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UPDATED after the Stanley Cup
final 2026 / MISE À JOUR après le final 2026
Normally one of the NHL’s best teams wins the Stanley
Cup. In sports like soccer and football where there is a one game final
during the playoffs it is often not the best team that wins. We see
that with Italy’s undeserving victory in the World Cup of Soccer in 2006
against France, a much better team. It is also evident with the New
York Giants victory over New England in the 2008 Super Bowl by the slim margin
of 17-14. The Giants had won 10 of its 16 games during the season (373-351 points
for/against). New England was unbeaten heading into the Super
Bowl (18 consecutive victories including a perfect 16-0 during the season
scoring 589 points & allowing 274).
In the NHL however, with each round a best 4 out of 7
series, the team which wins the Stanley Cup is one of the best teams in the
league (if not the best) year after year. In the following
chart I note the year, the winner of the Stanley Cup with its point
totals during the season and the top teams in points during the season to show
that almost every year success during the season continues in the playoffs and
that the winner of the Stanley Cup usually deserves it, at least until a little
over 10 years ago when LA surprised everyone twice (2012 & 2014) in 3
years.
Back when there were only 6 teams occasionally a far
inferior team (usually Toronto when inferior…honestly…check the chart) won the
Cup.
The
Toronto Maple Leafs last won the Cup in 1967 in spite of the fact that Toronto
was so average during the regular season the Leafs’ team was outscored by its
opponents 211-204 to become only the 3rd team in NHL history to win
the Cup in spite of being outscored during the season. Since the
league expanded the next season every Stanley Cup winning team (50 Cups) had
outscored its opponents by a margin of at least 32 goals in a full regular
season with 3 exceptions. The 2009
Stanley Cup winner Pittsburgh was + 25 (after a great second half). In
2012 LA surprised all with an incredible playoffs after a 13th place
+15 regular season. LA was the only team in history to have won the Stanley Cup in spite of
finishing lower than 8th in the NHL regular season standings in a
full regular season until St Louis which had an incredible 2nd half
but finished 10th although they were only 1 point back of 7th
in 2019. LA
did it twice. In 2012 LA finished 13th & outscored its opponents by only 15 goals. In 2014
LA was 10th but only 1 point behind 8th & +32 in goals for – goals against during the
regular season.
Washington won the Cup in 2018 in spite of only outscoring its opponents
by 20 goals during the regular season after winning the Presidents trophy for
most points in both of the 2 previous seasons also outscoring its opponents by
more than any other team in each of those seasons so its not like the Cup was a
fluke. In 1995 because of the NHL
lockout the NHL played a 48 game season. New Jersey finished 9th
& won the Cup that year while outscoring opponents by 15 goals during its
regular season. Mathematically the + 15 goals in 48 games would translate
into 25.6 goals in an 82 game season.
Florida last
season, the defending champs in the league’s toughest division (11th),
St Louis (10th) after an incredible 2nd half of the
season in 2019, & LA twice (2014-10th, 2012-13th) are
the only teams to win the Stanley Cup even though they finished worse than 8th
in a full regular NHL season.
2026 The top 11 teams in the
standings at the end of the 2025-26 regular season were Colorado (121), Carolina (113), Dallas (112), Buffalo (109), Tampa Bay
& Montreal (106), Minnesota (104), Boston (100), Ottawa (99), Pittsburgh
& Philly (98).
Colorado (+99), Tampa Bay (+59), Caroline (+56), Dallas (+53), Buffalo
(+47), Minnesota & Ottawa (+32) have all scored at least 32 goals more than
their opponents. Utah (+28) & Montreal (+27) are close to +32.
The teams with a good chance at winning the Stanley Cup in 2026 in the
West were Colorado, Dallas & Minnesota.
In the East – Carolina, Buffalo, Tampa Bay & Montréal are the only
real contenders.
Caroline (2nd)
defeated Vegas (13th) to win the 2026 Stanley Cup.
Teams play their own division’s teams 3 or 4 times & the other
division in the conference 3 times in addition to 2 games against each team in
the other conference. Teams in the
Atlantic division (Tampa, Mtl,etc) has an average winning percentage of .590.
Metropolitan (Carolina, Pittsburgh,etc) .572.
Central (Colorado, Dall, Minn) .575
& Pacific (Vegas, Edm, etc) .511
Therefore the teams in the Atlantic division have the toughest schedule
& the Pacific the easiest schedule. Had teams played a balanced schedule
(equal games against every team) the teams in the Atlantic (& Metropolitan)
would have surely had more points. Not
only is Vegas in the easiest division in the NHL meaning their points total is
warped to make them look better than they are – even with that advantage Vegas
lost more games than it won in the regular season so had Vegas won the Stanley
Cup it would have been the team with the worst regular season record since the
1949 Toronto Maple Leafs to win the Cup. Thank you Carolina & Hockey gods for not
letting them win.
2025 The
top 11 teams after the
regular season - April 18th, 2025 were Winnipeg (116), Washington (111), Vegas (110), Toronto (108), Dallas
(106), LA (105), Tampa Bay & Colorado (102), Edmonton (101) Carolina (99)
& Florida (98) . Winnipeg (+86), Tampa Bay (+75), Washington
& Vegas (+56), Dallas (+53), LA (+44), Colorado (+43), Toronto (+37) &
Carolina (+33) have all outscored opponents by at least 32 goals. Florida, the
champions in 2024 was close at +29 to the magic +32 stat.
