Every NHL team’s most iconic moment in franchise history

Arizona Coyotes: Mike Smith Shuts Down The Blackhawks

The Arizona Coyotes haven’t done too much since moving to Arizona. Since arriving in the desert in 1996, they’ve made the Stanley Cup Playoffs eight times in 24 seasons. Seven of those times, the Coyotes were eliminated in the first round. All of that changed during the 2011-12 postseason.

In the first round, the Coyotes drew the Chicago Blackhawks, fresh off a Stanley Cup win in 2010. Though the Coyotes were the Pacific Division champions, they entered their first round series against Chicago as slight underdogs. After all, the Blackhawks were the more experienced team and, despite being in a far more competitive Central Division, had more points (101 to 97).

The Coyotes surprised the Blackhawks by jumping out to a 3-1 series lead. However, the latter returned the favor by beating the former at home 2-1 in overtime in Game 5. This sent the series back to Chicago for Game 6.

That’s when Mike Smith had what might be the greatest game of his career, as he pitched his first postseason shutout to help the Coyotes beat the Blackhawks 4-0, taking them to the second round.

Don’t let that final score fool you – the game was much closer than it suggests. The Blackhawks threw everything they had at Smith, but he was determined to not let any of those 39 shots on goal he faced get past him.

The Coyotes later got past the Nashville Predators in five games in the second round before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings in five games in the Western Conference Final.

Boston Bruins: Bobby Orr Takes Flight

The Boston Bruins are one of the most storied franchises in the NHL. They’re an original six team and their six Stanley Cups are the fourth-most in league history. However, their most iconic moment was arguably the easiest one for me to pick out.

It happened in 1970 when future Hall of Fame defenseman Bobby Orr took flight after scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal against the St. Louis Blues. Orr did countless magical things during his career and is the greatest defenseman in NHL history. But he never did anything as incredible as he did in 1970 when he completed the Bruins sweep of the St. Louis Blues with his iconic overtime goal to win Game 4 and end the series.

You’ve probably seen the infamous photograph of Orr in flight. It’s one of the most iconic photos of all-time and likely the most famous photo in NHL history. The only picture that might give it some competition in hockey history is the picture of Team USA celebrating in 1980 after defeating the heavily favored Soviets in the Miracle On Ice.

At the time, it looked like the Bruins were heading towards a dynasty. However, they lost in the first round in 1971, but they did win another Stanley Cup in 1972. After that though, they had to wait another 39 years to lift another Stanley Cup.

Buffalo Sabres: Jim Lorentz Sends Them To The Stanley Cup Final

The Buffalo Sabres have yet to win a Stanley Cup since they joined the NHL in 1970. However, they’ve been to the Stanley Cup twice. The first time was back in 1975 when the Sabres eventually lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. However, the journey there was a great one.

The highest of highs during that journey came in the Eastern Conference Final, where the Sabres were squaring off against the Montreal Canadiens, who were in the middle of a dynasty, having already won two Stanley Cups in the 1970s.

Though Buffalo entered Game 6 with a 3-2 series lead, the odds were against them. The game was being played in Montreal, where the Sabres were outscored by an aggregate score of 15-2 in Games 3 and 4.  Game 5, however, would be different. The Sabres jumped out to a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes. Jim Lorentz made it 4-1 in the second period.

Lorentz’s tally wound up being the difference maker, as the Canadiens got third-period goals from Guy Lafleur and Peter Mahlovich, but came up just short, losing 4-3 to the Sabres. Gerry Desjardins was outstanding in net for Buffalo, keeping the NHL’s highest-scoring team to just three goals on 32 shots.

The Sabres also went to the Stanley Cup Final in 1999, but we’ll get to that defining moment later. Sabres fans might want to completely skip over the Dallas Stars slide. I’m just saying.

Calgary Flames: Lanny McDonald Finally Lifts The Stanley Cup

Lanny McDonald is arguably the most popular Calgary Flames player of all-time. His mustache is one of the most iconic in NHL history. All of Calgary loves him, and they got to see their beloved hero lift the Stanley Cup in 1989, his last season in the NHL.

McDonald went most of his career without winning the Stanley Cup. He struggled to find a permanent home before being traded to the Flames. McDonald started off with the Toronto Maple Leafs but got traded to the Colorado Rockies (present day New Jersey Devils). But it was in Calgary where he became a legend.

