The Best Stanley Cup Finals of All Time
By
Will Brown
Contributor Updated: 08 November 2024
Will Brown Contributor
William Brown is a Content Writer with strong expertise in US and global gambling industry trends. Having covered the local sports betting market since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, William approaches his gambling guides with passion and diligence. He is a keen player of online slots, blackjack, and a regular sports bettor.
Every year, the best teams in the NHL battle for the Stanley Cup in a Final series that is unpredictable, thrilling, and of the highest stakes. The best Stanley Cup finals are remembered for their incredible moments, with players showcasing some career-best performances to secure the trophy for their teams. In this guide, we’ve looked at some of the greatest Stanley Cup Finals games of all time, highlighting what it is about these games that make them so iconic.
Intro to the Best Stanley Cup Finals Ever
Before we get into the best Stanley Cup finals of all time, it’s important that you have some context about how the series got to where it is today. This is why we’ve kicked off this guide by discussing the evolution and format of the finals.
From there, we’ve discussed the top 10 finals games, including their most memorable moments and player highlights. To round out the guide, we’ve explored the factors that make a top finals game, before sharing some other important details about the series.
- History of the Stanley Cup Finals
- The Finals Format
- The Best Finals Games
- Factors That Make a Best Final
The History of the Stanley Cup Finals
The Stanley Cup was first awarded in 1893 as a challenge trophy and was named after Lord Stanley of Preston. As the Governor General of Canada, Lord Stanley played a significant role in developing the sport in the country after witnessing a game in Montreal and later was instrumental in creating the Ontario Hockey Association.
The cup was offered to the top team in the “Dominion” of Canada, with winners determined by league play until 1914. In 1915, the major leagues in Canada and the USA began to battle it out for the trophy, and after the NHL was established, it became the championship prize in 1926.
In the early years of the sport, the Finals were often held between the Canadian teams that dominated the sport. As the NHL expanded across the USA, the competition intensified, with rivalries springing up and dynasties emerging to produce some of the best Stanley Cup finals. The game’s popularity exploded after the sport was regularly televised during the 1950s.
The Stanley Cup Finals Format
Before you start betting on the Stanley Cup Finals, it is helpful to know how the series is formatted. The championship series sees the winners of the Eastern and Western NHL Conferences compete in a best-of-seven format. To win the series, the team must secure four victories.
The team with the better regular season record hosts games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the other team hosts games 3, 4, and 6. However, games 5, 6, and 7 are only played if needed. Games follow standard NHL rules, but if a game is tied after regulation, a sudden-death overtime period is played.
The 10 Best Stanley Cup Finals of All Time
Rather than have the best Stanley Cup finals ranked, we’ve instead covered the 10 best finals games. Usually, these were instrumental in the teams’ series success and had the highest stakes for that reason. The games date back to 1950, with some showcasing historic moments and performances that changed the game.
1950 Game 7: Detroit Red Wings vs. New York Rangers
Often considered to be one of the best Stanley Cup finals of all time, the 1950 Stanley Cup Final Game 7 made history for being the first Game 7 Final to go into extra time. Held at Olympia Stadium in Detroit, the game concluded when Detroit’s Pete Babando scored a Cup-winning goal, bringing the team to a 4-3 victory. The game is remembered for having among the most dramatic conclusions to a Stanley Cup Final ever.
1970 Game 4: Boston Bruins vs. St. Louis Blues
The 1970 Final’s Game 4 is remembered for having one of the best Stanley Cup Finals moments in NHL history. Held at Boston Garden, the game reached overtime with a 3-3 score. The thrilling moment came when Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr took a shot at goal over Blues goalie Glenn Hall. As he scored, Orr was tripped and flew through the air for an iconic “flying goal”. The win gave Boston a series sweep and their first Stanley Cup since 1941.
