EAST
RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- All year long, the New Jersey
Devils wondered how they would place big hulking center
Bobby Holik, a player that seemed to play bigger as they
games became more important.
Monday, in the Devils' biggest game of the season --
Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals -- they found that
player. Ironically, he wears the No. 16 sweater that
Holik wore so well for 10 years.
Holik signed a free-agent contract with the New York
Rangers last July, leaving a swath of upset, and
sometimes bitter, fans in his wake. As well as a gaping
hole at center ice.
While Holik will not be easily forgotten, he was
replaced Monday night by Mike Rupp, who went from
minor-league farmhand to franchise player with the
game-winning goal and two assists against the Mighty
Ducks of Anaheim in a drama-filled Game 7 at Continental
Airlines Arena. New Jersey took the game, 3-0, to claim
its third Stanley Cup in the past nine seasons. Rupp
figured in all three scores.
It was just Rupp's fourth postseason game. He was
inserted into the lineup in Game 4, replacing the
injured Joe Nieuwendyk at center. He responded with an
assist in his Playoff debut, but it was only a hint of
what was to come.
Monday night, was the full monty.
"It was a big game by Mike," said Pascal
Rheaume, another Devils' center. "He hadn't played
in like three months and then he was just thrown in
there. He just proved to the organization that he can
play in this League. He's a big kid with a big
heart."
John Madden, another center, burst onto the scene
during the 2000 Finals. He can relate to what Rupp went
through on Monday night. He believes it foretells
greater things for Rupp, a fourth-year pro from
Cleveland, Ohio.
"He's got a great future," said Madden.
"He's a kid that when you get him motivated - watch
out!"
Rupp was motivated Monday night, playing more than 13
minutes of near flawless action. He finished a plus-3.
His only blemish was a 4-for-15 mark in the faceoff
circle. But, that will soon be forgotten.
His offensive contributions on this magical night,
meanwhile, will be remembered for a long, long time.
Rupp's game-opening goal, scored just two minutes and
22 seconds into the second period, was the type of
working-man's goal that created the Holik mystique.
Rupp won a battle along the wall in the offensive
zone, throwing the puck to defenseman Colin White. While
White's shot was blocked, and redirected to fellow
defenseman Scott Niedermayer, Rupp barreled into the
slot. There, he was able to tip Niedermayer's shot just
enough to send it through Jean-Sebastien Giguere's
five-hole.
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| Mike
Rupp's game, as well as his number, are
reminiscent of former Devil Bobby Holik. |
New Jersey's second goal was also a blue-collar affair.
This time, Jamie Langenbrunner gathered in the puck in
the offensive zone, feeding Niedermayer at the blue
line. Giguere made the save, but left a juicy rebound.
Despite being tied up by Keith Carney, Rupp was able to
get the puck to Jeff Friesen, who pitched it past a
slow-to-react Giguere.
Then, to close the evening he will never forget, Rupp
set up Friesen's second goal of the night with a pretty
outlet pass to set Friesen in alone on Giguere.
Afterward Rupp admitted it was hard to step in for
Nieuwendyk, among the most experienced players on an
experienced Devils' roster. But, he said the challenge
motivated him to have a strong Game 7.
"I by no means filled (Nieuwendyk's)
shoes," said Rupp. "I don't know, he inspired
me big time. He's always throwing in the helping hand,
always helping me. 'Why don't you try this. Good job
with that.'" Rupp obviously took the advice to
heart.
He had shown signs of being a clutch player during
his brief 26-game call-up from minor-league Albany
during the regular season. Of the five goals he scored
in his NHL stay, three were game-winners. In his NHL
debut, Jan. 13, Rupp scored a pair of goals in a victory
against Florida. But, never could he, nor anyone else,
believe the impact he would have on the defining game of
the 2003 season.
Except maybe coach Pat Burns, who made the choice to
put Rupp in the lineup when logic dictated otherwise.
"We always kept our eye on him," said
Burns. "We know that this guy has talent. It's just
to try to get him, to make him, force him to be able to
get all those attributes on the ice. Not just one game,
but every single night. I kept on telling him, 'You know
what you have right now, you know the opportunity you
have right now. I kept on reminding him and he
definitely took it."
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| Hard nosed
Mike Rupp has earned his place on the Stanley
Cup. |
As a result, Rupp was able to watch the final seconds
expire, the last ticks toward fulfillment of a childhood
dream -- a dream he never expected to come so quickly or
be so dependent on his individual performance.
"It was a long time," Rupp said of those
final seconds. "I mean, wow! You kept looking up at
the clock and it seemed like it was not ticking down at
all. It was going crazy on the bench, guys were punching
each other; guys were yelling and screaming. Just
unbelievable. You just lose all control of everything.
"It's a great feeling to have."