In 1989, the Flames entered Game 6 against the Canadiens up 3-2. Game 6 was a hard-fought game, but Calgary hung onto to win thanks to a second-period goal from McDonald on the power play and two third-period goals from the eternally underrated Doug Gilmour.

Everyone talks about Ray Bourque lifting the Stanley Cup to end his career, and rightfully so. But McDonald lifting the Stanley Cup to end his career is something Calgary Flames fans will never forget. It propelled him to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Carolina Hurricanes: The Legend Of Mr. Game 7 Begins

Justin Williams is known by many as “Mr. Game 7”. Just ask Los Angeles Kings fans about that nickname. They’ll give you a huge grin and proceed to tell you about his elimination game heroics. Williams’ legacy as “Mr. Game 7” actually started when he was with the Carolina Hurricanes, as his Game 7 goal against the Edmonton Oilers clinched the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

With the series tied at 3, the Hurricanes got off to a great start, as Aaron Ward gave them an early 1-0 lead just 86 seconds into the game. Frantisek Kaberle extended that lead to 2-0 in the second period with a tally of his own.

However, the resilient Oilers weren’t ready to go down just yet. 63 seconds into the third period, Fernando Pisani scored his 14th goal of the postseason to cut the Hurricanes’ lead down to 2-1. They made a relentless push after that, but rookie goaltender Cam Ward and the Hurricanes stood tall.

It wasn’t until just before the one-minute mark that Carolina fans could finally exhale, as Williams scored an empty-net goal to make the score 3-1, which would ultimately be the final score. And this wasn’t even his first clinching goal of the 2006 postseason. Williams also scored the clincher in Game 7 against Buffalo in the Eastern Conference Final, and also got an assist on the game-winning goal in that game.

Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Kane Ends The Curse

The Chicago Blackhawks are an Original Six team, so they have quite a bit of history. However, after winning the Stanley Cup in 1961, they went nearly 50 years before winning it again, going 0 for 5 in the Stanley Cup Final until 2010, when Patrick Kane broke the curse.

Ironically, Kane’s Stanley Cup-winning goal in overtime is memorable, but not for the reason you might think. When Kane scored, almost nobody on the ice realized it. Can you think of a more anti-climatic call to a goal that wins the Stanley Cup?

But no matter how awkward the call was, it ended the curse that was hurting the Blackhawks. It also propelled them to greatness. For the next eight seasons, the Blackhawks were among the best teams in the NHL. They went on to win two more Stanley Cups in 2013 and 2015, creating the first dynasty of the salary cap era.

This moment also propelled Kane to greatness. Before 2010, he was merely a great player. Kane used this moment to jumpstart his career and now he’s arguably the best American-born player of all-time (assuming you don’t count Brett Hull, which you shouldn’t).

Over the years, Kane has performed a ton of magic tricks with the puck. He’s good for at least one jaw-dropping moment per game. But Kane’s goal from a tough angle to win the 2010 Stanley Cup Final will always be his greatest trick.

Honorable mention: The Blackhawks came back in Game 6, scoring two goals in the last two minutes, including the series-winning goal from Dave Bolland with 59 seconds left, to win their second Stanley Cup in the 21st century.

Colorado Avalanche: Ray Bourque Retires As A Champion

It’s always a priceless moment when players start lifting the Stanley Cup. Usually, the captain of the team is the one who starts, as he has led the way and all of his blood, sweat, and tears have proven to be worthwhile. However, Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche went against tradition in 2001.

Instead of lifting the Stanley Cup and having the traditional long lap around the ice, Sakic allowed defenseman Ray Bourque to have that honor. It was a very classy move from the Avalanche’s captain to allow Bourque, who went over 20 years without winning the Stanley Cup, to finally have the Stanley Cup moment he had dreamed about all of his life.

This was the Avalanche’s second Stanley Cup win and their most recent one to date. It’s also perhaps the most memorable Stanley Cup moment of all-time. Just look at the pure adulation and joy on Bourque’s face as he finally gets to lift the trophy he worked his whole life to get. Also, Gary Thorne proves why he’s a national treasure and I wish he called hockey regularly again.

Honorable mention: The Avalanche also won the Stanley Cup in 1996, their first season in Colorado. That Stanley Cup run was defined by a dominant run in the Stanley Cup Final, which saw the Avs sweep the Florida Panthers.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Stunning The Lightning In Game 1

Since joining the NHL in 2000, the Columbus Blue Jackets haven’t won a Stanley Cup. However, they’ve still had some pretty incredible moments. There’s their first postseason appearance, followed by their first-ever postseason win.

