SUMMER SERIES: Doc’s 10-greatest Devils calls — #1 — Adam

NEWARK —

 

I debated, a long time, whether to flip this with the first Cup win from 1995. But from a pure excitement point of view, there was never a more exciting call -- or, for that matter, moment -- that Doc called for the Devils. We go back to just two years ago in the Eastern Conference Finals. Game No. 6 in overtime. To me, the greatest Doc Emrick Devils call of all time.

SUMMER SERIES: Doc’s 10-greatest Devils calls — #2 — The Championship to New Jersey! The Devils win the Stanley Cup!

Of the five times the Devils have played in the Stanley Cup Finals, Doc was behind the mic for just two of them — 1995 and 2012. Gary Thorne did the honours in 2000, 2001 and 2003 for ABC Sports. Doc had the clincher in 1995, which was broadcast on Fox (he also did Game 1 of the series v. Detroit that year, while Thorne had Games 2 & 3 for ESPN).

No. 2 on my list of Doc’s 10-greatest Devils calls — the first championship in 1995. The final seconds.

Coming tomorrow, what will be my top Doc Devils call of all time? Be sure to check back at 3 p.m. ET Friday.

SUMMER SERIES: Doc’s 10-greatest Devils calls — #3 — Lemieux scores late against the Flyers @ the old Spectrum

Game 5 of the ECF in 1995. Led to the Devils eighth road win of the 1995 playoffs -- they’d end up 10-1 on the road in 1995.

SUMMER SERIES: Doc’s 10-greatest Devils calls — #4 — What the hell just happened here?

Perhaps the most stunning two minutes in Devils history. We go back to 2009 for this -- and a Game 7 against Carolina in the first round. Might also be one of the lowest moments in Marty’s career.

SUMMER SERIES: Doc’s 10-best Devils calls — #5 — Broten! It’s Over

1995 -- Neal Broten in OT. One of the best games I’ve ever seen in person. Fast-forward to 4:12.  And who said Doc said “It’s Over!” for the first time in 2012?

SUMMER SERIES: Doc’s Greatest Calls — #6 — ‘Nice Move!’

We will simply call this one NICE MOVE.

After tries in 1992, 1994 and 1997, the Devils finally beat the Rangers in the post season — and it was as one-sided a series as the Devils have ever played — in 2006 after the return from the first-ever full-season lockout.

And who says Devils fans don’t fill Madison Square Garden?

This particular afternoon, they sure did. And were perhaps the loudest they were — even to this date — in that building.

This was the final goal scored in the series — and Patrik Elias had it.

SUMMER SERIES: Doc’s greatest Devils calls — #7 — ‘He Throws It Down & In ... He Scored a Goal’

Words not necessary. 1997. We will call this one DOWN & IN.

SUMMER SERIES: Doc Emrick’s 10-best NJD calls — #8 — ‘And Now Hauled Out For Lemieux...Yes! Yes!’

Perhaps the best first-round series the Devils have ever played in. It was 1994. The game before this one was a 4-OT thrilled in Buffalo.

And two nights later, the Devils bounced back brilliantly to beat Buffalo to go on to Round 2 against the Boston Bruins.

The “Yes, Yes!” is again Peter McNab, who had a real rough time holding his emotions in check back then.

One last thing to note about this Game 7 — the crowd was particularly juiced up this night. Two games earlier, Game No. 5, the fans were horrendously quiet — and someone, it may have been Chris Russo, called the fans out for being “lethargic.”

They weren’t this night, for sure.

SUMMER SERIES: Doc Emrick’s 10 Best Devils Calls — #9 — ‘Marshall! In Overtime!’

Adam Henrique was hardly the first time Doc shouted “It’s Over!”

Too bad he didn't say “It's Over!” here. I should listen to these before posting them. 


Here is Game 5 of the Devils’ second-round series with Tampa in 2003. The Devils were up 3-1 in the series and in triple overtime.

SUMMER SERIES: My 10 favourite Doc Emrick Devils calls of all time — #10 — ‘Seemingly Harmless’

Let's start it off with No. 10 — First Round, 1995. We’ll call this one SEEMINGLY HARMLESS. (You’ll see why after watching it). Also notice how Jacques Lemaire almost looks disappointed, shaking his head with a smirk about.

I remember this game, not just because of the way it ended, but because I was supposed to be there for it — but a friend’s credit card got declined AFTER Ticketmaster told us the tickets were paid for. Glad I didn’t make the 180-mile car trip from Newport, R.I., to Jersey.

The game sold out (a rarity for Round 1 post-seasons games at that time) and I wound up watching it on television — though via the Bruins telecast on WSBK since I was in Newport, R.I.

Peter McNab is the voice you hear screaming “They did it!” Blaine Lacher is the Bruins’ goaltender at the time. The game had no goals and was in OT-1.