query: who is playing in the stanley cup finals this year

pos: 2018 Stanley Cup Finals 2018 Stanley Cup Finals The 2018 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2017–18 season, and the culmination of the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion Washington Capitals defeated the Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights four games to one to win their first championship in their 44th season. The Vegas Golden Knights made the Finals in their first season, while this was the second Finals appearance for the Capitals. This was the first Finals series since 2007 where neither team had previously won the Stanley Cup and the third consecutive year

pos: 1998 Stanley Cup Finals off the Stanley Cup 1998 Stanley Cup Finals The 1998 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1997–98 season, and the culmination of the 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Western Conference champion and defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and the Eastern Conference champion Washington Capitals. It was the 105th year of the Stanley Cup being contested. The series was the Capitals' first appearance in a Stanley Cup Final since the franchise's inception in 1974. The Red Wings won the series for the second year in a row, four

pos: 1998 Stanley Cup Finals 1998 Stanley Cup Finals The 1998 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1997–98 season, and the culmination of the 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Western Conference champion and defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and the Eastern Conference champion Washington Capitals. It was the 105th year of the Stanley Cup being contested. The series was the Capitals' first appearance in a Stanley Cup Final since the franchise's inception in 1974. The Red Wings won the series for the second year in a row, four games to none. It

pos: Colin Miller (ice hockey, born 1992) with Martin Jones and the 13th overall selection (Jakub Zboril) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Milan Lucic. After playing one season in the Bruins' organization, he signed a two-year contract extension worth $2 million. Having been exposed by the Bruins at the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, Miller was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights on June 21, 2017. On May 28, 2018, Miller scored the first ever Stanley Cup Finals goal in Vegas Golden Knights history during the first period of Game 1 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals. During Game Four

pos: 2017 Stanley Cup Finals Kessel led the team in assists with 47. In the playoffs, the Penguins defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets in five games, eliminated the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals for a second consecutive year, this time in seven games, and edged the Ottawa Senators in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals after Chris Kunitz scored in double overtime of Game 7. This was Nashville's first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in its 19-year history. During the offseason, Nashville traded defenceman and long-time team captain Shea Weber to Montreal for defenceman P. K. Subban, and during the regular season, traded for forwards Cody

neg: 2008 Stanley Cup Finals Stanley Cup Final that Bob Cole would serve as the play-by-play announcer for, as Jim Hughson would take over the following year. The following year, both the Red Wings and Penguins met again in the Stanley Cup Finals. This time, the Penguins won the Stanley Cup. This marks the most recent time that a Detroit-based team has won a major league championship. Years indicated in boldface under the "Finals appearance" column signify that the player won the Stanley Cup in the given year. 2008 Stanley Cup Finals The 2008 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey

neg: 1949 Stanley Cup Finals won nine straight Finals games (beating Montreal in game six of the Finals, plus consecutive sweeps of the Wings in and this year). By defeating Detroit, Toronto won the Stanley Cup with a losing record. The only other team to win the Stanley Cup after finishing the regular season with a losing record was the Chicago Black Hawks, who qualified for the 1938 playoffs with a losing record and ultimately beat Toronto in the Cup Finals three games to one. 1949 Stanley Cup Finals The 1949 Stanley Cup Finals was a best-of-seven series between the Detroit Red Wings and the

neg: 2000 Stanley Cup Finals Stars, this was the first time since the New York Islanders lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the 1984 Finals that a defending Stanley Cup champion lost in the Finals. This happened to the Devils themselves the following year when they lost to the Colorado Avalanche. This is the first-ever Finals that featured two relocated teams competing for the Stanley Cup, as well as being the first Finals in which both teams had won the Stanley Cup previously after relocation. In Canada, the series was televised on CBC. In the United States, this was the first year under the new

neg: 2001 Stanley Cup Finals the 1999 Cup champion Dallas Stars the year before. This was the first and only Stanley Cup championship for defenceman Ray Bourque who, after being traded from the Boston Bruins to Colorado in 2000, retired from the NHL after the Avalanche's 2001 Cup win. In Canada, the series was televised on CBC. In the United States, ESPN aired the first two games while ABC broadcast the rest of the series. 2001 Stanley Cup Finals The 2001 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2000–01 season, and the culmination of the 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs.

neg: Western Canada Hockey League started playing inter-league games, but kept separate standings. The Edmonton Eskimos won the regular season, but lost to the NHL's Ottawa Senators in the Stanley Cup finals. In the 1923–24 WCHL season, the Calgary Tigers finished in first place while Edmonton finished at the bottom of the standings. The playoffs were changed this year, too, despite a protest from the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL. Instead of the two western leagues playing off to see who would play the NHL champion for the Stanley Cup, the president of the PCHA, Frank Patrick, insisted that the NHL champion had to play

neg: 1979 NBA Finals 28.6 points per game. This was Seattle's second men's professional sports championship, following the Seattle Metropolitans' Stanley Cup victory in the 1917 Stanley Cup Finals. Coincidentally, this series (along with the 1978 NBA Finals) was informally known as the George Washington series, because both teams were playing in places named after the first President of the United States (the SuperSonics represented Seattle, the most populous city in the state of Washington, and the Bullets represented Washington, D.C., albeit playing in nearby Landover, Maryland). This is the most recent time that a Western Conference team based outside of Texas or California

neg: 1967 Stanley Cup Finals 1967 Stanley Cup Finals The 1967 Stanley Cup Finals was a best-of-seven series played between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs ended up winning the series, four games to two. In doing this, they won their thirteenth Stanley Cup. To date, this is Toronto's most recent Stanley Cup championship, most recent appearance in the championship final, and is tied for the longest-active championship drought in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues (who have never won since joining the NHL in 1967) at 50 (not including 2004–05 lockout) seasons. The 1967 Stanley Cup Final was

