As the Stanley Cup approaches, many in the NHL are keeping their eye on the Tampa Bay Lightning to see if the squad can pull a three-peat. After cruising past their cross-state rivals in the Panthers, the Lightning look closer than ever to setting a modern precedent in the NHL since the Islanders achieved a four-peat in the early 1980s.
But hockey fans whose teams have been eliminated and who are on the fence about which franchise to cheer on in the playoffs aren’t likely to be endeared to the Lightning. Some may not want to see the Lightning become a dynasty, while others may prefer to root for the underdog.
In fact, even beyond North America, the charm of the underdog remains a memorable part of sports fandom. For example, some of the greatest underdog stories from European soccer date back to the 1980s and cover domestic and international competitions. Sometimes, an unlikely team crushes a domestic cup like the FA; other times, national teams like Greece and Denmark claw their way to the top.
Not only is it fulfilling to see a team defy the odds, but it’s also what makes sports fandom so exciting—to watch a game’s momentum change and catapult a new team into the spotlight. As the Stanley Cup approaches, we look back on some of the championship’s most memorable underdogs.
The Very First: 1928 New York Rangers
In their first season in the NHL (1926-27), the New York Rangers burst onto the scene. They nabbed a first-place finish in their division, then went on to play in their first Stanley Cup in their inaugural year. The Rangers lost their first championship, then went on to slip in division rankings the next season.
Though the Rangers eventually managed to claw their way into the postseason, they would face the Montreal Maroons. The Maroons had taken last season’s Stanley Cup and, from the offset, looked to have an advantage, as the entire series would be fought in Montreal.
After losing the first two games of the five-game series, the Maroons looked like they had secured a repeat—especially as the Rangers’ goalie was injured and had to be replaced by a player. But the Rangers defied the odds, going on to tie the series and then win, becoming only the second US franchise to do so.
The Unexpected Sweep: 1995 New Jersey Devils
In 1993-94, the Red Wings had posted their best season to date—before being eliminated by the Rangers in the Conference Finals. Heading into the 1994-95 season, the Jersey franchise had a fire burning… but they only managed to finish sixth in the Eastern Conference, which meant they’d face an uphill battle toward the Finals.
Though their lagging regular-season record didn’t make them the NHL’s most hopeless underdog, the Devils faced some of the NHL’s toughest contenders. First in the Boston Bruins, then the Pittsburgh Penguins, and lastly the Philadelphia Flyers. The Devils weren’t favored by analysts at this time—and they definitely weren’t expected to beat the Detroit Red Wings.
However, the Devils pulled off a Stanley Cup sweep to bring home the city’s first-ever Stanley Cup trophy. And fans still aren’t over it.
The Jaw-Dropper: 2012 Los Angeles Kings
When the Kings nabbed the last playoff berth in the Western Conference in 2012, few thought they’d advance past their first series. Their last-place finish meant they’d face the Vancouver Canucks, which they barely managed to defeat with a 3-2 aggregate.
Though the Kings managed to sweep the St. Louis Blues next, they then faced the Phoenix Coyotes—and continued their momentum to nab two wins on the road. Their dominance on the road was one of the Kings’ most surprising strengths, which continued when they landed in the Stanley Cup against the New Jersey Devils.
After two victories against the Devils on the road and one more at home, the Kings slipped. The Devils came back for a 3-1 aggregate in Los Angeles, then again in New Jersey for Game 5. With the series at 3-2, the Kings returned home—and gave fans the unforgettable experience of watching the NHL’s lowest-seeded team win the NHL on their home turf.
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