If Montreal Wins the Stanley Cup - Biggest Fluke in NHL History?

[Hockeyholic]

That is an interesting take considering that the Jets won 16-7 and the Chiefs won 23-7.

I think that it was Joe Namath's year and Hank Stram knew Bud Grant's playbook better than 1/2 the Vikings.

I think that you are right about the 01 Pats. The Rams had 50% more yardage but the three turnovers killed them.
The called back TD also hurt the Rams.

That was on the Patriots. Warner appeared to fumble the ball away for a 24-3 Patriots lead. Patriots were called for holding. Then the Rams scored 14 unanswered points before the Patriots game winning drive. And with the Spygate stuff that came out, you have to question if that's why the Patriots won in the first place. Not to mention the mugging of receivers they got away with.

I'm not specifically referring to the margin of victory for the Jets and KC. If both of those games were played ten times, chances are the favorites win nine times.

It was a fluke in the sense one team had its worst day coinciding with the other team's best.

 

[Hockeyholic]

No, but there is 0 chance in hell that they would ever beat Tampa so this is all moot

Why couldn't they beat TB?

Who by the way haven't even won their series yet.

 

[AcerComputer]

The reality is MTL dummied both our embarasingly easy first and second round matchups, like taking candy from a baby

You were down 3-1 in the first round. I guess that was part of the plan - to setup a comeback in two OT games, hoping the leafs will turn the puck over at the Blueline. Yes. You certainly dummied the leafs by being outscored and outshot in the series.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

You were down 3-1 in the first round. I guess that was part of the plan - to setup a comeback in two OT games, hoping the leafs will turn the puck over at the Blueline. Yes. You certainly dummied the leafs by being outscored and outshot in the series.

Yeah I agree it was way too easy kinda boring to be honest

 

[Spring in Fialta]

The reality MTL has been dominated or badly outshot in a lot of these games, but they manage to hang in there, with Price standing on his head, and then wait for some fluky giveaway where a guy like Paul Byron gets a breakaway and scores on their only shot in 10 minutes.

Good lord, why are Leafs fans still posting? Your team shat its pants on the biggest stage - yet again - in game 7. Go back into your hole.

 

[THE HOFF]

You can't win 4 - best out of 7 series - and be called a fluke. Its not a one off, you have to win 4 games each time, there are absolutely no excuses win or lose.

Are they playing above expectations ? Yes!

 

[hoglund]

I still think Montreal would’ve defeated Toronto in 7 with Tavares.

Maybe, they barely won and all Toronto needed was one extra goal and I think that Tavares would have gotten one, but we'll never know.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Maybe, they barely won and all Toronto needed was one extra goal and I think that Tavares would have gotten one, but we'll never know.

No, we won't. I hope Toronto enjoys that loss.

 

[IceNeophyte]

Not a fluke. Montreal has morphed into a punishing defensive team just in time for the playoffs. If they win the cup, they well earned it.

 

[TD Charlie]

Considering they will have gone through Toronto, Winni, Vegas, and likely Tampa Bay...hell no that’s not a fluke

a fluke would be a shit team getting puck luck through four rounds against pushovers.

 

[donghabs98]

The issue with this thread is the use of the word fluke. I wouldn't call any team winning the cup a fluke. There were better words to start this thread with than fluke.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I don't know.

Roughly 2 weeks into the season, a very good friend of mine predicted they'd win it all this year.

He's a hab fan, but still.

Heading into this season, I talked over and over again about how the moves we made directly addressed our flaws. People just don't understand the context of the areas of the game that held us back. We have our key vets still in place, added a few more, got bigger on the wings, kids got 1 year older, found a good back-up, and also found a good partner for Petry. It's no surprise to me that we are in the final 4 and came out the Canadian division.

I would say we got lucky with Tavares going down cause I feel the Leafs would be in our spot if he didn't. I feel we still beat the Jets with Scheifele but not 4 straight. Their D is just not that good enough. I will admit that I thought the Knights would out match us but it's pretty even from what I am seeing. If we reach the cup finals, I just don't see us beating the Lightning. Islanders are doing their best and we will see if they take it to 7 games. Very possible.

All teams that have won cups have good goaltending and good D. You need offense too but really only the Pens won without a great team D. Habs D is not that mobile but they are smart, big, and force things to the outside where Price can do his thing. Habs 4 lines are underrated.

 

[hoglund]

No, we won't. I hope Toronto enjoys that loss.

I wouldn't wish anyone to enjoy a loss, let's just hope that Montreal can take full advantage of their gift by winning the cup.

 

[Maffew]

The reality MTL has been dominated or badly outshot in a lot of these games, but they manage to hang in there, with Price standing on his head, and then wait for some fluky giveaway where a guy like Paul Byron gets a breakaway and scores on their only shot in 10 minutes.

How to spot someone who didn't watch past game 4 of round 1

 

[Aoko]

No.

If they won, they beat the team that the NHL wants to win. Their golden boys. The fix is in, and Montreal is against overwhelming odds. And yet they are currently tied in that series, despite the officiating being the worst I have ever seen in any series of my entire life.

It also means they got through Tampa Bay. The new scourge of the hockey world. The ultimate cheaters. The final boss that has an infinite health bar. Or, perhaps more impressive, a gritty Islanders team that beat that Tampa team first.

And someone calls that a fluke? The hell are you smoking?

 

[Louie the Blue]

The issue with this thread is the use of the word fluke. I wouldn't call any team winning the cup a fluke. There were better words to start this thread with than fluke.

Anomaly might be better.

 

[Poulin 0n My St1ck]

A fluke Super Bowl title is quite possible, but not a fluke Stanley Cup title. The winner can’t fluke its way to victory through 4 rounds and 16 wins.

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

Montreal plays defence perfectly. They shut down Toronto top players, Winnipeg could do nothing, and now they are shutting down Vegas. Not a fluke.

toronto choked, leafs won 3 in a row without tavares, get real. marners fault, coward.

 

[Merci Saku]

A fluke Super Bowl title is quite possible, but not a fluke Stanley Cup title. The winner can’t fluke its way to victory through 4 rounds and 16 wins.

Exactly,

long weeks, injuries and 16 wins, not 1, not 4, 16!

calling this a fluke is just non sense if you know what it takes to go through all 4 rounds,

it’s well deserved every year to the winning team

 

[Maitz]

Maybe, they barely won and all Toronto needed was one extra goal and I think that Tavares would have gotten one, but we'll never know.

Tavares never won a serie

 

[Maitz]

You have guys like Petry played with 2 dislocated fingers, Weber playing through a thumb injury that needs surgery and they still manage to win

 

[Evincar]

A fluke Super Bowl title is quite possible, but not a fluke Stanley Cup title. The winner can’t fluke its way to victory through 4 rounds and 16 wins.

You cant fluke a SB win. There's more cinderella runs in hockey.

 

[OG6ix]

Montreal plays the trap... slow down the game and score on counters. yawnnn

 

[Tasteless Beaver]

I'm genuinely confused how Montreal is winning games, but especially how they make the other team look like they're playing badly. They're not doing anything special and they're not super skilled, but they seem to be winning based on playing a consistent game. Toronto failed to show up in their last 3 games, Winnipeg didn't show up at all, and Vegas has had flashes of effort/skill/brilliance, but not what we expect of them. I'm not sure this is a fluke, but it's a weird condition of all of their opponents not doing anything like they should.

 

[Natey]

Wasn't St. Louis last place in the West or maybe even the league a couple years ago?