NHLB - National Hockey League of Baseball

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Game 1: Penguins 4 at Blue Jackets 11
Game 2: Penguins 4 at Blue Jackets 3
Game 3: Blue Jackets 2 at Penguins 5
Game 4: Blue Jackets 4 at Penguins 7
Game 5: Penguins 3 at Blue Jackets 2

1907 Stanley Cup Champions: Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins didn't care that they had a .500 record during the regular season. They won their play-in game to make the playoffs, and then breezed through the postseason with a 16-4 record to win their first Stanley Cup.

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Both Eastern Conference Finalists, the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, have missed the playoffs. This is the second consecutive year that this has happened. (Rangers and Islanders). As a matter of fact, the Penguins went from Stanley Cup Champions to the worst record in the NHL (58-104).

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Eastern Conference

8) Buffalo Sabres vs. 1) Florida Panthers
Sabres 4 at Panthers 2
Sabres 11 at Panthers 9 (11)
Panthers 2 at Sabres 5
Panthers 5 at Sabres 2
Sabres 1 at Panthers 4
Panthers 4 at Sabres 0
Sabres 6 at Panthers 7 (10)
Florida Panthers win series 4-3


5) Quebec Nordiques vs. 4) Atlanta Thrashers
Nordiques 7 at Thrashers 4
Nordiques 7 at Thrashers 4
Thrashers 3 at Nordiques 0
Thrashers 10 at Nordiques 2
Nordiques 0 at Thrashers 6
Thrashers 4 at Nordiques 7
Nordiques 4 at Thrashers 6
Atlanta Thrashers win series 4-3


6) New York Islanders vs. 3) Tampa Bay Lightning
Islanders 1 at Lightning 6
Islanders 4 at Lightning 1
Lightning 7 at Islanders 3
Lightning 8 at Islanders 7
Islanders 0 at Lightning 1
Tampa Bay Lightning win series 4-1


7) Carolina Hurricanes vs. 2) New Jersey Devils
Hurricanes 1 at Devils 2
Hurricanes 2 at Devils 1 (10)
Devils 5 at Hurricanes 6
Devils 6 at Hurricanes 3
Hurricanes 6 at Devils 7 (12)
Devils 0 at Hurricanes 5
Hurricanes 1 at Devils 2
New Jersey Devils win series 4-3



Western Conference

8) Los Angeles Kings vs. 1) Colorado Avalanche
Kings 6 at Avalanche 12
Kings 4 at Avalanche 1
Avalanche 2 at Kings 3
Avalanche 7 at Kings 6
Kings 7 at Avalanche 2
Avalanche 3 at Kings 7
Los Angeles Kings win series 4-2


5) Edmonton Oilers vs. 4) St. Louis Blues
Oilers 3 at Blues 7
Oilers 4 at Blues 9
Blues 5 at Oilers 3
Blues 2 at Oilers 3
Oilers 6 at Blues 5
Blues 1 at Oilers 3
Oilers 3 at Blues 4 (10)
St. Louis Blues win series 4-3


6) Calgary Flames vs. 3) Phoenix Coyotes
Flames 10 at Coyotes 2
Flames 2 at Coyotes 6
Coyotes 4 at Flames 0
Coyotes 3 at Flames 4
Flames 1 at Coyotes 9
Coyotes 2 at Flames 0
Phoenix Coyotes win series 4-2


7) Dallas Stars vs. 2) Columbus Blue Jackets
Stars 4 at Blue Jackets 10
Stars 3 at Blue Jackets 4 (10)
Blue Jackets 9 at Stars 5
Blue Jackets 9 at Stars 7
Columbus Blue Jackets win series 4-0

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Eastern Conference

4) Atlanta Thrashers vs. 1) Florida Panthers
Thrashers 8 at Panthers 5
Thrashers 3 at Panthers 5
Panthers 1 at Thrashers 5
Panthers 9 at Thrashers 3 (10)
Thrashers 7 at Panthers 6
Panthers 8 at Thrashers 4
Thrashers 3 at Panthers 6
Florida Panthers win series 4-3


3) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. 2) New Jersey Devils
Lightning 3 at Devils 4
Lightning 4 at Devils 2
Devils 13 at Lightning 6
Devils 0 at Lightning 4
Lightning 5 at Devils 3
Devils 6 at Lightning 2
Lightning 3 at Devils 2
Tampa Bay Lightning win series 4-3



Western Conference

8) Los Angeles Kings vs. 4) St. Louis Blues
Kings 3 at Blues 2
Kings 0 at Blues 7
Blues 12 at Kings 4
Blues 4 at Kings 1 (10)
Kings 2 at Blues 1
Blues 6 at Kings 8
Kings 9 at Blues 5
Los Angeles Kings win series 4-3


3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. 2) Columbus Blue Jackets
Coyotes 5 at Blue Jackets 1
Coyotes 5 at Blue Jackets 3
Blue Jackets 9 at Coyotes 8 (10)
Blue Jackets 6 at Coyotes 4
Coyotes 4 at Blue Jackets 1
Blue Jackets 2 at Coyotes 3
Phoenix Coyotes win series 4-2

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East: 3) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. 1) Florida Panthers
Lightning 13 at Panthers 2
Lightning 6 at Panthers 3
Panthers 0 at Lightning 3
Panthers 0 at Lightning 1
Tampa Bay Lightning win series 4-0


West: 8) Los Angeles Kings vs. 3) Phoenix Coyotes
Kings 2 at Coyotes 1
Kings 9 at Coyotes 4
Coyotes 0 at Kings 5
Coyotes 3 at Kings 4
Los Angeles Kings win series 4-0

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Kings 2 at Lightning 3
Kings 5 at Lightning 4
Lightning 3 at Kings 10
Lightning 4 at Kings 1
Kings 4 at Lightning 13
Lightning 5 at Kings 2 (14)
Tampa Bay Lightning win series 4-2

1908 Stanley Cup Champions: Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning have won their first Stanley Cup. They beat the Islanders in five games in the East Quarterfinals, won a Game 7 in New Jersey to beat the Devils, swept their in-state rival Florida Panthers, and held off a Los Angeles Kings team who has had much playoff success. The Lightning went 16-6 in the postseason.

Interesting note: The Boston Bruins are the only team to clinch the Stanley Cup at home, in the inaugural 1901 season. All seven Stanley Cup winners since then have clinched on the road.

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Last year's Stanley Cup champs, the Tampa Bay Lightning, are the #1 seed in the East. The Stanley Cup finalists, the Los Angeles Kings, are the #4 seed in the West. The New York Rangers will be a #2 seed for the first time, their highest regular season finish. They will face their rival, the Islanders, in the first round.

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Eastern Conference

8) Carolina Hurricanes vs. 1) Tampa Bay Lightning
Hurricanes 0 at Lightning 5
Hurricanes 2 at Lightning 3
Lightning 5 at Hurricanes 3
Lightning 3 at Hurricanes 5
Hurricanes 1 at Lightning 9
Tampa Bay Lightning win series 4-1


5) Atlanta Thrashers vs. 4) Florida Panthers
Thrashers 4 at Panthers 6
Thrashers 5 at Panthers 14
Panthers 7 at Thrashers 8
Panthers 5 at Thrashers 14
Thrashers 5 at Panthers 10
Panthers 10 at Thrashers 9
Florida Panthers win series 4-2


6) New Jersey Devils vs. 3) Quebec Nordiques
Devils 3 at Nordiques 5
Devils 4 at Nordiques 6
Nordiques 2 at Devils 4
Nordiques 5 at Devils 10
Devils 1 at Nordiques 2
Nordiques 5 at Devils 3
Quebec Nordiques win series 4-2