But no moment stands out more than the Blue Jackets sweeping the President’s Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Blue Jackets entered the series as the overwhelming underdogs. They had to fight tooth and nail just to make the postseason while the Lightning finished the 2018-19 season as the best regular season team of the salary cap era.

In Game 1, things didn’t start off well for the Blue Jackets, as Tampa jumped out to a very quick 3-0 lead in the first 20 minutes. It looked like the Lightning were going to steamroll through the Blue Jackets as expected.

But then the Blue Jackets fought back. Team captain Nick Foligno scored a second-period goal to make the deficit more manageable at 3-1. In the final 20 minutes, the Blue Jackets took over the game and the series with three unanswered goals. Eventually, defenseman Seth Jones notched a power-play goal that proved to be the game-winner.

This win gave the Blue Jackets the confidence they needed to overcome the Lightning. Though they later lost to the Boston Bruins in the second round, that first-round sweep was glorious and perhaps the most unexpected sweep in not just NHL history, but all of sports history.

Dallas Stars: Brett Hull’s Controversial Goal Brings Stanley Cup To Texas

WARNING: Buffalo Sabres fans, this is your last warning. You might want to skip this slide. I can’t be held responsible for what you do if you have to relive an extremely painful memory.

Now, with that out of the way, the Dallas Stars have won one Stanley Cup in franchise history. It came in 1999 and there might not be a more controversial ending to a Stanley Cup than the way it ended for the Stars.

At the time, there was a rule about skaters not being allowed to have a skate in the crease before the puck crossed the crease. However, they got rid of that rule in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Stars were the beneficiaries of this, as Brett Hull’s skate was clearly in the crease before the puck. But it didn’t matter.

The story behind Hull’s goal is pretty incredible. He was clearly nowhere close to 100% after suffering a serious lower-body injury, but he still played over 25 minutes during the triple overtime in Game 6.  Hull didn’t have much left in the tank, but he had just enough to bring the Stanley Cup home to Texas. The Stars nearly won back-to-back Stanley Cups, but fell short in 2000, losing to the New Jersey Devils in six games in the Stanley Cup Final.

Detroit Red Wings: Mike Vernon Ends The Drought

The Detroit Red Wings are one of the most storied franchises in the NHL. Not only are they an original six team, they also have the third-most Stanley Cups of any franchise with 11. This trails only the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

However, after winning the Stanley Cup in 1955, they didn’t win it again until 1997, when they swept the Philadelphia Flyers. In Game 4, the Red Wings won 2-1, with Darren McCarty picking up the game-winning goal in the second period. Mike Vernon, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy, had one of the performances that helped him win it, as he stopped all but one of the 27 shots on goal he faced.

This Stanley Cup win put the Red Wings back on the top of the world. They went on to win the Stanley Cup in 1998 as well, and they swept that series too. The Red Wings won again in 2002 and in 2008. Basically, the 1997 Stanley Cup win made the Red Wings the kings of the NHL again.

Honorable Mention: Steve Yzerman’s goal to eliminate the St. Louis Blues in overtime back in 1996 is a moment few fans who saw it will forget. Also, seeing Vladimir Konstantinov get to have his moment with the Stanley Cup in 1998 after suffering serious injuries in a car accident was a tear-jerker.

Edmonton Oilers: The Dynasty Begins

The Edmonton Oilers, despite joining the NHL in 1980, have seen quite a few priceless moments. They’ve won five Stanley Cups and have been to two additional Stanley Cup Finals. They say your first love is the sweetest, and this rings true for the Oilers and their first Stanley Cup win back in 1984.

This propelled the Oilers to become a dynasty in the 1980’s. The Oilers would go on to win four of the next six Stanley Cups. Mark Messier won the Conn Smythe after posting eight goals, 18 assists, and 26 points in 18 playoff games. This began his legacy as one of the NHL’s best clutch performers of all-time.

Also, this win ended another dynasty. The Oilers beat the New York Islanders, who had won four straight Stanley Cups. Though one dynasty ended back in 1984, another one came to life. The NHL has never seen anything quite like the 1980s Oilers, who had countless stars and Hall of Famers.

