On April 30th in 1994, Vancouver Canucks goalie Kirk McLean denied Calgary Flames forward Robert Reichel of an overtime open net opportunity in Game 7 of the 1994 playoffs' opening round, in what is now known in Canucks circles simply as 'The Save'.
The spectacular save set the stage for Pavel Bure's double overtime series winner, considered by many as the Greatest Moment in Canucks History, capping the Canucks improbable 3-1 series deficit comeback with three consecutive overtime wins against the Flames and igniting their Cinderella run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Highlights from this historic Canucks Game 7 can be viewed below.
That's today in NHL history.
* See also Canucks Game 7 Overtime & Stanley Cup Finals.
* See also NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Game 7 History.
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Today In NHL History - Kirk McLean's Game 7 Save
Today In NHL History - Steve Smith's Own Goal
On April 30th in 1986, rookie defenseman Steve Smith of the Edmonton Oilers accidentally played the puck off of goalie Grant Fuhr and scored on his own goal, putting the Calgary Flames ahead 3-2 in the third period of Game 7 of the Battle of Alberta Smyth Division Finals.
Smith's 23rd birthday blooper held up as the winner and Calgary took the series 4-3. The Flames would eventually advance to the Stanley Cup Finals only to lose to the Montreal Canadiens in five games.
That's today in NHL history.
Monday, April 29, 2019
Today In NHL History - Roger Neilson Surrenders
On April 29th in 1982, Vancouver Canucks head coach Roger Neilson surrendered to referee Bob Myers during Game 2 of the Campbell Conference Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks in protest of poor officiating.
Stymied by seemingly unjustified penalties, Tiger Williams suggested throwing all of the sticks on the ice. Coach Neilson replied, "No, I've done that before, let's surrender". And with that, a white towel was raised on the end of a stick for all to see and Towel Power was born.
Neilson was tossed and the Canucks lost the game 4-1. They went on to win the series against the Blackhawks by the same margin, advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history.
Some 29 years later the Vancouver Canucks unveiled an 800 pound bronze sculpture by Norm Williams outside of the coincidentally named Rogers Arena, memorializing Neilson's historic stand that inspired a team and a tradition.
That's today in NHL history.
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.
Today In NHL History - Dale Hunter Hits Turgeon
On April 28th in 1993, Washington Capitals forward Dale Hunter delivered a late shoulder-separating hit on New York Islanders center Pierre Turgeon after the Lady Byng recipient converted Hunter's defensive-end turnover for the Isles 5th goal in Game 6 of the Patrick Division Semifinal.
Witnessing the foul firsthand at Nassau Coliseum, the newly appointed Commissioner Gary Bettman assessed a 21 game suspension costing Hunter $150,000, one-quarter of his $600,000 annual salary. New York beat Washington that night by a score of 5-3 to win the series 4-2.
That's today in NHL history.
Thursday, April 25, 2019
Today In NHL History - Carcillo Fights Talbot
On April 25th in 2009, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Maxime Talbot challenged Philadelphia Flyers tough guy Daniel Carcillo to a scrap down 3-0 in the second period of Game 6 of the Conference Quarterfinals.
Carcillo won the fight but Pittsburgh stole the momentum responding with five unanswered goals to win the game 5-3, clinch the series 4-2 and eventually hoist the Stanley Cup seven weeks later. Though some discredit the fight as a turning point, Talbot's silencing was golden.
On July 1, 2011, the Flyers parted ways with Carcillo and signed Talbot. Carcillo took a one year $750,000 deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. Talbot earned a five year $8.75m deal with the Flyers.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Today In NHL History - Alan Eagleson
On April 24th in 1933, Robert Alan Eagleson was born in St. Catherines, Ontario. Once considered the most powerful man in hockey, Eagleson's reputation was destroyed and person imprisoned when his fraudulent ways towards his colleagues and clients were revealed.
Starting out as a player agent before pioneering the NHLPA and international tournaments among professionals (1972 Summit Series, 1976 Canada Cup), the NHL icon was enshrined into the Hockey Hall of Fame and appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1989 only to have both honors stripped nine years later upon cross border convictions.
The unraveling originated with articles penned by player agents Ritch Winter and Ron Salcer, and Eagle-Tribune sports editor Russ Conway. Allegations of embezzlement, colluding to repress player salaries, misrepresenting player negotiations, and skimming disability funds resulted in disbarment as a lawyer, U.S. courts taking his money ($700,000) and Canada's his freedom (18 month sentence of which he served six), as described in Conway's 'Game Misconduct'.
That's today in NHL history.
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.
Today In NHL History - Ference Fingers Montreal
On April 21st in 2011, Boston Bruins blueliner Andrew Ference celebrated his first playoff goal in a decade, tying the game 2-2 in the opening period, with a one finger salute for the Montreal Canadiens fans at the Bell Center.
Afterwards, a straight-faced Ference assured anyone who would listen that the unpenalized gesture was inadvertent, noting that his glove "got caught up" as he was pumping his fist in the air.
The NHL didn't buy it either, electing to fine Ference $2,500, the maximum allowable amount under Rule 75.5(ii) for unsportsmanlike conduct, representing 1/900th of his $2.25m annual salary.
