Since the National Hockey League (NHL) was formed in 1917 expansion teams have fostered the organization's growth. Furthermore, teams moving from city to city have now created 30 teams in the NHL. With such a long and eventful history it would be hard to pick just one hockey team that was better than the rest, each has their own strengths and weaknesses. But, in the spirit of this article here are three hockey teams that should help to define the word "unstoppable."
1988-89 Calgary Flames
In the '88-'89 season the Flames saw their one and only Stanley Cup win. They finished the regular season 54-17-9 with 117 points and the President's Trophy, the trophy awarded to the team with the best record at the end of the regular season.
Joe Mullen finished the season with 51 goals and 59 assists for a total of 110 points. Flames defensman Al MacInnis won the Conn Smyth trophy, as the playoff's most valuable player (MVP). The Flames beat the Canadians in the finals four games to two, a Montreal team that finished the regular season with 115 points and were highly recognized as the better team.
1998-99 Dallas Stars
A decade after the Flames won the cup the Stars burst onto the scene and won their first cup in franchise history. The Stars finished the regular season 51-19-12 with a total of 114 points, 24 points ahead of the number two team in the Pacific Division the Phoenix Coyotes.
The playoffs saw Dallas sweep the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference quarterfinals in defensive battles: 2-1, 3-2, 3-2, and 3-2. In one of the most exciting and well-fought Western Conference semifinals Dallas beat the St. Louis Blues in six games, four of which went to overtime, with the only two St. Louis wins coming in two of those overtime games. The Stars beat the Colorado Avalanche in seven games in the Western Conference finals and beat the Buffalo Sabres in six for the cup.
Arguably the best goaltender in the NHL, Ed Belfour secured the net for the Stars with a 1.99 goals against average in the regular season and an amazing 1.67 goals against average in the playoffs. Dallas had five players with over 50 points in the regular season in what was arguably the best year for goalies in the NHL. Mike Modano, Brett Hull, Joe Nieuwendyk, Jere Lehtinen and Sergei Zubov all finished with over 50 points.
2001-02 Detroit Red Wings
No list of great NHL teams would be complete without mention of the Detroit Red Wings in one facet or another. The 2001-2002 regular season in the NHL saw only three teams finished the season with 100 points or more. The Toronto Maple Leafs with 100, the Boston Bruins with 101, and the Detroit Red Wings with 116 and the Presidents' Trophy. The Red Wings finished the season with the cup, beating the Hurricanes in five games.
Nicklas Lindstrom won the James Norris Memorial Trophy for the best defensemen, Chris Chelios won the NHL Plus/Minus Trophy, and both Chelios and Lindstrom were voted 1st team all NHL.
The Red Wings beat the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference quarterfinals four games to two, beat the St. Louis Blues in the semifinals four games to one, beat the hated Colorado Avalanche in seven games, four to three, and dominated the Hurricanes in the finals four games to one.
 |