neg: 1992 Stanley Cup Finals Michael Jordan, playing in (and winning) the NBA Finals, it was an opportunity for both the Blackhawks and the Bulls to help the city of Chicago become the first city to have both NHL and NBA championships in the same year. (New York also had this opportunity in 1994, when the Knicks and Rangers made the finals in their respective sport; however, the result was the same, albeit a reversal of Chicago's ending, as the Rangers won their first Stanley Cup since 1940, and the Knicks lost, with both of those series going the full seven games.) Chicago set an

neg: 1967 Stanley Cup Finals part of all 4 cups, but were not included on the cup each season.) 1967 Stanley Cup Finals The 1967 Stanley Cup Finals was a best-of-seven series played between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs ended up winning the series, four games to two. In doing this, they won their thirteenth Stanley Cup. To date, this is Toronto's most recent Stanley Cup championship, most recent appearance in the championship final, and is tied for the longest-active championship drought in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues (who have never won since joining the NHL in

neg: Jamal Mayers the Stanley Cup as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks when they defeated the Boston Bruins in Game 6 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals. This was Mayers' first Stanley Cup win in his 15 seasons in the NHL. His wait to hoist the trophy was recognized by his teammates, as he was the third person to hoist it, after Jonathan Toews and Michal Handzus. Despite him not playing in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Blackhawks were successful in petitioning to have Mayers' name engraved on the Stanley Cup. On December 13, 2013, Mayers officially announced his retirement from the

neg: 1993 Stanley Cup Finals games to one to win the team's 24th Stanley Cup. The year 1993 was the 100th anniversary of the first awarding of the Stanley Cup in 1893, and the first Finals to start in the month of June. The 1993 Canadiens are also the last Stanley Cup championship team to be composed solely of North American-born players. To date, this is the last Stanley Cup finals won by a Canadian team. The series is remembered for Kings defenceman Marty McSorley's penalty late in the third period of game two for using an illegal stick, in what proved to be the

neg: 2011 Stanley Cup Finals making it comparable to the long-running grudges that Boston's professional sports clubs held against other teams, saying "The Red Sox are playing the Yankees this week, but it is the Vancouver Canucks who '(expletive)' (rhymes with 'nuck')." In contrast to game two, which featured only 10 minutes of penalties for the entire game, game three had 145 total penalty minutes, the most in a Cup Final game since 1990. The 8–1 score was the biggest goal differential in the Stanley Cup Finals since , when the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Florida Panthers in game two by the same score. Tim

neg: 2011 Stanley Cup Finals won the Stanley Cup the following year. Montreal hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics and the following year, the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup. The Calgary Flames won the Stanley Cup in , the previous year Calgary had hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics. With the loss, Vancouver became the third team to lose in the Finals after winning the Presidents' Trophy, after the Bruins in 1990 and the Detroit Red Wings in . Center Patrice Bergeron became the twenty-fifth player to enter the "Triple Gold Club", consisting of individuals who have won the Stanley Cup along with gold medals at the

neg: 1961 Stanley Cup Finals 1961 Stanley Cup Finals The 1961 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Black Hawks. Chicago was making its first Finals appearance since , and Detroit its first appearance since ; both had lost to the Montreal Canadiens in those previous appearances. The Blackhawks would win the best-of-seven series four games to two to win their third Stanley Cup, their first since . However, this proved to be the last time Chicago won the Cup until , a 49-year drought. This was the only title not won by the Canadiens, Red Wings or Toronto

neg: 1966 Stanley Cup Finals were broadcast on network television in color. The CBC would follow suit the following year. NBC's Stanley Cup coverage preempted a sports anthology series called "NBC Sports in Action", hosted by Jim Simpson and Bill Cullen, who were between-periods co-hosts for the Stanley Cup broadcasts. 1966 Stanley Cup Finals The 1966 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the Detroit Red Wings and the defending champion Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens would win the best-of-seven series four games to two to win the Stanley Cup for the seventh time in eleven years. Montreal defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4–0 to advance to

neg: 1994 Stanley Cup Finals ice hockey gold medal since the 1952 Winter Olympics. Bob Cole, who called both games, said that game seven was one of his most memorable TV games. Bolded years under Finals appearance indicates a year the player won the Stanley Cup. 1994 Stanley Cup Finals The 1994 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1993–94 season, and the culmination of the 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers and Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks were making the club's second Final appearance, their first coming

neg: 1964 Stanley Cup Finals 1964 Stanley Cup Finals The 1964 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the defending champion Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings for the second straight year. The Maple Leafs would win the best-of-seven series four games to three to win the Stanley Cup, their third-straight championship. There would not be another game seven at Maple Leaf Gardens for almost three decades. Toronto defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4–3 to advance to the finals and Detroit defeated the Chicago Black Hawks 4–3. This series is famous for the courageous play of Bob Baun. In game six of the Final, he

neg: Stanley Cup playoffs Conference and Eastern Conference Finals, with those conference winners advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals. Compared to other major professional sports leagues, playoff upsets are relatively common in the NHL. According to NHL broadcaster Darren Eliot, this is because the style of competition in the playoffs is different from the regular season: instead of playing different teams every night, the goal is to advance through four best-of-seven playoff series. The Presidents' Trophy winner may have to go through other playoff clubs who might have a hotter goaltender, a better defensive team, or other players that pose matchup problems. If the

neg: 1964 Stanley Cup Finals Leafs as a member of the Red Wings. 1964 Stanley Cup Finals The 1964 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the defending champion Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings for the second straight year. The Maple Leafs would win the best-of-seven series four games to three to win the Stanley Cup, their third-straight championship. There would not be another game seven at Maple Leaf Gardens for almost three decades. Toronto defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4–3 to advance to the finals and Detroit defeated the Chicago Black Hawks 4–3. This series is famous for the courageous play of Bob

neg: 2007 Stanley Cup Finals first Stanley Cup becoming the eleventh post-1967 expansion team to win the NHL championship trophy, and the first Stanley Cup championship for a team from California (the Los Angeles Kings would eventually win Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014). This was also the most recent year that both teams that went to the finals had never won the Stanley Cup before until the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals. Prior to the season, the Ducks had been the pick of many in the media to make it to the Final, and they did not disappoint. The second-seeded Anaheim Ducks defeated both the

