Upsets are the reason we watch playoff hockey with our hearts in our throats. An underdog team beating a heavy favorite can change a franchise, create legends, and rewrite sports history. This article walks through some of the biggest and most famous Stanley Cup–era playoff upsets, old-school shocks, wild comebacks, and modern Cinderella runs.
Early Shocks and Legendary Comebacks
Hockey’s long history includes games and series that still make fans stare in disbelief. Some of the earliest big shocks came when quiet teams beat the giants of their day.
One striking example is the Toronto Maple Leafs’ run in 1945. In the regular season, the Montreal Canadiens were the clear top team, but Toronto beat Montreal in the playoffs and then won the Stanley Cup that year. That Cup run is remembered because the Leafs knocked off a much stronger regular-season team and then finished the job all the way to the title.
Another classic single-game miracle is the “Miracle on Manchester.” On April 10, 1982, at The Forum in Inglewood, the Los Angeles Kings trailed the Edmonton Oilers 5–0 before scoring five in the third period, tying the game and winning in overtime on Daryl Evans’ goal. That game is still one of the most famous comebacks in NHL playoff history and is a neat example of how one game can become a lasting upset story.
Those early shocks show that playoff hockey has always been volatile. Even teams that looked unbeatable during the regular season could lose a short series or a single big game when goaltending, momentum, or luck turned against them.
Cinderella Runs and Low-seed Heroes
The playoff system rewards hot teams, not always the best regular-season records. Some of the biggest upsets are full runs by low seeds that toppled top teams on the way to the Cup, or even won it.
2012 — The Los Angeles Kings (8th seed)
The 2012 Kings barely made the playoffs, but they became the first No. 8 seed in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup. Los Angeles knocked off the top three seeds in the Western Conference (including the Presidents’ Trophy–winning Vancouver Canucks) and finished the playoffs with a 16–4 record.
The Kings’ run is often called a true Cinderella story because they started the postseason as outsiders and then dominated the best teams. That 2012 title changed how people view momentum and matchups in the NHL.
2010 — Montreal Canadiens Beat the Washington Capitals (1st round)
In the 2010 first round, the Montreal Canadiens were the No. 8 seed, and the Washington Capitals had won the Presidents’ Trophy (best regular-season record). Montreal’s goalie Jaroslav Halak played outstanding hockey; he had huge save totals in the crucial games, and the Habs shocked Washington in a seven-game series. That upset is famous because the gap in regular-season points was big, and the Capitals were heavy favorites.
2006 — Edmonton Oilers Knock Off the Detroit Red Wings (first round)
In 2006, the Detroit Red Wings had one of the best regular seasons in the league, but the 8th-seeded Edmonton Oilers beat Detroit in the first round. Edmonton’s win was a big upset because Detroit was the top seed and widely expected to roll through the early rounds. The Oilers used strong goaltending and timely scoring to advance, showing how a short series can snap a regular-season power’s momentum.
2017 — Nashville Predators Reach the Final From the Bottom
The Nashville Predators reached the 2017 Stanley Cup Final as an 8th seed in the West (16th overall). They swept the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks in round one and then beat two other higher-seeded teams to reach the Final. Nashville’s run felt like an upset because they were not a regular-season powerhouse but used defense and goaltending to surprise the league.
2018 — Vegas Golden Knights: An Expansion Cinderella
The Vegas Golden Knights were an expansion team playing their first year in 2017–18. Nobody expected much. Instead, Vegas won their division, then beat several strong teams to make the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season. The run was historic because modern expansion teams almost never reach the Final so fast. The Golden Knights’ story is often on lists of the most improbable playoff runs in North American sports.
These runs show one big idea: seed number or regular-season rank matters less in playoffs than grit, hot goaltending, and the right matchups.
Finals Shocks and Giant Slaughters
Some of the biggest upsets happen in the Stanley Cup Final itself. When a heavy favorite loses in the last series of the season, it becomes a defining upset for that team and the winner.
