Detroit Red Wings vs. Anaheim Ducks NHL Stanley Cup Playoff History

In 2012-13, the Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks meet for the sixth time in the post season. Detroit holds the edge, winning three of the previous five showdowns. The Red Wings have been in the National Hockey League since the 1926-27 season and have won the Stanley Cup championship on eleven occasions. Anaheim entered the NHL as an expansion team for the 1993-94 season. The Ducks have won Stanley Cup.

1996-97 – Western Conference Semi-Finals

The Ducks (at the time the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) reached the post season for the first time in their young NHL history. During the regular season, Anaheim finished second in the Pacific Division with 85 points while the Red Wings placed second in the Central with 92 points.

In the Western Conference Quarter-Finals, Detroit took out the St. Louis Blues in six games while Anaheim went the distance before beating the Phoenix Coyotes in seven games. This, of course, set up the first showdown between the Red Wings and Ducks.

Detroit swept Anaheim in four games. The Red Wings then went on to beat the Colorado Avalanche four games to two in the Conference Finals before sweeping the Philadelphia Flyers to capture the Stanley Cup.

1998-99 – Western Conference Quarter-Finals

Another Detroit and Anaheim matchup resulting in another sweep. The teams met in the opening round after the Red Wings finished first in the Central with 93 points and the Ducks finished third in the Pacific with 83. After taking out the Ducks, Detroit moved on to the Conference Semi-Finals, where they lost to Colorado in six games.

2002-03 – Western Conference Quarter-Finals

Yet another sweep. However this time the Red Wings were on the losing end. Detroit finished atop the Central Division with a healthy 110 points. Anaheim placed second in the Pacific with 95.

Anaheim then followed up by upsetting the Dallas Stars in the Western semi-final. Dallas was first overall in the Conference during the regular season. In the conference final, the Ducks swept the Minnesota Wild to earn their first ever appearance at the Stanley Cup finals. Anaheim met up with the New Jersey Devils and took the series to the seventh game before bowing out.

2006-07 – Western Conference Finals

Detroit and Anaheim were the first and second seeds in the Western Conference. Both plowed their way through to the conference finals. Detroit beat the Calgary Flames then the San Jose Sharks, both in six games, to advance. Anaheim played two less games than Detroit while beating both the Minnesota Wild

Anaheim took their second playoff series in a row off the Red Wings, winning four games to two. The Ducks again advanced to the Stanley Cup finals. This time, they were victorious, beating the Ottawa Senators four games to one to capture their first and only Stanley Cup championship.

2008-09 – Western Conference Semi-Finals

Detroit was the second seed going into the playoffs, recording 112 points during the regular season. Anaheim squeaked into the eighth and final position with 91 points. In the first round, the Ducks upset the first seed San Jose Sharks while the Red Wings easily dispatched the Columbus Blue Jackets in a four game sweep. For the Blue Jackets, it was their only playoff series to date, since joining the league for the 2000-01 season.

The matchup in the conference semi-finals between Anaheim and Detroit went the distance with the Red Wings coming out on top four games to three. Detroit moved on to beat the Chicago Blackhawks in five in the conference finals before falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in the finals.

2012-13 – Western Conference Quarter-Finals

Bruce Boudreau had a chance to capture something that’s avoided him since his pro hockey career started in 1975-76 with the Johnstown Jets of the North American Hockey League – a championship. Boudreau had the talent in front of him to win with the Washington Capitals but the team came up short. Bruce was brought in to coach the Ducks in 2012-13 and the team was nothing but stellar during the regular season.

Anaheim captured the second position in the west. For the Red Wings, it went right down to the final game of the season to determine if they were in or out. Detroit placed seventh in the west, just one point ahead of ninth place Columbus.

Once again, Boudreau's team couldn't compete in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Red Wings won the set in seven games. This was a tightly fought battle, to say the least. Teams alternated wins, starting with Anaheim and ending with Detroit. Four games needed overtime to decide a winner. In the final game, Valtteri Filppula scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the second period. Anaheim responded with a goal late in the third to bring the score to 3-2 but the Red Wings prevailed.

Detroit moved on, only to fall to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks in the conference semi-finals. That series went seven games, as well.

