report this adIf historical past has proven hockey followers something, then it has illustrated that there aren’t any ensures when the Stanley Cup playoffs start. Listed below are the highest 5 Stanley Cup upsets in hockey historical past.
Biggest Stanley Cup Upsets #5: 1945 Semifinals
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens
After the top of the 1944-1945 common season, the Montreal Canadiens had been the very best crew within the NHL as they’d solely misplaced Eight common season video games and completed with a file of 38-Eight-Four in 50 video games performed. Alternatively, the Toronto Maple Leafs barely completed above .500 and weren’t anticipated to place up a lot of a struggle in opposition to a really potent Montreal crew.
Given the truth that the Maple Leafs trailed the Canadiens by nearly 30 factors within the standings on the finish of the common season, the unbelievable win by Toronto in the very best of seven sequence was all of the extra spectacular. Toronto’s victory in opposition to the league-best 1945 Canadiens illustrated crew can have an incredible common season file, however the Stanley Cup playoffs maintain a unique check for groups that wish to be immortalized in hockey lore.
The Stanley Cup. (mastermaq, Flickr)
Nonetheless, issues didn’t go in line with plan for Montreal because the Maple Leafs gained the primary two video games by scores of 1-Zero and Three-2, respectively. Montreal managed to win video games Three and 5, however the Maple Leafs had been decided to not let their sequence lead escape and gained sport 6 in Toronto by a rating of Three-2. All 4 victories by the Maple Leafs had been by one objective, however the crew continued its impressed play once they met the Detroit Crimson Wings within the Stanley Cup and ousted the favorites in 7 video games. Frank “Ulcers” McCool continued his constant common season netminding into the 1945 post-season as he and the Maple Leafs stunned Montreal, Detroit, and the hockey world via their decided play within the playoffs.
Given the truth that the Maple Leafs trailed the Canadiens by nearly 30 factors within the standings on the finish of the common season, the unbelievable win by Toronto in the very best of seven sequence was all of the extra spectacular. Toronto’s victory in opposition to the league-best 1945 Canadiens illustrated crew can have an incredible common season file, however the Stanley Cup playoffs maintain a unique check for groups that wish to be immortalized in hockey lore.
Biggest Stanley Cup Upsets #Four: 1975 Quarterfinals
New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
In the course of the mid-1970s, the New York Islanders had been considered as simply one other enlargement franchise. That label can be eliminated by the top of the Isles’ playoff run in 1975 because the crew beat their crosstown rivals (New York Rangers) in a Three sport preliminary spherical and had two extra memorable rounds with the Penguins and Flyers afterward.
After a tough fought sequence in opposition to the Rangers, the Islanders regarded as if they’d run out of fuel in opposition to the Penguins as Pittsburgh took video games 1, 2, & Three by scores of 5-Four, Three-1, & 6-Four, respectively. Though Billy Smith would have an exquisite profession within the NHL and with the New York Islanders, Glenn “Chico” Resch was the explanation for the Isles’ comeback. Resch stepped in for an ineffective Smith and promptly gained video games Four, 5, 6, and seven, permitting solely Four targets in opposition to in these contests.
Glenn ‘Chico’ Resch (New York Islanders / NHL, Wikimedia Commons)
Sport Four in Lengthy Island was most actually a strain cooker for Resch and the crew because the Nassau Coliseum trustworthy chanted, “Chico! Chico!”, in a packed home elimination sport, however Sport 7 of the sequence needed to be among the finest video games performed within the sequence. Chico Resch’s greatest pal helped him out 3 times within the opening minutes of Sport 7 and Ed Westfall sealed the Penguins’ destiny by scoring the one objective of the competition throughout the late phases of the third interval.
Essentially the most attention-grabbing half about this feat was that it hadn’t been executed because the 1942 Maple Leafs got here again from a Three-Zero Stanley Cup Finals deficit to the Crimson Wings. After the Islanders beat the Penguins in such a trend, nearly 30 years would cross earlier than one other skilled sports activities crew (2004 Boston Crimson Sox) completed such a comeback. Though Chico Resch would ultimately go away Lengthy Island, the netminder’s heroics within the 1975 playoffs cemented his standing as an Islander legend and helped put the enlargement franchise on the map in a giant approach.
