The one thing that the Devils have to change next year is their discipline. In rolling to the cup in 2000, New Jersey did all the little things to win. They played positional hockey and didn't take any foolish retaliatory penalties. They took the elbows and high sticks and turned the other cheek. Not this year.
Disciplined hockey wins championships.
Despite that, the cup was still there for the Devils to take. New Jersey squandered a chance to win it at home in Game 6 by failing to take advantage of three early power plays, and then they made three big mistakes in the final game, giving the Avalanche a 3-0 lead early in the second period. Against three-time Conn Symthe Trophy winner Patrick Roy that was just too big an obstacle to overcome. When the game ended, the tears started. Only about half the players spoke to the media after the game.