1999 Playoffs

After another strong showing in the regular season, many expected the Minnesota Lumberjacks to claim their third Lewis Cup of the decade in 1999. Facing the Vancouver Bighorns in the first round, a team that had not won a playoff series since 1993, many even predicted a sweep. After the ‘Jacks won game one, the Bighorns took the series lead with two stunning OT victories in games two and three. After Minnesota tied the series back up in game four, the Bighorns won a thriller in game five to retake the series lead. If they wanted to avoid the upset and defend their title, Minnesota had to win game six on the road. Game six was the third game of the series to go into overtime. Christian Grayson held down the fort for the Lumberjacks through the first overtime, but just minutes into the second overtime, veteran Bruce Blackwell ended the game and the series with a wrist shot that found the top corner of the net. Vancouver had pulled off one of the biggest upsets ever, while the Lumberjacks’ season was suddenly over. Elsewhere in the Western Conference, the Twisters took seven games to eliminate the Seattle Grey Wolves, the Winnipeg Pioneers had the second big upset of the year over the Los Angeles Wizards, defeating them in five games, and the Chicago Shamrocks took out the California Nuggets in six games.

In the east, the Long Island Concordes weren’t expected to put up much of a fight against the Montreal Royale. The Concordes stunned the Royale in the first three games, taking a 2-1 series lead. Knowing they could not afford to fall behind 3-1, the Royale eked out a 4-3 win in game four to tie the series. In game five, Vincent Ducharme was knocked out of the game after a devastating hit from Concordes defenseman Riley Gardiner. The Royale hung on for the win, but knew they needed to respond to the hit. In game six, the Royale dressed enforcer Ryan McCarthy and McCarthy immediately went after Gardiner, fighting him in the first period. The Royale had responded to the hit but without Ducharme in the lineup, lost the game 4-3. The series would go to a seventh and deciding game in Montreal. Ducharme returned for game seven and even scored the opening goal, while Zdeno Kadlec, Sergei Vetrov, and Todd Paterson each scored in a decisive 4-0 victory to take the series.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Redshirts also went to seven games to upset the Toronto Racers, while the Washington Generals defeated the Cleveland Cosmos in six, and Pittsburgh upset the New York Ciivcs in five games.

In Round two, the Winnipeg Pioneers entered their series with Chicago determined to carry the momentum from their first round upset. After Winnipeg won game one, the Shamrocks managed to get their act together in game two, tying the series with a 4-3 win. In Winnipeg for game three, Luke Morrison was the hero in net, stopping 42 shots in a 2-0 shutout. After a 4-2 win in game four, the Pioneers held a commanding 3-1 series lead. Back in Chicago for game five, Vladimir Gaganov scored early to give the Shamrocks a 1-0 lead, but it would be the final goal of his career. Goals from Trevor Nolan and Ryan Cobb gave Winnipeg a 2-1 win and a 4-1 series victory. After the handshake line, Gaganov skated around the Garfield Center, waving and saluting the crowd.

In the Eastern Conference, the Washington Generals struggled to stay a step ahead of the Philadelphia Redshirts. After just edging out Philly in game one 1-0, the Generals were embarrassed on home ice in game two as the Redshirts took a 7-2 victory. After the teams split the two games in Philadelphia, they headed back to DC tied 2-2. Game five ended in controversy, Washington led 2-1 when Jeff Waters’ shot beat Jake Borman and appeared to roll across the goal line for just a split second. The goal was reviewed and ultimately disallowed due to lack of evidence that the puck actually crossed the line. The Redshirts were irate, especially when TV replays all but confirmed that the puck had crossed the line. Washington sealed the win with an empty-net goal to lead the series 3-2. Philadelphia had to quickly get over the hard feelings from game five, now facing elimination at home. Gustav Mattsen opened the scoring and Jared Baxter scored just minutes later to give Philly a 2-0 lead. Halfway through the third period, Dwayne Ingram brought the Generals to within a goal but it would be the closest they would get. The series would go to a game seven at JFK Arena. As if to redeem himself after the disallowed goal, Jeff Waters opened the scoring for Philly, but unfortunately it wouldn’t be enough. Washington exploded for four goals in the second period and never allowed the Redshirts back into the game. The Generals were headed to the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in four years.

In the Conference Finals, the Generals would face the powerful Montreal Royale, who had eliminated Pittsburgh in five games in round two, while the Cinderella Winnipeg Pioneers would take on the heavily favoured Kansas City Twisters, a team coming off a hard-fought six game series against Vancouver. Though the Pioneers had been playing some of the best hockey in their history, nobody dreamed they would beat the Twisters, a team that finished 21 points ahead of them in the standings. Dan Crow was spectacular for the Pioneers in the first two games, scoring three goals in the two games as the Pioneers stunned the Twisters in Kansas City with two big wins. Back at the CanaDome in Winnipeg, the Pioneers made the most of home ice advantage, winning game three 2-1 and game four 1-0 in overtime to complete the sweep and advance to the Lewis Cup Finals for the first time in their 33-year history. “We’re ecstatic right now” said GM Jacques Fortune. “It’s been a long time coming for this franchise but we still have another big step to make.”

The night after the Pioneers advanced, the Montreal Royale faced a pivotal game five against the Washington Generals. With the series tied 2-2, game five would be critical. The teams were deadlocked 1-1 until the third period, when Vincent Ducharme scored two goals in what would be a 4-1 Montreal win, giving them a chance to meet Winnipeg in the finals. Washington would come out strong in game six as it went into overtime. Both Jake Borman and Jonathan Bouret played valiantly in net, as one overtime became two, then three. Finally, nearing the end of the third overtime, 21-year veteran JC Girard finally ended the marathon with 3:42 left, sending the Royale to the Lewis Cup Finals for the fifth time in the 1990s.