Top 5 Greatest Stanley Cup Playoff Upsets & The Paul Coffey Effect
Also, some "Today in Hockey History", forgotten Penguins Luc Robitaille & Ziggy Palffy, Oilers' decade of darkness-ending team, and more.
Welcome to the THW Hockey History Substack newsletter, with all the best from our extensive archives.
Today in Hockey History: June 3
One of the most memorable penalties in Stanley Cup Final history was called on this date. Also, June 3 was a hectic day for the front office in Motown and provided plenty of postseason drama too. It’s time for our daily trip back through the years to relive all the memories from this day.
Top 5 Greatest Stanley Cup Playoff Upsets
If history has shown hockey fans anything, then it has illustrated that there are no guarantees when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin. Here are the top five Stanley Cup upsets in hockey history.
Forgotten Pittsburgh Penguins: Luc Robitaille and Zigmund Palffy
Recently I wrote about Sergei Zubov and Bryan Smolinski, two players who appeared in only one season, albeit laudable, with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995-96. It got me thinking about others who did the same, and it reminded me of two prominent NHLers who also were one-time Penguins whose time in Pittsburgh is not often talked about nowadays. Those two players were Luc Robitaille and Zigmund Palffy.
Today in Hockey History: June 2
June 2 was another busy day in National Hockey League history. In addition to plenty of overtime Stanley Cup Final action, there were also some big coaching moves, a new franchise name, and one of the best defensemen ever to play the game was born. Let’s begin our daily look back at all the best moments this date has had to offer.
Oilers History: The Paul Coffey Effect
Unless you were fortunate enough to be around to witness Paul Coffey play during his prime, it is unlikely you can comprehend how important he was to the success of the Edmonton Oilers. Anyone can look at his stat line and be impressed by the eye-popping totals. However, those numbers do not tell us just how integral his role was in helping those teams find their identity and become arguably the greatest team in NHL history.
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Today in Hockey History: June 1
June 1 has been a hectic day throughout the course of National Hockey League history. It has seen champions crowned, eras end, legendary arenas built, and coaching changes to go along with the games on the ice. Let’s begin our daily trip back in time to enjoy all the top moments this date has had to offer.
Oilers’ Decade of Darkness-Ending Team: Where Are They Now?
If you are a long-time Edmonton Oilers fan, you have suffered through the “Decade of Darkness” from 2006 to 2016, when the team failed to make the playoffs. At the time, this 10-year stretch tied the NHL record for the longest playoff drought…until the Buffalo Sabres recently took sole possession of that.