7) New York Islanders vs. 2) New York Rangers
Islanders 10 at Rangers 2
Islanders 4 at Rangers 11
Rangers 1 at Islanders 3 (10)
Rangers 3 at Islanders 5
Islanders 2 at Rangers 3 (11)
Rangers 2 at Islanders 4
New York Islanders win series 4-2



Western Conference

8) St. Louis Blues vs. 1) Colorado Avalanche
Blues 12 at Avalanche 7
Blues 2 at Avalanche 0
Avalanche 7 at Blues 2
Avalanche 5 at Blues 4
Blues 1 at Avalanche 13
Avalanche 9 at Blues 10
Blues 6 at Avalanche 8
Colorado Avalanche win series 4-3


5) Phoenix Coyotes vs. 4) Los Angeles Kings
Coyotes 6 at Kings 3 (11)
Coyotes 2 at Kings 3 (11)
Kings 3 at Coyotes 4
Kings 4 at Coyotes 3
Coyotes 9 at Kings 7
Kings 3 at Coyotes 9
Phoenix Coyotes win series 4-2


6) Nashville Predators vs. 3) Columbus Blue Jackets
Predators 0 at Blue Jackets 16
Predators 0 at Blue Jackets 2
Blue Jackets 9 at Predators 7
Blue Jackets 12 at Predators 2
Columbus Blue Jackets win series 4-0


7) Winnipeg Jets vs. 2) Minnesota Wild
Jets 13 at Wild 6
Jets 2 at Wild 5
Wild 6 at Jets 3
Wild 8 at Jets 5
Jets 4 at Wild 6 (13)
Minnesota Wild win series 4-1

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Eastern Conference

4) Florida Panthers vs. 1) Tampa Bay Lightning
Panthers 8 at Lightning 3
Panthers 2 at Lightning 8
Lightning 4 at Panthers 2
Lightning 1 at Panthers 3 (11)
Panthers 4 at Lightning 5
Lightning 6 at Panthers 11
Panthers 3 at Lightning 10
Tampa Bay Lightning win series 4-3


7) New York Islanders vs. 3) Quebec Nordiques
Islanders 3 at Nordiques 4
Islanders 3 at Nordiques 1
Nordiques 5 at Islanders 11
Nordiques 7 at Islanders 5 (11)
Islanders 12 at Nordiques 3
Nordiques 17 at Islanders 7
Islanders 2 at Nordiques 4
Quebec Nordiques win series 4-3



Western Conference

5) Phoenix Coyotes vs. 1) Colorado Avalanche
Coyotes 3 at Avalanche 2
Coyotes 4 at Avalanche 9
Avalanche 0 at Coyotes 11
Avalanche 16 at Coyotes 14 (14)
Coyotes 3 at Avalanche 6
Avalanche 6 at Coyotes 3
Colorado Avalanche win series 4-2


3) Columbus Blue Jackets vs. 2) Minnesota Wild
Blue Jackets 4 at Wild 2
Blue Jackets 2 at Wild 5
Wild 2 at Blue Jackets 9
Wild 6 at Blue Jackets 8
Blue Jackets 1 at Wild 4
Wild 3 at Blue Jackets 1
Blue Jackets 5 at Wild 6
Minnesota Wild win series 4-3

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East: 3) Quebec Nordiques vs. 1) Tampa Bay Lightning
Nordiques 10 at Lightning 3
Nordiques 3 at Lightning 6
Lightning 1 at Nordiques 2
Lightning 13 at Nordiques 8
Nordiques 2 at Lightning 4
Lightning 4 at Nordiques 5
Nordiques 4 at Lightning 5
Tampa Bay Lightning win series 4-3


West: 2) Minnesota Wild vs. 1) Colorado Avalanche
Wild 7 at Avalanche 1
Wild 4 at Avalanche 5
Avalanche 16 at Wild 5
Avalanche 3 at Wild 9
Wild 2 at Avalanche 3 (11)
Avalanche 7 at Wild 5 (10)
Colorado Avalanche win series 4-2