The only real contenders for the 2025 Stanley
Cup in the West were Winnipeg, Vegas, Dallas, LA & Colorado. In the East Washington, Tampa Bay, Toronto
(in spite of their destiny of losing) were among the real contenders barring a
historical-type surprise. For only the
3rd time in NHL history no team among the top 8 in points during the
regular season met in the Stanley Cup final with 9th place Edmonton facing 11th place defending
Stanley Cup champions Florida. Neither of the teams outscored their opponents by +32 either with
Florida close at +29 & Edmonton at +23.
2014 & 2012, both years when LA won the Cup were the only other
seasons with no teams in the top 8 in the final. Florida won the Stanley Cup in 2025. Although
the Panthers finished 11th the team was in the league’s toughest
division (.562), while Edmonton was in the league’s worst division (.541) so
the fact the Oilers had 4 points more than Florida in the regular season is
very misleading.
2024 The top
10 teams at the end of the regular season were NY Rangers (114), Dallas (113),
Carolina (111), Winnipeg & Florida (110), Vancouver & Boston (109),
Colorado (107), Edmonton (104) & Toronto (102). Florida
(+68), Dallas (+64), Carolina (+63), Winnipeg (+60), Edmonton (+57), Vancouver
(+56), NY Rangers (+53), Colorado (+50), Boston (+43), LA (+41) & Toronto
(+40) all outscored opponents by at least 32 goals.
There
was more parity in the NHL this season than any other with no dominant
team. With barely more than 3 weeks to
go in the regular season there were 7 teams within 1 point of 1st
overall in the standings. The season
ended with 7 teams within 5 points of first overall. That’s the first time in history other than
the covid shortened 20-21 season. The
main contenders for the 2024 Stanley Cup in the West are Dallas, Winnipeg,
Vancouver & Colorado. In the East
any one of NY Rangers, Carolina, Florida & Boston are the only real
contenders unless there are historical type upsets. The final had Florida against Edmonton. Florida outscored its’ opponents more than
any other team in the league at +68 during the regular season while finishing
tied for 4thoverall so it’s victory over the 9th place
Oilers was no surprise.
2023 The top
10 teams at the end of the regular season were Boston (135), Carolina (113), New Jersey (112), Toronto
(111), Vegas (111), Edmonton (109), Colorado (108), Dallas (107), NY Rangers
(104), LA (104). Boston
(+128), Dallas (+67), New Jersey & Edmonton (+65), NY Rangers (+58),
Toronto (+57), Colorado (+54), Carolina (+53), Vegas (+43), Seattle (+33) all
outscored opponents by at least 32 goals.
The
only real contenders for the 2023 Stanley Cup in the West were Colorado,
Edmonton, Dallas & Vegas. In the
East any one of Boston, New Jersey, Carolina & Toronto were the only real
contenders unless there were historical type upsets. Vegas won the final cause the surprise teams
like Florida sometimes make it there but rarely win.
2022 The top 8 teams at the end of the regular season were
Florida (122), Colorado (119),
Carolina (116), Toronto (115), Minnesota (113), Calgary (111), NY Rangers &
Tampa Bay (110).
Florida (+94), Calgary (+85), Colorado (+78), Carolina
(+76), St Louis (+69), Toronto (+62), Minnesota (+57), Tampa Bay (+54), NY
Rangers (+47), Pittsburgh (+43), Edmonton (+38) & Boston (+35) all
outscored opponents by at least 32 goals.
The only real contenders for the 2022 Stanley Cup in the
West are Colorado, Calgary & Minnesota.
In the East any one of Florida, Carolina, Tampa Bay, Toronto & the
New York Rangers were the only contenders.
Colorado (16 & 4 in the playoffs) defeated 2 time defending
champions Tampa Bay in 6 games.
2021 The top 9 teams in the
COVID19 shortened 56 game season with only divisional play were Colorado & Vegas (82), Carolina
(80), Florida (79), Pittsburgh, Toronto & Washington (77), Tampa Bay &
Minnesota (75).
Vegas (+67), Colorado (+64), Carolina (+43),
Pittsburgh (+40), Toronto (+39), Florida (+36), Tampa Bay (+34), Boston (+32),
Edmonton (+29), Washington & Islanders (+28) & Minnesota (+21) all are
at the +21 equivalent for the +32 formula of outscoring its opponents during
the season.
The only real contenders for the Cup barring a
historic run are all of the top 9 teams.
Montreal ended up barely making the playoffs & was
actually outscored by 9 goals by the end of the season due to various injuries
to key players (Chiarot, Gallagher, Price, Armia, Drouin etc.) & an inhuman
schedule of 25 games in only 43 days because of a positive covid test by a
player. The Habs had an amazing start
to the season where they actually outscored teams by over 30 goals & for
most of the season Montreal (+4) was behind only Colorado (+10) & Boston
(+4.5) for outshooting opponents by the most shots per game.
Tampa Bay (tied for 8th overall with their
best player injured all season but defending champs) defeated 18th
place Montreal in the Cup final in 5 games. Had Montreal won the final the Canadiens would have been the first team since the 67 Leafs’
team to win the Stanley Cup in spite of being outscored by its opponents during
the regular season. The finally much
more healthy Habs did earn playoff series wins over teams with the NHL’s 2nd
(Vegas) & 5th (Toronto) & 14th (Winnipeg) best
records.
2020 The top 8 teams when the corona virus forced the
cancellation of the rest of the regular season were Boston (100), St Louis (94),
Colorado & Tampa Bay (92), Washington (90), Philadelphia (89), Pittsburgh
& Vegas (86).