Honorable Mentions: Esa Tikkanen’s hat trick against the Boston Bruins in the 1988 Stanley Cup Final helped lead the Oilers to their fourth Stanley Cup. Gretzky scoring 50 goals in just 39 games is another priceless moment. Basically, virtually anything Gretzky did with the Oilers deserves to be an honorable mention.

Florida Panthers: It’s Raining Rats!

The Florida Panthers were the first NHL team in Florida, joining the league in 1993. In 1996, they made the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time. They were the ultimate underdogs, making it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final before being swept by the Colorado Avalanche. However, their journey to the Stanley Cup Final was unforgettable.

They were the third-place team in the Atlantic Division and the fourth overall seed in the Eastern Conference. In the first round, the Panthers drew the Boston Bruins, topping them in five games thanks to Ray Sheppard’s team-high eight points and some heroics from goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck.

In the second round, the Panthers played the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia Flyers. They eliminated the Flyers in six games, with Vanbiesbrouck posting an eye-popping .949% save percentage during the series.

Next, the Panthers eliminated the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games. It was a classic series and evenly balanced. However, the Panthers were able to come out on top 3-1 in Game 7 to go to the Stanley Cup Final. Tom Fitzgerald picked up two game-winning goals in the series to lead the team. Though Vanbiesbrouck struggled a little bit, his teammates were able to pick him up.

Their rallying cry during the Stanley Cup run involved a bunch of rats. A player reportedly killed one in the locker room and fans found out about it. At the next home game, they threw plastic rats on the ice. That’s how hockey’s weirdest tradition began!

LA Kings: Alec Martinez’s Overtime Winner In 2014

The Los Angeles Kings won two Stanley Cups in the 2010s. Their first came in 2011-12. However, it was their second Stanley Cup that saw one of the greatest moments in postseason history. Defenseman Alec Martinez won his team the title with a memorable overtime goal in Game 5 that should be on highlight reels for years to come.

Martinez’s goal ended a long run for the Kings. The team needed seven games to get through the first three rounds. In the first round, the Kings found themselves down 3-0 to their archival San Jose Sharks. They also beat the Anaheim Ducks in the second round and the Chicago Blackhawks in one of the most memorable Western Conference Finals of all-time.

Honorable mentions: Obviously, the first Stanley Cup win got some serious consideration. This put the Kings on top of the NHL for the first time and the playoff run saw some priceless moments.

However, the top honorable mention has nothing to do with winning a Stanley Cup. Back in 1988, the Kings traded for Oilers star Wayne Gretzky. This was a league-altering trade. For the first time, a team playing in Los Angeles had the best player in the NHL.

Not only did this mean a lot for the Kings and the NHL, it also helped establish California as a goldmine for hockey. The league saw that and later added the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks.

Minnesota Wild: Andrew Brunette Helps The Wild Advance

The Minnesota Wild have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs nine times since joining the league in 2000. However, they’ve only made it out of the first round three times. Much like the Panthers, the Wild’s franchise-defining moment came surprisingly early in their existence.

Back in 2003, the Wild made the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time. Led by head coach Jacques Lemaire and his trademark suffocating defense, the Wild got to 95 points, which was barely enough to make the postseason. Goaltender Dwayne Roloson and Manny Fernandez were stalwarts in the net, helping their team allow the fourth-fewest goals. They made the playoffs despite scoring the seventh-fewest goals in the league.

In the first round, the Wild drew a tough matchup against high-octane offense of the Colorado Avalanche, who scored the fifth-most goals in the league during the regular season. This team featured several future Hall of Famers, including Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, Rob Blake, and, of course, Patrick Roy.

The series went to seven games. Not only that, it required overtime to be solved. In overtime, Andrew Brunette etched his name into Wild history by notching the game-winning and series-winning goal.

Honorable mention: After the second period in Game 7 in their second-round matchup against the Canucks in 2003, the Wild found themselves down 2-1. Whatever was said in the locker room worked perfectly, as the usually conservative Wild came out swinging. They scored three unanswered goals, with Wes Walz, Darby Hendrickson, and Pascal Dupuis each putting the puck in the net.

Montreal Canadiens: The Torch Gets Passed And The Forum Gets Closed

The Montreal Canadiens have an incredible pre-game ceremony before each first home game. It involves former players and current players passing around a torch. Back in 1996, this tradition had a bit of a different meaning, as it was a part of the closing ceremonies for the Montreal Forum.