With Detroit moving to the Eastern Conference, a rematch between the Ducks and Red Wings may be a long time coming. Teams from opposing conferences can only meet in the Stanley Cup finals.

Islanders V Penguins NHL Playoff History

The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the National Hockey League as an expansion franchise in 1967-68. The New York Islanders were an expansion franchise, starting play in 1972-73. The two teams met for just the fourth time in a post season series in the opening round of the 2012-13 Stanley Cup playoffs. The first time they met was in 1974-75, New York’s third year in the NHL. The last time was in 1992-93 when the Islanders spoiled Pittsburgh’s 3-peat attempt. It’s hard to believe but the Penguins had never won a series against the Islanders until 2012-13.

1974-75

The two evenly matched teams met in the Quarter-Finals with the Islanders taking the series in seven games. The final game of the series was a 1-0 shutout by New York. New York beat the cross-town New York Rangers and the Penguins beat the St. Louis Blues to set up the showdown. During the regular season, the Islanders placed third in the Patrick Division with 88 points while the Penguins finished third in the Norris with 89 points.

The Islanders were coached by Al Arbour and led offensively by Hall of Fame defenseman Denis Potvin. During the regular season, Billy Smith played the bulk of the games between the pipes with Glenn Resch as the backup. In the playoffs, the roles reversed with Resch taking on most of the goaltending load.

Pittsburgh was coached by Marc Boileau and was led by a pack of equally qualified stars in Ron Schock, Syl Apps, Jean Pronovost, VicHadfield and Pierre Larouche. Gary Inness saw the bulk of the team’s action in goal.

1981-82

Despite the matchup being a total mismatch, the Penguins held their own in the Patrick Division Semi-Final series with the Islanders. Pittsburgh fell three games to two. During the regular season, the Islanders finished first in the Patrick and first overall in the NHL with 118 points. Pittsburgh placed fourth in the Patrick with 75 points.

Once again, New York was coached by Al Arbour and led by Mike Bossy and Brian Trottier. Billy Smith was still the man in net for New York. The Islanders were at their greatest and advanced to win their third of four straight Stanley Cup championships with a sweep of the Vancouver Canucks in the finals.

Pittsburgh was coached by long-time NHL goaltender, Ed Johnston. Leading the way offensively were Rick Kehoe and defenseman Randy Carlyle. Playing most of Pittsburgh’s games in net was Michel Dion.

1992-93

This was the last time the Islanders won a playoff series. New York beat the Penguins four games to three in the Patrick Division finals. New York wrecked what should have the Penguins third consecutive Stanley Cup championship. Pittsburgh finished first overall in the NHL with 119 points. The Islanders placed fourth in the Patrick with 87 points.

In the opening round, Pittsburgh beat the New Jersey Devils and the Islanders took out the Washington Capitals to set up the series. New York met the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference finals and lost. The Habs went on to win the Stanley Cup with a win over the Los Angeles Kings.

In his second last year as head coach in the NHL, Al Arbour was again behind the bench of the Islanders. The team was led by Pierre Turgeon and Steve Thomas with Glenn Healy seeing the majority of action in net. The Penguins were coached by the great Scotty Bowman. Mario Lemieux, Kevin Stevens, Rick Tocchet and Ron Francis all had 100 points or more during the regular season.

2012-13

For the Islanders, it was their first visit to the Stanley Cup playoffs since losing to the Buffalo Sabres in the 2006-07 opening round. 2012-13 did not bring around their first series win since beating the Penguins back in 1992-93.

After game four, the series was tied at two games each. However, it could have been a 3-1 Islanders lead if the Pens had not snuck out a game three victory in overtime. Pittsburgh then won the final two games to take the series in six. However, the Islanders fought until the end with game six also going into extra time.

In that final game, the Penguins never led. Evgeny Malkin tied the score at three fairly late in the third to force overtime. It was Malkin and Tyler Kennedy setting up Brooks Orpik in the first overtime period for the win.

Pittsburgh then beat the Ottawa Senators in five in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. It was the Boston Bruins that ended the team's run, sweeping the Penguins in the Conference finals. Over their 15 playoff games, the team was led offensively by Malkin, Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby.