When it come to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it’s always the top line players
who get most of the notoriety but deservedly so. But to every successful team
you have to have the mockers, grinders and sometimes those who come out of
nowhere. While the below players teams did not win the Cup, they did have either
memorable individual performances whether it be one game or one entire
series.
Matthew Barnaby
May 10, 1998; Game two between the Montreal Canadiens and the hated Buffalo
Sabres. The Habs were looking for a split in Buffalo after dropping game one in
overtime; but one pesky SOB named Matthew Barnaby had other thoughts. It would
be his first NHL Hat rick as the Sabres rolled past the Habs 6-3. The mothers
day three goal performance is one example on how a fourth line checker/enforcer
made a difference in a Stanley Cup playoff game.
Steve Webb
For myself in my mind I keep going back to a 2002 first round meeting
between the New York Islander and the Toronto Maple Leafs. To this day, (not
because I’m a diehard Leaf fan) I must say that this series was the nastiest
most hard-fought series I’ve ever seen. While that series featured some of the
scrappiest, dirtiest players from a decade ago like Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi,
Shayne Corson, Gary Roberts, Eric Cairns, Dave Scathard and Jason Wiemer; the
entire series took shape because of one little known fourth liner name Steve
Webb.
Especially once the series got back to the Nassau Coliseum for game three,
that is when Webb changed the complexion of the series. Was it his 3 shifts in
game two; or knowing sooner or later he’d be a healthy scratch, no one will ever
know. Webb’s ability shift in shift out to take the body, but most importantly
very hard and clean, frustrated the Leafs into bad penalty after penalty. That
one and only skill kept the Isles in the series, and brought the crowd alive
like it’s never been.
Don’t believe me? Have a look for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7f0RTedfSQ
(go to 1 min 38 secs)
John Druce
In 45 OHL playoff games, John Druce had a whopping 6 goals and 10 assists
(0 goals in his last 28 games). Imagine the surprise come the 1989-90 Stanley
Cup Playoffs when he came literally out of nowhere and scored 14 goals, 3
assists in 15 games. This coming from a guy that scored 16 times in 93 regular
season games.
Druce outscored team leaders Dino Ciccarelli, Geoff Courtnall & Dale
Hunter; so much so the next leader in goals was 8 (by Ciccarelli).
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