It's the best in a while and definitely the best of this decade.
The one last year was pure domination. Same with the 2021 series between TB and MTL, although I personally enjoyed that one because f*** MTL.
DAL/TB was kind of meh. TB/COL got good toward the end but didn't go seven games and one the score of one game was 7-0.
The 2019 SCF was enjoyable. I was so worried BOS was going to win, but STL came back from 3-2 down in the series and won Game Seven 4-1.
The finals in 2018, 2017, 2016 weren't very good in terms of competitiveness.
This is the best Stanley Cup Final since 2019 and the only ones I've seen that may be better are the ones from 1994, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2019.
STL was up 3-2 in the series.
18,362 average attendance this season and every playoff game sold out. I'm sure attendance will be great next year too.Can you call 16 fans a riot?
2011 and the years red wings vs pens and the losing Hossa years
I feel like tonight is going to be like 2011 or 2019. A blowout in one direction.Sure, it’s been good, but only 1-out-of-6 so far has been a one-goal game. One was a two-goal game, and four 3+ goal victories. The reverse sweep aspect is cool, but I think a series of back and forth close games would’ve been more enjoyable as a neutral fan.
OT tonight would be incredible.
2011 was exciting because there was hatred and rivalry between the teams, it was somewhat of a goaltending battle between Thomas and Luongo, also the year Thomas won his second Vezina in 6 seasons, there was so much controversy about the reffing (Remember the Burrows bite?). Mark Recchi at 43 became the oldest player to score in the finals, there was the Horton hit by Rome that made him leave on a stretcher (and pretty much ended his career prematurely), game 3 had almost 150 minutes in penalties, Luongo became the 13th goalie all time to have two shutouts in the finals and then 2 games later Thomas became the 14th goalie all time to do it. There was only one other goalie to do it in the modern era, Chris Osgood, until Matt Murray did it in 2017.18,362 average attendance this season and every playoff game sold out. I'm sure attendance will be great next year too.
They had great attendance in their first few years too. No louder building in the nhl circa 96.
Miami area can easily support an NHL franchise imo. They've proven it.
Regarding thread, why was 2011 an entertaining series? Game 1 was scoreless until like 15 seconds left. Every Boston victory was a blowout.
2013 was probably the last true classic from start to finish. There was doubt as to who would win.
2011 was exciting because there was hatred and rivalry between the teams, it was somewhat of a goaltending battle between Thomas and Luongo, also the year Thomas won his second Vezina in 6 seasons, there was so much controversy about the reffing (Remember the Burrows bite?). Mark Recchi at 43 became the oldest player to score in the finals, there was the Horton hit by Rome that made him leave on a stretcher (and pretty much ended his career prematurely), game 3 had almost 150 minutes in penalties, Luongo became the 13th goalie all time to have two shutouts in the finals and then 2 games later Thomas became the 14th goalie all time to do it. There was only one other goalie to do it in the modern era, Chris Osgood, until Matt Murray did it in 2017.
There were 3 extremely close games that Vancouver won, and then 3 games the Bruins smashed 4-0 and 8-1. That added to it, too.
3 games were blowouts and 3 games were close and there were 4 shutouts total. I mean if you find that kind of hockey boring than fair enough but all 3 games Vancouver won were very exciting for me and up until the famous 4 minute collapse Game 7 was too. Also game 3 and the Horton hit added a little bit extra to the series even if it was a major blowout because we anticipated that Vancouver would come back hard and it would be an even bloodier series. That kinda didn't really happen after game 5 but it was still pretty exciting overall. Close series where either team could win because of goaltending but Boston was clearly the team with the better chance and Luongo had major collapses while also having the same capability as Thomas to steal games.The problem was, for all the off-ice drama and storylines, the actual hockey was stinky poo trash.
NoooooI can't remember a better one.
The energy was very high for a cup final, normally plays are beaten to shreds at this point. But the every three day schedule helped a lot with that. I think they should do that every final now.
The only issue of course is that it is almost July - they really need to start everything a month or two earlier. Hockey is not a summer sport.
The ice quality could have been better as well. Having the cup final every year in some dry spot in Canada would be my preference.