1995 — New Jersey Devils Sweep the Detroit Red Wings in the Final
In 1995, the Devils were not the top seed, while Detroit had been the Presidents’ Trophy winner and the favorite to take the Cup. New Jersey stunned Detroit with a four-game sweep in the Final, driven by defense-first play and Martin Brodeur’s goaltending. The sweep was a shock because Detroit had been viewed as the dominant team that season.
2011 — Boston Bruins Over Vancouver Canucks (Final)
In 2011, the Vancouver Canucks had a huge regular season and high hopes. The Boston Bruins, however, beat Vancouver in seven games to win the Cup. Boston goalie Tim Thomas played extremely well in the Final, and the series win is remembered as a case where a well-timed hot goalie and team toughness knocked off a favored opponent. The Bruins’ Game 7 shutout on Vancouver ice is one of the classic Finals moments.
2023 — Florida Panthers Upset the Record-Setting Boston Bruins (First Round)
This is a recent, huge upset: the Bruins set the NHL record for wins in a regular season (65 wins, 135 points) in 2022–23, but they lost in the first round to the Florida Panthers in seven games. The point gap between the teams in the standings was enormous, which makes this series one of the largest regular-season-to-playoff upsets by point differential. The Panthers forced Game 7 and won in overtime, leaving many hockey fans in shock.
Why Finals or Big-Series Upsets Sting More
A Finals upset matters because the favorite’s entire season ends in a surprise loss. Fans, media, and front offices study those series for years, and the losing team often faces big changes. When a favored club loses late, it can be a franchise-shifting result, just ask teams that blew a Cup chance after a record season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What counts as an “upset” in the Stanley Cup playoffs?
A: An upset is when a lower-ranked team beats a higher-ranked team in a playoff series or a single playoff game where the odds or records strongly favored the other team. That can mean a low (8th) seed beating a 1st seed, a team with far fewer regular-season points beating a top team, or a team trailing 0-3 in a series coming back to win. Examples include the 2012 Kings (8th seed to Cup), the 2010 Canadiens beating the Presidents’ Trophy Capitals, and the 2010 Flyers coming back from 0-3 to beat the Bruins in a series.
Q: Which upset was the biggest by regular-season point gap?
A: One of the largest recent gaps was the Florida Panthers’ 2023 win over the Boston Bruins. Boston had 135 points in the regular season and set a wins record, yet they lost in the first round to Florida. That huge point gap makes the Panthers’ win rank high among the biggest upsets.
Q: Has an 8th seed ever won the Stanley Cup before 2012?
A: No. The Los Angeles Kings’ 2012 title was the first time an NHL No. 8 seed won the Stanley Cup under the modern playoff format. Their run is a key example used to show that low seeds can still win it all.
Q: Are single-game comebacks as important as series upsets?
A: Yes. One legendary game can change a series and a team’s history. The Miracle on Manchester (1982 Kings erased a 5-0 deficit to win in OT) is a single-game moment that still ranks with the best upsets because it swung that series and became a lasting part of NHL lore. Series upsets show consistency and depth, while game upsets show sudden momentum and drama.
Q: What makes playoff hockey more likely to have upsets than regular season?
A: Playoff hockey is a short series format where hot goaltending, matchups, injuries, and momentum matter a lot. A single goalie on a hot streak can carry a team. Also, the intensity rises and teams change style for playoff matchups. Those factors let smaller teams beat bigger ones in a short span. The Kings in 2012 and the Golden Knights in 2018 are examples of teams that hit playoff form and used it to topple better regular-season clubs.
Conclusion
- Upsets are part of what makes Stanley Cup hockey special.
- Old comebacks like the Miracle on Manchester remain legendary.
- Full underdog runs like the 2012 Kings and 2018 Golden Knights show how low seeds can shock the league.
- Shocking knockouts like Montreal over Washington in 2010 and Florida over Boston in 2023 prove even top teams can fall early.
- The playoffs reward grit, heart, and momentum just as much as regular-season records.
- In hockey, you should always expect the unexpected; more upsets will surely be added to history.
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