The Stanley Cup has attracted interest all over the world. The tournament is also followed in India. However, only a few have managed to succeed in this competition.
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are one of the most hapless teams in the final part of the playoffs. During their half-century history, the Stars have reached the tournament finals 5 times, and only once, in 1999, were they able to win the long-awaited trophy. In the final series, Dallas managed to beat Buffalo 4-2. The last time the team managed to make it to the finals was in 2020 when they lost without much opposition to Tampa.
St Louis Blues
St Louis joined the National Hockey League in 1967 and became one of the best newcomers. The team managed to reach the Stanley Cup finals three times between 1968 and 1970. However, they failed to capture the trophy. Twice the Musketeers were defeated by Montreal and once by Boston. Almost 50 years later, St Louis was lucky. In 2019, in a tense series against the Boston Bears, the team finally wins the long-awaited trophy.
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Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames, a Canadian professional club, also cannot boast consistent performance statistics. In the 50 years since its inception, the club has only managed to reach the Stanley Cup final three times. The last time that event occurred was in 2004. Then the Flames lost to the Lightning 3-4 in the series. Still, Calgary has a lot to brag about. The only trophy the team won more than 30 years ago. In 1989 the Canadian team beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-2 in the final.
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are one of the most beloved teams in the National Hockey League. Much of the credit goes to the veteran and club captain Alexander Ovechkin, who, along with his team, gave the fans the coveted Stanley Cup with his performance and results. In the final, Washington defeated their Vegas rivals. In their half-century history, the Capitals have reached the Finals twice. The first time was in 1998, but then the Capitals lost to Detroit.
Carolina Hurricanes and Anaheim Ducks
There are some parallels between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Anaheim Ducks. Both clubs have reached the final twice and in both cases one after the other. In 2002 the Hurricanes of Carolina lost 1-4 to Detroit in the final series. A year later the Anaheim Ducks were paired against the rivals New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup final. The series ended in favor of New Jersey 4-3. Four years later Carolina again reached the final and this time managed to win the league’s top trophy, beating the Edmonton Oilers. The following year Anaheim beat the Ottawa Senators 4-1 without a chance.
Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia peaked in the 1970s and 1980s. From 1974 to 1976 the team played their first Stanley Cup finals and twice triumphed, alternately beating Boston and Buffalo in 1974 and 1976 respectively. The Pilots reached the final five times thereafter but to no avail. The team from Pennsylvania last played in the finals in 2010, losing to Chicago 2-4.
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado is the only team in the history of the National Hockey League to win all their finals. The Avalanche have reached the Stanley Cup final three times in their history and have been champions three times. In 1996, the team defeated the Florida Panthers 4-0 in the series. In 2001, they snatched the trophy from the New Jersey Devils in a tight battle. In 2022, the Avalanche were able to outscore Tampa 4-2 in the series.
Los Angeles King
More than half a century has passed since the founding of the Los Angeles Kings, but only early on was the team able to make it to the finals for the first time in its history. In 1993, the Kings, led by the great Gretzky, crushingly lost the final by a score of 1-4 to Montreal. Los Angeles fans had to wait nearly 20 years for the next Finals. However, it was well worth it. In 2012, the Kings finally managed to win the league’s top team trophy, defeating the New Jersey Devils 4-2 in the final. Two years later, the boys from the Sunshine State of California were lucky again. This time the Los Angeles Kings easily defeated the New York Rangers 4-1.
New Jersey Devils
In the days of legendary goaltender Martin Brodeur, New Jersey was an unstoppable force to be reckoned with by every club in the National Hockey League. Thanks in large part to the excellent play of the Canadian goalie, the Devils were able to win three Stanley Cups. In 1995, Detroit was defeated 4-0 in the series. In 2000, Dallas fell to Dallas 4-2. The last trophy came in 2003 when New Jersey had to work hard to defeat the Ducks by a narrow 4-3 margin. The last time the Devils appeared in a major league game of the season was back in 2012.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Despite their short history, Tampa Bay reached the Stanley Cup Finals 5 times and triumphed three times. They reached the Finals for the first time in 2004 where they beat Calgary 4-3 in the series. The Lightning had to wait 11 years for their next moment of glory. However, in 2015, Chicago got their glory and third trophy in six years. The team was then able to take the cup in 2020 and 2021, defeating Dallas and Montreal respectively. In 2022, the Tampa hockey team reached the finals and could have lifted the trophy over their heads for the third time, but they were prevented from doing so by the Colorado Avalanche.
