The 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs, the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL), began on April 11, 2001, and ended on June 9, 2001, when the Western Conference champion Colorado Avalanche defeated the defending champion New Jersey Devils to win their second Stanley Cup.
Defenceman Ray Bourque, who had a 21-year tenure in Boston, won his first Stanley Cup in his final professional year.
Joe Sakic, Swedish center Peter Forsberg, defenceman Rob Blake, and goalkeeper Patrick Roy claimed the Stanley Cup for the final time in their careers.
This was also the most recent season in which the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning missed the playoffs in the same year.
To date, this is also the last season in which the two top seeds overall from each Conference made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
The two conference winners then advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, where home ice advantage was awarded to the team that had the better regular season record.
This was the second consecutive postseason meeting and the seventh playoff match-up between these two rivals; with Pittsburgh winning five of the six previous series.
This was the second consecutive playoff meeting and seventh postseason match-up between these two teams; with Philadelphia winning five of the six previous series.
In the first period of game one, Dominik Hasek made a save on Mark Recchi's penalty shot opportunity.
This was the fifth consecutive playoff meeting and seventh overall postseason match-up between these two teams; with Dallas winning four of the six previous series.
In game one, Nik Antropov scored the game-winning goal in the second period, while Curtis Joseph saved all 32 shots by the Devils.
The Devils scored four consecutive goals against Joseph, one each by Gomez, Rafalski, Mogilny and Madden.
Maple Leafs' forward Tie Domi checked Devils defenceman Scott Niedermayer, who left the ice rink on a stretcher.
In game one, the Avalanche took two minor penalties, one of which led to the game-winning power play goal by Kings defenceman Jaroslav Modry.
In game three, Avalanche centre Joe Sakic injured his shoulder and would sit out part of the series.
Game six featured 65 shots and one goal, scored by Kings winger Glen Murray in the second overtime.
This was the twelfth playoff meeting between these two teams; with Dallas winning six of the eleven previous series.
Pittsburgh won this year's five-game regular season series by earning seven of ten points.
In game one, Joe Sakic's penalty shot goal was awarded when Blues goaltender Roman Turek was ruled to have thrown his stick.
Colorado made its second Finals appearance and first since defeating the Florida Panthers in a four-game sweep in 1996.
New Jersey made its second consecutive and third overall Finals appearance after defeating the Dallas Stars the year before.
Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic led the playoffs in scoring for the second time in his career.
Patrik Elias of the New Jersey Devils finished second in playoff scoring with 23 points.