Which Teams Dominated the NHL Throughout the 2010s?
Wed, Jan 18, 2023
by
CapperTek
The 2022/23 NHL season has reached its midway point, and
so far there have been talking points plenty. The Tempa Bay Lightning have
reached the Stanley Cup finals in each of the last three seasons, lifting the
trophy twice. Last season however, their most recent voyage to the championship
series ended in heartbreak as they were defeated by the Colorado Avalanche, who
won the crown for the first time in over two decades.
This season, the Lightning are attempting to become the
first team since the New York Islanders in the early 1980s to reach four
consecutive Stanley Cup Finals. So far, they are well positioned in the Eastern
Conference’s Atlantic Division, sitting in third place in the standings with 28
wins and 14 losses.
The runaway leaders of that division are the Boston
Bruins. The Massachusetts outfit currently sits at the division’s summit with
34 wins, including seven victories in their last ten outings. As such, it's no
surprise that online bookmakers such as Bodog have slashed the Bruins’ odds to win Stanley Cup 2023, making them the outright favorites for glory, ahead of the reigning
champion Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights.
Sleeping Giants
Elsewhere, some of the league's biggest names are
struggling so far this term. The Montreal Canadiens are the most successful
franchise in NHL history and were beaten finalists in the Stanley Cup finals
just two years ago. This term, however, they currently sit at rock bottom of
the Atlantic Division, with just 18 wins to their name.
One of the stars of the last decade is currently enduring
an even worse time of it thus far, however. The Chicago Blackhawks lifted three
championships during the 2010s however, they are the whipping boys in 2022/23 NHL season. They have 11 wins
and a mammoth 30 losses so far this term.
So for any Blackhawks fans reading, let's take a look back
at happier times. The Stanley Cup is the most prestigious prize in professional
hockey, and over the years, numerous teams have lifted the cup in triumph. From
2010 to 2020, five teams emerged victorious over the course of the past decade
to become Stanley Cup Champions.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in 2010,
defeating the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. The Blackhawks had an impressive
run throughout the playoffs, earning an impressive 52-30 record on their way to
the championship. Chicago was led by Patrick Kane, who scored four goals during
the finals, and goaltender Antti Niemi, who posted three shutouts in the
series.
in 2013, the Chicago Blackhawks won their second Stanley
Cup in four seasons. This time, the Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins in
six games. The Blackhawks were led by captain Jonathan Toews and goaltender
Corey Crawford, who both had an impressive postseason run.
The Illinois outfit picked up their third Stanley Cup in six seasons in 2015, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. Patrick
Kane was once again the star of the show and named the series MVP, after
scoring the game-winning goal in double overtime of Game 6. The Blackhawks had
yet another impressive playoffs run, going 16-15 en route to the championship.
Boston Bruins
In 2011, the Boston Bruins brought the Stanley Cup home
for the first time in 39 years. The Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks in
seven nailbiting games, with goaltender Tim Thomas being named the series MVP.
The Bruins had an impressive postseason run, going 16-9 in the playoffs. This
season, the Bruins are aiming to lift the championship for the first time since
that glorious success 12 years ago.
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings won the Stanley Cup in 2014,
defeating the New York Rangers in five games. The Kings had a dominant
postseason, going 16-4 on their way to the championship. Jonathan Quick was
named the series MVP, after posting three shutouts in the finals.
Pittsburgh Penguins
2015 and 2016 were the years of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Just as they did in 2008 and 2009, the Penguins reached back-to-back Stanley
Cup finals however, on that occasion, they could only manage one victory from
the two appearances. They endured no such troubles seven years on.
The Pennsylvania-based side first knocked off the San Jose
Sharks in six, before going all the way again the following season, eventually defeating the Nashville Predators in the championship series by the same scoreline. With
the back-to-back victories, the Penguins became the first franchise since the
Detroit Red Wings some two years prior to successfully retaining the Stanley
Cup.
Washington Capitals
In 2018, the Stanley Cup finally made its way to the
capital of the United States for the first time in the history of the
Washington Capitals franchise. They reached the championship series exactly 20
years prior however, in 1998 they were thumped 4-0 by the aforementioned Red
Wings.
Two decades on, they made no such mistakes. Russian
superstar and captain Alexander Ovechkin was the star of the show. He won the
MVP award as his capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in five.
St. Louis Blues
The final Stanley Cup Champions of the 2010s are the St. Louis Blues. The Blues defeated the Boston Bruins in seven games in 2019 in a pulsating seven-game series that swang one way then the other. Ryan O'Reilly was named the series MVP, leading the Blues with 23 points in 26 playoff games.