Boston (+53), Tampa Bay (+50), Colorado (+46), Philly (+36)
& St Louis (+32) outscored opponents by at least 32 goals. Carolina (+29)
& Pittsburgh (+28) were on pace to pass +32 with about a dozen games to
play. Washington (+25) was on pace for
+ 30 with 13 games to play in the regular season at the covid break.
The only real contenders for the 2020 Stanley Cup in the
West were Colorado & defending Stanley Cup champs St Louis. In the East
Boston, Tampa Bay, Philly, Pittsburgh & maybe Washington were teams that
looked to be real contenders barring a historic run from another team. Tampa Bay with the NHL’s 3rd best record
defeated Dallas (10th) in the final.
2019 The top 12 teams at the end of the regular season are
Tampa
Bay (128), Calgary & Boston (107), Washington (104), NY Islanders (103),
San Jose (101), Toronto, Nashville & Pittsburgh (100), Winnipeg, Carolina
& St Louis (99).
Tampa Bay (+103), Calgary (+62), Boston (+44), Toronto
(+35), NY Islanders & Pittsburgh (+32) have scored at least 32 goals more
than their opponents. Washington (+29),
San Jose & Winnipeg (+28), Nashville & Columbus (+26) & St Louis
(+24) were next in outscoring opponents but did not hit the magic +32
mark.
The only real contender for the 2019 Stanley Cup in the
West is Calgary. In the East Tampa Bay,
Boston, NY Islanders, Toronto & Pittsburgh are the teams that have the best
chance barring a historic run from another team. St Louis who had the NHL’s 2nd
best record since January 1st won the Stanley Cup in 7 games vs
Boston.
2018 – The top 11 teams after the 2017-18
regular season were Nashville (117), Winnipeg (114), Tampa Bay (113),
Boston (112), Vegas (109), Washington & Toronto (105), Minnesota &
Anaheim (101), Pittsburgh & San Jose (100) .
Tampa Bay (+60), Winnipeg (+59), Boston &
Nashville (+56), Toronto (+45), Vegas (+44) & LA (+36) are the only teams
that scored at least 32 goals more than they’ve allowed at the end of the
regular season. No other team was over +23.
The real contenders for the 2018 Stanley Cup in the West
were Nashville, Winnipeg & Vegas. In the East Boston,
Tampa Bay & Toronto are the only real contenders for the Cup barring a
historic-like playoff run by another team. Washington won the Cup
in 5 games against the real Cinderella story, expansion team Vegas. Washington which led the league in points
in the past 2 seasons (& outscored its opponents by more goals than any
other team in both those seasons) dropped to 6th that season (yet
playing in the NHL’s 2nd best division) had the 3 best overall point
totals in the past 12 seasons (121 in 2009-10, 120 in 15-16 & 119 in 16-17) so even though they were only +20 in goals for - against in the
regular season I wouldn’t say that they didn’t deserve the Cup. The Caps played great hockey winning
16 of its 24 games (16-8) & outscoring its opponents 86-61 in the playoffs
.
2017
– The top 11 teams at the end of the 2016-17
regular season were Washington
(118), Pittsburgh (111), Chicago (109), Columbus (108), Minnesota (106),
Anaheim (105), Montreal &
Edmonton (103), NY
Rangers (102), St Louis & San Jose (101).
Washington (+81), Minnesota (+58), Columbus (+54), Pittsburgh (+48), NY
Rangers (+36) & Edmonton (+35) were the only teams that scored at least 32
goals more than they’ve allowed at the end of the regular season. Chicago dropped below + 32 in the last
few weeks (+31) & Montreal (+26) also fell just short. No
other team was over +23.
The
real contenders for the 2017 Stanley Cup in the West were Minnesota,
Edmonton & perhaps Chicago. In the East Washington,
Pittsburgh, Columbus, NY Rangers & maybe Montreal looked like the
only real contenders for the Cup barring a historic-like playoff run by another
team. Pittsburgh won its 2nd straight Stanley Cup in 6
games over Nashville.
2016
– The top 12 teams in the 2015-16
season at the end of the regular season were Washington (120), Dallas (109), St Louis (107), Pittsburgh (104),
Chicago, Anaheim & Florida (103), LA (102), NY Rangers (101), NY Islanders
(100), San Jose (98), Tampa Bay (97).
Washington (+59), Pittsburgh (+42), Dallas (+37) & Florida (+36) are
the only teams that have scored at least 32 goals more than they have
allowed. San Jose (+31) & LA (+30) ended up really close.
Chicago, Anaheim & Tampa Bay (+26) & St Louis (+23) ended up far from +32.
The
only real contender for the 2016 Stanley Cup in the West was Dallas with an
outside shot to maybe LA or San Jose & in the East Washington,
Pittsburgh & Florida looked like the only real contenders for the
Cup. Pittsburgh defeated San Jose for the 2016 Stanley Cup.
2015
– The top 11 teams in the 2014-15 season were NY Rangers (113), Montreal (110), Anaheim & St Louis (109), Tampa Bay (108), Nashville (104), Chicago
(102), Washington & NY Islanders (101), Minnesota & Detroit (100).
NY Rangers (+60), Tampa Bay (+51), St Louis (+47), Chicago (+40),
Washington (+39) & Montreal (+32) are the only teams that scored at least 32 goals more than they allowed. Minnesota (+30) was close. Therefore St
Louis & Chicago in the West & NY Rangers, Tampa Bay & Montreal in the East looked like the only 5 real contenders for the Stanley Cup in 2015. Chicago defeated Tampa Bay to win the Cup.
