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Stanley Cup Finals

The Stanley Cup Finals in ice hockey (also known as the Stanley Cup Final among various media,[note 2] French: Finale de la Coupe Stanley) is the National Hockey League's (NHL) annual championship series. The winner is awarded the Stanley Cup, North America's oldest professional sports trophy,[1] and one of the "most important championships available to the sport [of ice hockey]" according to the International Ice Hockey Federation.[2]

This article is about the NHL championship series. For the NHL postseason in general, see Stanley Cup playoffs. For the most recent series, see 2023 Stanley Cup Finals.

Stanley Cup Finals

National Hockey League (1926–current)

Vegas Golden Knights
(2023) (1st title)

Originally inscribed the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, the trophy was donated in 1892 by Lord Stanley of Preston, then–Governor General of Canada, initially as a "challenge trophy" for Canada's top-ranking amateur ice hockey club. The champions held onto the Cup until they either lost their league title to another club, or a champion from another league issued a formal challenge and defeated the reigning Cup champion in a final game to claim their win.


Professional teams first became eligible to challenge for the Stanley Cup in 1906. Starting in 1915, the Cup was officially held between the champion of the National Hockey Association (NHA) and the champion of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA). After a series of league mergers and folds, it became the championship trophy of the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1926. Starting in 1982, the championship round of the NHL's playoffs has been a best-of-seven series played between the champions of the Eastern and Western Conferences. Western champions have won 21 times, while the Eastern champions have won 19 times.

Most wins: Montreal Canadiens (24)

Most losses: Boston Bruins (14)

Fewest losses: Colorado Avalanche (0)

Most consecutive wins: Montreal Canadiens (5 in –1960)

1956

Most consecutive losses: Toronto Maple Leafs (3 in –1940), St. Louis Blues (3 in 19681970)

1938

Most consecutive appearances: Montreal Canadiens (10 in –1960)[23]

1951

Most consecutive appearances without a loss: Montreal Canadiens (9 from to 1986)

1968

Most consecutive appearances without a win: Toronto Maple Leafs (6 from to 1940), Detroit Red Wings (6 from 1956 to 1995), Philadelphia Flyers (6 from 1976 to 2010)

1933

Most seasons between wins: New York Rangers (54 between and 1994, if not Toronto Maple Leafs below)

1940

Most seasons between appearances: Toronto Maple Leafs (55 between –present, excluding 2004–05 season)

1967

List of Stanley Cup champions

List of Stanley Cup challenge games

List of NHL franchise post-season droughts

. NHL.com. Retrieved 2016-03-03.

"List of winners of the Stanley Cup"

. NHL.com. Retrieved 2013-06-25.

"List of Stanley Cup Playoff Formats: 1917 to date"

. NHL.com. Archived from the original on 2009-04-12. Retrieved 2008-04-18.

"Stanley Cup-winning goals"

. LegendsofHockey.net. Archived from the original on 2007-12-30. Retrieved 2008-04-18.

"STC List of winners of the Stanley Cup"

. The Sports Network. Archived from the original on 2008-05-02. Retrieved 2008-04-18.

"Stanley Cup Playoffs – Winners and Finalists Since 1893"