It all began on a brisk Prague evening in early October. The New York Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in an uneventful season opener. After 2,546 games, the 2008-09 NHL season will climax Friday night in Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena.

This year's NHL playoffs have been tremendous. Television ratings are up, attendance in most cities is at an all-time high, and the overall interest in the sport has increased immensely. Despite an obvious scheduling faux pas (Game 6 should have been Monday, Game 7 Wednesday---Why would you put Game 6 against the NBA Finals, then have the greatest event in all of sports on a Friday night?!? I loathe Gary Bettman), the league is on the right track. Before we countdown the Top Game Sevens in Stanley Cup history, we have some hardware to hand out…

Biggest Upset: The 8 seed Anaheim Ducks knocking out the President’s Trophy winner San Jose Sharks in six games. Yes, the Ducks were hitting their stride as they entered the playoffs (10-2-1), but the Sharks were the league’s best team from start to finish. Unfortunately for the Sharks, Joe Thornton continued his annual spring disappearing act. A Thornton-led team has been to the playoffs nine times; they’ve never gotten past the second round.

Improbable Ending: The Carolina Hurricanes run to the Eastern Conference Finals did not lack drama. Scott Walker’s series-winning goal at 18:46 of the first overtime verse the Bruins was memorable, but it was their win in Game 7 of their quarterfinals series verse the Devils that was most impressive. Down 3-2 with 1:20 left in the third period, the ‘Canes scored twice against Hall of Fame goalie Martin Brodeur, shocking the Devils and the capacity crowd at the Prudential Center. Devils Coach Brent Sutter had this to say after the devastating loss, “The last three minutes, it was our execution."

Best Announcing Call: This was an easy one. Thankfully, I was watching Game 4 of the Hurricanes-Devils series on the Fox Sports Carolina telecast. Announcer John Forslund, the organization’s long-time announcer dating back to their days in Hartford, provided one of the most eloquent and moving calls of a goal I have ever heard. From the point Joni Pitkanen carries the puck over the Devils’ blue line with 23 seconds left to the moment Jussi Jokinen’s deflection beats Brodeur, Forslund’s voice carries the momentum of the sequence, increasing in intensity as the play develops. Like any great announcer, Forslund utters his catchphrase (They Scooooore!) twice to capture the importance of the goal. It wasn’t worthy of three repeats like Howie Rose did with “Matteau!” but it was damn close. Click here to listen. 

Best Round: Another no-brainer. The second round of this year's playoff was sensational. Three of the four series went the distance, with a 27 out of a possible 28 games being played. The Capitals-Penguins series was the NHL’s dream, as the league’s biggest stars, Crosby and Ovechkin, elevated their games to a level hockey fans had not yet seen. While Ovechkin’s 14 points exceeded Crosby’s 13, Sid and his Pens got the last laugh, embarrassing the Caps on their home ice in the decisive Game 7. Five of the seven games were decided by one goal, including two thrilling overtime contests. In the West, the Blackhawks-Canucks series, the only series that failed to go seven games, was not without its signature moment. In Game 6 at the United Center in Chicago, the Hawks defeated the Canucks 7-5 to advance to their first Conference Finals in 14 years. Patrick Kane sealed the victory with his third goal of the night late in the third period. The folks in Chicago have a lot to look forward to. The round reached its crescendo with a doubleheader of Game 7's (Detroit vs. Anaheim and Carolina vs. Boston) on May 14th, giving hockey  fans one of the best nights in the sport's history.

Best Individual Performance: This was tough. Ovechkin’s hat trick in Game 2 verse the Penguins was impressive, but in terms of a player stealing a victory for his team, no man did a better job than Henrik Lundqvist in Game 4 of the Rangers-Capitals series. Lundqvist stopped 38 of the 39 shots he faced, including 19 saves in the second period. Thanks to two bone-headed penalties from Sean Avery in the last ten minutes, Lundqvist was forced to stand on his head as the Capitals’ power play unleashed a lethal barrage of shots.

King Henrik stopped all of them. Unfortunately for the Rangers, it was their last win of the season. A deadly trio of poor coaching, an anemic offense, and a tiring Lundqvist helped the Capitals win Games 5, 6 and 7.

