Same simulation engine I always use, the teams span from '41-'24. Best of 3 series all the way to the elite 8 before shifting to a best of 7.
Region One
1. 1977 Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup Champions (d. Bruins 4-0)
2. 1984 Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup Champions (d. Islanders 4-1)
3. 1979 Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup Champions (d. Rangers 4-1)
4. 1941 Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Champions (d. Red Wings 4-0)
5. 1981 New York Islanders Stanley Cup Champions (d. North Stars 4-1)
6. 2022 Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup Champions (d. Lightning 4-2)
7. 2008 Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup Champions (d. Penguins 4-2)
8. 2017 Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup Champions (d. Predators 4-2)
9. 2024 Florida Panthers Stanley Cup Champions (d. Oilers 4-3)
10. 2004 Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup Champions (d. Flames 4-3)
11. 1950 Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup Champions (d. Rangers 4-3)
12. 1969 Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup Champions (d. Blues 4-0)
13. 2003 New Jersey Devils Stanley Cup Champions (d. Mighty Ducks 4-3)
14. 2011 Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Champions (d. Canucks 4-3)
15. 1982 Montreal Canadiens Adams Champs (L Div Semis Nordiques 3-2)
16. 1976 Philadelphia Flyers Patrick Champs (L Finals Canadiens 4-0)
ROUND ONE
1. '77 CANADIENS d. 16. '76 FLYERS 2-0
-Montreal takes the first series of the tournament, 2 games 0. Steve Schutt has 2 goals and an assist in a 5-1 Game 1 for the Habs; Dave Schultz ejected for the Flyers. Montreal scored two goals in the first minute of Game 2 on their way to the 5-2 series clincher. 2 goals for Guy LaFleur, another goal and 3 assists for Schutt. Top seeded Habs move on.
9. '24 PANTHERS d. 8. '17 PENGUINS 2-0
-Panthers go to Pittsburgh and take both games from the Pens to advance. 3-2 OT win in game 1, Sam Reinhart scoring 64 seconds into OT. The teams' goaltenders combining for 64 saves. Florida scored 3 in the first period of game 2 on their way to a 5-1 win. Hat Trick for Reinhart in this one, 4 assists for Matthew Tkachuk.
5. '81 ISLANDERS d. '69 CANADIENS 2-1
-Our first 3 game series, Montreal took game 1 in OT, 4-3, John Ferguson with the game winner 14 minutes into OT. Ferguson had 2 goals, as did JC Tremblay. 3 assists for Jean Beliveau, including on the game winner. Billy Smith had 46 saves for the Islanders. 5-3 Islanders win in game 2 to force a decisive game. 2 goals for Bob Bourne, a goal and 2 assists for Bryan Trottier. And then the Islanders take the series with a 7-5 game 3 win. 2 goals for John Tonelli, a goal and 2 assists for Bourne.
13. '03 DEVILS d. 4. '41 BRUINS 2-1
-Devils take game 3 in Boston and we have our biggest upset. Boston opened the series with a 2-0 shutout, both goals scored in the third period. 30 saves for Frank Brimsek. The Devils stayed alive with a 2-1 OT game 2 win, Turner Stevenson with the winning goal 4:30 into OT. 41 more saves for Brimsek in the loss. The Devils win the series with a shutout of their own, 3-0, goal and 2 assists for Jay Pandolfo. 32 saves for Martin Brodeur.
6. '22 AVALANCE d. '50 RED WINGS 2-0
-In Game 1, Detroit had a 2-1 lead with 5 minutes remaining when they went shorthanded after a Clare Martin roughing penalty, the Avalanche tied it during that power play and then, with just 90 seconds left in regulation, a Cale Makar goal gave Colorado the win. Harry Lumley had 43 saves in the loss Colorado scored 2 in the first period of game 2 and won 3-1 to advance. Another goal and an assist for Makar.
3. '79 CANADIENS d. 14. '11 BRUINS 2-0
-Easy wins for Montreal, 5-1 in game 1, they had a 4-0 lead midway through the second period. A goal and 2 assists for Doug Jarvis. Game 2 was a 4-1 final, 3 assists for Steve Schutt, 32 Ken Dryden saves.
7. '08 RED WINGS d. 10. '24 LIGHTNING 2-1
-Underdog Tampa took game 1, 5-1. 2 goals each for Pavel Kubina and Fredrik Modin. Detroit tallied for 2nd period goals in game 2 to take it 6-3. 2 goals/3 assists each for Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. Chris Osgood shut out the Lightning 3-0 in game 3 to advance. 2 goals for Henrik Zetterberg.
15. '82 CANADIENS d. 2. '84 OILERS 2-0
Montreal sends its 3rd team into round 2 in the region. 7-6 in Game 1, Edmonton scored twice in the first 3 minutes and had a 4-2 lead through one period. Early in the 4th, Montreal trailed 6-4 and with a minute left in the game, it was still 6-5, but with 44 seconds left, Keith Acton tied it - and with 13 seconds left, Mark Napier scored his third goal of the game and the Habs took it. 2 goals for Wayne Gretzky in the defeat. Montreal wins game 2, 4-3, 2 assists for Larry Robinson and they hold Gretzky scoreless with a negative +/-.
