3. BRUINS 5 CANADIENS 4: GAME 6 (April 19, 2008)
The Bruins struggled mightily at times to score goals in 2008. So, with their season on the line in game 6 against Montreal, all seemed lost. The eighth seeded Bruins, who weren't given much of a shot to beat their long time rivals, trailed the game 1-0 after one period of play. Phil Kessel tied the game under two minutes into the second frame, but Montreal converted again and led 2-1 after two. The third period of game six was one of the most spectacular periods ever. Boston rookie Vladimir Sobotka tied the game at two, but then Francis Bouillion gave the Habs a 3-2 lead with 9:56 to go. Everybody was shocked when the lightly regarded B's came back for the third time, when Milan Lucic potted a wrister two minutes later to knot the score at three. Phil Kessel gave Boston a brief lead in the final five minutes, but Christopher Higgins scored for Montreal just 11 seconds later. Finally, with just 2:37 left on the clock, David Krejci found Marco Sturm for the game winner; Bruins 5, Canadiens 4. This game makes the cut because the Bruins offense was so weak all year, and they had lost eight straight to Montreal entering the series. Nobody expected this team to come back from one goal deficits three different times against a team nobody thought they could compete with. Outstanding game.
2. RED SOX 8 RAYS 7: ALCS GAME 5 (October 16, 2008)
The Sox looked finished against the upstart Rays in game 5 of the American League Championship Series back in mid-October. After BJ Upton doubled in two runs in the top of the seventh, the Rays led 7-0 in the game, and 3-1 in the series. Boston, baseball's best home team in the regular season, had been shelled at Fenway by Tampa Bay in the ALCS, and at this point, had been outscored 29-5 in two and a half games there in the series. But, when all seemed lost, the Sox dug in. AL MVP Dustin Pedroia had an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to make it 7-1. The next batter was David Ortiz, who crushed a Grant Balfour offering over Pesky's Pole in right, 7-4. In the eighth, JD Drew rocked a Dan Wheeler heater over the bullpen with Jason Bay on base, pulling Boston to within one at 7-6. With two men out, Mark Kotsay hit a wall ball double to left center, and then Coco Crisp singled to right to tie the game at seven. Justin Masterson got out of a jam in the top of the ninth, and then Drew hit a screamer just over the glove of Gabe Gross to score Kevin Youkilis and win the game for the Red Sox, 8-7. Trailing by seven runs with seven outs left, Boston stunned Tampa Bay with the greatest comeback since 1929.
1. CELTICS 131 LAKERS 92: NBA FINALS GAME 6 (June 17, 2008)
Was there any doubt what number one would be? Heading into the NBA Finals last June, nine of the 10 "experts" on ESPN.com said the Lakers would hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy. Oops. After a huge comeback by Boston at Staples Center in game four, the Lakers narrowly held on for a five point win in game five, sending the series back to Boston with the Celtics leading 3-2. But in this one, LA had no shot. Ray Allen finally found his stroke, and second year point guard Rajon Rondo played the game of his life, with 21 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and six steals in 32 minutes for Boston. The 131-92 drubbing by the Celtics clinched the club's record 17th title and first in 22 years, and capped off the biggest one season turnaround in NBA history. Allen, KG, and NBA Finals MVP Paul Pierce finally captured that elusive first ring, and the Green "Beat LA" once again. Just remember, "anything is possible!"
Hopefully, 2009 will bring some great memories as well. But I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
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