[NHL Classics] Vladimir Konstantinov vs the Philadelphia Flyers Stanley Cup Finals 1997

[tubespirit7]

I was at this game, my cousin and I paid $600.00 ea. for the tickets. Right after this hit, and it was mayhem at the Joe, I got up and forked out $225.00 for a Konstantinov jersey at the arena jersey store. This happened to be the 2nd to last game he ever played as the limo wreck a few days later permanently disabled the Vladinator. Regardless, he is forever enshrined in my heart as the best defense-man to play for the Wings, and this is still the best hit I've ever seen. Thanks 4 the memories-

[raymondlavasseur]

Notice how none of the Flyers were going after him, after he made the hits? If these happened today, everyone would have tried to fight him. If it's a clean hit, deal with it.

[grep67]

@raymondlavasseur You are out of your mind... This was the Stanley Cup with a ton aqt risk.. had these been regular season games, the Flyers would have absolutely gone after Konstantinov. In that last clip where Vlad runs Kordic into the net.. you don't think Dan would have gotten up and just pound Vlad into the ice? Konstantinov would've then turtled to ice and Kordic would have gotten thrown out.

[oasisbeyond]

Reminds me of Emilin today, hitting everyone every game.

[123456789fso]

В.Н.Константинов - русский Хоккеист с большой буквы.

[BuzzsawtheHedgehog]

Vladdy was a fucking monster. One of the most dangerous hitters, like Cam Neely, Scott Stevens, Eric Lindos, etc. Best of all, he was my favorite player of the Russian Five. Still, he is one of my favorite Red Wings players of all time, next to the likes of Stevie Y, Gordie Howe, Niklas Lidstrom, and Henrik Zetterberg. Detroit will never forget #16.

[GrandFatherGreenbaks]

Man, the fuck'n Wings were fix'n to be a true dynasty at this moment. Just imagine '98-'02 with Vladdy on board! Look at this guy demolish that feller in the last frame. Just blows out the whole the net. I haven't seen a move like that since.. #16

[grunge10111]

Konstantinov, by far the best hitter in Wings history!!

[evilTaker90]

@grunge10111 By far the best hitter ever after Stevens

[grunge10111]

@evilTaker90 Agreed. It's such a shame his career got cut short, had such a promising career ahead of him.

[brandonjfisher81]

Poor Hawerchuk. He got knocked the F out.

[CoreyPerrySucks]

Vladdy is a beast. I miss him so much. It's a shame his career suddenly came to an end :(

[1200x2]

and you'll notice no one feels obligated to fight after he lays out hawerchuk. maybe that has something to do with it being a finals game, but it seems to me that back then players respected legal hits, even if they were absolute bombs.

[brandonjfisher81]

@1200x2 they probably didn't wanna fight because they knew what the Wings had to throw at them. Shanaham, Vlad, McCarty, etc. Who'd wanna fight that?

[evilTaker90]

It sad that some drunken bastard had to end Vlad's career.

[piotrthesexypolak]

Obliterated!

[JefferstChmilst]

When they called interference on Kronwall for the Havlat hit, it was the same god damn thing they talk about here. "There's nothing wrong with the hit."

[offthelinegt]

Fuck I cant stand Harry Niel

[cursedlemon]

Note the distinct lack of crybaby retaliation. I miss this NHL. 

[hands19]

OOOOOOOhhhh Konstantinov

[NkR03]

And yet, Lindros still got a concussion from watching these.

[WHEREtheFUNK]

he was a stud...pound for pound the guy was like iron

[MetalDetroit]

Vlad the Impaler - damn - he would be a hall of famer for sure. How many more cups would the Wings have had if he were still able to play.....

[tool987ja]

Well now we know where Kronwall gets his moves from

[cpdude2]

GET FUCKED!



[CheapDutchmen]

Man, what a terrible pass. (suicide pass)

[uzamora81]

i miss vlady!!!

[Crowster12781]

To quote Smokie from Friday after that first hit:

"You got knocked the fuck out!"

[mcnallyrd3]

i wish i could see him do that to cindy crosby hahaha thumbs up if you agree

[Cheezzy0]

Greatest part of this video is when, after the hits, there's no retaliation...that's why old-time hockey > hockey today. Retaliating on a dirty hit is justified, but nowadays, players retaliate on everything...

[scotia3712]

And never touched Duckies head at all, pure shoulder to shoulder, and again, walks away like he always does, he has crushed peole before and doesnt need to celebrate it.

[hockeyfreakboy99]

And Konstantinov was only 5'10

[kelski13]

What a talent this guy was. Such a freaking shame that it had to end early. He was one of the best and sadly most won't remember him because of how short his career was.

[saynototrolling]

haha i forgot about that last hit in this video. vladdy was such a boss

[MarioLemieux66Zepper]

That's absolute frenzy!! :-)

Konstantinov - Forever!!!

[ACDC392333]

Dude was brutal. He rammed that dude into the fucking NET. You never see that.

[theredlibanese]

@ACDC392333 haha...indeed.

[crazybanana8man]

number 16 the Dozer from D-Town haha

[ClassicGamer88]

BEAST

[siekawitch1]

humble warrior

[jonathanthecoachman]

the hit at the end was just great.

[raptors11111]

Konstantinov was a beast!

[evilTaker90]

Konstantinov is a true legend and a warrior.BELIEVE!

[errbt]

Harry Neale really should have looked at the slo-mo rink-end camera replay better...Hawerchuck's stick blade clearly moves as it makes contact with the puck in midair (the only thing worse than a suicide pass is a midair suicide pass) right before the hit. Admittedly, if he'd missed the pass Konstantinov was gonna hit him anyway, but as it is, it was NOT interference!

[atone48732]

@errbt What it was was a great hit, Hawerchuk got creamed!!!!

[ikilledacow]

haha he gives the looks of "Oh.....sweet"

[teden20]

our vladi. our sweet vladi.

[MafiaWars23]

Thats why you didnt crash the net with Vladi chasing you lol

[scooterboi17]

No.16 still makes me smile.

[Umenyiora922]

Gotta love that old time Wings hockey... Man, I miss Konstantinov... A hall of famer that could have been.

[gautamon]

@Umenyiora922 it was the best team in NHL history imo, i remember i was not going to school so i could watch the playoffs live during night here in europe, it used to start around 3am or so :)

[bradddtheimpaler]

@Umenyiora922

At least we get to watch Kronwall work, really reminds me of Konstantinov sometimes.

[Deimiond]

@Umenyiora922 Same here... I'm still so saddened for what happened to that man. As you said... Hall of Famer... Could've.

[vitos1294]

This is goood

[SteveOScottyMo]

this is from the stanley cup finals in 1997 not 98

[NHLArchive]

d'oh, at least i had it right in the description

[Hannoi]

Freeze at 1:24, would make for a great poster.

Such a shame about the accident.

[atone48732]

@Hannoi Definatly a shame, imagine how his career could of turned out with out it! I love how when he nails Howerchuk he just kinda looks down at him, it's great! What a hit.

[jlow142795]

@Hannoi lmao so tru! konstantinov was amazing!

[Razor22A]

@Hannoi Also at 0:12.