Mark Messier reveals inspiration behind infamous 1994 guarantee

It was one of the most famous declarations in hockey history by one of the all-time great Hall of Fame players, and he made sure to back it up.

Everyone remembers the promise from New York Rangers captain Mark Messier after falling behind three games to two in the Eastern Conference Final to the rival New Jersey Devils. He infamously declared, "We'll win tonight" ahead of Game 6 at Continental Airlines Arena, and proceeded to will his team to victory with a hat trick.

Messier and the Rangers then defeated the Devils in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden, setting the stage for a clash with the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup Final that they'd eventually win, with the series once again going the distance. 

"The whole inspiration behind that, and I've said it many times over the years, if you don't believe you're going to win, it's not going to happen."

"At that point in my career, now I'm 33, 34, how many more chances am I going to have? I didn't care about the repercussions about anything at that point. I'm trying to figure out how to get us back on track and playing the competent game we've played all year. 

I knew everyone was going to open up the paper and read that I believe that we could go in there and win the game. It's very shortsighted that 10 million New Yorkers and everyone around the country and the New Jersey Devils are going, 'Oh yeah? Is that right?'" 

Messier has his jersey No. 11 retired by both the Edmonton Oilers and Rangers, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. 

Recommended articles:

• Matthew Tkachuk makes a 'Mark Messier'-like guarantee for Game 5!
• Matt Rempe reveals what would be “pretty damn cool”
• Mark Messier begs Rangers to make this move ahead of Game 2!
• Messier to Oilers: “It’s time to get your balls on the crest of your jerseys and go play the game.”
• Mark Messier publicly calls out Rangers forward on Saturday.