Patrik Elias and the New Jersey Devils were synonymous with success.
The franchise's all-time leading scorer and the chart topper in several other categories, Elias' 18-year run with the Devils was decorated with winning, and the Czech winger played a major role during the team's dominant years.
Eliminating the Flyers
On the road to the franchise's first Stanley Cup, the Devils ran into some stiff competition, matching up against divisional foes the Philadelphia Flyers. The two sides squared off in a seven-round bout, with the deciding game appearing destined for overtime.
Enter Elias. After opening the scoring in the first frame, only for Philadelphia to tie it in the second, Elias fired home the game-winner with just over two minutes remaining in the third period, beating a sprawling Brian Boucher and clearing the Devils' path to the Stanley Cup Final.
Creating the overtime winner
Elias captured his first Stanley Cup with the Devils in 2000, and did so in style. Ahead 3-2 in the series and with the silver mug in their sights, the Devils battled the Dallas Stars through a double-overtime Game 6, a contest that went into the early hours in Dallas.
Midway through the second bonus frame, with Elias positioned in the corner, he fed a no-look, backhand pass into the slot. Jason Arnott buried the setup past goaltender Ed Belfour to bring New Jersey its first Stanley Cup.
Taking down the Ducks
Fast forward three years and Elias was competing for his second Stanley Cup, this time against the then-Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Riding red-hot netminder Jean-Sebastien Giguere to hockey's final round, it appeared Lord Stanley was headed to Disneyland, but the Devils had plans of their own.
Elias scored 20 points during the team's 2000 Cup run, but wasn't nearly as dynamic three years later. Luckily, he seemed to save his show for the Final. There, Elias once again came up clutch, posting seven of his 13 playoff points from that run - including another game-winner - as New Jersey claimed its second Stanley Cup in four seasons.
Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.