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Every NHL Stanley Cup Final Matchup, Results, and Playoff MVP Since 1918

Mark J&period; Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports via Imagn Images

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Every NHL Stanley Cup Final Matchup, Results, and Playoff MVP Since 1918

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Licata | Last updated May 14, 2026 9:09 AM ET

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There's nothing quite like playoff hockey and the lore of the Stanley Cup, the oldest existing North American pro sports championship trophy.

It was first awarded in 1893, though the NHL didn't come into the picture until 1918. In fact, today's best-of-seven series format between the Eastern and Western Conference champs has only been around since 1982.

A lot of history has been made throughout the years, so Athlon Sports has put together a snapshot of the key facts for hockey fans to know, including every Stanley Cup Final matchup, result, and Conn Smythe Award winner (a.k.a the playoffs MVP).

Stanley Cup Final Fast Facts

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby is presented with the Conn Smythe Trophy after defeating the Nashville Predators in the 2017 Stanley Cup Final.Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports via Imagn Images

Teams With Most Stanley Cup Appearances: Montreal Canadiens (33), Detroit Red Wings (24)
Most Consecutive Stanley Cup Appearances: Canadiens (10 from 1950-1960)
Teams With Most Stanley Cup Championships: Canadiens (23), Toronto Maple Leafs (13)
Players With Most Stanley Cup Championships: Henri Richard (11), Jean Beliveau and Yvan Cournoyer (10)
Most Stanley Cup Goals in History: Maurice Richard (34)
Most Stanley Cup Points in History: Jean Beliveau (62)
Most Points in One Stanley Cup Final: Wayne Gretzky (47 in 1985)
Most Conn Smythe Trophies: Patrick Roy (3), five players (2)

Every Stanley Cup Matchup and Conn Smythe Trophy Winner in NHL History

Year	Result	Playoff MVP
2025	Panthers def. Oilers	Sam Bennett
2024	Panthers def. Oilers	Connor McDavid
2023	Golden Knights def. Panthers	Jonathan Marchessault
2022	Avalanche def. Lightning	Cale Makar
2021	Lightning def. Canadiens	Andrei Vasilevskiy
2020	Lightning def. Stars	Victor Hedman
2019	Blues def. Bruins	Ryan O'Reilly
2018	Capitals def. Golden Knights	Alex Ovechkin
2017	Penguins def. Predators	Sidney Crosby
2016	Penguins def. Sharks	Sidney Crosby
2015	Blackhawks def. Lightning	Duncan Keith
2014	Kings def. Rangers	Justin Williams
2013	Blackhawks def. Bruins	Patrick Kane
2012	Kings def. Devils	Jonathan Quick
2011	Bruins def. Canucks	Tim Thomas
2010	Blackhawks def. Flyers	Jonathan Toews
2009	Penguins def. Red Wings	Evgeni Malkin
2008	Red Wings def. Penguins	Henrik Zetterberg
2007	Ducks def. Senators	Scott Niedermayer
2006	Hurricanes def. Oilers	Cam Ward
2005	Season canceled	-
2004	Lightning def. Flames	Brad Richards
2003	Devils def. Mighty Ducks	Jean-Sebastien Giguere
2002	Red Wings def. Hurricanes	Niklas Lindstrom
2001	Avalanche def. Devils	Patrick Roy
2000	Devils def. Stars	Scott Stevens
1999	Stars def. Sabres	Joe Nieuwendyk
1998	Red Wings def. Capitals	Steve Yzerman
1997	Red Wings def. Flyers	Mike Vernon
1996	Avalanche def. Panthers	Joe Sakic
1995	Devils def. Red Wings	Claude Lemieux
1994	Rangers def. Canucks	Brian Leetch
1993	Canadiens def. Kings	Patrick Roy
1992	Penguins def. Blackhawks	Mario Lemieux
1991	Penguins def. North Stars	Mario Lemieux
1990	Oilers def. Bruins	Bill Ranford
1989	Flames def. Canadiens	Al MacInnis
1988	Oilers def. Bruins	Wayne Gretzky
1987	Oilers def. Flyers	Ron Hextall
1986	Canadiens def. Flames	Patrick Roy
1985	Oilers def. Flyers	Wayne Gretzky
1984	Oilers def. Islanders	Mark Messier
1983	Islanders def. Oilers	Billy Smith
1982	Islanders def. Canucks	Mike Bossy
1981	Islanders def. North Stars	Butch Goring
1980	Islanders def. Flyers	Bryan Trottier
1979	Canadiens def. Rangers	Bob Gainey
1978	Canadiens def. Bruins	Larry Robinson
1977	Canadiens def. Bruins	Guy Lafleur
1976	Canadiens def. Flyers	Reggie Leach
1975	Flyers def. Sabres	Bernie Parent
1974	Flyers def. Bruins	Bernie Parent
1973	Canadiens def. Black Hawks	Yvan Cournoyer
1972	Bruins def. Rangers	Bobby Orr
1971	Canadiens def. Black Hawks	Ken Dryden
1970	Bruins def. Blues	Bobby Orr
1969	Canadiens def. Blues	Serge Savard
1968	Canadiens def. Blues	Glenn Hall
1967	Maple Leafs def. Canadiens	Dave Keon
1966	Canadiens def. Red Wings	Roger Crozier
1965	Canadiens def. Black Hawks	Jean Béliveau
1964	Maple Leafs def. Red Wings	-
1963	Maple Leafs def. Red Wings	-
1962	Maple Leafs def. Black Hawks	-
1961	Black Hawks def. Red Wings	-
1960	Canadiens def. Maple Leafs	-
1959	Canadiens def. Maple Leafs	-
1958	Canadiens def. Bruins	-
1957	Canadiens def. Bruins	-
1956	Canadiens def. Red Wings	-
1955	Red Wings def. Canadiens	-
1954	Red Wings def. Canadiens	-
1953	Canadiens def. Bruins	-
1952	Red Wings def. Canadiens	-
1951	Maple Leafs def. Canadiens	-
1950	Red Wings def. Rangers	-
1949	Maple Leafs def. Red Wings	-
1948	Maple Leafs def. Red Wings	-
1947	Maple Leafs def. Canadiens	-
1946	Canadiens def. Bruins	-
1945	Maple Leafs def. Red Wings	-
1944	Canadiens def. Black Hawks	-
1943	Red Wings def. Bruins	-
1942	Maple Leafs def. Red Wings	-
1941	Bruins def. Red Wings	-
1940	Rangers def. Maple Leafs	-
1939	Bruins def. Maple Leafs	-
1938	Black Hawks def. Maple Leafs	-
1937	Red Wings def. Rangers	-
1936	Red Wings def. Maple Leafs	-
1935	Maroons def. Maple Leafs	-
1934	Black Hawks def. Red Wings	-
1933	Rangers def. Maple Leafs	-
1932	Maple Leafs def. Rangers	-
1931	Canadiens def. Black Hawks	-
1930	Canadiens def. Bruins	-
1929	Bruins def. Rangers	-
1928	Rangers def. Maroons	-
1927	Senators def. Bruins	-
1926	Maroons def. Senators	-
1925	Canadiens def. Tigers	-
1924	Canadiens def. Senators	-
1923	Senators def. Canadiens	-
1922	St. Patricks def. Senators	-
1921	Senators def. St. Patricks	-
1920	No NHL playoffs	-
1919	Canadiens def. Senators	-
1918	Arenas def. Canadiens	-