neg: 2018 Stanley Cup Finals Stanley Cup Finals and won the Cup, but this was the first year of the new NHL (after every team except the Toronto Blueshirts left the National Hockey Association). The St. Louis Blues reached the 1968 Stanley Cup Finals and got swept by the Montreal Canadiens, but this was a year in which six brand-new expansion teams all entered the league at the same time and were all placed in the same division and the winner of that West Division would face the winner of the East Division. As such, 2018 was the first of these three occurrences where a

neg: Glen Wesley quickly became a leader. In 2002, he reached the Stanley Cup Finals for a third time. In March 2003, nearing the trade deadline, he was traded from Carolina to Toronto, joining the Maple Leafs for the rest of the 2002–2003 season in an effort for both teams to make the Stanley Cup playoffs. He re-signed with the Hurricanes at the end of the season. He got his fourth trip to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers. This would be Wesley's third time playing against the Oilers. Wesley won his first Stanley Cup on June 19, 2006 with the

neg: 1998 Stanley Cup Finals was the Wings' ninth Stanley Cup, and the most recent time when a Finals concluded with a sweep (as of 2018). This was also the last time until that a Stanley Cup Finals ended after an NBA Finals in the same season had concluded. Detroit coach Scotty Bowman won his eighth Stanley Cup in that capacity (having previously done so with the Montreal Canadiens in , , , , and , the Pittsburgh Penguins in , and the Wings the previous year), tying him with former Canadiens coach Toe Blake for the record of most Cups won by a coach

neg: 1917 Stanley Cup Finals together on the 1914 Toronto Blueshirts: Jack Walker had been playing coach of Toronto, with Eddie Carpenter (a substitute with Toronto), Frank Foyston, Hap Holmes and Cully Wilson. 1917 Stanley Cup Finals The 1917 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) champion Seattle Metropolitans and the National Hockey Association (NHA) and Stanley Cup defending champion Montreal Canadiens. Seattle defeated Montreal three games to one in a best-of-five game series to become the first United States-based team to win the Cup. It was also the first Stanley Cup Final to be played in the United States,

neg: 2011 Stanley Cup Finals beat out Philadelphia for playing in all of the "big" league championship rounds in the shortest time in the new millennium, as it took 9 years for Philadelphia to achieve this feat; Boston needed only three years and eight months. The Bruins would also play in the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals, so from 2004 to 2015 all four Boston major league teams have each reached the championship rounds at least twice and also won at least once during a decade from 2001 to 2011. Following the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, "Boston Globe" columnist Dan Shaughnessy ranked all seven championships during

neg: 1919 Stanley Cup Finals 1919 Stanley Cup Finals The 1919 Stanley Cup Finals was the ice hockey play-off series to determine the 1919 Stanley Cup champions that ended with no champion decided, being suspended after five games had been played due to an outbreak of influenza. It was the only time in the history of the Stanley Cup that it was not awarded due to a no-decision after playoffs were held. Hosting the series in Seattle was the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) champion Seattle Metropolitans playing off against the National Hockey League (NHL) champion Montreal Canadiens. Both teams had won two games, lost

neg: 2006 Stanley Cup Finals that. Both the Hurricanes and Oilers have now accomplished this dubious feat. Hurricanes head coach Peter Laviolette joined Ron Wilson as the only people to have head coached in an Olympics and Stanley Cup finals in the same year, having coached the American ice hockey team during the Torino Olympics. Both would coach in either one in 2010; Wilson coached the American ice hockey team to silver medal at the Vancouver Olympics, while Laviolette would coach in the Stanley Cup Finals with the Philadelphia Flyers. In game one, Carolina tied the biggest comeback in Stanley Cup finals history, overcoming a

neg: 1930 Stanley Cup Finals 1930 Stanley Cup Finals The 1930 Stanley Cup Finals was played between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens. In a best of three series, Montreal won 4–3 and 3–0 to win the team's third Stanley Cup championship. The defending champion Boston Bruins had an outstanding season. Their final record of 38–5–1 translates to an .875 winning percentage, the best in NHL history. The team did not lose two games in a row all season, until being swept by the Canadiens. This prompted the change for the following year in the Finals format to a best-of-five format. The final was

neg: 1999 Stanley Cup Finals in 2002. In years since, Buffalo fans have often cited this even as the "No Goal game". This is the only time Dallas has won the Stanley Cup, while Buffalo has not returned to the Finals since this series. Dallas returned to the Finals in 2000 but lost to the New Jersey Devils. In Canada, the series was televised on CBC. In the United States, this was fifth and final year in which coverage of the Cup Finals was split between Fox and ESPN. Fox aired games one, two, and five; while ESPN had games three, four, and six. Had

neg: 1958 Stanley Cup Finals 1958 Stanley Cup Finals The 1958 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the two-time defending champion Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins in a rematch of the 1957 Final. The Canadiens, who were appearing in the Finals for the eighth consecutive year, would win the series 4–2, for their third straight Cup victory, and tenth in the team's history. Montreal defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4–0 to reach the final. Boston defeated the New York Rangers 4–2 to reach the final. Montreal captain Maurice "Rocket" Richard led the playoff goal-scoring race with 11. In game five, he notched the third

neg: 1958 Stanley Cup Finals final-series overtime goal and sixth playoff overtime goal of his career. 1958 Stanley Cup Finals The 1958 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the two-time defending champion Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins in a rematch of the 1957 Final. The Canadiens, who were appearing in the Finals for the eighth consecutive year, would win the series 4–2, for their third straight Cup victory, and tenth in the team's history. Montreal defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4–0 to reach the final. Boston defeated the New York Rangers 4–2 to reach the final. Montreal captain Maurice "Rocket" Richard led the playoff

neg: 1994 Stanley Cup Finals by Rangers radio announcer Howie Rose. It was Matteau's second double overtime goal of the series. This series brought together two assistant coaches who were teammates on the other Canucks team to reach the Finals: Rangers assistant coach Colin Campbell and Canucks assistant coach Stan Smyl, who served as team captain then, as Kevin McCarthy was injured. It was the second straight Finals that featured a former Edmonton Oilers captain trying to become the first person to capture a Stanley Cup as captain on two different teams. The previous year, Wayne Gretzky, who captained the Oilers to the first four

