For the second year in a row, the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers will be competing against one another in the Stanley Cup Final -- just the fifth time since the NHL expansion era began in 1967-68 that there's been a rematch in the final round of the playoffs.
Previously, this was far more common when the league had just six teams battling it out, and it's become more rare as the NHL continues to expand.
The Cats came out on top last year, but if history is any indicator, it could go either way. Reigning champions are 7-4 all-time in SCF rematches, giving the Panthers an edge, but the runner-up has won both of the last two instances.
2008 and 2009: Red Wings and Penguins alternate victories
The matchup that is fresh in the memory of hockey fans is that between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins in the late 2000s. It was a showcase of some of the most elite talent in the post-lockout era: youngsters Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin facing off against legends like Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom.
The Red Wings were the Presidents Trophy winners during the regular season, clinching the club's seventh straight division championship. Pittsburgh was headlined by a much younger core, with 20-year-old Crosby and 21-year-old Malkin, but pulled off three series wins in five games apiece to reach the SCF.
The first time these teams met, Detroit claimed the championship in six games after getting off to strong 2-0 and 3-1 series leads. It was the team's fourth Stanley Cup in a span of 12 years, and another chapter in the long history of the Red Wings' success in the '90s and '00s.
That year's team was a powerhouse, tallying 55 goals in the first three rounds of play and scoring another 17 in the final series. Goalie Chris Osgood won nine straight games, one of the longest playoff streaks by any netminder, and posted two shutouts in the SCF. Henrik Zetterberg won the Conn Smythe as the playoff MVP after tying Crosby for the NHL scoring lead with 27 points apiece.
The following year, Pittsburgh's luck changed, though it didn't seem that way at first. The Penguins were barely over .500 at the halfway mark of the season, but rebounded in a huge way when rookie coach Dan Bylsma was hired mid-year. The Red Wings, of course, did typical Red Wings things winning their division for an eighth straight season.
Once again, the Penguins went down 2-0 to open the series, but battled back to make it an even 2-2. Then, facing elimination, Pittsburgh rallied to force a Game 7 where they would capture the Stanley Cup in a neck-and-neck 2-1 victory. The save made by Marc-Andre Fleury in the dying seconds of that game still ranks among the most iconic in playoff history.
Evgeni Malkin was awarded the Conn Smythe for scoring 36 points, the most in one playoff run dating back to 1993-94. Since Malkin, only Connor McDavid has recorded more points in one postseason with 42.
1983 and 1984: Oilers and Islanders win one apiece
These two finals were a battle for the ages, as the commanding New York Islanders dynasty would win its last Cup before passing the torch to the high-flying Edmonton Oilers.
The Isles' run in the early '80s is among the best of all time. New York still holds the NHL record with 19 straight series wins across five consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances.
The Islanders handily swept the Oilers in 1983, despite Edmonton's insane offense leading up to the final round. At that time, the Oilers had won 11 of its first 12 playoff games and set 16 different scoring records along the way.
But Islanders goalie Billy Smith was practically unbeatable en route to the Cup win. He held the record-breaking Edmonton offense to six goals in four games, and was perfect in seven of the twelve periods played. This stellar play earned him the Conn Smythe. Up front, Hall of Famer Mike Bossy led the way with 17 goals, a total only three players have ever beat in NHL history.
The tables were turned in 1984, when the Oilers' offense proved to be unstoppable. Edmonton outscored New York 21-12, including two seven-goal outings, en route to the franchise's first Stanley Cup.
Four legendary Oilers skaters recorded at least 22 points in 1984, led by Wayne Gretzky with 35. The others were Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, and Paul Coffey. On the other hand, no Islanders player reached the 20-point mark in 21 games played.
The win was symbolic for the Oilers, as an established dynasty team handed the reins to one of the league's newest teams at the time. Edmonton went on to win three more championships in the next five years.