The Islanders earned the quantity 9 spot over the Maple Leafs due to the inexperience of the franchise (Three years previous) and the issue of the comeback. Though it doesn’t get a lot tougher than getting back from a Three-Zero sequence deficit within the Stanley Cup Finals, the New York Islanders needed to full their comeback on the highway in opposition to Pittsburgh after they’d been dominated within the first three video games of the sequence. Whereas the Isles wouldn’t win a Stanley Cup for an additional a number of years, their Stanley Cup upsets in opposition to the Penguins had some very constructive outcomes in the long term for a younger and creating group.
Biggest Stanley Cup Upsets #Three: 2003 Western Convention Quarterfinals
Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche
The 2002-2003 Minnesota Wild had been a really defensive oriented crew as head coach Jacques Lemaire was one of many largest proponents of the trapping system. Alternatively, the Colorado Avalanche had been an offensive powerhouse with Corridor of Fame goalie Patrick Roy manning the crew’s crease.
After profitable sport 1 on the highway, Minnesota dropped three straight in opposition to the Avalanche and issues regarded fairly grim for the Wild. Nonetheless, the Wild had been capable of pull out three straight victories by the rating of Three-2 as time beyond regulation heroics from gamers reminiscent of Andrew Brunette and Richard Park allowed Minnesota to return again from a Three-1 sequence deficit and bump the quantity Three seeded Avs. Many didn’t give the Wild an opportunity after dropping three straight video games to the Avalanche, however Minnesota proved many naysayers flawed via some exhausting work and grit because the crew needed to win two highway video games in Colorado in an effort to advance to the Convention Semifinals.
Patrick Roy. (Steve Babineau/NHLI by way of Getty Pictures)
Minnesota’s 2002-2003 playoff berth was its first since its inception into the NHL as an enlargement franchise, however the Wild made essentially the most of their journey. The goalie tandem of Manny Fernandez and Dwayne Roloson helped Minnesota defeat the Avalanche and Canucks (additionally a sequence comeback) earlier than dropping to the Anaheim Geese within the Western Convention Semifinals. Though Minnesota’s 2003 Stanley Cup playoff run was very spectacular as a complete, the sequence comeback and win in opposition to the Avalanche was particularly commendable. Gamers reminiscent of Milan Hejduk, Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, Adam Foote, Patrick Roy, and Alex Tanguay headlined the Avalanche lineup within the playoff sequence, however the Wild had been one way or the other capable of get well and pull out three straight victories with a lineup that had significantly much less expertise than the seasoned Colorado crew for one of the vital notable Stanley Cup upsets of all time.
Biggest Stanley Cup Upsets #2: 2010 Jap Convention Semifinals
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins
The Philadelphia Flyers had been the latest NHL crew to return again from a Three-Zero sequence deficit once they beat the Boston Bruins within the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs. Regardless of being in a gap, Philadelphia opted to belief Michael Leighton and the goalie rewarded the choice as he helped the crew mount a historic comeback in opposition to the Bruins.
Other than profitable Four straight video games in opposition to Boston, the Flyers needed to work for his or her win in a decisive sport 7 on the TD Backyard. The seventh sport began off horribly for the highway crew as Boston took a Three-Zero lead simply 14:10 into the primary interval and regarded poised to take the sequence. Nonetheless, Philadelphia slowly chipped away on the Bruins’ lead and Simon Gagne accomplished the comeback with a sport profitable power-play objective throughout the late phases of the third interval.
Simon Gagne. (Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports activities)
What was ironic in regards to the Bruins’ collapse was the truth that the crew had suffered the identical destiny throughout the 1979 semifinals when Don Cherry’s crew was referred to as for too many males on the ice in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens. Though the 2 sequence had been performed greater than three a long time aside, the Bruins had been undone by the identical penalty and it price the crew an opportunity to play for the Stanley Cup on a few events. Though the Boston Bruins gained the Stanley Cup in 2011, the crew’s meltdown in 2010 was simply one other illustration of how unpredictable playoff hockey will be.