neg: 2000 Stanley Cup playoffs 2000 Stanley Cup playoffs The 2000 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League (NHL), began on April 12, 2000, and concluded on June 10. The 16 teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series for Conference Quarterfinals, Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals, with each conference champion playing a best-of-seven series in the Stanley Cup Finals for the Stanley Cup. The playoffs ended when the New Jersey Devils defeated the reigning champion Dallas Stars in a six-game series to win their second Stanley Cup title in franchise history. Devils defenseman Scott Stevens was awarded the Conn

neg: 1927 Stanley Cup Finals Hooley Smith became the fourth player to have won Olympic gold and the Stanley Cup. Smith had won the gold medal at the 1924 Olympics with the Toronto Granites. 1927 Stanley Cup Finals The 1927 Stanley Cup Finals was played by the Ottawa Senators and the Boston Bruins. It was the first time the Cup was solely contested by National Hockey League teams, owing to the demise of the Western Hockey League the previous year. It was won by the Ottawa Senators, coached by Dave Gill, over the Boston Bruins, coached by Art Ross. This was the Senators' fourth win

neg: 1982 Stanley Cup Finals 1982 Stanley Cup Finals The 1982 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1981–82 season, and the culmination of the 1982 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was played between the Vancouver Canucks in their first Finals appearance and the defending champion New York Islanders, in their third Finals appearance. The Islanders won the best-of-seven series, four games to none, to win their third consecutive and overall Stanley Cup championship. This is also the most recent time that a Stanley Cup Champion has won three in a row and the first, and so far only, time

neg: Joe Thornton St. Louis Blues in 6 games to advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history. This was also Thornton's first time playing in the SCF in his career. The Sharks, however, lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 6 games in the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals. During the Stanley Cup Playoffs Thornton was 5th in points with 21 and 2nd in assists with 18. Joe was also named as one of the final players to Team Canada for the World Cup and was a Second Team All Star for the 2015–16 season. Since Thornton started playing

neg: 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs Stanley Cup Finals, and their first since the Cup win over the Vancouver Canucks in seven games. This was Chicago's 12th Finals appearance, and their first since the Cup win over the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. This was the first meeting between the Bruins and the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Finals, and the first Stanley Cup Finals to feature two Original Six teams since . These are the top ten skaters based on points. If the list were to exceed ten skaters because of a tie in points, then goals will take precedence. This is a combined table

neg: 1985 Stanley Cup Finals apiece. Edmonton won its second consecutive Stanley Cup while the Flyers, at the time the youngest team in professional sports, took the lessons from their loss into the clubs' next Stanley Cup Finals; they lost again to the Oilers in , albeit in seven games. Wayne Gretzky won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, scoring a record 47 points this playoff year. In Canada, this was the first of two consecutive years that the English-language rights of the Cup Finals was shared between CBC and CTV. CBC televised games one and two nationally while games three, four and five

neg: 1936 Stanley Cup Finals Joe Louis, the heavyweight boxing champion; native Detroiter Gar Wood, who was the champion of unlimited powerboat racing and the first man to go 100 miles per hour on water; and Eddie "the Midnight Express" Tolan, a black Detroiter who won gold medals in the 100- and 200-meter races at the 1932 Summer Olympics. 1936 Stanley Cup Finals The 1936 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was Detroit's second appearance in the Final and Toronto's sixth. Detroit would win the series 3–1 to win their first Stanley Cup. Detroit defeated

neg: 1986 Stanley Cup Finals four and five nationally. Had the series gone to a seventh game, then both CBC and CTV would have simultaneously televised it while using their own production facilities and crews. After the season, CTV pulled the plug on their two-year-long venture with the NHL, and their rights package would eventually be given to the Global-Canwest consortium. In the United States, this was the first of three consecutive seasons that ESPN televised the Cup Finals. 1986 Stanley Cup Finals The 1986 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1985–86 season, and the culmination of the

neg: 2012 Stanley Cup Finals 2012 Stanley Cup Finals The 2012 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) season, and the culmination of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Western Conference playoff champion Los Angeles Kings defeated the Eastern Conference playoff champion New Jersey Devils four games to two, capturing the first Stanley Cup title in the team's 45-year history, dealing the Devils just their second Stanley Cup Finals defeat in five tries and first since . Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs. The 2012 Final ended

neg: 1995 Stanley Cup Finals from Quebec City as the Nordiques, defeated them in six games of the conference finals. This started a lengthy rivalry between the two teams, which culminated in a brawl between the two teams at Joe Louis Arena in 1997. That brawl became the catalyst for Detroit's run to two consecutive Stanley Cups in 1997 and 1998, ending a 42-year title drought. The Red Wings later added two more Stanley Cups in 2002 and , hiking their total to 11. The 1995 Cup Finals started a four-year period where every Cup Final was a sweep, which ended when the Dallas Stars

neg: 2007 Stanley Cup Finals series on a relatively high note, with the Los Angeles Times' Larry Stewart calling their final ratings performance "pretty good". On the CBC, Hockey Night in Canada pulled in 2,608,000, 2,378,000, and 2,553,000 viewers for games one, two and three respectively, slightly higher than their numbers for equivalent games the previous year. This was the last final that Bob Cole (play-by-player announcer) and Harry Neale (colour commentator) worked together. The following year, Cole worked with Greg Millen. 2007 Stanley Cup Finals The 2007 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2006–07 season, and the

neg: 1928 Stanley Cup Finals 1928 Stanley Cup Finals The 1928 Stanley Cup Finals was played by the New York Rangers and the Montreal Maroons. It was the first appearance by the Rangers in the Finals and was their first victory of the Stanley Cup in only their second season. This was the second Stanley Cup victory by an American team, the first being the Seattle Metropolitans in the 1917 Stanley Cup Finals. The Montreal Maroons defeated the Ottawa Senators in the quarter-finals total-goals series 3–1. The Maroons then defeated the Montreal Canadiens in the semi-finals total-goals series 3–2 to reach the Finals. The New

