a 5-goals-nil lead 24:41 into the game -- that's the fastest 5-goals-nil lead in NHL Game 7 history (breaking the mark from best-of-7 series 561, in which Chicago led St. Louis in Chicago 5-goals-nil after 30:22 of 1990 Qtrs-round Game 7). And finally, Detroit took a 6-goals-nil lead 26:28 into the game -- that's the fastest 6-goals-nil lead in NHL Game 7 history (breaking the mark from best-of-7 series 636, in which Toronto led St. Louis in Toronto 6-goals-nil after 34:50 of 1993 Qtrs-round Game 7).

Post Game 6 Notes: Detroit shuts out the Avalanche in Colorado 2-goals-nil to tie their series at 3-games-all. Detroit scores the first goal of the game for the first time in its series vs. Colorado: Only once has the same team scored the first goal of the game in the first six games of a best-of-7 NHL playoff series (in best-of-7 series 298 -- the 1975 NHL Finals -- the Philadelphia Flyers did so vs. the Buffalo Sabres). The best-of-7 Semis-round Game 6 record for Detroit is now 9-7 (4-6 on the road), while that for Colorado is now 2-3 (2-2 at home). The Game 7 record for the Detroit Red Wings is 10-7 overall, 4-1 in the NHL Semifinals, and 9-4 (all rounds) on home ice. The Game 7 record for the Colorado Avalanche is 4-3 overall (4-0 in their last four), 0-2 in the NHL Semifinals, and 0-2 (all rounds) on the road. Two ironic precedents involving Colorado are in effect. Among teams to open a best-of-7 NHL Semifinals series with a WLWLLW win order (eg. Detroit in this series), the latest to do so was Colorado in best-of-7 series 811 (in the 2000 NHL Semifinals vs. Dallas): Colorado lost Game 7 and thus the series. Among teams to open a best-of-7 NHL series with a WLWLLW @ HHVVHV win/site order (eg. Detroit in this series), the latest to do so was Colorado in best-of-7 series 837 (in the 2001 NHL Finals vs. New Jersey): Colorado won Game 7 and thus the series. Thus, Colorado in the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals offers a favorable precedent for Colorado, while Colorado's opponent in the 2000 NHL Semifinals offers a favorable precedent for Detroit.

Post Game 5 Notes: Colorado defeats the Red Wings in Detroit 2-goals-1 on an overtime goal 6:24 into OT, to take a 3-games-2 series lead. Game 5 thus becomes the third NHL best-of-7-format playoff game to end on an overtime goal 6:24 into the first overtime period. The previous two occurred in best-of-7 series 734 by Buffalo (vs. the Flyers in Philadelphia in Game 4 of their 1997 Qtrs-round series) and in series 760 by Washington (vs. the Sabres in Buffalo in Game 6 of their 1998 Semis-round series). The best-of-7 Semis-round Game 5 record for Colorado is now 4-2 (2-2 on the road), while that for Detroit is now 13-13 (10-5 on home ice). When leading a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 3-games-2, Colorado sports an 8-2 series record. When trailing such a series 3-games-2, Detroit has a 6-12 series record. Colorado has scored first in all five series games: The last team to score first in each of its first five series games was the Dallas Stars in best-of-7 series 808 (vs. San Jose in their 2000 Qtrs-round series). The only previous team to open an NHL Semifinals playoff round with an LWLWW @ VVHHV record was the Detroit Red Wings in best-of-7 series 174 (a 1966 Semis-round series vs. Chicago, which the Wings won in six games). As such, the 1966 Wings present a favorable but ironic precedent for the Avalanche, in Colorado's current battle with the 2002 Wings.

Post Game 4 Notes: Colorado hosts and defeats Detroit 3-goals-2 to tie series 861 at 2-games-all. The best-of-7 Semis-round Game 4 record for Detroit is now 13-16 (7-10 on the road), while that for Colorado is now 4-2 (3-1 at home). When tied 2-games-all in a best-of-7 NHL playoff series, Detroit has a 14-10 series record, and Colorado has a 7-2 series record. Teams which open an NHL best-of-7 playoff series WLWL @ HHVV (eg. Detroit in this series) own an 11-6 series record, and are now on a seven-series winning streak.