2014
– The top 10 teams in the 2013-14
season were Boston (117), Anaheim (114), Colorado (112), St Louis & San Jose
(111), Pittsburgh (109), Chicago (107), Tampa Bay (101), Montreal & LA (100).
Boston (+84), St Louis (+57), Anaheim (+56), San Jose (+49), Chicago
(+47), Pittsburgh (+42) & LA (+32) are the only teams that scored at least 32 goals more than they allowed. Colorado (+30) was very close.
Therefore Anaheim, St Louis, San Jose & Chicago in the West & maybe LA
& Boston & Pittsburgh in the East looked like the only real contenders for the Stanley Cup in 2014. LA won its 2nd Stanley Cup in 3 years surprising almost
everyone after barely making the playoffs.
2013
– The top teams in 2013’s
lockout shortened season were Chicago (77), Pittsburgh (72), Anaheim (66), Montreal (63), Boston (62), St. Louis (60), LA & Vancouver (59).
Chicago (+53), Pittsburgh (+46), Anaheim (+24), Montreal (+23), Boston (+22) & Washington (+19) are the only teams that scored at
least 19 goals more than they allowed in the shortened 48 game season. NY
Rangers (+18) & LA (+15) were close. The mark is + 19 because +32 for
82 games = 18.7 in 48 games.
Therefore Chicago, Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Montreal & Boston were the only teams that looked like real contenders for
the Stanley Cup in 2013. Chicago won the Cup in 6 games over Boston.
2012
– The top teams in 2011-12 were Vancouver (111), NY Rangers & St Louis (109), Pittsburgh
(108), Nashville (104), Philly (103), Boston, Detroit & New Jersey
(102) & Chicago (101).
Boston (+ 67), Pittsburgh (+61), Vancouver (+51), St Louis & Detroit
(+45), NY Rangers (+39) & Philly (+32) were all at or above the + 32
mark. Nashville’s streak down the stretch brought them to
+27. No other team was even close.
Therefore St Louis, NY Rangers, Vancouver & Pittsburgh had the best
chance at the Cup. Philly, Boston & Detroit had an
outside shot at the Cup. LA made history with its win. It’s the 1st time
in NHL history that a team lower than 9th place (NJ finished 9th
in the strike-shortened season) has ever won the Cup. LA finished 13th overall. The
Kings were only the 3rd team in NHL history with a losing record
with 40 wins & 42 losses (27 regulation losses & 15 in OT or shootout)
to win the coveted prize.
LA had only 2 regulation losses in its last 14 games (9-2-3) down the stretch to make the playoffs in 8th place in the
Western conference ( but only 2 points behind division leading Phoenix). Then
in the playoffs the LA Kings upset the NHL’s 1st place team
Vancouver in 5 games before sweeping St Louis (2nd in the
conference) in 4 straight & advancing to the Cup final with a 4 games to 1
win over 3rd place Phoenix. In all LA was a dominant 16 & 4 in the playoffs (including an
amazing 7 & 1 on the road). In the Cup winning game LA pounded New Jersey 6-1 so there was no doubt
as to which playoff team played the best to deserve the 2012 Stanley Cup.
2011 - The top teams in 2010-11 in the regular season were Vancouver (117 Pt), Washington (107), Philly & Pittsburgh (106), San
Jose (105), Detroit (104), Boston & Tampa Bay (103).
Vancouver (+77), Boston (+51), Pittsburgh (+39), Philly (+36), San Jose
& NY Rangers (+35), Chicago (+33), were all over + 32 in goals for / goals
against. Washington ended up at +27, Nashville +25.
Therefore Vancouver, Pittsburgh & Philly had the best chance of
winning the Stanley Cup in 2011. Washington, San Jose &
Boston had an outside shot at the Cup. Boston (3 points behind 4th
overall but with the NHL’s 2nd best regular season goals for
goals against ratio) won the Cup winning in Vancouver in the 7th
game of the final.
2010 - The chart below shows us that the odds were very good that one of
Washington, Chicago or San Jose would win the Stanley Cup in 2010. Chicago won
the Stanley Cup.
They were the top 3 teams in the standings and they had outscored their
opponents by more than any other teams as well. The +32 statistic favoured
those same teams. Washington (+85), Chicago (+62), San Jose (+49), & Vancouver (+50)
had all outscored opponents by at least 32 goals. New Jersey at +31 &
Buffalo at +28 were also close to that mark. Phoenix ended up +23 &
Pittsburgh +20. Again in the 2009-10 season the parity level was high. We all
know that sometimes the Montreal Canadiens have a type of “it seems like the gods of hockey have chosen us” magic (10 straight overtime wins in 1993) that helps its very good teams (but
not number 1) to win the Stanley Cup. However in spite of that hockey magic
that led to Montreals 1st & 2nd round upsets of number 1 overall Washington & defending Stanley Cup
champions Pittsburgh, it would have been completely unprecedented for Montreal
(19th overall of the league's 30 teams & 16th among playoff teams) or for that matter Philadelphia 18th overall (15th among playoff teams) to have won the Stanley Cup in 2010.