1994 Game 7: New York Rangers vs. Vancouver Canucks
Another contender for the best Stanley Cup Finals ever was played at Madison Square Garden in a thrilling Game 7 showdown. The Rangers sought to end a 54-year championship drought, which was the longest in NHL history at the time. New York eventually emerged victorious after goals from Brian Leetch, Adam Graves, and Mark Messier finished the game 3-2.
1987 Game 2: Edmonton Oilers vs. Philadelphia Flyers
The standout feature of this best Stanley Cup Finals series game was the immense goaltending prowess displayed on the rink. Held at Northlands Coliseum, rookie goalie for the Flyers Ron Hextall thwarted the Oilers’ high-powered offense with a staggering 55 goal saves. Despite this, the Oilers’ relentless bombardment eventually overcame Hextall at overtime, with Jari Kurri scoring to give Edmonton a 3-2 win.
1993 Game 2: Montreal Canadiens vs. Los Angeles Kings
Considered to be one of the most controversial in Finals history, the Game 2 event was played at the Montreal Forum. After the Kings led the Canadiens 2-1 late in the third period, the Canadiens coach called for a measurement of Kings defenseman Marty McSorley’s stick. The measurement found that the stick length was illegal, awarding a power play for Montreal. The team Eric Desjardins scored to tie the game into overtime, then scored to win the game. Montreal eventually won the series.
2013 Game 6: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Boston Bruins
This game is considered among the best Stanley Cup finals ever for showcasing one of the most thrilling comebacks in the history of Finals. With two minutes on the clock, the Bruins led 2-1 on their home ice in TD Garden, looking to force a 7th Game. Then, the Blackhawks scored twice in just 17 seconds, devastating the Boston crowd. This secured a 3-2 victory for Chicago and the championship.
1942 Game 4: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings
This game, held at Maple Leaf Gardens, was another event that saw another groundbreaking comeback that shaped Stanley Cup history. After trailing the series 3-0, the Maple Leafs inserted Don Metz into the Game 4 lineup in a desperate move. Metz led the team to a 4-3 victory, then won the next three games to secure the Cup. The Maple Leafs remain the only team to overcome a 3-0 deficit in the Finals.
1999 Game 6: Dallas Stars vs. Buffalo Sabres
At Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, the NHL Stanley Cup Finals finished in one of the most controversial moments of the league’s history. The Stars and Sabres battled through three overtime periods until Dallas’ Brett Hull scored to give the team a 2-1 victory and their first Stanley Cup. However, replays revealed that Hull’s skate was illegally in the crease before the puck. The result was secured but remains contested among fans to this day.
2009 Game 7: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Detroit Red Wings
In 2009, the Penguins faced the Red Wings in the Finals again after losing to Detroit the previous year. Pittsburgh’s Max Talbot scored both goals to claim the team’s 2-1 victory at Joe Louis Arena, with Marc-Andre Fleury’s spectacular last-second save against Detroit securing the win. The team’s young lineup defied expectations to make Pittsburgh the first team since 1971 to win Game 7 on the road.
1996 Game 4: Colorado Avalanche vs. Florida Panthers
As one of the longest games in Stanley Cup history, this showdown at Miami Arena saw the Avalanche and Panthers battle through nearly three full overtime periods without a single goal scored. After 104 minutes and 31 seconds of play, the Avalanche’s Krupp’s long-range shot finally made it through goal to give the team a 1-0 victory and their first Stanley Cup.
Factors That Make a Great Stanley Cup Final Game
Several factors make these best Stanley Cup Finals ever similar. The first is the competitive balance between the opponents, which keeps the games closely contested until their final moments. The games often featured some of the NHL’s best historic talents performing at their highest level, too.
Some include memorable moments such as iconic goals or saves that are immortalized in hockey lore, while others were culminations in storied rivalries or long-lasting droughts. It is for these reasons that fans tune into hockey so passionately. With the regular hockey season set to begin in early October, here’s to hoping that 2025 will be among the best Stanley Cup finals too.