New York Rangers
It’s been almost 100 years since the Rangers were founded. In that time, the team from the city of the big apple managed to reach and take the league’s top trophy 11 times and only 4 times. The first Stanley Cup was awarded to New York one year after its founding. In the 1928 final, the team defeated Montreal 3-2. The Rangers went on to win the league title in ’33, ’40, and ’94. The Rangers last played in the tournament final in 2014, where they lost 1-4 to Los Angeles.
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are one of the most underrated teams in the league. The Islanders peaked in the 1980s with one of the best shooters in the National Hockey League, Bossier. Thanks to the great play of the forward, who was actively supported by his teammates, from 1980 to 1983 New York Islanders won the Stanley Cup 4 times. In 1984 the team came close to capturing the trophy for 5 straight years but lost the final series to Edmonton with a young Gretzky in the lineup. Since then they have never again reached the finals.
Edmonton Oilers
The 1980s are the best period for the Edmonton Oilers club. In those years the Canadian team had two legends of the National Hockey League, Gretzky, and Messier. Thanks to the play of these two great forwards the Oilers won the playoffs 5 times. With the departure of the two Canadians, however, the era of Edmonton’s dominance was also gone for many years. The last time the Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Finals was in 2006 when they lost in a tight seven-game series to Carolina.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are one of the strongest teams in the league. Their name began to inspire fear and awe in their opponents in the mid-’80s. After the legendary Mario Lemieux joined the club, the Penguins immediately transformed themselves from an underdog to a top team. Subsequently, another legend Jaromir Jagr joined Pittsburgh. Thanks to the performance of their stars the Penguins won the trophy twice in 1991 and 1992. Pittsburgh didn’t reach the tournament final again until 16 years later in 2008. The Penguins lost in the finals to Detroit but won the trophy back the following year. Pittsburgh subsequently managed to win the trophy twice more in 2016 and 2017.
Boston Bruins
The history of the Boston Bruins dates back to the 1920s. The Bears have reached the Stanley Cup final two dozen times in their nearly century-long history. However, only six series have celebrated victory. The team lost its first final in 1927 to the Ottawa Senators. Two years later, Boston returned and outscored the New York Rangers in the final. The other wins came in 1939, 1941, 1970, 972, and 2011. The team’s last final was in 2019.
Chicago Blackhawks
Unlike the Bears, the Hawks have reached the Stanley Cup Finals far less frequently. The team’s first championship series was against Montreal in 1931. It ended in a 0-3 defeat. Chicago ice hockey players won their first trophy in 1934 when they beat Detroit 3-1. Since the club’s inception, the Hawks have played in 13 Stanley Cup finals and triumphed 6 times.
Detroit Red Wings
The Wings, like many other title clubs, trace their roots back to the 1920s. In almost a century of existence, the boys from Motor City have played the final part of the tournament 24 times. Detroit first debuted in the finals in 1934. However, the club failed to win immediate glory. They managed to win their first cup only 2 years later in 1936 after beating one of the strongest teams of that time, Toronto. In total 11 trophies were claimed by the Red Wings.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The modern version of the Toronto Maple Leafs is radically different from the club’s founding. The Maple Leafs were founded in 1917 and played their first Stanley Cup final the following year, leading to their first championship. Four years later they managed to repeat that success. Toronto amassed a total of 12 Stanley Cup titles, the last one coming back in 1967. Since then the Toronto Maple Leafs have never reached the Stanley Cup final.
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens have the largest collection of Stanley Cups in National Hockey League history. Since the club was founded in 1909, Montreal has made 35 Stanley Cup finals and triumphed in 24 of them. The Canadiens made their first final in 1916, beating Portland 3-2. After that, for decades the team showed a fine game, which enabled them to win the playoffs regularly. However, as was the case with Toronto, all that was left of their former greatness was a good story. The last time the team won the title was in 1993.