Pennant Race

We’re down to the final four and it’s an interesting group. Detroit, Carolina and Pittsburgh have all won the pennant recently, while it’s been a long time between drinks for the Hawks. I think we have to start believing that Cam Ward is one of the best goalies of his generation, that Detroit does indeed have a better plan and that Pittsburgh did a nice job flushing several seasons to get top draft picks. Chicago is just a nice story. I won’t resent them until they win something.

Here’s the pennant winners since 1967, with this year’s final four in bold:

1. Montreal (11): ’68, ’69, ’71, ’73, ’76-’79, ’86, ’89, ’93
2. Boston (7): ’70, ’72, ’74, ’77, ’78, ’88, ’90
3. Edmonton (7): ’83, ’84, ’85, ’87, ’88, ’90, ’06
4. Philadephia (7): ’74, ’75, ’76, ’80, ’85, ’87, ’97
5. Detroit (5): ’95, ’97, ’98, ’02, ’08
6. New York Islanders (5): ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84
7. Dallas (4): ’81, ’91, ’99, ’00
8. New Jersey (4): ’95, ’00, ’01, ’03
9. Calgary (3): ’86, ’89, ’04
10. Chicago (3): ’71, ’73, ’92
11. New York Rangers (3): ’72, ’79, ’94
12. Pittsburgh (3): ’91, ’92, ’08
13. St. Louis (3): ’68, ’69, ’70
14. Anaheim (2): ’03, ’07
15. Buffalo (2): ’75, ’99
16. Carolina (2): ’02, ’06
17. Colorado (2): ’96, ’01
18. Vancouver (2): ’82, ’94
19. Florida (1): ’96
20. Los Angeles (1): ’93
21. Ottawa (1): ’07
22. Tampa Bay (1): ’04
23. Washington (1): ’98
24. Atlanta
25. Columbus
26. Minnesota
27. Nashville
28. Phoenix
29. San Jose
30. Toronto