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Avalanche 3 at Lightning 4 (10)
Avalanche 6 at Lightning 3
Lightning 7 at Avalanche 3
Lightning 3 at Avalanche 12
Avalanche 2 at Lightning 4
Lightning 0 at Avalanche 6
Avalanche 1 at Lightning 8
Tampa Bay Lightning win series 4-3

1909 Stanley Cup Champions: Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning have won their 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup. They are the second team to win 2 Stanley Cups (the other being Carolina). The are also the second team to celebrate winning the Stanley Cup at home (the first was Boston in the inaugural season).

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The San Jose Sharks are in the playoffs for the first time. They beat the Detroit Red Wings in a play-in game for the 8th spot in the West. That leaves the Ottawa Senators as the only team to never make the playoffs. However, the Sens are on the rise as they finished with their best record in franchise history, 76-86. Maybe next year will be their year.

The Winnipeg Jets won the President's Trophy with a 100-62 record. They have high hopes to get back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the fourth time, and this time, win. (They are winless in their previous three trips to the Finals.) Also, there is a good chance for an all-Canada Stanley Cup Final as the Quebec Nordiques finished with the East's best mark at 97-65.

The two-time defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning finished 5th in the East at 87-76, and will face their in-state rival Florida Panthers in the East Quarterfinals. Another heated rivalry I'm looking at is the Islanders-Devils series.

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Eastern Conference

8) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 1) Quebec Nordiques
Penguins 4 at Nordiques 5 (12)
Penguins 5 at Nordiques 12
Nordiques 6 at Penguins 1
Nordiques 4 at Penguins 11
Penguins 9 at Nordiques 5
Nordiques 4 at Penguins 2
Quebec Nordiques win series 4-2


5) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. 4) Florida Panthers
Lightning 2 at Panthers 1
Lightning 5 at Panthers 1
Panthers 2 at Lightning 5
Panthers 7 at Lightning 5
Lightning 2 at Panthers 4
Panthers 4 at Lightning 5 (10)
Tampa Bay Lightning win series 4-2


6) New Jersey Devils vs. 3) New York Islanders
Devils 5 at Islanders 6
Devils 2 at Islanders 6
Islanders 8 at Devils 3
Islanders 2 at Devils 8
Devils 5 at Islanders 6
New York Islanders win series 4-1


7) New York Rangers vs. 2) Atlanta Thrashers
Rangers 4 at Thrashers 5
Rangers 7 at Thrashers 2
Thrashers 8 at Rangers 9
Thrashers 5 at Rangers 15
Rangers 7 at Thrashers 6 (10)
New York Rangers win series 4-1



Western Conference

8) San Jose Sharks vs. 1) Winnipeg Jets
Sharks 1 at Jets 16
Sharks 2 at Jets 7
Jets 8 at Sharks 11
Jets 8 at Sharks 3
Sharks 0 at Jets 6 (no-hitter)
Winnipeg Jets win series 4-1


5) Edmonton Oilers vs. 4) Colorado Avalanche
Oilers 2 at Avalanche 4
Oilers 3 at Avalanche 5
Avalanche 3 at Oilers 1
Avalanche 3 at Oilers 5
Oilers 7 at Avalanche 8 (10)
Colorado Avalanche win series 4-1


6) Minnesota Wild vs. 3) Dallas Stars
Wild 12 at Stars 1
Wild 2 at Stars 0
Stars 9 at Wild 8 (10)
Stars 1 at Wild 8
Wild 1 at Stars 6
Stars 5 at Wild 12
Minnesota Wild win series 4-2


7) Calgary Flames vs. 2) Nashville Predators
Flames 7 at Predators 1
Flames 1 at Predators 6
Predators 10 at Flames 7
Predators 5 at Flames 8
Flames 0 at Predators 5
Predators 6 at Flames 3
Nashville Predators win series 4-2