Fourteen months later Ference came clean admitting he intentionally flipped-off Habs fans and cowardly lied to cover his tracks:
"Accountability is lacking in our world. Just look at nuisance lawsuits, or the finger-pointing of politicians around the globe. I am guilty myself of trying to blame a middle-fingered celebration after a goal in Montreal on a glove malfunction. In round one of the playoffs between two of the fiercest rivals in our sport, I scored a tying goal in the enemys building, only to have my fist pump turn into a sign language that crosses all borders. Facing the media and a possible suspension after the fact proved to be too much for my self-accountability. Self-preservation is a powerful thing it is easier to place blame elsewhere and overlook your own responsibilities."
Boston went on to beat Montreal that night in overtime by a score of 5-4, knotting their first round best-of-seven series at 2-2.
That's today in NHL history.
Today In NHL History - Lidstrom Beats Cloutier
On April 21st in 2002, Norris winner Nicklas Lidstrom scored on Vancouver Canucks netminder Dan Cloutier from center ice in the final minute of the second period breaking a 1-1 tie in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarter-finals.
The goal marked a playoff turning point as the Detroit Red Wings won the game 3-1 and overcame a 2-0 series deficit to steal the series 4-2. 52 days later Detroit hoisted the Stanley Cup with Lidstrom taking the Conn Smythe trophy as the MVP of the 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs.
That's today in NHL history.
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.
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.
Today In NHL History - Good Friday Brawl
On April 20th in 1984, divisional rivals Montreal Canadiens and Quebec Nordiques engaged in a now famous fight known simply by its calendar namesake emanating from the perfect storm of NHL playoffs, politics and provincial pride.
The Good Friday Brawl fisticuffs ensued at the end of the second period of Game 6 of the Adams Division Finals and lasted for ten minutes before teams retreated to their respective dressing rooms. Upon surveying the damage to teammate Jean Hamel from a Louis Sleigher sucker punch, the Canadiens returned to settle the score in the final frame.
Montreal beat Quebec that night to seal the series by a margin of 4-2.
That's today in NHL history.
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.
Today In NHL History - Sedin's Disallowed Goal
On April 19th in 2010, Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin deflected a puck off his skate and past Los Angeles Kings netminder Jonathan Quick in Game 3 of the opening round of the 2010 playoffs, pulling his team within a goal three minutes into the third period.
Ruled a good goal by on-ice referee Steve Kozari, NHL SVP Mike Murphy and the off-ice video review crew overturned the ruling after a lengthy six minute review, causing CBC's Hockey Night In Canada broadcaster Jim Hughson to remark "Wow, that is a most interesting call".
NHL Rule 78.5(ii) states a goal shall be disallowed "when the puck has been kicked using a distinct kicking motion." A "distinct kicking motion" is defined by Rule 38.4(iv) as "one which, with a pendulum motion, the player propels the puck with his skate into the net." Rule 49.2 clarifies, however, that "a puck that deflects into the net off an attacking player’s skate who does not use a distinct kicking motion is a legitimate goal".
Absent evidence of a "distinct kicking motion", Murphy was invited to speak with Ron Maclean on HNIC and share the reasoning behind his decision to overturn the on-ice ruling and disallow Sedin's goal.
The interview appeared to further confuse an already perplexed panel.
Maclean: Tell us exactly how you came to your conclusion.When questioned the next day as to how Murphy could have known that Sedin "knew what he was doing", Commissioner Bettman deflected the question and controversy, electing instead to defend his staff:
Murphy: ... It [the puck] had to be propelled some way. We felt it was the skate and not a distinct kicking motion but with a kicking motion that made it move back the other way. It wasn't a deflection. It wasn't a redirect. It was a kick. So that's the decision we came up with.
Maclean: If he's just making a stop ... and it [the puck] hits his skate and changes direction, is that a kicking motion?
Murphy: No ... We'll let that stand as a goal. We felt that wasn't the case here. He knew what he was doing.
"Mike Murphy was trying to explain at one o'clock in the morning as best he could exactly what was going on. And if he wasn't as articulate as perhaps those looking to parse his words would like, so be it. But as I said, I have complete confidence in Mike Murphy, Colie Campbell, and the entire hockey operations department. I think this whole tact of innuendo and insinuation is both insulting and pure fantasy. And I suggest everyone move on and focus on the fact we are having a dynamic playoffs."Interestingly, a near identical goal was scored by the same player three months earlier. After video review, that goal was allowed to stand.
Clouding the waters of incompetence with conspiracy, allegations of partiality surfaced as an interview from earlier that season between LAKings.com and the club's former player (10yrs), captain (7yrs), and coach (4yrs) turned NHL SVP revealed Murphy's bias towards the team.
LAKings.com: You were with the Kings from early on in the team’s existence – how have you seen the team change in the time since then?The disallowed goal preserved the Kings 4-2 lead en route to a 5-3 win, taking a 2-1 series lead over the Canucks. The win, however, would be the last for Los Angeles as Vancouver ultimately cinched the series 4-2.
Murphy: Well I have seen some obvious changes with the colors of the uniforms and the logo and the different arena where they play. What has not changed is the great group of solid hockey fans in Southern California that support and love the Kings, even with the changes. I think it would be so neat to see the Kings succeed and win a Stanley Cup because it would do just a tremendous amount for the Southern California market and the Kings franchise. They have been hard working and very close in a number of years, so that would be nice to see.
That's today in NHL history.
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.
