Best Stanley Cup Finals in NHL History
Few sporting events are as exciting as the Stanley Cup Finals. After a grueling Playoffs, this is the pinnacle of the season. For many people, it is the only set of NHL matches they will watch all year. Thankfully then, fans from across the world have been treated to some incredible matchups in the past. Predicting a winner is notoriously hard, however having followed expert advice in this year’s event could have been a wise move.
Below we will be looking back at some of the very best Stanley Cup Finals ever as well as taking a look ahead to this season’s iteration of the famous series.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings 1942
We kick off with perhaps the greatest ever Stanley Cup Finals series. In 1942 the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings faced off in a thrilling, cross-border encounter.
The first game of the seven-match series was a tense affair. In the end the Red Wings edged it 3-2 and they would go on to win the next two games to put themselves one victory away from glory in game four.
What happened next was nothing short of miraculous. The Maple Leafs would go on to win the remaining four games to clinch the series. This feat has never been repeated since in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Chicago Blackhawks 1992
At first glance the Pittsburgh Penguins defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 does not suggest all that much excitement. However, the score line does not tell the whole story.
Pittsburgh may have secured the championship with ease, but it could have easily been very different. In three of the four games in which they were victorious, their winning margin was just a single goal. Game four was the most dramatic.
After two periods the score was even at 4-4. Goals from Larry Murphy and Ron Francis then secured the Stanley Cup in the final third.
New York Rangers vs Vancouver Canucks 1994
In 1994, the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks put on an exhibition of world class ice hockey in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Game one set the tone for a terrific series with Vancouver eventually sealing a hard fought 3-2 win in overtime. New York then hit back, taking games two, three and four before back-to-back Vancouver wins set up a tense game seven finale.
In a feisty encounter New York finally got the job done with two first period goals setting them up perfectly for a famous 3-2 win.
Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks 2011
One of the more recent exciting Stanley Cup Finals featured the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks back in 2011. Again, the series went the distance with momentum ebbing and flowing throughout.
The first game was a cagey affair with Vancouver securing an edgy 1-0 win. After this the series sprung into life. The Canucks made it 2-0 with a game two win in overtime before Boston reasserted their authority by beating their opponents 8-1 in game three. They showed their class again in game four, winning 4-0, before Vancouver’s 1-0 in game five put them within one victory of the trophy.
Boston was not beaten, though, clinching the final two games to ensure it would be their name etched on the Stanley Cup.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings 2009
After previously meeting a year earlier, Pittsburgh and Detroit were again drawn against each other in the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals. Back in 2008 the Red Wings had triumphed in an enthralling six games.
This time around things were even more exciting. Pittsburgh would get their revenge, securing the trophy in seven games despite losing the first two matchups fairly comfortably.
Key to their success was Finals MVP Evgeni Malkin. The center put in a tenacious display, inspiring his side to victory in several key games.
How the Montreal Canadiens fared in 2021
You may have noticed that none of the above finals feature the Montreal Canadiens. There is a good reason for this. The Canadiens — who have won a record 24 Stanley Cup Finals — do not generally allow their opponents into the Finals when they get there. They are a winning machine, not entertainers.
Once again, they advanced to the 2021 Finals, after defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights in the Playoffs.
Here are some of the Montreal players that would have been key to the Habs being successful in this year’s Stanley Cup Finals.
Tyler Toffoli
Tyler Toffoli has enjoyed the best season of his career so far. Bagging 28 goals and 16 assists in the shortened regular season, he has done well in the playoffs as well.
Toffoli had five goals in the postseason and did not score in the Finals.
Nick Suzuki
Nick Suzuki’s second season in the NHL has been as good as his first. He ranked second in the Canadiens roster for assists in the regular season and also chipped in with plenty of goals.
Although young, he is gained considerable experience in the Finals.
Carey Price
Carey Price is one of the best goaltenders in the NHL without doubt. During the playoffs he has both stolen games and stolen series to carry his team to the Final.