Vancouver’s Game Three Loss, Historically
12 years ago
The Vancouver Canucks’ 8-1 loss to Boston was a lopsided affair. I couldn’t remember a worse loss in the Stanley Cup Finals off the top of my head, so I decided to dig to find out how that loss ranked historically.
As it turns out, the Canucks loss to Boston was an historic one. Since the NHL claimed sole possession of the Stanley Cup in 1927, only one team has suffered a more humiliating defeat in Finals play than Vancouver did tonight.
The Worst Losses In NHL Stanley Cup Finals History
| Year | Winner | Goals | Loser | Goals | Difference | Series Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Pittsburgh | 8 | Minnesota | 0 | 8 | Pittsburgh |
| 2011 | Boston | 8 | Vancouver | 1 | 7 | TBD |
| 1996 | Colorado | 8 | Florida | 1 | 7 | Colorado |
| 1965 | Montreal | 6 | Chicago | 0 | 6 | Montreal |
| 1955 | Detroit | 7 | Montreal | 1 | 6 | Detroit |
| 1947 | Montreal | 6 | Toronto | 0 | 6 | Toronto |
| 1942 | Toronto | 9 | Detroit | 3 | 6 | Toronto |
| 2009 | Detroit | 5 | Pittsburgh | 0 | 5 | Pittsburgh |
| 2006 | Carolina | 5 | Edmonton | 0 | 5 | Carolina |
| 2001 | Colorado | 5 | New Jersey | 0 | 5 | Colorado |
| 1997 | Detroit | 5 | Philadelphia | 0 | 5 | Detroit |
| 1990 | Edmonton | 7 | Boston | 2 | 5 | Edmonton |
| 1985 | Edmonton | 8 | Philadelphia | 3 | 5 | Edmonton |
| 1984 | Edmonton | 7 | Islanders | 2 | 5 | Edmonton |
| 1984 | Edmonton | 7 | Islanders | 2 | 5 | Edmonton |
| 1984 | Islanders | 6 | Edmonton | 1 | 5 | Edmonton |
| 1973 | Montreal | 8 | Chicago | 3 | 5 | Montreal |
| 1970 | Boston | 6 | St. Louis | 1 | 5 | Boston |
| 1948 | Toronto | 7 | Detroit | 2 | 5 | Toronto |
| 1936 | Detroit | 9 | Toronto | 4 | 5 | Detroit |
Only three times since 1927 has a team lost by more than six goals in a Finals game – tonight, in 1991 when Pittsburgh eliminated the Minnesota North Stars with a 8-0 win, and in 1996 when Colorado beat Florida 8-1 in Game Two of a four-game sweep.
Still, there’s a worse number for the Canucks: 82.4%. 82.4% of the time, a team that wins at least one game by a gap of five or more goals goes on to win the Stanley Cup Finals.
Fortunately for Vancouver fans, the number that matters the most is 2-1, the Canucks’ series lead.
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