OUCH - I knew it has been rough for the Bruins but not this bad
Down Goes Brown: What's been NHL playoff history's most common path to a Stanley Cup?
And finally, the one you’ve (maybe) been waiting for: Which team takes the overall crown for most losses to an eventual Cup champion in the four-round era? Somewhat surprisingly, it’s not any of the five teams we put in our most common path. The Canucks (10 total appearances), Capitals (8), Hawks (6), Wings (7) and Flyers (10) all make an honest showing. So do the Kings (8), Rangers (7) and Blues (6). But they don’t take the title.
Instead, that honor goes to the Bruins, who’ve lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champion a staggering 12 times since the four-round era began. They’ve also spread it out, managing the feat in the first round (Habs in 1986, Devils in 1995 and 2003), second round (Islanders in 1980, Lightning in 2020), third round (Islanders in 1983, Penguins in 1991 and 1992) and in the final (Oilers in 1988 and 1990, Hawks in 2013, Blues in 2019).
So there you go. If you want to win a Cup, bribe whoever approves the format to let you go through the Canucks, Capitals, Hawks/Wings and Flyers. But if that’s too complicated, just ask to face the Bruins. As long as you’re not the Leafs, that usually seems to work.
Down Goes Brown: What's been NHL playoff history's most common path to a Stanley Cup?
And finally, the one you’ve (maybe) been waiting for: Which team takes the overall crown for most losses to an eventual Cup champion in the four-round era? Somewhat surprisingly, it’s not any of the five teams we put in our most common path. The Canucks (10 total appearances), Capitals (8), Hawks (6), Wings (7) and Flyers (10) all make an honest showing. So do the Kings (8), Rangers (7) and Blues (6). But they don’t take the title.
Instead, that honor goes to the Bruins, who’ve lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champion a staggering 12 times since the four-round era began. They’ve also spread it out, managing the feat in the first round (Habs in 1986, Devils in 1995 and 2003), second round (Islanders in 1980, Lightning in 2020), third round (Islanders in 1983, Penguins in 1991 and 1992) and in the final (Oilers in 1988 and 1990, Hawks in 2013, Blues in 2019).
So there you go. If you want to win a Cup, bribe whoever approves the format to let you go through the Canucks, Capitals, Hawks/Wings and Flyers. But if that’s too complicated, just ask to face the Bruins. As long as you’re not the Leafs, that usually seems to work.