And yes, I'm a Rangers fan. Sorry, D.C. hockey fans.

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This year's Stanley Cup Finals has been terrific. The abundance of talent on the two teams cannot be questioned---they are the best two teams in hockey. The game play has been fast, hard-hitting, and full of big moments. The home team has won all 6 games, a trend that favors the Red Wings Friday night, but guarantees them nothing.

While only time will tell where Friday night’s Game 7 lives in Stanley Cup Finals lore, the legacy of these 7 games is secure.

Without further ado…

The Top 7 Game Sevens in Stanley Cup Finals History

(The following qualities were taken into consideration in deciding the Top 7: the historical value of the game, how the series got to Game 7, and the overall quality of the game.)

7. 1945- Toronto 2, Detroit 1

The Maple Leafs jumped out to a 3-0 series lead. The series was far from over. Behind 18 year-old goaltender Harry Lumley, the Red Wings fought back to tie the series at 3. The Red Wings could not redeem themselves for the ’42 collapse (see #6), as Babe Pratt of the Leafs scored the winning goal at 12:14 of the third period. Despite losing the game, the appreciative Red Wings fans demanded Lumley return to the Olympia ice for a standing ovation to thank him for his incredible performance.

6. 1942- Toronto 3, Detroit 1

The Maple Leafs became the first and only team ever to win the Stanley Cup after trailing 3-0 in the series. Before the biggest crowd in Maple Leaf Garden history (as of 1942), the Red Wings led 1-0 in the third period of Game 7. With 12:14 left in the game, Dave Schriner of the Leafs tied the game at 1. Almost two minutes later, Pete Langelle scored the series-winning goal, sending the Toronto fans into a frenzy. Schriner would add a third goal late in the period, securing the greatest comeback in NHL playoffs history. This incredible picture (right) was taken during the historic series.

5. 1971- Montreal 3, Chicago 2

Leading 2-0 late in the 2^nd period, it looked as if the Blackhawks were on their way to the franchise’s fourth Stanley Cup and first in ten years. Late in the 2^nd period, Jacques Lemaire (yes, that Jacques Lemaire, the one who tried to murder hockey), fired a floating slapshot from center ice that found its way past Hawks goalie Tony Esposito. The Hall of Fame goalie was notorious for having difficulties with long-distance shots. Carrying a 2-1 lead into the third, the Hawks could not hold on. Henri Richard, the man with the most Stanley Cups (11) in NHL history, scored two third period goals, giving the Habs their 17^th Stanley Cup. The Canadiens goalie, Ken Dryden, won the first of his six Stanley Cup titles. Dryden also became the first and only player in sports history to win the MVP of the playoffs before he won Rookie of the Year. This was Jean Beliveau’s tenth and final Cup victory.

4. 2001- Colorado 3, New Jersey 1

This series featured the two winningest goalies in NHL history, with Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur squaring off in the playoffs for the only time in their Hall of Fame careers. The goalies were not the only future Hall of Famers in the series, as names like: Sakic, Bourque, Niedermayer, Forsberg, Blake, Stevens all took part in the seven game battle. Despite the plethora of talent on the ice, the main story line in this series revolved around one man: Raymond Bourque.

In his 21 seasons as a Boston Bruin, Bourque led the B’s to the playoffs 19 times; they never won a Cup. Bourque was dealt from the Bruins to the Avalanche during the 2000 trade deadline. Like his Bruins teams, Bourque and the Aves fell short in 2000.

The following year, Bourque reached the Finals for the first since 1990. Their opponent was the top seed from the East, the New Jersey Devils. With the series deadlocked at 2 apiece, Colorado was blown out in Game 5 at home. Bourque’s dream of winning a Cup was fading. With the help of Roy, the Avalanche rebounded to win Game Six, 4-0 in New Jersey, forcing a Game 7 back in Colorado. Bourque and the Avalanche would not be denied. Alex Tanguay’s two goals helped lead the Avalanche to a hard fought 3-1 victory. When the Cup was presented to the Avalanche, Captain Joe Sakic allowed Bourque to be the first to lift the Cup, leaving an indelible image in the minds of sports fans everywhere. 