Other than the LA Kings twice (2012 where they became the NHL team to
lose more games than it won in the regular season & still win the Cup &
2014) the farthest a Stanley Cup winning team has placed in the overall
standings is 9th and that was in the NHL player lockout season 94-95 when New Jersey won
the Cup. Technically that season was only 48 games so the Devils 52 points was
still only 13 less than NHL leading Quebec. The next
farthest was Pittsburgh
in 2009 with the Penguins finishing 8th overall
with 99 points (18 back of 1st overall San Jose's 117).
Montreal in 1986
finished 7th overall with 87 points, 32 back of 1st overall Edmonton but the Canadiens outscored its opponents by 50 that
season (3rd only to Edmonton & Philly) so the team was actually better than its 7th place finish. There were only 21 teams in the NHL that season.
Pittsburgh won back to back Stanley Cups in 1991 & 1992 in spite of finishing 7th & 6th respectively (both seasons 18 points behind 1st overall). Mario
Lemieux was injured for 54 games in 1991 & 16 games in '92. His presence in
the playoffs incredibly strengthened those teams. There were 21 teams in '91
& 22 teams in '92. Boston finished 7th overall in
2010-11 but outscored its opponents by the 2nd most total of the
whole NHL and was only 3 points back of 3rd
overall. No other team farther back than 6th overall has ever won the Stanley Cup so the odds against Montreal &
Philadelphia were very high.
There is also the “Cinderella makes it to the Stanley Cup final before losing” trend. Occasionally before expansion, when a team only needed to
win 1 series to make the Stanley Cup final a bad team would upset to win the
Cup. But since expansion with 4 rounds & 16 wins necessary for a Cup win a
Cinderella team would sometimes make it to the final but would eventually lose.
Expansion team Vegas in 2018, Nashville in 2017, San Jose in 2016,
Rangers in 2014, Philadelphia in 2010, Edmonton in 2006, Calgary in 2004,
Anaheim in 2003, Carolina in 2002, Buffalo in 1999, Washington in 1998, Florida
in 1996, Vancouver in 1994, Minnesota in 1991 are all examples of this.
In 2008-09 the top 4 teams were San Jose (117 Pt), Boston (116), Detroit (112) & Washington (108). Boston
(+78), San Jose (+53), Detroit (+49), Chicago (+48) & New Jersey (+35) all outscored opponents by at least 32 goals. Washington
(+27) Vancouver (+26), Philly (+26), Pittsburgh (+25) were close to + 32. Pittsburgh was 8th overall with 99 points (after a great second half) & +25. Pittsburgh
defeated Detroit in 7 games for the 2009 Stanley Cup.
The top teams in 2007-08 were Detroit (115 Pt) , San Jose (108), Montreal (104), Pittsburgh (102) & Anaheim (102). With a record NHL season in terms of parity the other teams were
not far behind however. The + 32 statistic favoured Detroit, Montreal or Dallas for the Cup in 2008. Detroit (+70), Montreal (+40) & Dallas (+35) were the only three NHL teams to have outscored opponents by at least 32
goals in 2007-08. San Jose & Pittsburgh outscored opponents by 31 goals. Detroit defeated Pittsburgh in 6 games for the 2008 Stanley Cup.
25-26 Cup = Carolina 113 Pt -2nd over Vegas 95 Pt 13th Top 11 Colorado (121), Carolina (113), Dallas (112), Buffalo (109), Tampa Bay
& Montreal (106), Minnesota (104), Boston (100), Ottawa (99), Pittsburgh
& Philly (98).
24-25 Cup = Florida 98 Pt (4 pt back of 8th) – 11th over Edmonton 9th 101 Pt (1 pt back of 8th) Top 10 Winnipeg (116), Washington (111), Vegas (110), Toronto (108), Dallas
(106), LA (105), Tampa Bay & Colorado (102), Edmonton (101) Carolina (99).
23-24 Cup = Florida 110 Pt – 4th (& 4 pt behind 1st overall) over
Edmonton 9th 104 Pt (3 pt back of 8th) (+6)
NY
Rangers (114), Dallas (113), Carolina (111), Winnipeg & Florida (110),
Vancouver & Boston (109), Colorado (107), Edmonton (104) & Toronto
(102)
22-23 Cup =
Vegas 111 Pt – 5th (& 2 pt behind 2nd overall) over
Florida 17th 92 Pt (+19)
Top 8 = Boston (135), Carolina (113), New Jersey (112), Toronto & Vegas
(111), Edmonton (109), Colorado (108), Dallas (107)
21-22 Cup =
Colorado 119 Pt – 2nd over Tampa Bay 7th 110 Pt (+9) Top 8 = Florida
(122), Colorado (119), Carolina (116), Toronto (115), Minnesota (113), Calgary
(111), NY Rangers & Tampa Bay (110).
20-21 Cup short season = Tampa Bay 75 Pt – Tied 8th over Montreal 18th 59 Pt (+16) Top 8 = Colorado
& Vegas (82), Carolina (80), Florida (79), Pittsburgh, Toronto &
Washington (77), Tampa Bay & Minnesota (75)
19-20 Cup short season = Tampa Bay 92 Pt – Tied 3rd over Dallas 10th 82 Pt (+10) Top 8 = Boston (100), St Louis (94), Colorado & Tampa Bay (92), Washington
(90), Philadelphia (89), Pittsburgh & Vegas (86)
18-19 Cup = St Louis 99 Pt – Tied 10th over Boston Tied 2nd 107 Pt (-8) Top 12
= Tampa Bay (128), Calgary & Boston (107), Washington (104), NY
Islanders (103), San Jose (101), Toronto, Nashville & Pittsburgh (100),
Winnipeg, Carolina & St Louis (99) .
