DALLAS — Editor's note: WFAA ran the story published above on June 19, 2019, the 20th anniversary of the Stars hoisting their first and only Stanley Cup.
It was June 19, 1999.
The Dallas Stars entered Game 6 against the Buffalo Sabres with a 3-2 series lead. After three periods, the score was knotted up at 1-1. It took three overtimes to crown the champion, as Brett Hull scored the game-winner.
With almost five minutes left to go in triple overtime, Hull received the puck in front of the Sabres net. His backhand attempt was saved by Buffalo's Hall of Fame goalie Dominik Hasek. The puck bounced in front as Sabres center Brian Holzinger barreled between Hull and Hasek, but the puck came to Hull's right skate. He kicked the puck (or deflected it) forward to his stick and scored the game-winning goal.
WFAA spoke with Hull and other Stars players on that team in 2019, 20 years after what many – outside of the Stars fanbase – consider the most scrutinized goal in hockey lore.
At the time, there was rule – which was enforced all season and was changed the following year – that if the goal-scorer's skate is in the crease, the goal does not count. The ESPN broadcasters were bewildered and chastised the NHL. The Sabres and their fans were demoralized and upset.
"People freaked out and lost their minds over it," Stars broadcaster Daryl Reaugh told WFAA in 2019. "Somebody said, 'Well, his foot was in the crease' or whatever. I said, 'It doesn’t matter because he’s still in possession of the puck. A memo went out last week.' I remember it like yesterday. A lot of people think there was no memo. But, I remember it.”
The controversy brought the phrase “No Goal” to Buffalo, while the Stars brought the Stanley Cup back to Dallas.
"Sort of sadistically, I like the fact that it’s a memorable goal or a memorable Cup," Reaugh admitted. "Nobody’s going to forget '99.”
On the 25th anniversary, the Dallas Stars posted a six-minute, 30-second recap of their road to the Stanley Cup:
The Stars have been close to claiming the Stanley Cup a few times since: losing in the Stanley Cup Final in 2000 and again in the 2020 "COVID bubble" season to the Tampa Bay Lightning, as well as Western Conference Final appearances in 2008 (Red Wings), 2023 (Golden Knights), 2024 (Oilers).
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