Post Game 3 Notes: Detroit travels to Colorado and wins Game 3 by a 2-goals-1 score in overtime. Colorado led 1-goal-nil until Detroit tied the game 5:20 into the third period: From 1939 through 2001 in NHL best-of-7 playoff series, when the home squad led by one goal 5:19 into the third period, its game record was 379-85 (.817); as such, the historical probability of the Detroit comeback victory in Game 3 was just under 1 in 5. The best-of-7 Semis-round Game 3 record for Detroit is now 16-13 (10-7 on the road); that for Colorado is now 1-5 (1-3 at home). When leading a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 2-games-1, Detroit's series record is 17-8. When trailing a best-of-7 NHL playoff series 2-games-1, Colorado's series record is 3-2. Teams such as Detroit that win Game 1 by two goals, lose Game 2 by one goal, and win Game 3 by one goal (over the 1939-2002 Quarterfinals period) have a 2-3 series record and a 2-series winning streak. Teams opening a best-of-7 NHL Semis-round playoff series LWL @ VVH (eg. Colorado) have posted a 2-11 series record from 1939 through the 2002 Quarterfinals: The second of the two teams to achieve the comeback was in best-of-7 series 174, in which the Detroit Red Wings opened with a LWL @ VVH record against the Chicago Blackhawks but won their 1966 Semis-round series. Ironically, then, the 1966 Detroit Red Wings set the most recent precedent for a Colorado Avalanche comeback against the 2002 Detroit Red Wings.

Post Game 2 Notes: Colorado defeats Detroit 4-goals-3 in overtime to tie series 861 at 1-game-all. The win improves Colorado's best-of-7 Semis-round Game 2 record to 3-3 (2-2 on road ice); the loss drops Detroit's best-of-7 Semis-round Game 2 record to 15-14 (9-8 on home ice; those 8 losses are an NBA/NHL/MLB-high). When tied 1-game-all in a best-of-7 NHL playoff series, Detroit has a series record of 15-13 and a 5-series winning streak, while Colorado has a series record of 5-4 and a 2-series winning streak when tied 1-game-all. Before Detroit did so against Colorado, only once before in NHL best-of-7 playoff series has a team won Game One 5-goals-3 and lost Game Two 4-games-3: In best-of-7 series 118, the New York Rangers did so in their 1958 Semis-round series vs. Boston; the Rangers lost that series in six games. From 1939 through the 2002 NHL Quarterfinals, NHL teams winning Game 1 (of a best-of-7 series) by two goals but losing Game 2 by one goal had a 13-14 series record.

Post Game 1 Notes: Detroit hosts and defeats Colorado 5-goals-3 to take a 1-game-nil series lead. The win improves Detroit's best-of-7 Semis-round Game 1 record to 14-15 (11-6 at home; those six losses are tied with those of the NBA Boston Celtics for the most best-of-7 Semis-round Game 1 losses in the NBA, NHL, or MLB); the loss lowers the Colorado best-of-7 Semis-round Game 1 record to 5-1 (3-1 on the road; Colorado had previously been undefeated in this situation). When leading a best-of-7 series 1-game-nil, Detroit has a 27-11 (.711) series record; when trailing a best-of-7 series 1-game-nil, Colorado has an even better 4-1 (.800) record. From 1939 through the Quarterfinals-round of 2002, NHL teams winning Game 1 by a 5-goals-3 tally have gone on to post an 11-6 series record.

Pre-series assessment: In the 2001-02 regular season, Detroit finished with 17 more points than Colorado. In best-of-7 NHL playoff series from 1939 through the 2002 Quarterfinals (453 series total), when a team finishes the regular season with 17 more points than its best-of-7 playoff series opponent, its series record against such opponents is 8-1. Three of those eight series victories were posted by the Detroit Red Wings, in best-of-7 series 67 (over the New York Rangers in the 1948 Semis-round), 511 (over the St. Louis Blues in the 1988 Qtrs-round), and 686 (over the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1995 Semis-round). The sole loss by the team with 17 more regular-season points was sustained by the Montreal Canadiens in best-of-7 series 138 (to the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1961 Semis-round).