Yes, the Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cups (or 23, depending on who you ask). However, the ice never had so many legends on it than it did for the last game at the Forum in 1996. Legends from across all eras joined together on the ice. Even Maurice Richard came, and he got a chillingly long-standing ovation from the fanbase that loves him.

The Forum meant a lot to the Canadiens. They’ve never won a Stanley Cup since closing it. So many of their greatest moments occurred in that building, so I think it’s appropriate the closing of the home of those memories gets honored as the Canadiens’ most iconic moment.

Nashville Predators: Mike Fisher Ends The Never-Ending Game

There’s nothing quite like playoff hockey. Actually, that’s false. There’s only one thing better than playoff hockey – playoff hockey in overtime. In 2016, the Nashville Predators squared off against the San Jose Sharks in Game 4 of their second-round series.

The Predators entered Game 4 down 2-1 in the series. A third period goal by Brent Burns gave the Sharks a 3-2 lead in the game. However, James Neal tied the game with under five minutes left in regulation to send the game into overtime.

In overtime, the Sharks and Predators went back and forth up and down the ice, but for the first 51 minutes and 12 seconds, nobody scored. It took nearly three full overtime periods to solve this quandary. Mike Fisher ended the game that many thought would never end and tied the series at 2 games each.

However, the Sharks would come back to win the series in seven games. Though the win in Game 4 didn’t spark a Stanley Cup run (though that nearly happened a year later), it was one of the most exhilarating moments in franchise history and certainly the most memorable.

Honorable mentions: Viktor Arvidsson’s overtime winner in Game 6 in 2016 was pretty awesome. Their first-ever win in the Stanley Cup Final, which came thanks to five unanswered goals in Game 3 in 2017, also got serious consideration.

New Jersey Devils: Jason Arnott’s Overtime Stanley Cup Winning Goal

The New Jersey Devils have won three Stanley Cups. Their first Stanley Cup came when they swept the Detroit Red Wings in 1995. The Devils most recently won the Stanley Cup in 2003, but you could argue the most iconic thing about that win was who won the Conn Smythe Trophy – Jean-Sebastian Giguere, the losing goaltender.

However, it was their second that was the most memorable. This one came back in 2000. The Devils squared off against the Dallas Stars, who were hoping to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Though the Devils took a quick 3-1 lead in the series, the Stars weren’t quite ready to relinquish their title, as they won in Game 5 in overtime.

Game 6 was equally equal, as it required overtime as well. However, this time, it was the Devils who came out on top. In the second overtime, with both teams starting to show their fatigue, Patrik Elias did what he did best. He won a puck battle in the corner and fired a pass to the center of the ice. Jason Arnott was waiting for it and he scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal.

All of this came after star wing Petr Sykora got injured early in Game 6. This is the kind of win the New Jersey Devils are famous for.

New York Islanders: Bobby Nystrom’s Overtime Winner

The New York Islanders won four straight Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983. It was their first, though, that was the most memorable. The Islanders were facing a tough Philadelphia Flyers team in 1980. They had already won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975 but were still a force to be reckoned with.

After winning three of the first four games against the Flyers, the Flyers won 6-3 in Game 5, ensuring they would not be eliminated in front of their home crowd. Game 6 saw the Islanders get out to a 4-2 lead after two periods. However, the Broad Street Bullies weren’t done fighting. Two third-period goals tied the game at four and sent the game into overtime.

Seven minutes and 11 seconds into overtime, forward Bobby Nystrom picked a great time to score his third goal of the series and second goal of the game. Lorne Henning helped a cross-ice feed from John Tonelli hit the stick of Nystrom, who got the puck past Flyers goaltender Pete Peeters to clinch the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. Nassau Coliseum has a reputation for having a loud crowd, but I don’t think it’ll ever be louder than it was after Nystrom scored.

Honorable mentions: The remaining three Stanley Cup wins were pretty darn special, but none of them topped what happened in 1980. Also, the return to Nassau was terrific. Beloved head coach Al Arbour coming back to coach one game during the 2007-08 season so he could coach in his 1,500th NHL game was pretty special too.

New York Rangers: “Matteau! Matteau!”

The New York Rangers had to wait nearly 50 years between Stanley Cup wins. In 1994, the Rangers finally brought the Stanley Cup back to the Madison Square Garden. However, it wasn’t easy. Before getting to the Stanley Cup Final, they had to get past the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Final.

