Whether you’re a fan of the current playoff format or not, the one thing you can’t deny is that the teams that make the playoffs all deserve to get in. Once the playoffs begin, everyone starts fresh at 0-0. Throw the records and seeds out the window because none of that matters. It’s pretty much a brand new season. In a best-of-seven series, the only thing that matters is which team wins four games first. What I like to say is, “If you’re in the dance, you have a chance.” Over the course of NHL history, we’ve seen some crazy upsets. Now, upsetting a higher-seeded team is one thing, but then going on to win the Stanley Cup is another. So get ready, because I’m going to be ranking the most unlikely Stanley Cup winners.
- 2019 St. Louis Blues
The 2019 St. Louis Blues were the 5th seed heading into the playoffs, but in case you forgot, they were dead last in the NHL on January 3rd. Yup, you read that right. They were last in the entire league at the start of the new year. So what changed? A coaching change in mid-December was part of it, but the biggest reason was Jordan Binnington. You may think of Binnington as a hothead and as a solid goalie, but not an elite one. Let me remind you of the miraculous run he went on in 2019.
Once Binnington became the starter in early January, he posted a record of 24-5-1 with a 1.89 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage, and five shutouts. Isn’t that absolutely bonkers? The Blues won 30 of their last 45 games in the regular season, finishing with 99 points and tying for second in their division, setting up a first-round matchup with the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets started off the season strong but were stumbling near the start of the playoffs. But the Blues were the exact opposite; they were the hottest team in the league and were looking to make a statement.
Personally, I’ve always found these matchups the most dangerous. When the lower-seeded team is playing better than the higher-seeded team heading into the playoffs, doesn’t it feel like there’s bound to be an upset? That’s exactly what happened. St. Louis overcame a 2-0 deficit in game five, with Jaden Schwartz scoring with 15 seconds left, giving the Blues a 3-2 series lead. Then, they took care of business in game six on home ice. However, things would only get tougher. In round two, they went to overtime in game seven against the Dallas Stars.
Where St. Louis native Patrick Maroon would be the overtime hero, sending the Blues to the Western Conference final. In the Western Conference final, they would face the San Jose Sharks, who were poised to win the Cup after acquiring Erik Karlsson in the offseason and coming back from a 3-1 series deficit to the Vegas Golden Knights in round one.
The Blues would beat them in six games, advancing to the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1970, ironically against the team they lost to in 1970, the Boston Bruins. But unlike in 1970, history would not repeat itself. This was a super physical series with every game featuring bone-crushing hits, but at the end, it was the Blues coming away with their first-ever Stanley Cup in a hard-fought series that went all the way to game seven. With all of the circumstances they went through, from firing their coach, starting a rookie goalie, then winning two seven-game series, and don’t forget they were also last in the NHL at one point. I think the Blues are easily the most improbable Stanley Cup champions.
2. 2012 Los Angeles Kings
On paper, the 2012 LA Kings were a really good team. They had Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Justin Williams, Drew Doughty, who was one of the best defensemen in the NHL, and one of the best goalies in the NHL in Jonathan Quick. For some reason, things weren’t clicking for the Kings. In late December, they fired head coach Terry Murray and replaced him with Darryl Sutter. But the Kings needed more offensive firepower. Before the trade deadline, they were 29th in goals scored. So they went out and traded for Jeff Carter from the Columbus Blue Jackets. They went on a 25-17-7 run and snuck into the 8th seed in the Western Conference on the last day of the season.
I’m sorry if you’re a Canucks fan, but I have to bring this up. The Kings were set for a date with the back-to-back Presidents’ Trophy champions, the Vancouver Canucks. However, the Canucks were still without Daniel Sedin, as he was recovering from that infamous elbow from Duncan Keith. The Kings got up 3-0 in the series, and Jarett Stoll won the series in overtime in game five. The Kings won all three games in Vancouver, and this was just the start for them.
They would go on to sweep the St. Louis Blues and then beat the Phoenix Coyotes in five games. Heading into the Stanley Cup final, the Kings had only lost two games. Isn’t that absolutely nuts? In the finals, they would play the New Jersey Devils. The Kings got out to another 3-0 lead after winning games one and two in overtime. But the Devils would claw back and make it a series, winning games four and five.
In game six, Steve Bernier took a boarding penalty, which ended up being a major, and the Kings received a five-minute power play. The Kings scored three goals on the man advantage and demolished the Devils on their way to their first ever Stanley Cup.
What makes the Kings’ run so improbable is that they barely snuck into the playoffs. One or two bounces don’t go their way, and they don’t get in, and history is altered forever. But that’s not how it played out, and the Kings etched their way into the history books as the lowest-seeded team ever to win the Cup.
3. 1993 Montreal Canadiens
Two words, Patrick. Roy. You want to know how the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup in 1993? Look no further than the man in the blue paint ,Patrick Roy. Even though they finished with the sixth-best record in the NHL, the Montreal Canadiens weren’t expected to win the Stanley Cup. Despite Vincent Damphousse having 97 points and Kirk Muller having 94, the Habs didn’t necessarily have the offensive firepower other teams did.
Even though the Canadiens got down 2-0 in their first-round series against one of their biggest rivals, the Quebec Nordiques, that didn’t phase Roy. Montreal came back and won the series in six games. They would sweep the Sabres in the second round and then face the New York Islanders in the third round. The Islanders upset Mario Lemieux’s Penguins in the second round, and the Habs beat them in five games. So who was their opponent in the finals? None other than Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings.
Montreal lost game one, and in game two was the infamous illegal stick. Trailing late in the third period, the Canadiens called to check Kings defenseman Marty McSorley for an illegal curve. They were successful and tied the game on the power play, then fittingly won the game in overtime. Montreal would win the series in five games, capturing their 24th Stanley Cup.
You might be wondering what Patrick Roy’s playoff stats were. Roy finished the playoffs with a .929 save percentage and a whopping 2.13 goals-against average on his way to securing his second Conn Smythe trophy. So what made their run so memorable? The Canadiens won a record 10 overtime games in the playoffs. That’s right, 10. Not only that, but they did it on the back of their goalie. Usually, goalies who carry their teams far in the playoffs fizzle out later on, but Roy seemed to get stronger, and Montreal won the Cup, being the last Canadian team to do so.
So those are the most improbable Stanley Cup winners, in my opinion. Disagree? Let me know in the comments!