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As the NHL prepares for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the NHL.com staff selected the best 20 Stanley Cup Final games since 2000. Our 15-writer panel nominated 44 games for consideration before each member voted for his or her favorite 20 from that list. Each favorite game was awarded 20 points, with the selections that followed receiving one fewer point each and so on, down to one point for each 20th-favorite game. Today, we look at Game 5 of the 2000 Final between the Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils, which was on 12 ballots and received 127 points.

2000 Game 5: Dallas Stars 1, New Jersey Devils 0 (3OT)

Mike Modano ended the sixth-longest game in Stanley Cup Final history by scoring 6:21 into the third overtime to cut the best-of-7 series to 3-2 and keep the Stars' hopes of repeating as Cup champions alive.

Modano drove to the net to redirect Brett Hull's shot from the right point five-hole on Devils goalie Martin Brodeur on what was Dallas' 41st shot of the game. Modano, who led the Stars with 43:37 of ice time, finished second among players in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 10 goals, but that would be his first, and only, goal of the Cup Final.

Ed Belfour won the goaltending duel by making 48 saves for his fourth shutout of the playoffs.

Devils center Bobby Holik had a game-high eight shots on goal and hit the right post from the right circle in the second period. The Stars' best scoring chance in regulation came during a power play late in the second period when they forced Brodeur to make three saves, including a glove stop on Jere Lehtinen.

Game 5 would end at 1:13 a.m. ET at Continental Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 9, 2000, with Game 6 scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Reunion Arena in Dallas on June 10. In that game, Jason Arnott would score at 8:20 of the second overtime to give the Devils a 2-1 victory and their second Stanley Cup championship.

2000 Stanley Cup Film: Devils capture 2000 Cup

They said it: "We felt if we won tonight, we'd be coming back here Monday night (for Game 7). That was our whole train of thought going into tonight. It's a once-in-a-lifetime game when you're playing overtime in an elimination game." -- Mike Modano

Historical significance: It was the longest 1-0 game in Cup Final history, passing Game 4 in 1996, when Uwe Krupp scored 4:31 into the third overtime to complete the Colorado Avalanche's sweep of the Florida Panthers for their first Stanley Cup championship.

After losing Games 3 and 4 at home, Dallas was attempting to become the second team to come back after trailing the series 3-1 in the Cup Final. The Toronto Maple Leafs, who rallied to win the Cup after trailing the Detroit Red Wings 3-0 in the 1942 Final, remain the only team to do so.

Iconic moment:Hull's initial attempt to get the puck to the net was blocked by Devils defenseman Scott Stevens, but the puck bounced back to him and his second shot got through to Modano, who slipped in behind New Jersey defenseman Vladimir Malakhov in front to deflect Hull's shot down off the shaft of his stick and between Brodeur's pads.

Telling stat: Belfour's 48 saves were the most he made in any of his 14 career postseason shutouts.