1982 Stanley Cup

Lore & Background

The Islanders became the first (and still only) U.S.-based team to three-peat as Stanley Cup champions, and the third franchise overall to three-peat as Stanley Cup champions, joining the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. The 1981–82 Canucks are one of two Stanley Cup finalist teams without any Hall of Fame players on their roster, the other being the 1996 Florida Panthers. Additionally, this marks the first time since 1955, and in 17 Cup Final attempts, that a U.S.-based team defeated a Canada-based team in the championship round, having lost 16 straight Cup Final series against Canadian teams. This 1982 Final took place under a geographically revised NHL divisional alignment and playoff structure, which de facto revived the 'East vs. West' format for the Final that had been abandoned when the Western Hockey League folded in 1926. It was also the first time a team from Western Canada contested the Final since the WHL stopped challenging for the Stanley Cup (the Victoria Cougars, who had also been the last team from British Columbia to win the Cup in 1925, played the 1926 Final too). This would also be the first of nine consecutive Finals contested by a team from Western Canada, but it was the only one of them to feature the Vancouver Canucks; the other eight were contested by a team from Alberta (Edmonton Oilers appeared in six, Calgary Flames in two). Starting this season home-ice advantage would alternate between conferences as opposed to going to the team with the better record. The latter change would also be of no effect for these Finals since for even years the Wales champion received that advantage and in 1982 their representative, the Islanders, had the better record.

In Their Own Story

The lights hummed over the Chicago ice as the clock ticked down in Game Seven. The crowd roared, a wall of sound pressing against the players' ears. On the bench, Al Arbour watched calmly while Billy Smith tightened his gloves. In the final minutes, with the score tied and hope hanging by a thread, Mike Bossy skated into the slot. He took the pass, deked, and shot. The net bulged. The roar of the Islanders' bench drowned out the home crowd as the third Cup was secured.

Reader's Guide

The series was a best-of-seven format. The Islanders swept the Canucks in four games. Game one: Islanders won 6–5 in overtime on a hat-trick goal by Mike Bossy with two seconds left in the first overtime. Game two: Islanders won 6–4. Game three: Islanders won 3–0, with Billy Smith recording a shutout. Game four: Islanders won 3–1 on May 16 to win their third straight Cup and first on the road. Mike Bossy scored seven goals in the four games, tying Jean Béliveau's record from 1956, and won the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Did You Know?

• The 41-point difference between the Islanders (118 points) and Canucks (77 points) is the largest in Stanley Cup Final history.
• The Canucks reached their first Stanley Cup Final despite having a losing record in the regular season.
• The series aired on CBC in Canada and on the USA Network in the United States, but USA's national coverage was blacked out in the New York area due to local rights.
• During the first period of game four, WOR's broadcast experienced technical difficulties causing an estimated 4 minutes and 30 seconds delay.