This Is Why Detroit-Pittsburgh Was An Anomaly

[luongotv]

Coach V is a great coach, don't beak him

[Tm085]

in the NHL MLB and NBA only 4 teams have come back from 0-3 in 297 tries.

everyone just needs to come to grips with reality and hope we get our sh!t together next year, cause we failed hard this time

[VancityBeast]

At the very least, when they are eliminated, I will take some solace in the fact that they'll get a full offseason, and try to make next year count. I don't think too many major line-up changes need to be made - we simply need energy.

[TorontoSharksFan]

To all those touting alleged conspiracies in terms of big markets and the U.S., let's break it down.

As of the moment the last Stanley Cup was contested, there were 6 Canadian teams. In the two biggest states of the U.S., California and New York State, there are a combined total of 6 teams. Let's look at the break downs of Canadian teams and American teams from the 2 biggest states in the U.S. in the last 20 Stanley Cup finals,, and see if numbers bare-out the conspiracy theories.

Canadian teams in Bold, New York/California teams in Italics.

1993:

Montreal def. LA Kings

1994:

New York def. Vancouver

1995:

New Jersey def. Detroit

1996:

Colorado def. Florida

1997:

Detroit def. Philadelphia

1998:

Detroit def. Washington

1999:

Dallas def. Buffalo

2000:

New Jersey def. Dallas

2001:

Colorado def. New Jersey

2002:

Detroit def. Carolina

2003:

New Jersey def. Anaheim

2004:

Tampa Bay def. Calgary

2006:

Carolina def. Edmonton

2007:

Anaheim def. Ottawa

2008

Detroit def. Pittsburgh

2009

Pittsburgh def. Detroit

2010:

Chicago def. Philadelphia

2011:

Boston def. Vancouver

By my count, during the last 20 years, Canadian teams have appeared in the final: 6 times (about as often as a demographic segment representing 1/5 of the league should get, right?)

While teams from the states of New York and California (who have equal numbers of teams as Canada did prior to this year) were in the cup final:

5 times. Less often than the same sample size. If that's a conspiracy in favour of big market teams, I don't know what to tell ya, other than maybe to re-check your definition of conspiracy.

Now, if you want to just bring it down to the post-lockout era, Canadian teams have made the final 3 times to California-NY's combined 1 time. So, again, if there's a conspiracy brewing, they might want to change their strategy, so it can be... you know... a little more effective?

[D-Money]

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Thanks, TSF...saved me from having to post.

Anybody who thinks Pittsburgh is a "big market team" is sorely mistaken.

[D-Money]

We've leveled off this year with our top players under preforming, who knows why

[D-Money]

Now that the series is done, I still stand by my OP - the team is good, and with a few small changes (and maybe an infusion of some youth), will be a lot better poised to go deep next year.

[NHL00fan]

Now that the series is done, I still stand by my OP - the team is good, and with a few small changes (and maybe an infusion of some youth), will be a lot better poised to go deep next year.

[D-Money]

Bruins out in 1st round, despite playing a weakened Capitals team. More proof that a long run one year hampers you the next.

Sharks out quickly. Tampa didn't even make it. Perhaps just making it to the Conference Finals does enough damage...

[Clonedanielsedin]

Another excuse? Those Pittsburgh and Detroit teams were elite, Canucks have yet to come close to that style of play.

[D-Money]

Another excuse? Those Pittsburgh and Detroit teams were elite, Canucks have yet to come close to that style of play.

[BoKnows53]

Detroit bought the cup with Hull, robataille, shanaban, fedorov, larionov, yzerman, lidstrom, chelios, hasek. Then they had datsyuk and zetterberg as well. They bought the cup.