Remembering the powerful moment when Steve Yzerman handed the Stanley Cup to Vladimir Konstantinov after Detroit’s 1998 Game 4 win—just as the Oilers face the Panthers in Thursday night’s Game 4 showdown.
As the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers prepare to face off in a critical Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night, the intensity is reaching its peak. With the stakes higher than ever, it could be a potential turning point in the series for the Oilers as they tie things up or the beginning of what feels like the end as the Panthers take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Fans across the hockey world are locked in with anticipation surrounding this game bringing to mind some of the most memorable Game 4 moments in Stanley Cup history and for Detroit Red Wings fans, one stands above the rest.
Before the puck drops in Edmonton, we’re taking a look back at the unforgettable 1998 Game 4 that sealed a championship and delivered one of the most emotional moments the sport has ever seen.
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
It was June 16, 1998, in the nation’s capital. The Detroit Red Wings were on the brink of back-to-back Stanley Cups with a 3-0 series lead over the Washington Capitals heading into Game 4. Unlike the previous year’s dramatic six-game battle against the Philadelphia Flyers, 1998 was a suffocating series where the Red Wings rarely gave the Capitals an edge.
Game 4 was about more than just winning the Cup, it was about honoring Vladimir Konstantinov, the beloved teammate who had suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident the year before. Every shift was played with him in mind, and the team was determined to win not just for themselves, but for Vladdy.
In the first period, Detroit’s prolific offence went to work as Doug Brown kicks off the game with a power play goal that gave the Red Wings the momentum early. Martin Lapointe goes on to add what would be the game-winning goal with a booming slap shot from the top of the zone.
Capitals forward Brian Bellows did what he could to get his team back into it with a goal. But it wasn’t enough as Sergei Fedorov and Doug Brown score two more power play goals, sealing the 4–1 victory and completing the series sweep.
As the final horn sounded, the Red Wings chucked their gloves as high as they could and poured over the boards. longtime captain Steve Yzerman hoisted the Cup for the second straight year but when it came time for his first handoff, he did something unforgettable.
Out of the tunnel came Konstantinov, wheeled onto the ice in his chair by teammate Slava Fetisov. He was back on the ice, draped in his jersey, surrounded by his teammates. Yzerman skates straight to him and without hesitation, places the Cup in Konstantinov’s lap.
The moment brought tears to eyes across the hockey world. Teammates crowded around, many visibly emotional. This was no longer just a win but vindication and a gesture that this team’s journey was bigger than the sport of hockey.
Yzerman was later awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs after recording six goals and 18 assists for 24 points in 22 games. Despite winning the award for the first time in his career, the spotlight was another man who couldn’t speak yet said everything without words.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites.
Read the full article here
