The NHL postseason is an exhilarating and eagerly awaited sports spectacle that captivates people everywhere. Year after year, tens of thousands of people flock to see the finest regular-season teams compete for the coveted Stanley Cup. Somewhat surprisingly, this competition has a long history dating back over a century, and the fight for the Stanley Cup has grown in popularity over the decades up until the present day.
While the NHL playoffs have changed over the decades to continually captivate sports fans for more than a century, other competitions have also withstood the test of time. There are innumerable instances of sporting events that have shifted from the traditional to the digital realm, considering traditional card game of baccarat and contemporary e-sports competitions. The internet allows these thrilling activities to flourish, as more and more people flock to betting options in order to win real money rewards.
However, these often do not compare to the immeasurable excitement and drama of the NHL playoffs.
Origins of the NHL Playoffs
The NHL playoffs have a rich history dating back to 1917 when the NHL was formed. At the time, the league consisted of just four teams: the Montreal Canadiens, the Montreal Wanderers, the Ottawa Senators, and the Toronto Arenas.
The Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators faced off in what would turn out to be the first-ever NHL postseason series back in 1918. There were just two games in that series, with each team hosting one game each. In the end, the Canadiens prevailed, winning their first ever NHL championship title.
The NHL playoffs continue to rank among the most eagerly awaited and exciting athletic events in the world. The playoff games are among the most entertaining hockey of the year, drawing millions of viewers each year.
Roster Expansion
Initially, only four clubs were permitted to contend for the Stanley Cup. The playoffs, however, also grew in size over time as the league did. The Western and Eastern conferences were established in 1967 after the league’s size increased from six to twelve teams.
By 1974, the league had grown into a global brand and had 18 clubs. Another expansion of the playoffs allowed twelve extra clubs to make it to the postseason. In the playoffs, the best four teams from each division battled it out in a best-of-three series. Once the second and third rounds of best-of-seven games had wrapped up, the cream of the crop from each conference moved on to compete in the highly-anticipated Stanley Cup Finals.
The playoffs experienced a variety of changes and expansions in the years that followed. The NHL added two more clubs in 1981 and divided the conferences into two divisions, resulting in even more teams contending for playoff positions. The NHL playoffs now included a total of 16 teams, eight from each conference. The top three clubs in each division would automatically qualify, with two wild card teams claiming the last two spots.
Evolution of Structure
The format and structure of the NHL playoffs also experienced some significant alterations throughout its lifetime. The NHL playoffs included just two rounds in 1927, and division winners advanced directly to the Stanley Cup Finals. The NHL playoffs grew in popularity, and in the 1960s, six more teams were added as a result. The top team in each category received a bye, while the remaining four teams engaged in a best-of-seven series of matches.
To make sure more teams had a shot at winning the Stanley Cup, the NHL made some major changes to the playoffs in ’82 and ’94. These changes amped up the competition and made for some nail-biting games. The ’82 expansion added two more teams to the playoffs, making a total of 16 teams in the running, and the first round went from being best-of-three to a best-of-five series.
In ’94, the NHL expanded again, adding two more teams, and they restructured the playoffs to be based on conferences. Now, only the top eight teams from each conference got to move on to the postseason. These changes gave teams with less impressive records a real shot at the Cup. Like when the New York Islanders took it home in ’82 or when the New Jersey Devils won in ’94.
In 2014, the NHL shook things up once more and brought in the wildcard system we have now. The top three teams in each division get into the playoffs automatically and the next two best teams in each conference snag wildcard spots.
The NHL playoffs have undergone an expansion that has added to the already high stakes and excitement of the postseason, captivating the attention of avid hockey fans for decades.
Memorable Moments in Playoff History
The NHL playoffs have produced some remarkable moments that have left a lasting impression on fans. During the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils, one such event occurred. Stephane Matteau of the Rangers scored the game-winning goal in double overtime in Game 7 of the series, garnering the nickname “Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!” and pushing the Rangers to their first championship triumph in 54 years.
Mike Bossy’s historic performance in the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals also stands out in NHL postseason history. Bossy scored a hat-trick in Game 1 of the series, including the game-winning goal in overtime, setting the tone for the remainder of the series. The next year, the Islanders won their third straight Stanley Cup as they maintained their dominance.
The 1976 Stanley Cup Finals between the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers brought about yet another extraordinary event. Reggie Leach, a forward for the Flyers, netted the clinching goal in Game 4 of the series with a mere quintet of seconds left in the third period, with the score deadlocked at 1-1. His team subsequently triumphed in the Stanley Cup for the first time. This moment has been engraved in the memories of NHL fans and is now marked as the “5 Seconds Left” tally.
The 2010 Stanley Cup Finals between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers witnessed another remarkable moment. Patrick Kane’s game-winning goal, which was initially overturned, was eventually allowed to stand after a video review, giving the Blackhawks their first Stanley Cup victory in 49 years. Although there were suspicions that Kane may have booted the puck into the net, the video review proved that this was not the case. The Blackhawks and Kane experienced a moment of vindication as a result of the goal.
Enduring Popularity
Throughout over a century of history, the NHL playoffs have gone through significant changes, including the expansion of teams participating and the introduction of the wildcard system in 2014. These changes have reinforced the popularity of the competition as the playoffs continue to be a highly anticipated event that fascinates millions of fans worldwide.
Thanks to iconic moments like Mike Bossy’s hat-trick and Stephane Matteau’s game-winning goal, as well as other unforgettable moments that keep us coming back for another game, the NHL playoffs are now among the most thrilling and unforgettable sporting events in the world. There’s plenty more history to write in the years ahead as well. With the league constantly evolving, the NHL playoffs are sure to continue to captivate and excite fans for generations to come.
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