The Stanley Cup Finals, the pinnacle of ice hockey in North America, is the annual championship series of the National Hockey League (NHL). Established in 1892 as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, the trophy was donated by Lord Stanley of Preston and has since become one of the most coveted prizes in professional sports.
Originally intended for amateur clubs, the Cup evolved to include professional teams in 1906. Over the years, it has been contested between champions of various leagues, eventually becoming the championship trophy of the NHL in 1926. Since 1982, the Finals have been a best-of-seven series between the Eastern and Western Conference champions, adding to the rich history and excitement of the sport.
Also Read: Who has been in 10 consecutive Stanley Cup finals
Highest-Scoring Stanley Cup Final Game
The highest-scoring game in Stanley Cup Final history occurred on May 8, 1973. between the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens, as per The Hockey Writers. In this historic matchup, Stan Mikita led all players with four points.
What is the longest Stanley Cup Final game?
The longest overtime game in Stanley Cup playoff history occurred in 1936, when the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Montreal Maroons 1-0 after six overtime periods, totaling 116 minutes and 30 seconds of extra game time, as per ESPN. This game saw Mud Bruneteau score the game-winning goal at 16:30 of overtime No. 6, with Red Wings goalie Normie Smith making an astonishing 92 saves during the game.
The other longest overtime games in Stanley Cup playoff history include a matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins in 1933, where the Maple Leafs triumphed over the Bruins after six overtime periods, totaling 104 minutes and 46 seconds of extra game time. In addition to those, the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2000 after five overtime periods, totaling 92 minutes and 1 second of extra game time. More recently, in 2020, the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets after five overtime periods, totaling 90 minutes and 27 seconds of extra game time.
FAQ's On Stanley Cup Final
A. Besides the 1936 marathon, other notable long overtime games include matchups from 1933, 2000, 2020, and 2003, featuring teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Anaheim Mighty Ducks, among others.
A. The longest overtime game in Stanley Cup playoff history took place in 1936, with the Detroit Red Wings defeating the Montreal Maroons 1-0 after six overtime periods, totaling 116 minutes and 30 seconds of extra game time.
A. Notable high-scoring NHL playoff games include the Los Angeles Kings' 10-8 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in 1982 and the Pittsburgh Penguins' 10-7 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in 1989.
A. Wayne Gretzky's seven-point performance (1 goal, 6 assists) and Jari Kurri's four-goal contribution were standout performances in the 1987 highest-scoring game.
