A quarter-century ago, the Boston Bruins were one of the last losing Stanley Cup finalists to return to that round within two seasons. After suffering a sweep via Edmonton in the 1988 championship, they mustered a 1990 rematch, though they brooked the same basic fate in five games.
Since then, only three NHL teams have reached another final one or two years after losing that series. The 1995 Red Wings, 2001 Devils and 2008 Penguins all regrouped to achieve redemption in 1997, 2003 and 2009, respectively.
For everybody else, getting so much as back to the conference final that quickly has been a near-futile endeavor. Boston’s core group from the late ’80s/early ’90s was one exception, losing back-to-back Wales Conference titles to Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992.
Not long thereafter, Detroit mustered a Western Conference Final berth in 1996. If you discount the 2004-05 lockout season, the 2005-06 Anaheim Mighty Ducks, runners-up in 2003, are the other exception.
But minus those 2008-09 Penguins, every losing finalist since that lockout has not reached the third, let alone fourth round of any subseq ...
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Article written by Al Daniel
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