SECOND ROUND
1. 1977 Canadiens v. 9. 2024 Panthers
5. 1981 Islanders v. 13. 2003 Devils
3. 1979 Canadiens v. 6. 2022 Avalanche
7. 2008 Red Wings v. 15. 1982 Canadiens
1. '77 CANADIENS d. 9. '24 PANTHERS 2-1
Round one was entirely played on the home ice of the better seed, in round two, game two moved to the other ice and that happened here, home teams won each of the 3 games and the top seeds survive. 6-3 Canadiens in Game One, the Panthers led 2-0 through the first period, but Montreal scored 3 consecutive goals and would do it again in the late second/early third periods. 2 goals for Jacques Lemaire. The Panthers shut the Habs out 5-0 when the series shifted to Miami. Sam Reinhart had a hat trick in game 2 of the Panthers first round win and did it again here. A goal and 3 assists for Matthew Tkachuk. One game for a birth in the Sweet 16 - Montreal scored two in the first period, Reinhart led the Panthers back with two goals - but with 10 minutes to play, Steve Shutt scored his second goal of the day to win the series.
5. '81 ISLANDERS d. 13. '03 DEVILS 2-1
The road teams won each of the first two games before the Islanders won the decisive game 3 at home. Devils take game 1, 5-4 in OT. The Islanders led 4-2 late, the Devils cutting it to 4-3 with 2 and a half left, and John Madden tied the score with 80 seconds to play in regulation. 38 seconds into OT it was over - Patrik Elias winning the game for the Devils. 4 assists for Scott Niedermayer. Clark Gilles had two goals for the losers. The Islanders win an easy game 2, 5-1, 2 more goals for Gilles, 2 for Anders Kallur. Billy Smith with 38 saves. Back to the Nassau Coliseum for Game 3, the Islanders taking it 5-2. Two goals for Bryan Trottier, 3 assists for Denis Potvin. We will see the '77 Canadiens and the '81 Islanders meet in the Sweet 16.
3. '79 CANADIENS d. 6. '22 AVALANCHE 2-1
-Home teams win all 3 games and the Habs place a second team in the Sweet 16. 4-2 Canadien win in game 1, Colorado led 2-1 headed to the third period, the Canadiens scored 3 unanswered to tame game 1. Hat Trick for Guy LaFleur. 3 assists for Larry Robinson, 39 saves for Ken Dryden. 4-3 Avalanche in game 2. Chippy, 5 two minute penalties, Colorado played shorthanded for 4 minutes as they tried to hold that 4-3 lead in the third. Goal/assist and a +2 in 12 minutes of ice time for Nazem Kadri, Yvon Lambert had 2 goals in the loss. Finally, Game 3 - Montreal winning 4-2. Bob Gainey with a goal and an assist.
15. '82 CANADIENS d. 7. '08 RED WINGS
-We will have an all Canadiens matchup in the Sweet 16 as the 15th seeded '82 team takes both games from the Red Wings. 3-2 OT Game One win for the road team. Detroit led 2-0 when, with 5 minutes left in the second period Mark Napier scored a shorthanded goal for the Habs. Montreal would tie it in the third - and 18 and a half minutes into OT Guy LaFleur won the game. 10 combined two minute infractions in this one. 44 Rick Wamsley saves. Game 2 then shifts to the Montreal Forum and the Canadiens blew them out, 6-1. A goal and two assists for Brian Engblom.
SWEET SIXTEEN
1. 1977 Canadiens v. 5. 1981 Islanders
3. 1979 Canadiens v. 15. 1982 Canadiens
1. '77 CANADIENS d. 5. '81 ISLANDERS 2-0
-The top seed in the Region will advance to the Elite 8. 5-2 game one win, Larry Robinson and Guy LaFleur both had a goal and an assist. And then the Habs wrapped it up on the road, winning game 2 7-6. Wild first period, 7 goals scored including the Islanders scoring 3 within a 3 minute span. A 2 goal, 3 assist game for Larry Robinson, 2 goals and an assist for Steve Shutt.
15. '82 CANADIENS d. 3. '79 CANADIENS 2-1
-We will get that all Canadiens matchup in the Elite 8, but it is with a 5 year span between the two teams. The '79 squad took Game 1, 4-2. Doug Jarvis with a goal and an assist for the '79 team. The '82 team evened up the series with a 6-3 game 2 win. Guy LaFleur scored for both teams, Larry Robinson had 3 assists for the '79 team and one for the '82 squad. The 15th seeded '82 Canadiens blasted their 3 year younger counterparts in game 3, 7-2 to take the series. Mark Hunter had 2 goals for the winners Guy LaFleur had a goal for the losing side and 3 assists for the winners.
ELITE 8:
1977 CANADIENS v. 1982 CANADIENS.
