Why An Original Six Stanley Cup Final Is More Than Possible

Chicago is almost guaranteed to make it to the Stanley Cup final.  I say almost because we’ve seen a team come back from a 3-0 series deficit already during the playoffs.

If the Sharks don’t figure out a way to turn up their game going into Sunday and fight with tooth and nail, they are out.  That would place one half of the equation into place as the Blackhawks take their spot in the ultimate hockey round. 

The other half of the equation is less secure.  The Canadiens got beat up on in the first two games of their series.  But on game three they woke back up and took the series to a 2-1 score, with the Flyers still leading. 

While the Flyers are admittedly holding all the cards at this point in the Eastern Conference finals, there is still hope that the Habs can pull out a win tonight and even the series.  Even though the Flyers have brought attention to the NHL with their crazy comeback win (both in the last game of their semi-finals and in the series), the Habs have their own story.  That includes being part of the Original Six.

An Original Six final has not happened for over thirty years.  The irony of it is that the Canadiens were also in that series (a series that they won against the Rangers).  Throughout the years, we have had Original Six teams win the Cup, but they have had to fight the “newer teams” to win. 

If the Canadiens and Blackhawks win their conference finals, an Original Six team is guaranteed to take the Cup home.

NHL historians would love to see an original six final to take them back to the old days of the NHL.  I’m betting the NHL would like to see it as well since it would leave the Canadiens’ fairy tale story alive.  It would also give them a chance to really publicize the history of the NHL, something that may bring even more fans to the rapidly growing sport.