NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: Back-to-Back Winners…and Losers

Video: Montreal Canadiens, owners of the greatest dynasty in NHL history (’56-’60) win the Stanley Cup in 1956.

With the 2011 NHL Playoffs getting into the swing, take a quick look at today’s Sports List of the Day:  Consecutive Stanley Cup winners…and losers.

The “NHL era” began in 1915.  Between 1915 and 1926 multiple leagues vied for the Cup.  I’ve included NHL winners from that period in the list.

Beginning in 1927, the NHL became the only league to truly compete for the Stanley Cup.

The NHL has achieved an unprecedented level of parity. The current streak of 11 seasons without back-to-back Cup champions is the longest in the 96-year history of the NHL, a league rich in dynasties.

On the other side, there have not been back-to-back losers since 1978, a more than three decade stretch.

Back-to-Back Stanley Cup Winners

1. Ottawa Senators 1920, 1921 (original team, defunct after 1934 season)

2. Montreal Canadiens 1930, 1931

3. Detroit Red Wings 1936, 1937

4. Toronto Maple Leafs 1947, 1948, 1949

5. Detroit Red Wings 1954, 1955

6. Montreal Canadiens 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960

7. Toronto Maple Leafs 1962, 1963, 1964

8. Montreal Canadiens 1965, 1966

9. Montreal Canadiens 1968, 1969

10. Philadelphia Flyers 1974, 1975

11. Montreal Canadiens 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979

12. New York Islanders 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983

13. Edmonton Oilers 1984, 1985

14. Edmonton Oilers 1987, 1988

15. Pittsburgh Penguins 1991, 1992

16. Detroit Red Wings 1997, 1998

Back-to-Back Stanley Cup Losers

1. Toronto Maple Leafs 1935, 1936

2. Toronto Maple Leafs 1938, 1939, 1940

3. Detroit Red Wings 1941, 1942

4. Detroit Red Wings 1948, 1949

5. Montreal Canadiens 1951, 1952

6. Montreal Canadiens 1954, 1955

7. Boston Bruins 1957, 1958

8. Toronto Maple Leafs 1959, 1960

9. Detroit Red Wings 1963, 1964

10. St. Louis Blues 1968, 1969, 1970

11. Boston Bruins 1977, 1978