Paying the price

Winning Game 7 is great, but what next?

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Petr Sykora and the Devils face an uphill battle from here. AP

By Jacob Luft, CNNSI.com

The Devils and Avs might want to celebrate their victories Wednesday night with aspirin and coffee. That might help them deal with the dreaded Game 7 hangover in the conference finals.

Of the past 32 teams to advance by winning a Game 7, only nine have won its next series (see chart, below). Since 1990, teams that won a Game 7 are a combined 16-24 in Game 1 of the next series.

More important, 19 of the past 33 Stanley Cup champions did not need to play a Game 7 in the postseason, including five of the past eight.

On a related note, the 1993 Toronto Maple Leafs were the only team to play three Game 7s in a row, finally losing to the Kings in the seventh game of the Western Conference finals.

Game 7 Hangovers
Year	Winner	Opp.	Round	Next Rd.
2000	Devils	Flyers	Conf. Finals	W, 4-2
	Stars	Avs	Conf. Finals	L, 4-2
	Sharks	Blues	First	L, 4-1
1999	Penguins	Devils	First	L, 4-2
	Blues	Coyotes	First	L, 4-2
	Stars	Avs	Conf. Finals	W, 4-2
1998	Oilers	Avs	First	L, 4-1
1997	Sabres	Senators	First	L, 4-1
	Oilers	Stars	First	L, 4-1
	Ducks	Coyotes	First	L, 4-0
1996	Red Wings	Blues	Second	L, 4-2
	Panthers	Penguins	Conf. Finals	L, 4-0
1995	Penguins	Capitals	First	L, 4-1
	Sharks	Flames	First	L, 4-0
	Canucks	Blues	First	L, 4-0
	Blackhawks	Leafs	First	W, 4-0
1994	Devils	Sabres	First	W, 4-2
	Bruins	Canadiens	First	L, 4-2
	Sharks	Red Wings	First	L, 4-3
	Canucks	Flames	First	W, 4-1
	Leafs	Sharks	Second	L, 4-1
	Rangers	Devils	Conf. Finals	W, 4-3
1993	Leafs	Red Wings	First	W, 4-3
	Leafs	Sharks	Second	L, 4-3
	Islanders	Penguins	Second	L, 4-1
	Kings	Leafs	Conf. Finals	L, 4-1
1992	Canadiens	Whalers	First	L, 4-0
	Bruins	Sabres	First	W, 4-0
	Rangers	Devils	First	L, 4-2
	Penguins	Capitals	First	W, 4-2
	Red Wings	Stars	First	L, 4-0
	Canucks	Jets	First	L, 4-2

 

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