neg: Darryl Sutter Blues and third seed Phoenix Coyotes to advance to the Stanley Cup Final, the only team to accomplish that feat in the 119-year history of the Finals. The Kings then went on to defeat New Jersey four games to two to give Los Angeles its first Stanley Cup championship in its 45-year history. The Kings set several records during the playoffs, including winning ten-straight games on the road and being the first team to go three games to zero in each of their playoff series. Sutter and the Kings later won another Stanley Cup in the 2013–14 season, playing 26

neg: 1986 Stanley Cup Finals 1986 Stanley Cup Finals The 1986 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1985–86 season, and the culmination of the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Calgary Flames (in their first Final appearance) and the Montreal Canadiens (in their 32nd). The Canadiens would win the best-of-seven series, four games to one, to win their 23rd Stanley Cup, and their 17th in their last 18 Finals appearances dating back to . It was the first all-Canadian finals since Montreal lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs in , the last year of the

neg: 1928 Stanley Cup Finals member of his family to win the Stanley Cup, after his brother George won it four times with Ottawa, and his brothers Billy and Bobby had won it with Montreal in 1924. 1928 Stanley Cup Finals The 1928 Stanley Cup Finals was played by the New York Rangers and the Montreal Maroons. It was the first appearance by the Rangers in the Finals and was their first victory of the Stanley Cup in only their second season. This was the second Stanley Cup victory by an American team, the first being the Seattle Metropolitans in the 1917 Stanley Cup Finals.

neg: 1985 Stanley Cup Finals 1985 Stanley Cup Finals The 1985 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1984–85 season, and the culmination of the 1985 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the defending champion Edmonton Oilers (in their third straight Finals appearance) and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Oilers would win the best-of-seven series, four games to one, to win their second Stanley Cup. It was also the sixth straight Finals contested between teams that joined the NHL in 1967 or later. , this is also the last time that a team, defending champion or runner-up, would appear

neg: 1971 Stanley Cup Finals 1971 Stanley Cup Finals The 1971 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the Chicago Black Hawks and the Montreal Canadiens. The Black Hawks made their first appearance in the final series since 1965, the Canadiens had last played and won the series in 1969. The Canadiens would win the series 4–3. The playoff system changed this year to allow cross-over between the divisions during the playoffs. Chicago defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4–0 and the New York Rangers 4–3 to advance to the final. Montreal defeated the defending champion Boston Bruins 4–3 and the Minnesota North Stars 4–2. This set up

neg: 1969 Stanley Cup Finals 1969 Stanley Cup Finals The 1969 Stanley Cup Finals was a best-of-seven series played from April 27 to May 4, 1969, between the defending champions Montreal Canadiens and the St. Louis Blues, the same finalists as in . As they had done the previous year, the Canadiens would win the series in four straight games. Montreal defeated the New York Rangers 4–0 and the Boston Bruins 4–2 to advance to the finals. St. Louis defeated the Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings in four games each. This was the second playoff series between these two teams. Their only previous meeting

neg: 1971 Stanley Cup Finals victory wouldn't be enough to save MacNeil's job. He was replaced as head coach by Scotty Bowman soon after the finals. 1971 Stanley Cup Finals The 1971 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the Chicago Black Hawks and the Montreal Canadiens. The Black Hawks made their first appearance in the final series since 1965, the Canadiens had last played and won the series in 1969. The Canadiens would win the series 4–3. The playoff system changed this year to allow cross-over between the divisions during the playoffs. Chicago defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4–0 and the New York Rangers 4–3 to

neg: 1999–2000 NHL season this rule change. This season was also the start of the NHL's partnership with ABC, who would televise a few regional games every season, as well as games three through seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. ESPN, who with the ABC deal renewed their contract with the NHL, continued to show regular season and playoff games as well as the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals. Wayne Gretzky's jersey number, 99, was retired league-wide on February 6, 2000. The 1999–2000 season was the inaugural year for the Atlanta Thrashers. They would join the Southeast Division, marking the return

neg: 2003 NBA Finals the lowest rated finals in NBA history. This was also the only year that ABC broadcast both the NBA and the Stanley Cup Finals that involved teams from one city in the same year. During ABC's broadcast of game 3, Brad Nessler, Tom Tolbert, and Bill Walton said that ABC was in a unique situation getting ready for both that game and game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Devils and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim the following night. Gary Thorne, Bill Clement, and John Davidson mentioned this the following night and thanked Nessler, Tolbert, and Walton for

neg: 2011 Stanley Cup Finals NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman following the Bruins' 4–0 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the seventh game of the finals. 2011 Stanley Cup Finals The 2011 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) , and the culmination of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion Boston Bruins defeated the Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks four games to three. The Bruins ended a 39-year Stanley Cup drought with the win. Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs. The Canucks had home ice

neg: 2011 Stanley Cup Finals 2011 Stanley Cup Finals The 2011 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) , and the culmination of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion Boston Bruins defeated the Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks four games to three. The Bruins ended a 39-year Stanley Cup drought with the win. Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs. The Canucks had home ice advantage in the Finals by virtue of winning the Presidents' Trophy as the team that finished with the best regular

neg: 1996 Stanley Cup Finals won the Cup 13 years after they played their last game in the same city and same arena that the Avs played in as the Colorado Rockies. Bolded years under Finals appearance indicates year won Stanley Cup. In Canada, the series was televised on CBC. In the United States, this was the second year that coverage was split between Fox and ESPN. Fox broadcast games 1 and 3 while ESPN televised games 2 and 4. The Stanley Cup-clinching game thus aired on cable. Had the series extended, Fox would have televised games 5 and 7, and ESPN would have aired