Biggest Stanley Cup Upsets #1: 1982 Divison Semifinals
Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers
This sequence had all of it. Wild scoring, Wayne Gretzky, and a miraculous comeback on behalf of the Los Angeles Kings.
Nonetheless, this sequence may simply be remembered for the Miracle on Manchester because it was undoubtedly the largest turning level of the sequence for each groups. The Edmonton Oilers got here into the sequence boasting gamers reminiscent of Wayne Gretzky, Grant Fuhr, Jarri Kuri, Mark Messier, and Paul Coffey, however the Los Angeles Kings discovered a method to upset the powerhouse Oilers.
TORONTO, CANADA – NOVEMBER 14: Marcel Dionne #16 of the Los Angeles Kings skates up ice in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs in sport motion November 14, 1984 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario Canada. (Photograph by Graig Abel Assortment/Getty Pictures)
Again in 1982, the Division Semifinals had been a better of 5 sport sequence and the Los Angeles Kings stole the momentum at a really essential level of the sequence. With the groups splitting video games 1 and a pair of, the Oilers regarded poised to take sport Three as they led 5-Zero going into the third interval of play. The Oilers’ bench was laughing on the Kings, however Los Angeles refused to go away and steadily clawed away at Edmonton’s lead. With just below 5 minutes left in sport Three, the Kings had reduce the deficit to 5-Three and headed to an prolonged power-play as Edmonton was assessed a 5 minute main penalty for prime sticking.
The Kings cashed in on their man-advantage and refused to surrender at the same time as Mario Lessard was pulled from his crease in favor of an additional attacker. With solely 5 seconds left in regulation, the Kings tied the sport and compelled time beyond regulation. The loss of life strike got here in a short time for the Oilers as Daryl Evans scored the sport profitable objective simply over two minutes into the sudden loss of life body.
Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky. (Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports activities)
The loss to the Kings was undoubtedly a irritating one for the Oilers, but it surely significantly shifted momentum within the sequence because the Kings had been capable of knock off Edmonton in sport Four. The chances had been massively stacked in opposition to the Kings going into the sequence and the purpose differential between the 2 groups on the finish of the common season advised that there was not even a sliver of hope for Los Angeles.
Though the 1982 Los Angeles Kings misplaced to the Vancouver Canucks within the very subsequent spherical of the playoffs, the Kings supplied an incredible instance of what occurs when a crew takes its foot off of the pedal throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs.
For those who had been too younger or have forgotten, listed here are some highlights from the Miracle on Manchester:
Biggest Stanley Cup Upsets: Honorable Mentions
2003 Western Convention Quarterfinals: Anaheim Geese vs. Detroit Crimson Wings
Many hockey followers didn’t count on to see what they noticed within the first spherical of the Western Convention playoffs when the Crimson Wings and Geese squared off.
The Crimson Wings had been nonetheless very a lot a powerhouse in 2003, however J.S Giguere stood tall for the Geese as they made an sudden and thrilling trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. Though the crew was overwhelmed by the Devils, the Geese needed to work exhausting to get to face the Devils. The Geese swept the quantity 2 seeded Wings out of the playoffs and proceeded to beat the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild en path to a Stanley Cup Finals look.
Paul Kariya. (Brian Bahr/Getty Pictures/NHLI)
Enjoyable Reality: The Geese gained each single sport of the Detroit sequence by a one objective margin, with one of the vital memorable wins being a triple OT sport that Paul Kariya gained after Giguere confronted a barrage of 64 pictures.
2010 Jap Convention Quarterfinals: Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals
This quarterfinals matchup is among the Stanley Cup upsets that would not be ignored. Jaroslav Halak placed on an incredible exhibits throughout the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs because the Canadiens ousted the Capitals after being down Three-1 within the sequence. The Canadiens went on to stun the Pittsburgh Penguins within the Convention Semifinals proper after they dispatched the Capitals and Halak was chargeable for a lot of the success of the quantity Eight seeded 2009-2010 Montreal Canadiens.
This text was initially revealed in April, 2012.