17-18 Cup = Washington 105 Pt – 6th over Vegas 5th 109 Pt (-4) Top 10 = Nashville (117), Winnipeg (114), Tampa Bay (113),
Boston (112), Vegas (109), Washington & Toronto (105), Minnesota &
Anaheim (101), Pittsburgh & San Jose (100)
.
16-17
Pittsburgh 111 Pt – 2nd over Nashville 16th 94 Pt (+17) Top 10 = Washington (118), Pittsburgh (111), Chicago (109),
Columbus (108), Minnesota (106), Anaheim (105), Montreal & Edmonton (103), NY Rangers (102), St Louis & San Jose (101).
Normalement une des meilleures équipes de la LNH gagne la Coupe Stanley. Dans les sports comme le soccer & le football ou il y a un seul match qui permet de déterminer le champion des séries, ce n’est pas toujours la meilleure équipe qui gagne. On voit ça avec la victoire non méritée d’Italie dans la Coupe du Monde de soccer en 2006 contre la France, une équipe bien meilleure). C’est évident aussi dans le cas de la victoire des Giants de New York au Super Bowl 2008 (17-14). Les Giants qui n’ont gagné que 10 des 16 matchs joués durant la saison (373-351 points pour/contre) ont battu la Nouvelle-Angleterre (imbattable avant ce match avec 18 victoires consécutives, incluant une fiche parfaite de 16-0 durant la saison, soit 589 points comptés & 274 points alloués).
Les Maple Leafs de Toronto ont gagné
leur dernière Coupe en 1967 malgré le fait que Toronto avait alloué plus de
buts durant la saison régulière qu’ils en avaient compté par une marge de
211-204 (seulement 4 équipes ont gagnés la Coupe malgré qu’ils ont alloué plus
de buts qu’ils ont compté dans son saison regulier. Depuis que la LNH a
fait son expansion la saison suivante toutes les équipes qui ont gagné la Coupe
Stanley (47 Coupes) ont compté plus de buts que leurs adversaires par une marge
d’au moins 32 buts avec 2 exceptions. En 1995 a cause du NHL
lockout, la LNH a eu une saison de 48 matchs. C’est le New Jersey
qui avait gagné la Coupe cette année là, malgré qu’il avait compté seulement 15
buts de plus qu’il avait alloué a ses adversaires durant la saison
régulière. En 2009 Pittsburgh était + 25. En 2012 LA a surpris tous avec les
séries incroyable malgré que l’équipe a terminé en 13e rang aux points &
avec seulement compté 15 buts plus que ses adversaires durant la
saison. LA est la seule équipe dans l’histoire de la LNH a gagner
la Coupe Stanley dans un saison qui n’a pas eu d’arrêt de travail malgré avoir
terminé la saison regulière a terminé plus bas que 8e dans la ligue
dans les classements de la LNH. LA
l’a fait 2 fois, 2012 (13e & +15) & 2014 (10e mais 1 point en arrière
de 8e & +32). Washington a gagné la Coupe en 2018 malgré être à seulement +
20. Washington a quandmeme gagné la
Trophée du President avec le plus de points dans toute la LNH les 2 saisons
précedent & dans chacun de ces saisons les Capitals a aussi outscoré ses
adversaires par plus que tous les autres équipes alors ce n’était pas une
surprise d’enfin gagner la Coupe en 2019.
2026 Les meilleurs 10 équipes dans la classement après la saison régulière ont étés Colorado (121), Caroline (113), Dallas (112), Buffalo (109), Tampa Bay & Montreal (106), Minnesota (104), Boston (100), Ottawa (99), Pittsburgh & Philly (98).
Colorado (+99), Tampa Bay
(+59), Caroline (+56), Dallas (+53), Buffalo (+47), Minnesota & Ottawa
(+32) ont tous comptés au moins 32 but de plus que ses adversaires. Utah (+28)
& Montreal (+27) sont proche de +32.
Les seuls aspirants pour la
Coupe Stanley en 2026 dans l’Ouest sont Colorado, Dallas & Minnesota. Dans l’Est – Caroline, Buffalo, Tampa Bay
& peut-être Montréal.
Caroline 2e 113 Pt a
gagné la 2026 Coupe Stanley vs Vegas 13e avec 95 Pt.
Les équipes jouent contre les
autres équipes dans son division 3 ou 4 fois & l’autre division dans la
conference 3 fois en plus de 2 fois contre chaque équipe dans l’autre
conference. Les équipes dans le division
Atlantic (Tampa, Mtl,etc) ont une moyenne % des victoires de .590. Metropolitan
(Carolina, Pittsburgh,etc) .572. Central
(Colorado, Dall, Minn) .575 &
Pacific (Vegas, Edm, etc) .511 Alors les
équipes dans l’Atlantic ont l’horaire le plus difficile & Pacific le plus facile. Si les équipes auraient joués une horaire
balance (nombre de matchs égalent vs chaque équipe) les équipes dans l’Atlantic
(& Metropolitan) auraient eu plus de points. Ce n’est pas seulement que Vegas est dans le
division le plus facile dans la LNH qui a triché son total des points pour
donner l’impression que l’équipe est Meilleur que la vérité, en plus Vegas a
perdu plus de matchs qu’ils ont gagnés durant la saison régulière. Heureusement Caroline a gagné la Coupe. Si Vegas aurait gagner la Coupe ca aurait été
l’équipe avec la pire saison régulière depuis les Toronto Maple Leafs de
1948-49 .
