Stanley Cup Final

The Stanley Cup Final is an annual event held by the National Hockey League (NHL) to determine the Stanley Cup Champion. Moreover, the Stanley Cup Finals is the last round of the playoff series after which the championship cup is awarded to the victorious team. Interestingly, it is the oldest existing trophy in North American professional sports and is recognized as one of the “most important championships available to the sport” according to the International Ice Hockey Federation. Notably, it is named after Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada, who donated it as an award to Canada's top amateur ice hockey club in the mid 1890s. However, it has went through significant changes over the course of its existence and has been known by many different names, including The Holy Grail and Lord Stanley's Mug while overseeing many different eras as the Challenge Cup era and the organized interleague competition era before NHL took over its rights in 1926.

Since 1982, the structure of the Stanley Cup Finals has been a best-of-seven series, featuring the champions of the NHL's Eastern and Western Conferences. In this format, the team that wins four out of seven games in the series is awarded the Stanley Cup.

Stanley Cup History

The Stanley Cup was first awarded to the Montreal Hockey Club in 1893 after they won the 1893 Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) season. Initially, the Stanley Cup champions had to defend their title not only by winning their league championship but also by accepting challenges from other teams. These challenge games would take place at any time during the league season or even before it began. However, in 1912, the new rules were made to allow challenges only after the season ended.

The NHL officially adopted the Stanley Cup as its championship trophy in 1926 after the Western Hockey League (WHL) folded and since 1927 NHL teams have exclusively competed for the Cup, making it the league's prestigious prize. Notably, the Montreal Canadiens were the first NHL team to hold the Stanley Cup in 1927 after it became the offical championship trophy of the league. It later became the de jure NHL championship prize in 1947.

Stanley Cup Finals Records

The Montreal Canadiens have won the most Stanley Cup Championships till date, securing 23 Cups over their storied existence. They are followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings with 13 and 11 Championships each. The Canadiens also hold the record for most consecutive wins, claiming the cup five times in a row from 1956 to 1960. In terms of consecutive appearances, the Canadiens lead the table with ten consecutive appearances from 1951 to 1960.

On an individual level, players like Henri Richard, Jean Beliveau, Maurice Richard and Red Kelly hold the record of having appeared in the most Stanley Cup finals till date, with all of them closing in on 12 appearances each throughout their careers. These four individuals also hold the record of having played the most games in the finals till date, with Henri Ricahrd and Rod Kelly appearing in 65 games each during their notable careers. Moving ahead, the legendary Bernie Morris holds the record for most goals in a single series with 14. Wayne Gretzky, another legend of the sport holds the record of adding 13 points in one series, the most in history.

When will the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals Start?

The 2024 Stanley Cup Finals 2024 will start on June 8 at 8 p.m. at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise Florida. The final could last up to 16 days, ending on or before Monday, June 24. However, if any one of the Florida Panthers or the Edmonton Oilers wins four games first, the series could likely get over prior to June 24th.

What channel will the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals Be On?

For viewers in the United States, networks like ESPN and TNT Sports will take care of live coverage. On the other hand, ESPN+ and ABC Sports will take care of streaming the games. Additionally, Sports USA Radio Network will distribute Stanley Cup Final series across the United States.

For viewers in Canada, the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals will be shown on both CBC and Sportsnet. Fans in Canada can stream the series through ESPN+.

Where can I watch Road to 2024 Stanley Cup Finals?

One can watch Road to Stanley Cup Finals on various platforms, including television networks like ESPN, ABC, Sportsnet, and CBC, which will broadcast the games, pre-game analysis, highlights, and behind-the-scenes coverage. Additionally, streaming services like ESPN+ in the United States and Sportsnet in Canada may offer comprehensive coverage of the games, including exclusive content and analysis.

2024 Stanley Cup Finals TV Schedule

The extremely awaited 2024 Stanley Cup Finals will kickoff on June 8 at 8:00 p.m. at the Amerant Bank Arena. The series will likely end by June 24 if the series goes to the final game. Moreover, the fans can enjoy the games on ABC, ESPN+, CBC, and SN networks. The following table gives a glimpse into the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals schedule alongside other important details like Arena, broadcasters and dates: