Sunday, April 28, 2019
Battle of Alberta & NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
To put the early years of these fierce provincial foes in perspective, both teams made the playoffs each year from their inauguration through 1991, with one of them skating in the Stanley Cup Final for eight consecutive years (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990) and winning it six times during that span, spilling oceans of blood en route.
There were dark times too. Edmonton missed the postseason 18 times (1993-1996, 2002, 2004, 2007-2016, 2018, 2019), including a NHL record 10 consecutive postseason absences (2007-2016). Calgary failed to qualify for the playoffs 15 times (1992, 1997-2003, 2010-2014, 2016, 2018).
Both missed the same postseason eight times (2002, 2010-2014, 2016, 2018), including seven of the past nine playoffs. On the other hand, both qualified for the same postseason 13 times (1981-1991, 2006, 2017), though it's only happened twice in the past 26 seasons (2006, 2017).
In terms of head-to-head playoff matchups, the Alberta teams have locked horns five times (1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991). Edmonton has won all but one such series (1986), owing to a spectacular Steve Smith own goal, with the winner reaching the Stanley Cup Final four times (1983, 1984, 1986, 1988) and hoisting twice (1984, 1988) after such affairs.
Regarding other NHL teams facing both Alberta squads in the same postseason, only the Winnipeg Jets (1985, 1987), Los Angeles Kings (1989, 1990) and Anaheim Ducks (2006, 2017) have done it. To date, only the 2017 Anaheim Ducks have won series against both Alberta teams in the same postseason.
Interestingly, when both Alberta sides have played the same opponent in a postseason, the victor has advanced to the Stanley Cup Final every time (1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 2006) but once (2017), hoisting the Cup all but twice (2006, 2017).
The last time Edmonton and Calgary both qualified for the postseason was 2017. Neither made it past the opening round, falling to San Jose and Anaheim, respectively.
For the sake of NHL fans everywhere, let's hope this playoff rivalry is sparked again soon.
Posted by MG at 12:02 AM 0 comments
Labels: Battle of Alberta, California, Playoffs, Video Clip
Thursday, April 25, 2019
NHL Consecutive Stanley Cup Losses
Nine times the losing streak was limited to two years though twice a three year streak struck (Toronto 1938-1940, St. Louis 1968-1970). The charts below describe these streaks by team and years, and vice versa.
Team | Years |
Toronto | 1935-1936 (2), 1938-1939-1940 (3), 1959-1960 (2), |
Detroit | 1941-1942 (2), 1948-1949 (2), 1963-1964 (2) |
Montreal | 1951-1952 (2), 1954-1955 (2) |
Boston | 1957-1958 (2), 1977-1978 (2) |
St. Louis | 1968-1969-1970 (3) |
Years | Team |
1935-1936 | Toronto |
1938-1940 | Toronto |
1941-1942 | Detroit |
1948-1949 | Detroit |
1951-1952 | Montreal |
1954-1955 | Montreal |
1957-1958 | Boston |
1959-1960 | Toronto |
1963-1964 | Detroit |
1968-1970 | St. Louis |
1977-1978 | Boston |
In 2016, the Tampa Bay Lightning fell one game short of returning to the Stanley Cup Final for their second consecutive year. Had they qualified and lost to their western conference counterpart, they would have become the sixth franchise on this inglorious list.
* See also NHL Consecutive Stanley Cup Wins.
* See also NHL Consecutive Stanley Cup Rematches.
Posted by MG at 12:02 AM 0 comments
Labels: Playoffs, Statistical Anomaly
NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Series Win Droughts
Every Stanley Cup winning season begins by qualifying for the postseason. Only 8 teams, however, take the second crucial step of winning a playoff series. For the remaining 23 teams, the playoff series win drought begins.
The chart below describes, in descending order, the number of seasons each of these 23 teams has gone without winning a series in the Stanley Cup playoffs, showing the last year they actually won a postseason series. Where no year appears, that team has NEVER won a playoff series.
Team | Seasons | Last Series Win |
Florida |
22
|
|
Toronto |
14
|
|
Buffalo |
12
|
|
Vancouver |
8
|
|
Arizona |
7
|
|
New Jersey |
7
|
|
Philadelphia |
7
|
|
Detroit |
6
|
|
Los Angeles |
5
|
|
Calgary |
4
|
|
Chicago |
4
|
|
Minnesota |
4
|
|
Montreal |
4
|
|
Anaheim |
2
|
|
Edmonton |
2
|
|
New York^ |
2
|
|
Ottawa |
2
|
|
Nashville |
1
|
|
Pittsburgh |
1
|
|
Tampa Bay |
1
|
|
Vegas |
1
|
|
Washington |
1
|
|
Winnipeg |
1
|
* New York Islanders
^ New York Rangers
The Phoenix Coyotes hold the all-time series win drought record of 23 seasons going 14 seasons in Phoenix and 9 seasons in Winnipeg without a series win, a streak that was snapped in the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs.
The current leader is the Florida Panthers with 22 seasons separating them from a postseason series win. This postseason was special for the Columbus Blue Jackets who won the first playoff series of their 19 year existence sweeping the Presidents' Trophy winning Tampa Bay Lightning. Last year's postseason was special for the Winnipeg Jets (formerly Atlanta Thrashers), as they won their first ever playoff game on April 11, 2018 (6,767 days since their first game on October 2, 1999) as well as their first playoff series win, ending a 17 season drought on both counts.
Interestingly, all 7 Canadian teams (Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg) find themselves on the list. Unfortunately for the hockey-crazed nation, their teams also rank high on the Stanley Cup Championship drought lists, with 26 years separating the country from its last Cup win (Montreal 1993).
Of the eight teams advancing to the second round of the 2019 Playoffs, two (Boston, San Jose) won at least one playoff series last year. None of the others (Carolina, Colorado, Columbus, Dallas, New York Islanders, St. Louis) won a series in the 2018 Playoffs. In fact, four of them didn't even qualify for last year's playoff (Carolina, Dallas, New York Islanders, St. Louis).
Playoff berths are harder to come by every year. Make the most of each opportunity as parity promises your window will likely quickly close.
* See also NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Qualification Droughts.
* See also NHL Stanley Cup Final Appearance Droughts.
* See also NHL Stanley Cup Championship Droughts.
Posted by MG at 12:01 AM 0 comments
Labels: Drought, Music, Playoffs, Statistical Anomaly, Video Clip
NHL Consecutive Stanley Cup Rematches
Since the Stanley Cup was first awarded to the NHL's best in 1926, only 10 times have the same two teams met in the Cup Final in consecutive years. Of those 10 meetings, the same team won both series 7 times and teams split 3 times. Put another way, the Cup champion has successfully defended its title in 7 of the 10 rematches (70%).
The chart below describes every consecutive Cup rematch by year.
Year | Matchup |
1932 | Toronto over New York* |
1933 | New York* over Toronto |
1948 | Toronto over Detroit |
1949 | Toronto over Detroit |
1954 | Detroit over Montreal |
1955 | Detroit over Montreal |
1957 | Montreal over Boston |
1958 | Montreal over Boston |
1959 | Montreal over Toronto |
1960 | Montreal over Toronto |
1963 | Toronto over Detroit |
1964 | Toronto over Detroit |
1968 | Montreal over St. Louis |
1969 | Montreal over St. Louis |
1977 | Montreal over Boston |
1978 | Montreal over Boston |
1983 | New York** over Edmonton |
1984 | Edmonton over New York** |
2008 | Detroit over Pittsburgh |
2009 | Pittsburgh over Detroit |
* New York Rangers
** New York Islanders
Of the 9 teams (Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins) to compete in Stanley Cup Final rematches, all but two (Boston, St. Louis) have won at least one championship during a rematch series. Never have the same two teams met in more than two consecutive Stanley Cup Finals.
Though teams have enjoyed consecutive Stanley Cup wins (24 times) and suffered consecutive Stanley Cup losses (13 times) over the years, the rematch is a far rarer occurrence (10 times).
With Washington and Vegas ousted in the opening round of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, there will be no rematch of last year's finalists in the 2017 Stanley Cup Final.
* See also NHL Consecutive Stanley Cup Wins.
* See also NHL Consecutive Stanley Cup Losses.
Posted by MG at 12:01 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music, Playoffs, Statistical Anomaly, Video Clip
Sunday, April 21, 2019
NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Game 7 History
When two teams split the first six games of a best-of-seven playoff series, a 'winner take all' Game 7 is staged. Heroes are born and victors crowned in this high-stakes affair. Not surprisingly, Game 7s have produced some of the most memorable moments in NHL postseason history.
Once reserved solely for the Semifinal and Final rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the best-of-seven format was expanded to include the Quarterfinals in 1968 and Preliminary round in 1987. Of the 681 best-of-seven NHL playoff series played through 2018, 169 (25%) have resulted in a Game 7 with the home team holding a healthy 98-71 (58%) edge. The team that scores first has a 126-43 (75%) edge, including a 5-0 record in 2016. 40 of the 169 (24%) Game 7s have gone to overtime, with the home and road teams each winning 20 times (50%).
Of the 169 Game 7s, 28 times a team trailing their series 3-1 won Game 7 and 4 times a team down 3-0 in their series won Game 7. The most Game 7s in single playoff season is seven (1994, 2011, 2014). Only three times has a postseason gone without (1970, 1973, 1977).
Over the past 31 postseasons since the 1987 expansion of all series to best-of-seven, a Game 7 has been played in 125 of the 465 series. Put another way, 28% or approximately every 1 in 3.6 playoff series have gone to seven games. The chart below describes Game 7s by year, noting the number and round in which a seventh game(s) occurred.
Year: Game 7s (Round)
Year: Game 7s (Round)
1987: 5 (1P, 3Q, F)
2002: 5 (2P, 2Q, 1S)
1988: 3 (1P, 1Q, 1S)
2003: 6 (3P, 1Q, 1S, F)
1989: 3 (2P, 1Q)
2004: 5 (3P, 1S, F)
1990: 4 (3P, 1Q)
2006: 3 (1P, 1S, F)
1991: 4 (3P, 1Q)
2007: 1 (1P)
1992: 6 (6P)
2008: 3 (3P)
1993: 4 (1P, 2Q, 1S)
2009: 6 (2P, 3Q, F)
1994: 7 (4P, 1Q, 1S, F)
2010: 4 (2P, 2Q)
1995: 4 (4P)
2011: 7 (4P, 1Q, 1S, F)
1996: 2 (1Q, 1S)
2012: 4 (3P, 1Q)
1997: 3 (3P)
2013: 5 (3P, 2Q)
1998: 1 (1Q)
2014: 7 (3P, 3Q, 1S)
1999: 3 (2P, 1S)
2015: 5 (2P, 1Q, 2S)
2000: 3 (1P, 2S)
2016: 5 (2P, 2Q, 1S)
2001: 4 (3Q, F)
2017: 3 (2Q, 1S)
2018: 3 (1P, 1Q, 1S)
(P = Preliminary, Q = Quarterfinal, S = Semifinal, F = Final)
Breaking it down by round, the most Game 7s over the past 31 seasons on a percentage basis have occurred in Semifinal (18/62 = 28%) and Quarterfinal (35/124 = 28%), followed by the Stanley Cup Final (8/31 = 26%) and Preliminary (67/248 = 27%) round. Interestingly, 6 of the past 17 Finals and 6 of the past 9 Semifinals have been decided by a seventh game. In sum, the likelihood of a Game 7 in a NHL playoff series since 1987 is 1 in 3.5 for the Semifinal and Quarterfinal with a slight decrease to roughly 1 in 3.65 for the Preliminary round and 1 in 3.75 for the Stanley Cup Final.
The charts below show the total number of Game 7s played by each NHL team along with their win/loss records, with all-time statistics on the lefthand side and data since 1987 on the righthand side.
NHL Game 7s All-Time | NHL Game 7s Since 1987 |
Team: Series (Record) | Team: Series (Record) |
Boston: 26 (14-12) | Pittsburgh: 16 (10-6) |
Detroit: 25 (14-11) | Boston: 15 (9-6) |
Montreal: 23 (14-9) | New Jersey: 15 (7-8) |
Toronto: 23 (12-11) | Washington: 15 (4-11) |
Pittsburgh: 17 (10-7) | Detroit: 14 (7-7) |
Philadelphia: 16 (9-7) | Toronto: 12 (6-6) |
St. Louis: 16 (8-8) | New York*: 11 (9-2) |
New York*: 15 (9-6) | Philadelphia: 11 (6-5) |
New Jersey: 15 (7-8) | Montreal: 10 (7-3) |
Washington: 15 (4-11) | San Jose: 10 (6-4) |
Chicago: 14 (7-7) | Vancouver: 10 (6-4) |
Calgary: 12 (5-7) | Colorado: 10 (4-6) |
Los Angeles: 11 (7-4) | St. Louis: 10 (4-6) |
Edmonton: 10 (6-4) | Los Angeles: 8 (6-2) |
San Jose: 10 (6-4) | Chicago: 8 (5-3) |
Vancouver: 10 (6-4) | Anaheim: 9 (3-6) |
Colorado: 10 (4-6) | Edmonton: 8 (5-3) |
Anaheim: 9 (3-6) | Tampa Bay: 8 (5-3) |
Tampa Bay: 8 (5-3) | Calgary: 8 (2-6) |
Minnesota^: 7 (3-4) | Buffalo: 6 (1-5) |
New York**: 7 (3-4) | Ottawa: 6 (0-6) |
Buffalo: 7 (1-6) | Dallas: 5 (2-3) |
Ottawa: 6 (0-6) | New York**: 5 (2-3) |
Dallas: 5 (2-3) | Carolina: 4 (4-0) |
Carolina: 4 (4-0) | Minnesota^^: 3 (3-0) |
Minnesota^^: 3 (3-0) | Nashville: 3 (1-2) |
Quebec: 3 (2-1) | Phoenix: 3 (0-3) |
Nashville: 3 (1-2) | Florida: 2 (1-1) |
Hartford: 3 (0-3) | Hartford: 2 (0-2) |
Florida: 2 (1-1) | Minnesota^: 2 (0-2) |
Phoenix: 2 (1-1) | Winnipeg~: 2 (0-2) |
Winnipeg~: 2 (0-2) | Winnipeg+: 1 (1-0) |
Winnipeg+: 1 (1-0) | Quebec: 1 (0-1) |
Oakland: 1 (0-1) | |
* New York Rangers
** New York Islanders
^ Minnesota North Stars
^^ Minnesota Wild
~ Winnipeg Jets (1979-1996)
+ Winnipeg Jets (2011-Present)
Boston has skated in the most Game 7s (26) in NHL history with Boston, Detroit and Montreal winning the most (14). Over the past 31 seasons, however, Pittsburgh has played more Game 7s (16) than anyone else and winning the most (10). Carolina, Minnesota Wild and the Winnipeg Jets (2011-Present) have never lost a Game 7; Ottawa, Hartford, Phoenix, Winnipeg (1979-1996) and Oakland have never won a Game 7; and Columbus has never skated in one.
In terms of winning more than one Game 7 in a single postseason, 22 teams have done it twice with only two teams winning three best-of-seven series in a Game 7 in a single playoff (Boston 2011, Los Angeles 2014). The chart below lists all NHL teams that have ever won two or more Game 7s in a single postseason, indicating year and rounds in which they turned the trick.
NHL Game 7s Won Same Year
Year: Team (Round)
1950: Detroit (S, F)*
1964: Toronto (S, F)*
1968: St. Louis (Q, S)
1990: Chicago (P, Q)
1993: Toronto (P, Q)
1994: New York^ (S, F)*
2001: Colorado (Q, F)*
2002: Colorado (P, Q), Toronto (P, Q)
2003: New Jersey (S, F)*, Minnesota (P, Q)
2004: Tampa Bay (S, F)*
2006: Carolina (S, F)*
2009: Carolina (P, Q), PIT (Q, F)*
2010: Montreal (P, Q)
2011: Boston (P, S, F)*
2012: New York^ (P, Q)
2014: Los Angeles (P, Q, S)*
2015: Tampa Bay (P, S)
2016: St. Louis (P, Q)
2017: Pittsburgh (Q, S)*
* Stanley Cup Champion
^ New York Rangers
(P = Preliminary, Q = Quarterfinal, S = Semifinal, F = Final)
The 2018 postseason featured three Game 7s, with the team that scores first going 2-1, home teams holding a 1-2 record, and none recovering from a 3-1 series deficit.
Game 7 ... kill or be killed.
* See also NHL Playoff Comebacks Trailing 3-0.
* See also NHL Playoff Comebacks Trailing 3-1.
* See also NHL Stanley Cup Playoff First Round Upsets.
* See also Canucks Game 7 Overtime & Stanley Cup Finals.
Posted by MG at 9:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Expansion, Music, Playoffs, Realignment, Statistical Anomaly, Tradition, Video Clip
Saturday, April 20, 2019
NHL Presidents' Trophy Winners & Playoff Success
The Presidents' Trophy is awarded annually to the team with the best NHL regular season record. Since its inaugural offering in 1986, it has been awarded 33 times to 17 different franchises. The recipient is guaranteed home ice advantage for all four rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Unfortunately for recipients, regular season success and home-ice advantage does not always translate in postseason success. The chart below shows each Presidents' Trophy winner by year and playoff result.
Year
Presidents' Trophy
Playoff Result
2019
Tampa Bay Lightning
Lost Preliminary (Columbus)
2018
Nashville Predators
Lost Quarterfinal (Winnipeg)
2017
Washington Capitals
Lost Quarterfinal (Pittsburgh)
2016
Washington Capitals
Lost Quarterfinal (Pittsburgh)
2015
New York Rangers
Lost Semifinal (Tampa Bay)
2014
Boston Bruins
Lost Quarterfinal (Montreal)
2013
Chicago Blackhawks
Won Stanley Cup
2012
Vancouver Canucks
Lost Preliminary (Los Angeles)
2011
Vancouver Canucks
Lost Final (Boston)
2010
Washington Capitals
Lost Preliminary (Montreal)
2009
San Jose Sharks
Lost Preliminary (Anaheim)
2008
Detroit Red Wings
Won Stanley Cup
2007
Buffalo Sabres
Lost Semifinal (Ottawa)
2006
Detroit Red Wings
Lost Preliminary (Edmonton)
2004
Detroit Red Wings
Lost Quarterfinal (Calgary)
2003
Ottawa Senators
Lost Semifinal (New Jersey)
2002
Detroit Red Wings
Won Stanley Cup
2001
Colorado Avalanche
Won Stanley Cup
2000
St. Louis Blues
Lost Preliminary (San Jose)
1999
Dallas Stars
Won Stanley Cup
1998
Dallas Stars
Lost Semifinal (Detroit)
1997
Colorado Avalanche
Lost Semifinal (Detroit)
1996
Detroit Red Wings
Lost Semifinal (Colorado)
1995
Detroit Red Wings
Lost Final (New Jersey)
1994
New York Rangers
Won Stanley Cup
1993
Pittsburgh Penguins
Lost Quarterfinal (New York)*
1992
New York Rangers
Lost Quarterfinal (Pittsburgh)
1991
Chicago Blackhawks
Lost Preliminary (Minnesota)^
1990
Boston Bruins
Lost Final (Edmonton)
1989
Calgary Flames
Won Stanley Cup
1988
Calgary Flames
Lost Quarterfinal (Edmonton)
1987
Edmonton Oilers
Won Stanley Cup
1986
Edmonton Oilers
Lost Quarterfinal (Calgary)
* New York Islanders
^ Minnesota North Stars
Of the 33 recipients through 2019, eleven (35%) qualified for the Final and eight (24%) won the Stanley Cup (1987, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2013). Of the 20 others, seven (21%) were ousted in the Preliminary round (1991, 2000, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2019), nine (27%) were eliminated in the Quarterfinal (1986, 1988, 1992, 1993, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018), and six (18%) stalled in the Semifinal (1996, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2007, 2015).
Only once in the past seven seasons has a Presidents' Trophy winner won the Stanley Cup (Chicago 2013). In fact, four teams during the past eleven years saw their season end in the opening round (San Jose 2009, Washington 2010, Vancouver 2012, Tampa Bay 2019). Interesting, only three times in the prior 24 seasons did winners suffer such a fate (Chicago 1991, St. Louis 2000, Detroit 2006).
Earlier this week the Presidents' Trophy winning Tampa Bay Lightning were swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the opening round. Once again, the regular season's best fails to achieve Stanley Cup success.
* See also NHL Playoff First Round Upsets.
* See also NHL Playoff Seeding And Stanley Cup Wins.
* See also Presidents' Winners & Defending Cup Champions.
Posted by MG at 12:02 AM 0 comments
Labels: Awards, Playoffs, Statistical Anomaly
Presidents' Winners & Defending Cup Champions
Since the inaugural offering of the Presidents' Trophy in 1986, awarded to the team with the best regular season record, its recipient has drawn the defending Stanley Cup champions eight times in the subsequent postseason. The chart below shows each meeting by year, matchup and outcome.
Year |
Matchup
|
Outcome |
1988 | Edmonton Oilers* over Calgary Flames |
4-0 (Q)
|
1992 | Pittsburgh Penguins* over New York Rangers |
4-2 (Q)
|
1998 | Detroit Red Wings* over Dallas Stars |
4-2 (S)
|
2001 | Colorado Avalanche over New Jersey Devils* |
4-3 (F)
|
2002 | Detroit Red Wings over Colorado Avalanche* |
4-3 (S)
|
2011 | Vancouver Canucks over Chicago Blackhawks* |
4-3 (P)
|
2013 | Chicago Blackhawks over Los Angeles Kings* |
4-1 (S)
|
2017 | Pittsburgh Penguins* over Washington Capitals |
4-3 (Q)
|
* Defending Stanley Cup Champion
(P = Preliminary, Q = Quarterfinal, S = Semifinal, F = Final)
In the first three postseason meetings between the regular season's best and defending league champs, the prior year's Stanley Cup champions won (1988, 1992, 1998) and went on to hoist consecutive Stanley Cups. The next four matchups saw the Presidents' Trophy winners oust the defending Cup champions (2001, 2002, 2011, 2013) and win the Stanley Cup in every instance but one (Vancouver 2011).
The most recent clash occurred in the Quarterfinal of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when the 2016 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Presidents' Trophy winning Washington Capitals., snapping the previous streak of Presidents' Trophy winners advancing.
This meeting marks the 10th playoff series between the clubs, with Pittsburgh holding a 9-1 advantage and a 3-0 record during the Crosby-Ovechkin era. It's also the first time that the top two regular season finishers have met in the playoffs since 2001 when Colorado met New Jersey in the Stanley Cup Final.
The only opportunity for the 2019 Presidents' Trophy winning Tampa Bay Lightning to meet the 2018 Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals would have been in the Conference Final. WIth both teams exiting in the opening round, against Columbus and Carolina respectively, we'll have to wait another year for such a matchup.
* See also NHL Consecutive Stanley Cup Wins.
* See also NHL Playoff Seeding And Stanley Cup Wins.
* See also NHL Stanley Cup Playoff First Round Upsets. * See also NHL Presidents' Trophy Winners & Playoff Success.
Posted by MG at 12:01 AM 0 comments
Labels: Canucks, Playoffs, Projections, Statistical Anomaly, Video Clip
Friday, April 19, 2019
NHL Playoff Sweeps Without Surrendering Lead
When a team wins the first four games of a playoff series they are said to have swept the series and their opponent. When the victor does so NEVER trailing in any of the four games, they have completed the rare feat of a PERFECT sweep.
Of the 681 best-of-seven NHL Stanley Cup playoff series played through 2018, 117 (17%) have resulted in a sweep. Only 18 of those 681 series (2.6%), however, ended in a perfect sweep or annihilation.
The chart below describes every such perfect sweep (or annihilation, if you prefer), showing the playoff year, matchup and round of the rarity.
Year
Matchup
Round
1946
Montreal over Chicago
Semifinal
1952
Detroit over Montreal
Final
1954
Montreal over Boston
Semifinal
1960
Montreal over Chicago
Semifinal
Montreal over Toronto
Final
1969
Boston over Toronto
Quarterfinal
St. Louis over Philadelphia
Quarterfinal
1977
Montreal over St. Louis
Quarterfinal
1978
Montreal over Toronto
Semifinal
1979
New York* over Chicago
Quarterfinal
1987
Detroit over Chicago
Preliminary
1989
Pittsburgh over New York**
Preliminary
1992
Chicago over Detroit
Quarterfinal
1995
Detroit over San Jose
Quarterfinal
2000
Detroit over Los Angeles
Preliminary
2009
Detroit over Columbus
Preliminary
2013
Boston over Pittsburgh
Semifinal
2015
Chicago over Minnesota
Quarterfinal
* New York Islanders
** New York Rangers
The Montreal Canadiens lead the league with six perfect sweeps and are the only team to do it twice in a single postseason. That happened in 1960 when Montreal annihilated both the Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs en route to their fifth straight Stanley Cup championship. Chicago, on the other hand, owns the honor of being on the losing end of a perfect sweep four times, leading all teams in this category.
Breaking it down by round, the most annihilations have happened in the Quarterfinal (7), followed by the Semifinal (5), Preliminary (4) and Final (2). The last team to be so swept in the Cup Final was the Toronto Maple Leafs 55 years ago, adding to their dreary postseason history.
Of the two sweeps thus far in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs (Columbus over Tampa Bay, New York Islander over Pittsburgh), both victims managed to hold a goal lead at some point during a game of the series avoiding the distinction of making this historic list. Pittsburgh narrowly escaped this honor, leading their series for only 3 minutes and 41 seconds thanks to opening goals in games 2, 3 and 4 from Gudbranson, Wilson and Guentzal.
Beware of the brooms. But avoid annihilation at all costs.
* See also NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Sweeps.
Posted by MG at 12:03 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music, Playoffs, Statistical Anomaly, Video Clip
Thursday, April 18, 2019
NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Sweeps
When a team eliminates their opponent using the minimum number of games without sustaining a single loss in a multi-game series they are said to have swept the other team. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs that means winning the first four games of a best-of-seven series.