2025 Les meilleurs 10 équipes dans la classement
le 18 Avril, 2025 après la saison regulière a été terminé sont Winnipeg (116), Washington
(111), Vegas (110), Toronto (108), Dallas (106), LA (105), Tampa Bay &
Colorado (102), Edmonton (101) Carolina (99). Winnipeg
(+86), Tampa Bay (+75), Washington & Vegas (+56), Dallas (+53), LA (+44),
Colorado (+43), Toronto (+37) & Carolina (+33) ont tous comptés au moins 32 de plus que ses
adversaires. Florida, les champions en
2024 a terminé la saison avec +29, quand même proche d’atteindre +32.
Les seuls
aspirants pour la Coupe Stanley en 2025 dans l’Ouest sont Winnipeg, Vegas,
Dallas, LA & Colorado. Dans l’Est
Washington, Tampa Bay & Toronto (malgré son destin de perdre) sont les
seules équipes avec les vraies chances a gagner la Coupe sans une surprise
historique. En effet pour seulement la
3e fois dans l’histoire aucune équipe dans les meilleures 8 dans les
classements de la saison regulière est dans le final pour la Coupe avec Edmonton, 9e qui
joue contre les gagnants de la Coupe en 2024, Floride, 11e . Aucune
des 2 équipes a outscoré ses adversaires par +32 avec Floride proche avec +29
& Edmonton avec +23. 2014 &
2012, les 2 années que Los Angeles a gagné la Coupe étaient les 2 autres
saisons qu’aucune équipe top 8 jouaient dans le final. Floride a gagné la Coupe en 2025.
2024 Les meilleures 10 équipes après la saison
sont NY Rangers (114), Dallas (113), Carolina
(111), Winnipeg & Florida (110), Vancouver & Boston (109), Colorado
(107), Edmonton (104) & Toronto (102). Florida (+68), Dallas (+64), Carolina
(+63), Winnipeg (+60), Edmonton (+57), Vancouver (+56), NY Rangers (+53),
Colorado (+50), Boston (+43), LA (+41) & Toronto (+40) ont tous outscorés
ses adversaires par au moins 32 buts.
Il y a plus de parité cette saison que
jamais avec aucune équipe dominante.
Avec un peu plus de 3 semaines à jouer il y a eu 7 équipes dedans 1
point de 1e dans la LNH. Dans l’histoire
avant 2024 on n’a jamais eu 7 équipes dedans 5 points de 1e dans la LNH à la
fin d’une saison apart de 20-21 de 56 matchs.
Les équipes avec les meilleures chances pour la Coupe Stanley en 2024
dans l’Ouest sont Dallas, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Colorado & Edmonton. Dans l’Est NY Rangers, Carolina, Florida,
Boston & Toronto ont les meilleures chances sauf une rare grande
surprise. Sans surprise Floride a gagné la Coupe Stanley vs 9e
place - Edmonton. Floride (qui a terminé
4e) a compté 68 buts plus que ses adversaires durant la saison, le
meilleur de la LNH.
2023 Les meilleures 10 équipes à le fin de la
saison étaient Boston (135), Carolina (113),
New Jersey (112), Toronto (111), Vegas (111), Edmonton (109), Colorado (108),
Dallas (107), NY Rangers (104), LA (104). Boston (+128), Dallas (+67), New Jersey
& Edmonton (+65), NY Rangers (+58), Toronto (+57), Colorado (+54), Carolina
(+53), Vegas (+43), Seattle (+33) ont tous outscorés ses adversaires par au
moins 32 buts.
Les équipes avec les meilleures chances
pour la Coupe Stanley en 2023 étaient Colorado, Edmonton, Dallas & Vegas
dans l’Ouest. Dans l’Est Boston, New
Jersey, Caroline & Toronto ont eu les meilleures chances. Vegas a gagné la Coupe Stanley parce que
les équipes surprises comme Floride se rend en final des fois mais gagne
presque jamais & le profondeur de Vegas a fait le difference.
2022 Les meilleures 8 équipes à le fin de la
saison étaient Floride (122), Colorado (119), Caroline
(116), Toronto (115), Minnesota (113), Calgary (111), NY Rangers & Tampa
Bay (110).
Floride (+94),
Calgary (+85), Colorado (+78), Caroline (+76), St Louis (+69), Toronto (+62),
Minnesota (+57), Tampa Bay (+54), NY Rangers (+47), Pittsburgh (+43), Edmonton
(+38) & Boston (+35) ont tous outscorés ses adversaires par au moins 32
buts.
Les équipes avec les
meilleures chances pour la Coupe Stanley en 2022 étaient Colorado, Calgary
& Minnesota dans l’Ouest. Dans l’Est
Floride, Caroline, Tampa Bay, Toronto & New York Rangers ont les meilleures
chances. Colorado (16-4 en séries) a
gagné vs Tampa Bay en 6 matchs .
2021 Les 9 meilleures équipes
dans la saison écourté par COVID avec le jeu seulement dedans son propre
division étaient Colorado & Vegas (82), Carolina
(80), Florida (79), Pittsburgh, Toronto & Washington (77), Tampa Bay &
Minnesota (75).
Vegas
(+67), Colorado (+64), Carolina (+43), Pittsburgh (+40), Toronto (+39), Florida
(+36), Tampa Bay (+34), Boston (+32), Edmonton (+29), Washington &
Islanders (+28) & Minnesota (+21) étaient tous à +21, équivalent pour +32
formule d’outscoré ses adversaires durant la saison.
