The 1993 Stanley Cup Finals was played between the Los Angeles Kings and the Montreal Canadiens to decide the NHL championship. The Canadiens won the series 4-1 to win the team’s twenty-fourth Stanley Cup. 1993 was the 100th anniversary of the first awarding of the Stanley Cup.

This would be the last Stanley Cup finals series to be played in the Montreal Forum, and the last time Wayne Gretzky would play in the finals as well. It was Montreal’s first trip to the finals in four years, while it was the first-ever trip to the finals for the Kings in their 26-year history. As of 2008, this is the most recent time that a Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup Championship. It is also (to date) the last time the Canadiens have advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals. With the Canadiens winning, Gretzky failed to become the first Stanley Cup captain on two teams (Mark Messier would be successful in that attempt the following year).

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The 2001 Stanley Cup Finals were played in the 108th year of the Stanley Cup, pitting the defending champion New Jersey Devils against the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche won the series in seven games, claiming their second Stanley Cup championship. This marked the only Stanley Cup championship for Avalanche defenseman Ray Bourque, who retired following the series. As of 2008, this is also the most recent time that the defending Stanley Cup Champions would return to the Finals for a consecutive year.

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