Of the NHL's 681 best-of-seven playoff series since the league's origins through 2018, 117 (17%) have ended in a sweep. The most sweeps in a single postseason during this span is five (1969, 1992). Only three times since all postseason series were expanded to best-of-seven in 1987 has a Stanley Cup Playoff series gone without a sweep (1991, 2002, 2016).
Over the past 31 postseasons (since the 1987 expansion to best-of-seven series), a sweep has resulted in 65 of 465 series, representing 1 in 7 (14%) of all playoff series. The chart below describes playoff sweeps by year, noting the number and round in which sweep(s) occurred.
Year: Sweeps (Round) | Year: Sweeps (Round) |
1987: 3 (2P, 1Q) | 2006: 2 (1P, 1S) |
1988: 2 (1Q, F) | 2007: 1 (1P) |
1989: 3 (2P, 1Q) | 2008: 2 (1P, 1Q) |
1990: 2 (1P, 1S) | 2009: 4 (3P, 1S) |
1991: 0 | 2010: 1 (1S) |
1992: 5 (2Q, 2S, F) | 2011: 3 (1P, 2Q) |
1993: 3 (2P, 1Q) | 2012: 1 (1Q) |
1994: 2 (2P) | 2013: 2 (1P, 1S) |
1995: 4 (3Q, F) | 2014: 1 (1P,) |
1996: 2 (1P, F) | 2015: 2 (1P, 1Q) |
1997: 2 (1Q, F) | 2016: 0 |
1998: 3 (1P, 1Q, F) | 2017: 2 (2P) |
1999: 3 (3P) | 2018: 2 (1P) |
2000: 2 (2P) | |
2001: 3 (2P, 1Q) | |
2002: 0 | |
2003: 2 (1P, 1S) | |
2004: 1 (1Q) | |
2005: N/A |
(P = Preliminary, Q = Quarterfinal, S = Semifinal, F = Final)
Breaking it down by round, the most sweeps on a percentage basis have happened in the Stanley Cup Final (6/31 = 19%), though no team has been swept there since 1998 when the Detroit Red Wings disposed off the Washington Capitals. The Quarterfinal (19/124 = 15%), Preliminary (33/248 = 13%) and Semifinal (7/62 = 11%) rounds follow with a historically significant but decreasing likelihood of sweep.
The preliminary round of the 2018 Playoffs had two sweeps, the Sharks disposing of the Ducks and the Golden Knights slaying the Kings. In both instances, the loser avoided a perfect sweep managing to hold a goal lead at some point during a game in the series.
Thus far, the 2019 Playoffs have provided two sweeps in the preliminary round, with the Columbus Blue Jackets upsetting the President's Trophy winning Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Islanders beating the Pittsburgh Penguins.
* See also NHL Playoff Sweeps Without Surrendering Lead.
Posted by MG at 12:02 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music, Playoffs, Statistical Anomaly, Video Clip
NHL Playoff Comebacks Trailing 3-1
Eight teams took a 3-1 series lead in their best-of-seven series in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including 5 of 8 Preliminary round matchups. All won (Boston, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay [2], Vegas, Winnipeg, Washington). While a 3-1 lead is always a good thing, it's never a sure thing.
Through 2018, teams have trailed 3-1 in a best-of-seven series 300 times. Only 28 times has the trailing team comeback to win the series. Put another way, the team with a 3-1 series lead wins 90% of the time with the down-and-nearly-out team recovering only 10% of the time.
The chart below describes all 28 comebacks by year, team and round.