After a dominant showing in Game 5, the Devils had the Rangers down 3-2 going into Game 6. It was at this point team captain Mark Messier made his infamous guarantee that the Rangers would win Game 6. Messier made sure he wouldn’t be wrong, picking up a hat trick to lead his team to a 4-2 win.

Brian Leetch scored in the second period to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead in Game 7. It looked like they would shutout the Devils in Game 7, but Valeri Zelepukin had other plans, scoring with just eight seconds left to send the shocked Rangers into overtime.

Four minutes and 24 seconds into the second overtime period, Stephane Matteau put the puck past Martin Brodeur to put the Rangers in the Stanley Cup Final. This is one of the most famous goal calls in NHL history.

Ottawa Senators: Daniel Alfredsson Puts Them In The Stanley Cup Final

The 2006-07 NHL season was a very special one for the Ottawa Senators. They had come dangerously close to the Stanley Cup Final several times before, including a heartbreaking loss in seven games in the 2003 Eastern Conference Finals to the New Jersey Devils.

Against the Buffalo Sabres in 2007, the Senators made the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history. The Sabres certainly didn’t make it easy, as all but one of the games in the series were determined by one goal. After taking a 3-0 series lead, the Senators dropped Game 4 to the Sabres, forcing a Game 5.

The resilient Sabres kept on fighting, forcing overtime in Game 5 with the score tied at two goals a piece. At 9:32 into the first overtime period, Daniel Alfredsson scored his second game-winner of the series to put the Senators in the Stanley Cup Final. Though they lost to the Anaheim Ducks in five games, Alfredsson’s goal stands out as the most important moment in franchise history.

Honorable mention: It’s hard to pick out just one moment from the 2016-17 Senators season. There were so many priceless moments during their unexpected run to the Eastern Conference Final, where they nearly upset the Pittsburgh Penguins. Bobby Ryan’s overtime game-winning goal in Game 1 of the series stands out.

Philadelphia Flyers: Broad Street Bullies Beat Bruins

The city of Philadelphia has always been a sucker for a good underdog story. In 1974, the Philadelphia Flyers upset the Boston Bruins in six games in the Stanley Cup Final to win the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

Goaltender Bernie Parent led the way by posting a .933% save percentage with two shutouts. For his herculean effort, he won the first of his two consecutive Conn Smythe Trophies. The final of those two shutouts came in the clincher as the Flyers won 1-0 to bring Lord Stanley to the City of Brotherly Love.

Just how good were the Bruins? They had the NHL’s best record during the regular season. Furthermore, the Bruins had the league’s top four players in points and two of the top five in goals. Also, six of their players ranked in the top 10 in plus-minus. They had the Hart Trophy winner (Phil Esposito) and the Norris Trophy winner (Bobby Orr). Esposito also led the league in points and goals, while Orr led the league in assists.

Honorable mention: Their second straight Stanley Cup win in 1975 was a pretty memorable moment too. However, their first was simply incredible. The Flyers shocked the world by beating the Bruins, who had three future Hall of Famers on their roster.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Marc-Andre Fleury Clinches Stanley Cup

In 2008, the Pittsburgh Penguins made it to the Stanley Cup Final before losing to the Detroit Red Wings. 2009 saw a rematch of the two powerhouses. And this time, the Penguins were the ones who came out on top, winning their first Stanley Cup since 1992 and their third Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Evgeni Malkin won the Conn Smythe by having one of the most productive postseasons of the salary cap era, picking up 36 points. To this day, that’s the most points by any player in a single postseason since Wayne Gretzky got 40 in 1993.

However, it was goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury who clinched the title for the Penguins. The Red Wings didn’t go down easily, as they pushed back hard in Game 7 after the Penguins took the lead. In the final seconds, the Red Wings made one last push to tie the game, but Fleury made an outstanding save just before time expired.

Honorable mentions: The Penguins most recently won the Stanley Cup in 2017. Considering the obstacles they had to overcome to win that one, it might be the most impressive of their five Stanley Cups. There’s also Mario Lemieux’s infamous 1992-93 season when he won the Art Ross despite missing two months thanks to having Hodgkin lymphoma.

San Jose Sharks: Joonas Donskoi’s Overtime Winner

In 2016, the San Jose Sharks made their first-ever trip to the Stanley Cup Final. Though they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games, they were able to pick up a win in their first home game in the Stanley Cup Final thanks to Joonas Donskoi.

