United Center, Chicago
Chicago had the chance to decide the 2015 Stanley Cup final series at home in game six. 22 424 people in United Center got to see the home team beat Tampa Bay Lightnings 2-0
Keith and Patrick scored
The first goal came in the second period when Duncan Keith took a shot at Ben Bishop’s pad and then hit the back of the net on his own rebound. With five minutes to go in the third period, Brad Richards made a beautiful assist on Patrick Kane’s 2-0 goal which decided the game. In the first period, Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos hit the crossbar. One wonders how the game would have evolved if he had hit the back of the net. Instead, Stamkos had to leave the final series with no goals scored.
Chicago’s dynasty
Chicago have managed to build a dynasty since NHL established the salary cap. They have won the Stanley Cup title 2010, 2013 and 2015. Six Swedish players played in this years team: Niklas Hjalmarsson won his third title, Johnny Oduya and Marcus Krüger their second, David Rundblad, Joakim Nordström and Viktor Svedberg their first. Finnish veteran Kimmo Timonen got to finish his career with winning a big tournament after losing finals in Stanley Cup, Olympic Games and World Championships. Among the losers we feel especially sorry for Tampa defender Anton Strålman who also lost with New York Rangers against Los Angeles Kings last year. However, he can still win the cup as Tampa continuous to build on the success this year. Who doesn’t remember Marian Hossa’s double losses with Pittsburgh against Detroit and with Detroit against Pittsburgh in 2008 and 2009? Now he has three Stanley Cup titles with Chicago!
The road to victory
Chicago started the playoffs with beating Nashville Predators in the first round. Then they swept Minnesota Wild in four straight games. In the semifinal it took a decisive game seven against Anaheim to take them to the final against Tampa, where they won, 4 games to 2. Chicago is in good company. Below are all Stanley Cup champions since the start of the tournament:
2015 — Chicago Blackhawks
2014 — Los Angeles Kings
2013 — Chicago Blackhawks
2012 — Los Angeles Kings
2011 — Boston Bruins
2010 — Chicago Blackhawks
2009 — Pittsburgh Penguins
2008 — Detroit Red Wings
2007 — Anaheim Ducks
2006 — Carolina Hurricanes
2005 — Lockout
2004 — Tampa Bay Lightning
2003 — New Jersey Devils
2002 — Detroit Red Wings
2001 — Colorado Avalanche
2000 — New Jersey Devils
1999 — Dallas Stars
1998 — Detroit Red Wings
1997 — Detroit Red Wings
1996 — Colorado Avalanche
1995 — New Jersey Devils
1994 — New York Rangers
1993 — Montreal Canadiens
1992 — Pittsburgh Penguins
1991 — Pittsburgh Penguins
1990 — Edmonton Oilers
1989 — Calgary Flames
1988 — Edmonton Oilers
1987 — Edmonton Oilers
1986 — Montreal Canadiens
1985 — Edmonton Oilers
1984 — Edmonton Oilers
1983 — New York Islanders
1982 — New York Islanders
1981 — New York Islanders
1980 — New York Islanders
1979 — Montreal Canadiens
1978 — Montreal Canadiens
1977 — Montreal Canadiens
1976 — Montreal Canadiens
1975 — Philadelphia Flyers
1974 — Philadelphia Flyers
1973 — Montreal Canadiens
1972 — Boston Bruins
1971 — Montreal Canadiens
1970 — Boston Bruins
1969 — Montreal Canadiens
1968 — Montreal Canadiens
1967 — Toronto Maple Leafs
1966 — Montreal Canadiens
1965 — Montreal Canadiens
1964 — Toronto Maple Leafs
1963 — Toronto Maple Leafs
1962 — Toronto Maple Leafs
1961 — Chicago Black Hawks
1960 — Montreal Canadiens
1959 — Montreal Canadiens
1958 — Montreal Canadiens
1957 — Montreal Canadiens
1956 — Montreal Canadiens
1955 — Detroit Red Wings
1954 — Detroit Red Wings
1953 — Montreal Canadiens
1952 — Detroit Red Wings
1951 — Toronto Maple Leafs
1950 — Detroit Red Wings
1949 — Toronto Maple Leafs
1948 — Toronto Maple Leafs
1947 — Toronto Maple Leafs
1946 — Montreal Canadiens
1945 — Toronto Maple Leafs
1944 — Montreal Canadiens
1943 — Detroit Red Wings
1942 — Toronto Maple Leafs
1941 — Boston Bruins
1940 — New York Rangers
1939 — Boston Bruins
1938 — Chicago Black Hawks
1937 — Detroit Red Wings
1936 — Detroit Red Wings
1935 — Montreal Maroons
1934 — Chicago Black Hawks
1933 — New York Rangers
1932 — Toronto Maple Leafs
1931 — Montreal Canadiens
1930 — Montreal Canadiens
1929 — Boston Bruins
1928 — New York Rangers
1927 — Ottawa Senators
1926 — Montreal Maroons
1925 — Victoria Cougars
1924 — Montreal Canadiens
1923 — Ottawa Senators
1922 — Toronto St. Patricks
1921 — Ottawa Senators
1920 — Ottawa Senators
1919 — Cancelled final series because of the influenza
1918 — Toronto Arenas
