The Toronto Racers’ appearance in the 2006 Lewis Cup Final
was thanks in large part to the play of 20-year-old Mark Davis. However, the
Championship series did not start out as planned for Davis or the Racers. Game
one in Milwaukee was one of the largest blowouts ever for an opening game in
the Finals, as the defending champs took it 8-1. Despite the loss, Davis was
given the starting job again in game two, but after the Choppers lit him up
again for two goals on their first two shots, Rex Hull had enough and but Jussi
Sykko back in. Sykko, determined to regain the starter’s job permanently, played
one of the best games of his career, while Murdock, Reid, MacDonald, and Igor
Kharitonov each scored in what turned out to be a 4-3 Toronto win.
Though he confirmed Sykko would have the net for Game three,
Rex Hull still defended his young goalie, Davis. “He is clearly a very talented
goalie, I think the pressure maybe got to him a little bit.” Game three in
Toronto saw a packed Queen Elizabeth Arena that seemed to be shaking from the
noise. Just prior to the playoffs, the Racers’ ownership announced they were in
the beginning stages of securing a new home for the team by decade’s end,
making every big game at the “Q” even more special. The crowd didn’t seem to
faze the Choppers early on, as Adam Wyrzykowski
opened the scoring on a breakaway. Milwaukee had a chance to increase the lead
just a minute later, when Brad McNair had a breakaway of his own, but Sykko
stretched out his left pad to make an incredible save. It would be a key
moment, as the Racers began the onslaught early in the second period. Darren
Reid scored, followed by Andrew Cox. Sean MacDonald scored after that to make
it 3-1. Milwaukee pulled Matt Darwin with nearly two minutes left, when Murdock
scored on the empty net to seal the win. Game four was a scoreless tie right
through regulation, as Darwin and Sykko were both spectacular. The game
remained scoreless going into overtime. Both teams traded chances back and
forth, until unlikely hero Theo Galvin finally beat Darwin to give Toronto a
1-0 win and a chance to win a championship in game five.
With the cup in the building, game five went into
overtime again. Milwaukee was desperate for a goal to stay alive. Joe Murdock
nearly had the cup winner near the end of the first overtime, but it was Darwin’s
turn to make a spectacular save. In the second extra frame, Brad McNair beat
Sykko just under the glove to keep the defending champs in the series.
Game six was back in Toronto with the cup in the
building once again and the Choppers remained confident. “We’ve been here
before, we just need to find a way to get back into this.” Said McNair. Despite
the confidence, the Choppers were simply out of gas. Sykko came up big once
again, while Murdock and Chris Falkner each scored as Toronto took a 2-0 lead.
With 20 seconds to go, Milwaukee pulled Darwin, but it was too late. Sykko made
two more big saves and the clock ran out as the Racers poured off the bench.
For the second time in four years, the Toronto Racers were the Lewis Cup
champions. Despite his struggles in the Eastern Conference Finals, Jussi Sykko
took the playoff MVP award with six shutouts. “He was unbelievable” said
Murdock. “He came up big when we needed it most.”
