“25 years has gone by now, but it still seems like it was yesterday,” says 1995 Stanley Cup champion, and then defenseman, Bruce Driver.

Devil (Under) Dogs

The victory was even sweeter because the fifth-seeded Devils weren't expected to win. The Red Wings had the league’s best record that year and were heavily favored.

“Very proud of being part of that team and bringing home the first championship to New Jersey,” says Driver.


Driver had been with the team since the beginning, and knew what it meant to be an underdog.

“John MacLean, Ken Daneyko and myself spent essentially 12 years together, and much of it not a lot of success and didn't make the playoffs the next year and we got bounced in the first round a bunch of years in a row,” says Driver. “Everybody was predicting the Red Wings to beat us four straight.”

Road Warriors

The Devils’ playoff road took them through Boston, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia where they went 12-4 in those rounds.

“Part of the preparation for the final was, each of the other three rounds we started on the road,” says Driver.

But players say they knew going into Detroit would be different, as the team was unbeaten at home in the playoffs.

“I remember that play like it was yesterday, I was told as a kid just go to the net with your stick on the ice, stop in front and good things happen,” says Dowd.

Game 3 was an offensive explosion, with five different players bending the twine for another big win.


In Game 4, the Devils put it away. Neal Broten and Shawn Chambers each netted a pair of goals en route to a 5-2 final. Goalie Martin Brodeur allowed only seven goals in the series, as history was made.

“Our fans were loud in the playoffs, but it was incredible how loud they were in those last two games,” says Driver.

The sweep was complete and the cup was coming to New Jersey for the first time ever. It all happened inside the Brendan Byrne Arena, and the championship parade was held right in the parking lot.


“It made sense as players to have it right there where we spent that time trying to win and you know it was great, it was done very well,” says Driver.

Maulers at the Meadowlands

Both Driver and Dowd say fans still remind them 25 years later of how exciting and meaningful that first Stanley Cup was, but the players say the teamwork and camaraderie is what they remember most.


“We just had a team that was unbelievable,” says Dowd. “I mean look at it. Claude Lemieux, Stephane Richer, John MacLean, Neal Broten, Bill Guerin, Bobby Holik, Randy Mckay, Mike Peluso, I mean everybody contributed, our defense was unbelievable. Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer and then we had Bruce Driver. Can you imagine having Bruce Driver as your number three defenseman? That's a really good team, that's a Stanley Cup winning team.”