Yes, there have been 20 sweeps in Stanley Cup Finals the most recent being in 1998. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Washington Capitals 4-0.
While the occurrence of a sweep remains a rarity in NHL, accomplishing such a feat on the grandest stage of the competition, the finals, is undeniably awe-inspiring and perplexing in its own right.
Montreal Canadiens, the last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup, has the most sweeps in the championship game. The Canadiens executed a remarkable accomplishment, a record six times with the Detroit Red Wings in the second with four sweeps.
The last sweep in Stanley Cup Finals came in the 1997-98 campaign when the Red Wings obliterated Washington Capitals for their second Stanley Cup in three years.
Although sweeps have become less common these days due to increased competition in the league, Vegas Golden Knights could be the first team to achieve a sweep in 35 years as they lead the Florida Panthers 2-0 in the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals.
Last Team To Sweep Stanley Cup Finals
Last Stanley Cup Finals sweep came in 1998 when the Red Wings thrashed the Washington Capitals in the first 4 games of the series.
The Red Wings reached their third NHL Finals in five years after beating the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Finals. At the same time, the Caps got the better of the Buffalo Sabres in the Eastern Conference decider.
Game 1: Detroit 2-1 Washington
In the inaugural game of the Best of Seven series, Detroit quickly got ahead by scoring two goals in just over two minutes. In the first period of the game, Joe Kocur started the scoring in the 15th minute, and Niclas Lidstrom made it 2-0 in the 17th.
Detroit defended their lead against Washington's attacks and won the game 2-1 as Richard Zednik pulled one back for the Caps.
Goal Scorers
- Joe Kocur [DET]
- Nicklas Lidstrom [DET]
- Richard Zednik [WSH]
Game 2: Detroit 5-4 Washington
The Capital showed a fighting spirit in Game Two, leading the game by 4-2 in the third period. But Detroit right wing Martin Lapointe scored in the 8th minute of the 3rd period to make it 4-3.
Then four minutes before the final whistle, Doug Brown scored for Detroit to tie the score 4-4 and push the game to overtime. Kris Draper found the back of the net in the overtime giving a 5-4 victory for the Red Wings and a 2-0 series lead.
Goal Scorers
- Steve Yzerman [DET]
- Peter Bondra [WSH]
- Chris Simon [WSH]
- Adam Oates [WSH]
- Steve Yzerman [DET]
- Joe Juneau [WSH]
- Martin Lapointe [DET]
- Doug Brown [DET]
- Kris Draper [DET]
Game 3: Washington 1-2 Detroit
Detroit wasted no time scoring a goal just 35 seconds into game three, giving them an early advantage. The Capitals managed to even the score in the middle of the third period, but Sergei Fedorov stepped up and scored, securing a commanding three-game lead in the series for the Wings.
Goal Scorers
- Tomas Holmstrom [DET]
- Brian Bellows [WSH]
- Sergei Fedorov [DET]
Game 4: Washington 1-4 Detroit
Detroit totally outclassed Washington in the fourth game, winning by 4-1 and sweeping the series. Doug Brown scored a brace for the Red Wings, with Lapointe and Murphy sharing one each. Brian Bellows scored a consolation goal for the Capitals in the 2nd period.
Goal Scorers
- Doug Brown [DET]
- Martin Lapointe [DET]
- Brian Bellows [WSH]
- Larry Murphy [DET]
- Doug Brown [DET]
Teams with NHL Stanley Cup Finals Sweep
The last ten clean wins in Stanley Cup Finals are:
| Year | Champion Team | Losing Team |
| 1998 | Detroit Red Wings | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 1997 | Detroit Red Wings | Boston Bruins |
| 1996 | Colorado Avalanche | Florida Panthers |
| 1995 | New Jersey Devils | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1992 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 1988 | Edmonton Oilers | Boston Bruins |
| 1983 | New York Islanders | Edmonton Oilers |
| 1982 | New York Islanders | Vancouver Canucks |
| 1977 | Montreal Canadiens | Boston Bruins |
| 1976 | Montreal Canadiens | Philadelphia Flyers |
Montreal Canadiens have the most sweeps of NHL championship games, an astonishing six times. Three years after the first-ever sweep in the Stanley Cup Finals by Boston Bruins in 1941, Montreal became the third team to register that feat.
In the 1944 game versus the Chicago Black Hawks, they dominated the series from the start giving no chance of comeback to the opponent and winning the panel.
Similarly, the Canadiens beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1960 and the St. Louis Blues in 1968 and 1969 without losing a single game. They dominated their opponents during those years.
Another team with a clean sweep dominance in NHL Finals is the Red Wings, who have been involved in the sweep matches eight times, four wins, and four times on the losing end.
They have had great victories and tough defeats in the Stanley Cup Finals. Detroit won the championship four times without losing a single game in 1943, 1952, 1997, and 1998. However, they also hold the record for being the team that lost the finals four times by a sweep.
Meanwhile, St. Louis Blues is the only team to lose the Finals by a sweep three times in a row. They lost the 1968 Stanley Cup to Montreal Canadiens with a humiliating 4-0 defeat, followed by more misery in the coming years, losing to the Canadiens again in 1969 and Boston Bruins in 1970.
On the other hand, in 1988, the Edmonton Oilers swept the Boston Bruins for their fourth Stanley Cup in five years. Other teams to record 4-0 series victories in the NHL main events are Colorado Avalanche, New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Islanders.
Golden Knights In Verge Of A History in 2023
Golden Knights are poised and favorites to get a sweep in Stanley Cup finals 2023 as they take a 2-0 series lead over the Florida Panthers.
- June 3rd: Vegas 5-2 Florida
- June 5th: Vegas 7-2 Florida
- Game 3: June 8th
- Game 4: June 10th
- Game 5: June 13th
- Game 6: June 16th
- Game 7: June 19th
Although the Panthers still retain ample opportunities to mount a resurgence, the sheer dominance exhibited by Vegas and the convincing scoreline leaves no doubt that it will demand a monumental undertaking for Florida to register a victory against the Knights.
In Game 1 on June 3rd, Florida opened the scoring in minute 10 of the 1st Round through Eric Staal. Two minutes before the first break, Jonathan Marchessault scored for Vegas to make it all square at T-Mobile Arena.
After the 2nd period ended in a 2-2 draw, Vegas came roaring in the third half, netting three times to win the game with a score of 5-2 and taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Matthew Tkachuk of Florida registered the most fouls three times in the game.
In the second game, Vegas was in total control of the game. They scored four goals in the first two periods, two in each, to take a 4-0 lead. While the Panthers pulled two back, Vegas hit three more to win the game by 7-2.
The Golden Knights have a rare chance to achieve something extraordinary, just like the Red Wings did in 1998, the last Stanley Cup sweep. However, Games three and four will take place at FLA Live Arena, so Florida has a home advantage, and they will try their best not to suffer in front of their fans.
Games will be broadcasted live from 8:00 PM onwards on several networks such as TNT, TBS, CBS, TruTV, and Sportsnet.