N’importe
lequel des tops 9 équipes avaient des vrais possibilités sans une séquence
historique. Montreal a
presque manqué les séries & ont alloués 9 buts de plus qu’ils ont comptés à
la fin de la saison à cause des blessures aux joueurs clés (Chiarot, Gallagher,
Price, Armia, Drouin etc.) & l’horaire folle de 25 matchs dedans 43 soirs à
cause de cas covid positif d’un joueur.
L’équipe des Canadiens a commencé la saison super bien ou les Canadiens
ont outscorés ses adversaires par 30 buts jusqu’à le fondrement suite aux
blessures & covid. Montreal (+4)
était seulement en arrière de Colorado (+10) & Boston (+4.5) for avoir
outshooté ses adversaires par le plus de tirs par match aussi.
Tampa
Bay (égale pour 8e à la fin de la saison mais avec son meilleur joueur blessé
la plupart de saison) a gagné vs 18e Montreal pour
la Coupe en final en 5 matchs. Si Montreal aurait
gagné le final les Canadiens
aurait été la première équipe depuis 67 Leafs’ d’avoir gagné la Coupe malgré
avoir été outshooté par ses adversaires durant la saison regulière. Enfin la vraie équipe plus en santé ont bien
mérité ses victoires contre le 2e (Vegas).
5e (Toronto) & 14e (Winnipeg) meilleure fiches
2020 Les meilleurs 8 équipes
au moment de la pause pour le virus corona étaient Boston (100), St Louis (94),
Colorado & Tampa Bay (92), Washington (90), Philadelphia (89), Pittsburgh
& Vegas (86).
Boston (+53), Tampa Bay (+50), Colorado (+46), Philly (+36) & St Louis (+32) ont
compté au moins 32 buts de plus que ses adversaires. Carolina (+29) & Pittsburgh (+28) étaient
en route de dépasser +32 avec environ une douzaine de matchs à
jouer. Washington (+25) était en route pour
+ 30 avec 13 matchs à jouer.
Les seules
équipes avec une bonne chance à gagner la Coupe en 2020 si le virus laisse une
chance pour les séries seront
Colorado & St Louis. Dans l’est
Boston, Tampa Bay, Philly, Pittsburgh & peut-être
Washington sont les équipes qui ont la plus de chance sans une montée
historique. Tampa Bay a gagné la Coupe
vs Dallas en 6 matchs.
2019 Les top 10
équipes après la saison regulière étaient Tampa
Bay (128), Calgary & Boston (107), Washington (104), NY Islanders (103),
San Jose (101), Toronto, Nashville & Pittsburgh (100), Winnipeg, Carolina
& St Louis (99) .
Tampa Bay (+103), Calgary (+62), Boston (+44), Toronto (+35), NY Islanders & Pittsburgh (+32) ont compté au moins 32 buts de plus que ses adversaires. Washington (+29), San Jose & Winnipeg (+28), Nashville & Columbus (+26) & St Louis (+24). La seule équipe avec une chance pour la Coupe dans l’Ouest est Calgary. Dans l’Est Tampa Bay, Boston, NY Islanders, Toronto & Pittsburgh ont des meilleures chances à gagner la Coupe. St Louis (2e meilleure fiche de la LNH depuis 1 Janvier, 2019) a gagné la Coupe en 7 matchs vs Boston.
Tampa
Bay (+60), Winnipeg (+59), Boston & Nashville (+56), Toronto (+45), Vegas
(+44) & LA (+38) sont les équipes
qui ont compté au moins 32 buts plus que ses adversaires. Aucune autre
équipe est plus que +23.
Dans l’Ouest Nashville, Winnipeg
& Vegas ont l’air d’être les seules équipes avec une bonne chance à gagner
la Coupe Stanley. Dans l’Est Boston, Tampa Bay & Toronto ont les
meilleures chances pour la Coupe Stanley sauf si une équipe aura une séquence
historique en séries.
Washington a gagné la Coupe 4 matchs à 1 vs le vrai Cinderella, l’équipe
d’expansion Vegas. Washington a eu le plus de points dans la
LNH dans les 2 dernieres saisons (& a outscoré ses adversaires par le plus
de buts dans chacun) mais a tombé au 6e en 2017-18 (mais dans le 2e
meilleur division de la LNH) & les Caps a les 3 meilleurs totals de points
dans les 12 dernieres saisons (121 in
2009-10, 120 in 15-16 & 119 in 16-17) alors malgré qu’il était seulement +20 en
buts pour & contre durant la saison reguliere je ne dirai pas que la Coupe
n’était pas mérité. Washington a joué
super hockey avec 16 victoires en 24 matchs & a
compté 86 buts vs 61 des adversaires dans les séries.
2015
– Les meilleures 11 équipes durant la saison 2014-15 saison
étaient NY Rangers (113), Montreal (110), Anaheim
& St Louis (109), Tampa Bay (108), Nashville (104), Chicago (102),
Washington & NY Islanders (101), Minnesota & Detroit (100).
Expansion team
Vegas in 2018, Nashville in 2017, San Jose in 2016, Rangers in 2014,
Philadelphia in 2010, Edmonton en 2006,
Calgary en 2004, Anaheim en 2003, Carolina en 2002, Buffalo en 1999, Washington
en 1998, Florida en 1996, Vancouver en 1994, Minnesota en 1991 sont tous des
exemples.