Game 7s in the Stanley Cup finals have not been that common. This is will be the 16th time the Stanley Cup final will go to seven games in the 73 years since the NHL adopted the best of seven format in 1939. Six of those have been in the last 11 years. From 1966 to 2000 the series went to 7 games only three times, once was in 1994 Canucks v Rangers.
Only two times out of the past 15 did the visiting team win game 7 - the 2009 Penguins and the 1971 Canadiens.
In that same time there have been 20 sweeps. 13 of them were between 1966 and 2000 including 1982 when the Canucks were swept by the Islanders. We have had no sweep since 1998, this is by far the longest stretch without a sweep.
The Conn Smythe trophy has been won by a player on the team that did not win the Stanley Cup 5 times in 45 times it has been awarded. Twice, 2003 and 1987, it was a series that went to seven games. In 1976 Reggie Leach of Flyers won even though the Canadiens swept them in the final. Of the 5 that won for the losing team, four of them were goalies. What I am leading up to, no matter the winner tomorrow, I am fairly certain that Tim Thomas will win the Conn Smythe.
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