Devils' delight in Stanley Cup

The jubilant Devils mob goalscorer Jason Arnott

BBC Sport Online's Matt Slater reflects on an exciting finale to the 1999-2000 National Hockey League season, and looks forward to a lively close season.

When Jason Arnott coolly slipped the puck past Ed Belfour eight minutes and 20 seconds into the second overtime period a memorable 1999-2000 National Hockey League season came to an end.

The unfancied New Jersey Devils grew in confidence throughout the playoffs and were worthy winners of the Stanley Cup after beating the Dallas Stars, the defending champions, 4-2 in a closely-contested series.

The Devils were written off by many critics when coach Robbie Ftorek left with only eight regular season games remaining, but new man Larry Robinson soon had his young charges believing in themselves.

  New Jersey v Dallas

Game 1: Devils 7-3 Stars

2: Devils 1-2 Stars

3: Stars 1-2 Devils

4: Stars 1-3 Devils

5: Devils 0-1 Stars (3OT)

6: Stars 1-2 Devils (2OT)

Most seasoned observers expected the Stanley Cup winner to come from the Western Conference, but one by one the Detroit Red Wings, St Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche crashed out.

After outlasting the Philadelphia Flyers - who finished above them in the regular season - in a tight Easter Conference final, the Devils got off to a flier of their own by hammering the Stars 7-3 in New Jersey in the Stanley Cup's first game.

The Stars hit back in the second game but then lost the next two games at Reunion Arena in Dallas - where they had previously won 11 out of 12 games.

MVP winner Scott Stevens

Needing to win in New Jersey to stay in the series Dallas pulled off an incredible triple-overtime 1-0 victory after a display of breathtaking goaltending from both the Devils' Martin Brodeur and the Stars' Eddie Belfour.

With the final finely poised at 3-2, Dallas returned to Reunion Arena knowing another resolute defensive performance would be enough to earn them a sudden death game seven in New Jersey.

Unfortunately for Stars' fans, the Devils' defence was every bit as strong and provided the basis for that amazing 2-1 triumph and New Jersey's second Stanley Cup in six years.

Devils' defenseman Scott Stevens was a deserving winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy for the play-offs most valuable player, but the same could probably have been said of Brodeur, Arnott, Belfour, the Stars' Mike Modano and Derian Hatcher, and the Devils' John Madden, Claude Lemieux and Petr Sykora.

NHL expansion

Brodeur was unbeatable in games 5 and 6

There has been no shortage of news or controversy since then even though the season has just finished.

Most interest has centred on the two new additions to the NHL family, the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets.

The inclusion of these two expansion outfits brings the league to a total of 30 teams divided into six five-team divisions.

Both Minnesota and Columbus have filled their rosters with new signings, fresh talent and players drafted in from other teams, and are now ready to take the ice.

But with the unrestricted free agency period for players over 31 starting on Saturday 1 July - allowing those players to sign for the highest bidder without compensation to their current team - those final line-ups are sure to change before the start of the season.

Lindros row

The main controversy of the summer so far has focused on Philadelphia Flyers star center Eric Lindros.

Lindros: Uncertain future

The 27-year-old Lindros was heralded as the next Mario Lemieux after being made the first pick of the 1991 NHL entry draft, and although he has failed to live up to those high standards he has developed into a high-quality performer.

Sadly, he has also picked up six concussions during his career as well as a reputation for being difficult.

Lindros and Philadelphia are currently at loggerheads over his future - the player seemingly determined to leave as an unrestricted free agent, the team's owners wanting a return for their investment in him.

The relationship has deteriorated further in recent days, as Lindros has criticised the medical care he has been given by the Flyers and suggested he might play less physical European ice hockey next year.

Whatever the outcome it is certain that with the introduction of two new teams, and a lively free agency period expected, Lindros will not be the only big name to switch teams this summer.