Year
Matchup
Round
1942
Toronto over Detroit
Final
1975
New York* over Pittsburgh
Preliminary
1987
New York* over Washington
Preliminary
Detroit over Toronto
Quarterfinal
1988
Washington over Philadelphia
Quarterfinal
1989
Los Angeles over Edmonton
Preliminary
1990
Edmonton over Winnipeg
Preliminary
1991
St. Louis over Detroit
Preliminary
1992
Detroit over Minnesota^
Preliminary
Vancouver over Winnipeg
Preliminary
Pittsburgh over Washington
Preliminary
1994
Vancouver over Calgary
Preliminary
1995
Pittsburgh over Washington
Preliminary
1998
Edmonton over Colorado
Preliminary
1999
St. Louis over Phoenix
Preliminary
2000
New Jersey over Philadelphia
Semifinal
2003
Minnesota^^ over Colorado
Preliminary
Vancouver over St. Louis
Preliminary
Minnesota^^ over Vancouver
Quarterfinal
2004
Montreal over Boston
Preliminary
2009
Washington over New York**
Preliminary
2010
Montreal over Washington
Preliminary
Philadelphia over Boston
Quarterfinal
2011
Tampa Bay over Pittsburgh
Preliminary
2013
Chicago over Detroit
Quarterfinal
2014
Los Angeles over San Jose
Preliminary
New York** over Pittsburgh
Quarterfinal
2015
New York** over Washington
Quarterfinal
* New York Islanders
** New York Rangers
^ Minnesota North Stars
^^ Minnesota Wild
In the 31 seasons since all playoff rounds were expanded to best-of-seven series in 1987, 26 teams have comeback from a 3-1 deficit to win their series. In the thirteen postseasons since the 2004 NHL Lockout, however, only eight teams (Washington 2009, Montreal 2010, Philadelphia 2010, Tampa Bay 2011, Chicago 2013, Los Angeles 2014, New York 2014, New York 2015) have turned the trick.
Breaking it down by round, such comebacks have happened only once in the Stanley Cup Final (Toronto 1942) and Semifinal (New Jersey 2000), and seven times in the Quarterfinal (Detroit 1987, Washington 1988, Minnesota 2003, Philadelphia 2010, Chicago 2013, New York 2014, New York 2015), with the remaining 19 comebacks occurring during the Preliminary round.
Of the 28 teams that completed the comeback, six (6/28 = 21%) won the Stanley Cup (Toronto 1942, Edmonton 1990, Pittsburgh 1992, New Jersey 2000, Chicago 2013, Los Angeles 2014) and three more made it to the Final but failed to hoist the hardware (Vancouver 1994, Philadelphia 2010, New York 2014).
Only one team has ever recovered from a 3-1 deficit twice in the same playoff (Minnesota 2003). Similarly, only one team has ever comeback down 3-1 and blown a 3-1 lead in the same postseason (Vancouver 2003).
The chart below lists all teams involved in such 3-1 series comebacks, showing the total number of series involving such circumstances and their overall win/loss record.
Team | Series | Record |
Washington |
7
|
2-5
|
Detroit |
5
|
2-3
|
Pittsburgh |
5
|
2-3
|
Vancouver |
4
|
3-1
|
Edmonton |
3
|
2-1
|
New York** |
3
|
2-1
|
St. Louis |
3
|
2-1
|
Philadelphia |
3
|
1-2
|
Los Angeles |
2
|
2-0
|
Minnesota^^ |
2
|
2-0
|
Montreal |
2
|
2-0
|
New York* |
2
|
2-0
|
Toronto |
2
|
1-1
|
Boston |
2
|
0-2
|
Colorado |
2
|
0-2
|
Winnipeg |
2
|
0-2
|
Chicago |
1
|
1-0
|
New Jersey |
1
|
1-0
|
Tampa Bay |
1
|
1-0
|
Calgary |
1
|
0-1
|
Minnesota^ |
1
|
0-1
|
Phoenix |
1
|
0-1
|
San Jose |
1
|
0-1
|
* New York Islanders
** New York Rangers
^ Minnesota North Stars
^^ Minnesota Wild
Only Anaheim, Buffalo, Carolina, Columbus, Dallas, Florida, Nashville, Ottawa and Winnipeg (formerly the Atlanta Thrashers) have never comeback from a 3-1 series deficit or blown a 3-1 series lead. Vancouver leads all teams in comebacks trailing a series 3-1 with three such series wins. Conversely, Washington has blown more 3-1 series leads than any other team, squandering five such series.
It's worth noting that in the thirteen postseasons since the 2004 NHL Lockout, twelve teams have squandered a 3-1 series lead only to stave off elimination by winning Game 7. They are Carolina (2006), Vancouver (2007), Montreal (2008), Philadelphia (2008), Carolina (2009), Vancouver (2011), San Jose (2011), Boston (2013), Los Angeles (2014), St. Louis (2016), Pittsburgh (2017) and Boston (2018). Seven of these games were decided by one goal and five in overtime. In sum, with a 10% chance of recovery for teams trailing their series 3-1, it's statistically likely their season will soon end.
* See also NHL Playoff Comebacks Trailing 3-0.
* See also NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Game 7 History.
* See also NHL Stanley Cup Playoff First Round Upsets.
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