Game 2 saw the Penguins escape with a 2-1 win in overtime thanks to Conor Sheary’s game-winning goal. Donskoi’s goal gave the Sharks a little bit of hope. Instead of being down 3-0 in the series, the Sharks were now down just 2-1.

Honorable mentions: Earlier in the postseason, the Sharks found themselves tied 3-3 with the Nashville Predators in the second round. In Game 7, San Jose took charge with two first-period goals from captain Joe Pavelski and Joel Ward. Logan Couture had three points to lead the way as the Sharks beat the Predators 5-0.

There’s also the Joe Thornton trade, which happened in 2005. The Sharks gained their best player in franchise history and he has been a part of most of the best memories in franchise history since then.

And then there’s the controversial ending to their first-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights back in 2019. They were down three goals in the third period but got a five-minute power play. The Sharks scored four goals in those five minutes, which helped them advance to the second round.

St. Louis Blues: Play Gloria!

The St. Louis Blues waited a very long time to lift the Stanley Cup. After making it to the Stanley Cup Final in their first three seasons, the Blues waited nearly 50 years to go back in 2019. They faced a familiar foe in the Boston Bruins, who swept them in 1970, the last time the Blues had made it to the Stanley Cup Final. But this time, St. Louis turned the tables and won their first Stanley Cup.

When Alex Pietrangelo hoisted the Stanley Cup, it made all the years of suffering for Blues fans worth it. Just five months earlier, they were at the bottom of the NHL standings. On June 12, 2019, the Blues solidified their spot on top of the world.

The Blues are perhaps the least likely Stanley Cup champions of all-time. But they caught fire at the right time and stayed on fire long enough to bring the Stanley Cup to St. Louis. And that’s all that matters.

Honorable mention: In the second round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Blues faced their toughest opponent in the Dallas Stars. It was a hard-fought series that required seven games, plus two overtime periods in Game 7. Pat Maroon scored the series-winning goal five minutes into the second overtime period.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Martin St. Louis Saves The Season

Before the St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup in 2019, the only St. Louis to win a Stanley Cup was forward Martin St. Louis. Back in 2004, the Tampa Bay Lightning found themselves down in the Stanley Cup Final three games to two against the Calgary Flames.

In double overtime, St. Louis scored to save their season. In Game 7, Ruslan Fedotenko scored his 11th and 12th goals of the postseason to lead the Bolts to a 2-1 win and the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

Brad Richards won the Conn Smythe after tying Fedotenko for the team lead in goals (12) and leading the team in points (26) during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. An eye-popping seven of Richards’ seven goals were game-winners. St. Louis was just behind Richards with 24 points, including eight goals.

This brought the Stanley Cup to Florida for the first time in NHL history. It also cemented John Tortella’s legacy as one of the greatest American-born head coaches in league history.

Honorable mention: Dave Andreychuk lifting the Stanley Cup for the first and only time in his career was a beautiful sight. However, St. Louis’ goal ensured that moment actually happened. Without his brilliance in double overtime in Game 6, the Flames would have been the ones lifting the Stanley Cup.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Coming Back From 3-0

The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1967, but their Stanley Cup win back in 1942 was historical and iconic. While the Boston Red Sox are most famous for coming back from a 3-0 deficit, doing so against the New York Yankees in 2004, they weren’t the first team to do that. The first team to do it were the 1942 Maple Leafs.

After losing Game 3 5-2, head coach Hap Day made two bold choices. First, he benched his best scorer Gordie Drillon, who led the team in goals during the regular season. Next, Day benched the Leafs’ best defenseman Bucko McDonald.

As crazy as that strategy sounds, it actually worked. The Leafs won Game 4 by a score of 4-3. Next, they won Game 5 9-3 and Game 6 3-0. The Leafs completed the comeback by besting the Red Wings by a score of 3-1 in Game 7 to hoist their franchise’s fourth Stanley Cup.

Though they went on to win quite a few more before 1967 (nine more to be precise), none of those titles were more memorable than their one in 1942.

Honorable mention: Their best memory in the modern era came when Darryl Sittler set an NHL record by picking up 10 points in a single game. Best of all, it came against the Maple Leafs’ arch-rival, the Boston Bruins.

Vancouver Canucks: Pavel Bure Scores In Overtime To Slay Calgary

This one was pretty difficult. The Vancouver Canucks had several moments worth considering for this spot. However, when I think of the Canucks, I think of Pavel Bure. Easily one of the most incredible players to watch in NHL history. Every time he touched the puck, you’d immediately think he was going to score because, well, that’s what he did.