neg: 1982 Stanley Cup Finals that a U.S.-based team has won three straight Stanley Cups. This 1982 Finals took place under a revised NHL divisional alignment and playoff structure, which "de facto" revived the "East vs. West" format for the Finals that had been abandoned when the Western Hockey League folded in . It was also the first time a team from Western Canada contested the Finals since the WHL stopped challenging for the Stanley Cup (the Victoria Cougars, who had also been the last team from British Columbia to win the Cup in , played the 1926 Finals too). Vancouver, despite having a losing

neg: 1981 Stanley Cup Finals seasons that the Cup Finals aired on the USA Network. For the 1981 Finals only, USA simulcast the CBC feed instead of producing their own coverage. 1981 Stanley Cup Finals The 1981 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1980–81 season, and the culmination of the 1981 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Minnesota North Stars, making their first Finals appearance, and the defending champion New York Islanders, in their second Finals appearance. The Islanders would win the best-of-seven series, four games to one, to win their second Stanley Cup championship. This

neg: 2017 Stanley Cup Finals 2017 Stanley Cup Finals The 2017 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2016–17 season, and the culmination of the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion and defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Western Conference champion Nashville Predators, four games to two. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The Penguins won the Stanley Cup in their opponent's rink, just like they did the previous four times. During the regular season, the Penguins finished

neg: Mike Karakas Mike Karakas Michael George Karakas (December 2, 1911 – May 2, 1992) was an American professional ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League (NHL) who was the league's first American-born and trained goaltender. Karakas played six full seasons and parts of two others with Chicago Black Hawks. He appeared in two Stanley Cup Finals, winning once. In 1938, Karakas led Chicago, who had .411 winning percentage in the regular season, to a second Stanley Cup, playing with a steel-toed boot in the last two games of the Finals after he had broken it in the last game of the

neg: Esa Tikkanen Scotia Oilers in 1985–86, before joining the team full-time. In his early twenties Tikkanen began his pro career in big leagues while additionally working as a coach in South Korea. Tikkanen made his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers during the second game of the 1985 Stanley Cup playoffs. By playing one game in the finals that year, he was eligible to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup even before playing his first regular-season game in the NHL. He soon became an important part of the Oilers, playing on the team's first line with Wayne Gretzky and Jari

neg: 1945 Stanley Cup Finals 1945 Stanley Cup Finals The 1945 Stanley Cup Finals was a best-of-seven series between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs won the series by four games to three--although not before they blew a 3-0 lead to the Red Wings, who nearly served them a taste of their own medicine. Toronto beat the defending champion Montreal Canadiens in six games to advance to the Final. Detroit defeated the Boston Bruins in seven games to reach the Final. This was the first Cup Final in NHL history where both teams started rookie goaltenders. Harry Lumley, who

neg: 1927 Stanley Cup Finals 1927 Stanley Cup Finals The 1927 Stanley Cup Finals was played by the Ottawa Senators and the Boston Bruins. It was the first time the Cup was solely contested by National Hockey League teams, owing to the demise of the Western Hockey League the previous year. It was won by the Ottawa Senators, coached by Dave Gill, over the Boston Bruins, coached by Art Ross. This was the Senators' fourth win since 1920, and eleventh overall, but it marked the end of the dynasty. The original Senators would not win another. It would be the last time a team from

neg: Pittsburgh sports lore was being led away to the penalty box, Talbot put his index finger to his lips, facing up at the crowd, making a "shushing" motion. This defiance seemed to energize the Penguins, who scored 5 straight unanswered goals, including two from Sidney Crosby to win the series. Talbot was later to be the hero in the Stanley Cup Finals that year, scoring the only two goals in the Game 7 that is mentioned below. In Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals against the Detroit Red Wings, the Penguins had the puck frozen in their own zone leading 2-1

neg: 1999 Stanley Cup Finals 1999 Stanley Cup Finals The 1999 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1998–99 season, and the culmination of the 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Eastern Conference champion Buffalo Sabres and the Western Conference champion Dallas Stars. It was the 106th year of the Stanley Cup being contested. The Sabres were led by captain Michael Peca, coach Lindy Ruff and goalie Dominik Hasek. The Stars were led by captain Derian Hatcher, coach Ken Hitchcock and goalie Ed Belfour. It was the Sabres' second Stanley Cup Final appearance, the first being

neg: 1927 Stanley Cup Finals in Stanley Cup history, notwithstanding the unfinished 3–3 Stanley Cup final match between Edmonton and Boston on May 24, 1988. Ottawa's Frank Nighbor was playing in his sixth Stanley Cup series, while Boston's Sprague Cleghorn and Billy Coutu were playing in their fifth Stanley Cup series. Rough play marred the series: in the final game, Lionel Hitchman and George Boucher were ejected for a wild fight which Ottawa police had to break up. Hooley Smith butt-ended Boston's Harry Oliver, and Eddie Shore fought with Smith in retaliation; both Smith and Shore were ejected. After the game, Billy Coutu assaulted referee

neg: 1980 Stanley Cup Finals 1980 Stanley Cup Finals The 1980 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1979–80 season, and the culmination of the 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the New York Islanders in their first-ever Finals appearance and the Philadelphia Flyers, in their fourth Finals appearance, and first since 1976. The Islanders would win the best-of-seven series, four games to two, to win their first Stanley Cup championship and the third for a post-1967 expansion team after Philadelphia's Cup wins in 1974 and 1975. Until 1995, this would be the last Finals series played

neg: Alec Martinez Alec Martinez Alec Martinez (born July 26, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, having won with the Kings in 2012 and 2014. In 2014, he scored both the Western Conference Finals winning goal and Stanley Cup Finals winning goal - both in overtime. Martinez was born in the Detroit suburb of Rochester Hills, Michigan. His paternal grandfather is Spanish and his paternal grandmother is English Canadian. He spent his early years playing hockey in Northern California for the

neg: 1980 Stanley Cup Finals of its "CBS Sports Spectacular" anthology series. This would be the last NHL game to air on U.S. network television until 1990, when the All-Star Game was televised on NBC. As of 2015, it is also the last Stanley Cup Final game to be played in the afternoon (earlier than 5:00 local time). 1980 Stanley Cup Finals The 1980 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1979–80 season, and the culmination of the 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the New York Islanders in their first-ever Finals appearance and the Philadelphia Flyers,

