Author: Pucks and Rec Staff

Thursday marks the 123rd birth anniversary of Jack Adams, the namesake of an NHL trophy that arrived too late to embody his excellence. Adams passed away 50 years ago last month, more than two decades after finishing the coaching phase of his career. Five years after his death, the NHL introduced its coach-of-the-year award, effective…

For the NHL, the 2000s comprised a split decade, if there ever was one. The season-long 2004-05 lockout will forever live as a barrier between two eras. On one border was the end of the league’s black-and-orange shield and broadcast alliance with ESPN. The other side bore a fledgling black-and-silver emblem and a contract with…

Long Island and Canada accounted for the most meaningful Stanley Cup playoff glory in the 1980s. After the New York Islanders nabbed four titles to start the decade, the next six went to either Edmonton, Montreal or Calgary. Appropriately, some of those championship roads bore spectacular scenic routes. But even in non-regal campaigns, the franchises…

Rallies and rivalries defined the NHL playoffs in the 1970s. One time-honored franchise enjoyed its last great decade in this era. Meanwhile an upstart team wasted little time presaging its own dynasty in the ’80s. The former beat its most time-honored rival in four of its six championship runs in the ’70s. In the first…

The 1960s were the last great decade for Stanley Cup glory in Canada. Between five Toronto and four Montreal championships, the game and trophy’s native country ruled the NHL in ways it never had before or since. The most cumulative Cups among Canadian franchises in any other calendar decade was eight in the 1920s. The…

The 1950s were the defining decade for the NHL’s most historically successful franchise. After falling in the 1950 semifinals, the Montreal Canadiens started a streak of 10 consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances. By the time the ’50s transitioned to the ’60s, the Habs had won five of those first nine championship series. One could argue…

The 1940s featured the first two Stanley Cup Finals to require seven games. Both sets involved the same two teams, who each had a turn winning three straight elimination contests to force Game 7. One remains the only Cup final in which one party’s 3-0 series lead turned into the other’s 4-3 victory. As with…