Bure’s most iconic goal came in 1994. The Canucks found themselves down 3-1 in their first-round series against the Calgary Flames. However, Vancouver came back storming with overtime wins in Games 5 and 6. Because being a Canucks fan is never easy, Game 7 went to overtime as well!

In the second overtime period, Bure got on one of his trademark mini-breakaways. They didn’t call him the Russian Rocket for nothing, as he sped towards Mike Vernon and put the puck past him to score the biggest goal in Canucks history.

Honorable mentions: Three other moments stand out to me. The first is obvious – the 1999 NHL Draft when the Canucks found a way to get both Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. Because the Sedins were so iconic and special, getting them deserves an honorable mention.

Next, there’s Alexandre Burrows scoring in overtime to eliminate the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round in 2011. That got a huge monkey off their back.

The last one is one of my favorite moments in history. Back in 1982, the Canucks were getting screwed by the referees. Their head coach put a towel on a stick and started waving it like a white flag. A rallying cry was born and the Canucks went on to make their first Stanley Cup Final appearance in franchise history.

Vegas Golden Knights: First Win In The Stanley Cup Final

The NHL will never see a season quite like the one the Vegas Golden Knights had in 2017-18. They were an expansion team at the time. Despite this, the Knights had an incredible amount of success, making the Stanley Cup Playoffs in their first season. Their magical run went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Washington Capitals in five games.

However, the Knights got so many outstanding moments from that run, it’s hard to pick merely one. But winning Game 1 against the Capitals on home ice was an incredible moment. This coming from a Capitals fan.

Honorable mentions: As I said, there were a lot of moments that defined the Stanley Cup run. But the one that really stands out to me happened before their first home game. In their first home game, the city of Vegas was still hurting following a horrific, senseless, and tragic mass shooting. Deryk Engelland, who’s from Nevada, gave an incredible speech.

All throughout their Stanley Cup run, the Golden Knights played like they were playing for a purpose higher than themselves. They were playing for their city and its broken hearts. It was a beautiful sight to see and the Knights played like champions for the entire season.

Washington Capitals: Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom Hoist The Stanley Cup

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Obviously, the most iconic moment in franchise history for the Washington Capitals had to come during the Stanley Cup run in 2018. The only question is, which moment is the most iconic?

Now, the obvious answer is “Alex Ovechkin lifting the Stanley Cup and screaming incoherently”. However, I think Ovechkin and Backstrom skating together with the Stanley Cup is more iconic.

After Ovechkin skated around with the cup, he appropriately gave it to his longtime center Nicklas Backstrom.

However, Backstrom was still recovering from a hand injury he suffered in the second round against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He understandably had a little bit of trouble with the huge Stanley Cup.

Ovechkin helped his friend hoist the Stanley Cup in the air. It’s such a priceless moment. Both Backstrom and Ovechkin waited so long to lift the Stanley Cup. Backstrom has assisted on so many of Ovi’s goals. This time, Ovechkin was the one who gave an assist.

Honorable mentions: Lars Eller’s game-winner in Game 5 against the Golden Knights will be on highlight reels for years to come. So will his game-winner in double overtime against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game 3 of their first-round series. Evgeny Kuznetsov’s overtime winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins stands out as well.

Winnipeg Jets: Hockey Is Back In Manitoba

The Winnipeg Jets used to be the Atlanta Thrashers. But before then, the old Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix following the 1994-95 season and became the Phoenix Coyotes (now Arizona Coyotes). For 16 long years, there was no NHL team in Manitoba.

That all changed when the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg and became the new Winnipeg Jets. Their official return home came against the Montreal Canadiens in 2011. Jets fans are known for being really loud and I don’t think I’ve ever heard their arena rocking like it was in 2011 when the Jets returned to Winnipeg.

Honorable mentions: Several moments stand out to me. The first one is their first postseason game in Winnipeg, which came back during the 2014-15 season. Though the Jets got swept by the Anaheim Ducks, it was terrific to see the playoffs back in Winnipeg.

There’s also their Game 7 win against the Nashville Predators in 2018 that took them to the Western Conference Final. Throughout the series, the Jets and Predators traded blows, alternating wins. The Jets came out on top thanks to a 5-1 win in Game 7.