(2-2) NHL Final Notes Since Expansion

This is the 15th NHL Final Series to be tied at two games apiece, since the first expansion, which was  implemented starting in the 1967-1968 season.

Only once in the 14 previous situations, has the home team failed to win either  game 5 or the series.

The home team is (11-3) in game 5 and (10-4) in the series. Eight times, the most recent when the Chicago Blackhawks 6’d the Boston Bruins in ’13, the home advantage team won both game 5 at home and the series. Three times the home team won game 5, only to lose the “winner take all” game 7 at home, while twice a team lost #5 at home, but bounced back to win the title.

When Chicago won at Tampa Bay, vs the Lightning in #5 in 2015, the last (2-2) NHL Final, and the series in 6, it marked the first time a team did that since the last year before expansion, also the last Toronto Maple Leafs’ title, a 6 game triumph vs the Montreal Canadiens in 1967.

Current finalist, Pittsburgh is in a (2-2) situation for the third time, in this their sixth Final, winning at home in #5 and the series in 6 games for their first title vs a similar (to Nashville), upstart, low ranked, Minnesota North Stars’ team in 1991 and winning the ’09 title with wins in games 6 and 7, the latter at Detroit vs the Red Wings, after losing there in #5.

There were two other situations, again since expansion, where the home team won #5 of the Final, but lost the series.

One was in 2011, when the Boston Bruins, with similar  uniform colors to both Pitts and Nash, won games 6 and 7, the latter at Vancouver vs the Canucks, after home standing “Van” won game 5.

The other was in 1971 when Montreal won games 6 and 7, the latter at Chi with Dan Kelly and Jim Gordon on CBS Television, after losing #5 at Chicago.

Twice the home team has lost game 5 but won the title. The Colorado Avalanche did so in ’01 vs the New Jersey Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning won their lone crown in ’04 “that way” vs the Calgary Flames.

The great broadcaster, Dan Kelly pictured above.

Click below to hear and view Dan Kelly’s call, as the great Bobby Orr scores the Stanley Cup winning goal vs the St. Louis Blues in 1970, giving Boston (Bruins) their first title in 29 years.

1970 Stanley Cup Winner Bobby Orr (CBS) HD FULL

Click below to view Mr. Orr’s goal and hear Dan Kelly’s great call, updated in time one day shy of 50 years ago.