neg: 1987 Stanley Cup Finals give the Cup to Steve Smith, who one year earlier scored on his own net that led to their downfall against the Calgary Flames, their in-province rivals, in the Smythe Division Final. Ron Hextall would receive the Conn Smythe Trophy for his efforts. Many people consider this to be one of the greatest Stanley Cup Finals of all time. With the game tied at 1–1 after 40 minutes of play, the Oilers won thanks to third-period goals by Glenn Anderson, Paul Coffey, and Jari Kurri. Gretzky registered a goal and an assist in the onslaught as part of a 4–2

neg: 1988 Stanley Cup Finals game of the Finals by John Byce who, in a twist, was playing for the Bruins "against" the Oilers. Fog ultimately interfered with the game, and a power failure caused its cancellation midway through the second period with the score tied 3–3. Despite the game being suspended and replayed, Anderson's record is official. Game four was subsequently rescheduled and moved to Edmonton, which was originally set to be the site of a game five if necessary. The Oilers won that game, sweeping the series and winning their fourth Stanley Cup in five years. Had the Bruins extended the series to

neg: 1989 Stanley Cup Finals without a single playoff series victory. This was also the second-to-last of eight consecutive Finals where either the Flames or their provincial rival Edmonton Oilers represented Alberta in the Stanley Cup Finals. Both Calgary and Montreal were the only two teams to win the Stanley Cup in the 1980s other than the New York Islanders and the Edmonton Oilers. This was the Canadiens' first defeat in a Finals since 1967. It is also, as of 2018, their most recent defeat; the Canadiens won their most recent Cup in 1993. The defeat was Patrick Roy's only Cup Finals where he was

neg: 1991 Stanley Cup Finals In Pittsburgh, KBL televised games one, two and five while KDKA aired games three, four, and six. 1991 Stanley Cup Finals The 1991 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1990–91 season, and the culmination of the 1991 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Minnesota North Stars. It was the Penguins' first Final series appearance and their first Stanley Cup victory. This is the first and only (through 2018) Stanley Cup Final to feature two teams from the expansion group of 1967. It was Minnesota's second Final series

neg: 2011 Stanley Cup Finals game featured the return of Vancouver's Manny Malhotra, who had not played a game since March 16, when he suffered a severe eye injury after taking a puck to the face. Both Thomas and Roberto Luongo still had good games, stopping 30 of 33 shots and 28 of 30 shots, respectively. With his second period goal, 43-year-old Recchi became the oldest player to score in the Cup Finals. Burrows led all players with three points, including his two goals and his assist on Sedin's goal. Before playing, Burrows promised his father that he would have a big game so that

neg: 1991 Stanley Cup Finals 1991 Stanley Cup Finals The 1991 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1990–91 season, and the culmination of the 1991 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Minnesota North Stars. It was the Penguins' first Final series appearance and their first Stanley Cup victory. This is the first and only (through 2018) Stanley Cup Final to feature two teams from the expansion group of 1967. It was Minnesota's second Final series appearance, and their last before the franchise's relocation to Dallas two years later. It was also the

neg: 1983 Stanley Cup Finals 1983 Stanley Cup Finals The 1983 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1982–83 season, and the culmination of the 1983 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Edmonton Oilers in their first-ever Finals appearance and the defending champion New York Islanders, in their fourth consecutive and overall Finals appearance. The Islanders won the best-of-seven series, four games to none, to win their fourth consecutive and overall Stanley Cup championship. It was also the fourth straight Finals of post-1967 expansion teams, and the first involving a former World Hockey Association (WHA) team. This

neg: 1989 Stanley Cup playoffs points in a period (4). This was the second and most recent series between these two teams, with the only previous meeting being the 1986 Stanley Cup Finals where Montreal defeated Calgary in five games. This was the Flames second appearance in the Finals, while Montreal was making their thirty-third appearance in the Finals. Calgary was trying to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, while Montreal last won the Stanley Cup in 1986. The Stanley Cup Finals was decided between the two teams with the best records of the 1988–89 NHL regular season. Co-captain Lanny McDonald scored the

neg: 1982 Stanley Cup Finals record in the regular season, defeated the Calgary Flames 3–0, the Los Angeles Kings 4–1 and the Chicago Blackhawks 4–1 to advance to the finals. This was their first Finals appearance. New York defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2, the New York Rangers 4–2, and the Quebec Nordiques 4–0 to make it to the finals for the third year in a row. With New York having 118 points and Vancouver having 77, the 41-point difference between the two teams in a final round is the largest in Stanley Cup Finals history. The Canucks had their best chance to win a game

neg: 1981 Stanley Cup Finals 1981 Stanley Cup Finals The 1981 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1980–81 season, and the culmination of the 1981 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Minnesota North Stars, making their first Finals appearance, and the defending champion New York Islanders, in their second Finals appearance. The Islanders would win the best-of-seven series, four games to one, to win their second Stanley Cup championship. This would be the last all-American Finals until , when the North Stars faced the Pittsburgh Penguins. Minnesota defeated the Boston Bruins 3–0, the Buffalo Sabres 4–1

neg: 1995 Stanley Cup Finals against the Red Wings in the series and Devils forward Claude Lemieux was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, having led all skaters in playoff goals with 13. He would win the Stanley Cup again the very next season with the Colorado Avalanche. This was the first year that coverage of the Cup Finals in the United States was split between Fox and ESPN. Fox broadcast games 1 and 4 with Mike Emrick and John Davidson, while ESPN broadcast games 2 and 3 with Gary Thorne and Bill Clement. This was also the first Cup Finals in which

neg: 1987 Stanley Cup Finals 1987 Stanley Cup Finals The 1987 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1986–87 season, and the culmination of the 1987 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Edmonton Oilers and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Oilers won the series 4–3, for their third Stanley Cup victory. This would be the fifth of eight consecutive Finals contested by a team from Alberta (the Oilers appeared in six, the Calgary Flames in two), and the fourth of five consecutive Finals to end with the Cup presentation on Alberta ice (the Oilers won four times, the