3. 1954- Detroit 2, Montreal 1 (OT)

This was the last time a Game 7 of the Cup Finals went to overtime. With the score tied at 1 in overtime, Detroit’s Tony Leswick dumped a puck into the Montreal zone. What followed was one of the worst own goals in sports history. Canadiens Hall of Fame defenseman Doug Harvey attempted to knock down the puck with his glove but was unsuccessful. Harvey deflected the puck past Habs goalie Gerry McNeil, giving the Red Wings their 6^thStanley Cup title.

2. 1994- New York Rangers 3, Vancouver 2

“And this one will last a lifetime!” Those were the words of Rangers announcer Sam Rosen as the Rangers captured their first Stanley Cup in 54 years. After knocking off the Devils in one of the great playoff series of all-time, the Rangers faced the Vancouver Canucks in the Finals. Many predicted the series would be a breeze for the Rangers, and it appeared that would be the case after the Blueshirts jumped out to a 3-1 series lead. As any Ranger fan knows, nothing comes easy for the Blueshirts.

The Rangers were outscored 10-4 in Games 5 and 6, setting the stage for a classic Game 7 at Madison Square Garden on June 14, 1994. A raucous crowd of 18,200 New Yorkers were not going to let the Rangers lose (we like to think we had a part in it). From the national anthem (fast forward to the 6:48 mark) to the final faceoff with 1.6 seconds left, this was a great game.

The Rangers have retired the numbers of four players from the ’94 team. They all played a huge role in Game 7. The Rangers jumped out to quick 2-0 lead thanks to goals by Brian Leetch and Adam Graves. Canuck Captain Trevor Linden would silence the Garden crowd with a goal early in the 2^nd period. The Ranger captain, Mark Messier, would answer with a goal of his own, which would prove to be the Cup-winning goal. Linden would score again early in the third period, forcing the Rangers and their fans to suffer through an agonizing final stanza. The Canucks came close to scoring several times in the final minutes, but Mike Richter was up to the task, making great save after great save. The Rangers would go on to win their first Cup since 1940. To date, Game 7 of the ’94 Finals has the largest rating for a hockey game televised in the United States, drawing a 5.2 rating on ESPN (the ratings would have been higher had the game not been blacked out in the New York City area).

1. 1950- Detroit 4, New York Rangers 3 (2OT)

I really wanted put to the number 2 game on this list at the top, but Game 7 of the 1950 Stanley Cup Finals would not let me.

This was a historic series for many reasons. Madison Square Garden, home of the Rangers, had been booked for the circus because Garden planners did not anticipate the Rangers reaching the Cup finals. As a result, the Rangers were forced to play their two “home games” (2 and 3) at Maple Leaf Garden in Toronto.

Despite the scheduling disadvantage, the Rangers jumped out to a 3-2 series lead, thanks to back-to-back overtime goals by Don “Bones” Raleigh in Games 4 and 5. The Red Wings would win Game Six, 5-4, forcing a decisive Game 7, again at the Olympia in Detroit.

In the classic Game 7, the Rangers led 2-0 and 3-1. They could not hold on. The Red Wings Jim McFadden tied the game at 3 with just 4:03 left in the third period. After a scoreless first overtime, the game went into a historic second overtime. At 8:31 of the second overtime, Pete Babando, one of very few American players in the NHL at time, scored the Cup-winning goal. 

In the excitement of winning the longest game 7 in Stanley Cup Finals history, Red Wings Captain Ted Lindsay decided to parade the Cup around the ice, marking the beginning of a great tradition.

Sidney Crosby and Nicklas Lidstrom hope to follow in Lindsay's footsteps tomorrow night.

(Honorable Mention: 1987 (Oilers 3, Flyers 1), 2004 (Lightning 2, Flames 1), 2006 (Hurricanes 3, Oilers 1) 1964 (Maple Leafs 4, Red Wings 0---Baun forces Game 7 with OT Goal on broken ankle)