Following a restricted 2020/21 NHL season, the playoff series are drawing to a close and we’ll soon know the destination of the Stanley Cup. It’s been a tough year for sports fans, particularly for hockey supporters who have had to endure a second disjointed campaign.
Hopefully the closing stages will give all NHL followers something to cheer about at the end of a difficult season, but can the conclusion match any of the greatest finals ever?
Bets on……
At the time of writing, the semi-finals for 2021 have just begun. New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens have all made it through to the semi-finals.
As far as the sportsbooks are concerned, Golden Knights are the favorites to lift the Cup, but it’s a close market with Tampa Bay only just behind in second place in the outright markets. The Colorado Avalanche are next followed by New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens.
The figures come from 888 Sport who have extensive NHL markets together with betting offers for hockey and for most sports on their roster. If those projections are correct, it could be an exceptionally tight Stanley Cup final and maybe it will have the potential to match some of these classic encounters.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Chicago Blackhawks: 1992
Many of the best contests in sporting history are close, hard fought affairs, so why would a 4-0 whitewash make it to the top of an all-time list? The result must be put into context and, while the final outcome may have been emphatic, each game was far from one-sided.
The Penguins had won their first Stanley Cup in 1991 and were heavy favorites to go back-to-back. The Blackhawks were supposed to be there to make up the numbers, so it shocked the hockey world when Chicago went 3-0 up in game one. That lead was extended to 4-1 before a dramatic comeback saw Pittsburgh claim it at the brink.
The next two games were also close fought affairs with game three producing a rare, 1-0 score line. Penguins were 3-0 up and seemingly cruising to Stanley Cup glory but even game four was almost too close to call. The Blackhawks had plenty of chances to claw one back but eventually went down 6-5 in a feast of goals.
4-0 it may have been but that score line belies one of the most dramatic and close calls in the history of the Stanley Cup.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Detroit Red Wings: 1942
The 1942 Stanley Cup finals series has all but faded from living memory but the nature of the game means that many still regard it as the best. What’s even more remarkable is the fact that the Leafs overcame a 3-0 deficit to take the title.
Red Wings were up and cruising in game four before Toronto proceeded to deliver one of the most remarkable comebacks in any sport. Maple Leafs edged that fourth game by 4-3 and, seemingly inspired, they started to dominate.
A goal-feast saw a 9-3 outcome in game five followed by respective 3-0 and 3-1 score lines. Detroit was clearly demoralized and it’s no great surprise, considering that they had been on the receiving end of such a remarkable turnaround.
Edmonton Oilers vs Philadelphia Flyers 1985
Great finals depend on brilliant players but, to this point, we’ve yet to mention individuals. Step forward Wayne Gretzky who was the standout man of the 1985 playoffs. This was a time for Canada to dominate with Edmonton winning four titles in five years with the remaining success heading to Montreal.
A 4-1 score line shows that the Oilers were largely untroubled and that’s chiefly down to Gretsky who won the MVP with seven goals in the series. Edmonton rounded off with an 8-3 rout as the Flyers had no answer. The result was by no means close but this was a perfect example of world class hockey at its best.
Boston Bruins vs Vancouver Canucks 2011
The 2011 series had everything: Tight finishes, goal feasts, fights and, eventually, a game seven decider. Boston eventually prevailed 4-3, but not before the Canucks had raced into a 2-0 lead. At that stage, few could have predicted the 8-1 demolition of Vancouver in game three and that was followed by an emphatic 4-0 Bruins win.
Vancouver edged the fifth before Boston completed yet another remarkable comeback to claim the Stanley Cup by the narrowest of margins.
Dallas Stars vs Buffalo Sabres 1999
When a hockey match goes into triple overtime, fans know they’ve witnessed a classic. That was the case in 1999 but the controversy surrounding the crucial play has never been forgotten.
Buffalo Stars won it in game six, but the winning goal has been disputed for over 20 years now. With the clock running out, Brett Hull found the net for the Stars and the goal was adjudged to be good, even though his skate was in the crease.
The NHL teams of 2021 have a lot to live up to when we look back at the past. There have been some incredible finals here and they will be tough to beat. It has, however, been such a difficult two years that it would be fitting to see the endplay finish on a high and maybe even gatecrash this illustrious list.
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