neg: 2009 Stanley Cup Finals 2009 Stanley Cup Finals The 2009 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2008–09 season, and the culmination of the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins and the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings. It was Detroit's 24th appearance in the Final and Pittsburgh's fourth appearance in the Final. This was a rematch of the previous year's Stanley Cup Final where Detroit had defeated Pittsburgh in six games. This time, Pittsburgh defeated Detroit in seven games to win their third Stanley Cup in franchise history. Pittsburgh's

neg: 2004 Stanley Cup Finals 2004 Stanley Cup Finals The 2004 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2003–04 season, and the culmination of the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Western Conference champion Calgary Flames in seven games and were awarded the Stanley Cup. It was Tampa Bay's first-ever appearance in the final. For Calgary, it was the team's third appearance, and first since their championship season of . Lightning owner William Davidson would soon become the first owner in sports history to win two championships in one year as eight

neg: 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs the first playoff series between the teams since the 1978 Preliminary Round. This was the first and to date only playoff series between these two teams. The Canadiens had not won a Stanley Cup since 1986. This was the thirty-fourth and most recent Finals appearance for Montreal, while Los Angeles made their first ever appearance in the Finals. This was Wayne Gretzky's only appearance in the Finals with the Kings, and the last in his career. Patrick Roy won the MVP award of this Stanley Cup final. 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs The 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs the championship of the

neg: 1994 Stanley Cup Finals 1994 Stanley Cup Finals The 1994 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1993–94 season, and the culmination of the 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the Eastern Conference champion New York Rangers and Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks were making the club's second Final appearance, their first coming during their Cinderella run of , and the Rangers were making their tenth appearance, their first since . The Rangers ended their record 54-year championship drought with a victory in game seven to claim the long-awaited Stanley Cup. It was the

neg: Stanley Cup playoffs third place series played each other in a best-of-three series, with the winner earning the other berth to the Stanley Cup Finals. This format had a slight modification the following year, where the semifinal series became a two-game total goals affair and the Stanley Cup Finals became a best-of-five series. The two-game total goals format was abolished in 1937, with those series being changed to best-of-three affairs. The 1930s saw the reduction of teams from ten to seven, and with it an end to the Canadian and American divisions. The Stanley Cup playoffs saw the first- and second-place teams play

neg: 1979 Stanley Cup Finals 1979 Stanley Cup Finals The 1979 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1978–79 season, and the culmination of the 1979 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the New York Rangers and the defending champion Montreal Canadiens, making their fourth straight appearance. It was New York's first appearance in the Finals since . The Canadiens would win the best-of-seven series, four games to one, to win their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup championship. This was the last Stanley Cup Final until 2013 where both teams were from the Original Six, and the first of

neg: 1974–75 NHL season where Montreal won in six games. Buffalo won this year's season series earning nine of ten points during the regular season. This was the Philadelphia Flyers' second consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearance and second overall. In the previous year's Stanley Cup Finals, the Flyers defeated the Boston Bruins in six games. This was the Buffalo Sabres' first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in their fifth season. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. The Buffalo Sabres won this year's regular season series earning seven of eight points. In the first Stanley Cup Finals matchup between two expansion teams,

neg: 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs four was the last playoff game at the Great Western Forum. This was the first and to date only playoff series between these two teams. Detroit made their twenty-first and second consecutive Finals appearance, while Washington made their first Finals appearance in their twenty-fourth season. Until 2017 this was the last time that the Stanley Cup was successfully defended by the previous year's champion and as of 2018, this is the most recent sweep in the Finals. 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs The 1998 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League (NHL), began on April 22, 1998 following

neg: 1999 Stanley Cup Finals there been a game seven, it would have aired on Fox. Under the U.S. TV contracts that would take effect beginning next season, ABC would take over for Fox as the NHL's network television partner. 1999 Stanley Cup Finals The 1999 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1998–99 season, and the culmination of the 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Eastern Conference champion Buffalo Sabres and the Western Conference champion Dallas Stars. It was the 106th year of the Stanley Cup being contested. The Sabres were led by captain Michael

neg: 2000 Stanley Cup Finals joint American TV contract with the Disney-owned networks ESPN and ABC, with ESPN airing the first two games of the Cup Finals and ABC broadcasting the rest of the series. 2000 Stanley Cup Finals The 2000 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1999–2000 season, and the culmination of the 2000 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Devils and the Western Conference champion Dallas Stars (who were the defending Stanley Cup champion). The Devils were led by captain Scott Stevens, Head Coach Larry Robinson and goaltender Martin

neg: 2009 Stanley Cup Finals regular season games, before leading Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup Finals. He is the second mid-season replacement rookie coach to win the Stanley Cup (See 1971 Stanley Cup Finals for the other coach, Al MacNeil). Bylsma was also a player under Mike Babcock on the 2002-03 and 2003-04 roster of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Included on the team picture, but left off the Stanley Cup. 2009 Stanley Cup Finals The 2009 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2008–09 season, and the culmination of the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested between the

neg: Patric Hörnqvist Patric Hörnqvist Patric Gösta Hörnqvist (; born 1 January 1987) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League. He has also played for the Nashville Predators. Hörnqvist won his first Stanley Cup championship when the Penguins defeated the San Jose Sharks in six games in the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals. In 2017, Hörnqvist scored the Cup-winning goal against his former team, as the Penguins repeated as Stanley Cup champions. He is the only player drafted last overall to have had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. Hörnqvist was born

neg: History of the Vancouver Canucks series, reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in their history. Entering the Finals against the New York Islanders, the Canucks were the first team from Western Canada to play for the Stanley Cup in 56 years, when the Victoria Cougars reached the 1926 Stanley Cup Finals. It also marked the first ever coast-to-coast Stanley Cup Finals. Competing against the Islanders – the Stanley Cup champions of the previous two years who had finished with 41 points more than Vancouver in the regular season standings – Vancouver took the first game to overtime. In the final minute of