How sweet is a sweep?

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Apr 26, 2009 11:08 PM EDT

While we wait to find out who the Bruins will play in round 2, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at how teams that have swept their first round opponent have historically fared. Over the course of the previous 20 NHL seasons there have been 18 teams that have put away their first round foe in 4 games. Of those 18 teams, 4 have gone on to win the Stanley Cup, while 10 teams never made it past the next round. In the past 20 years of playoff hockey, teams that have completed the sweep in the first round have a record of just 8-10 in the second round.

	First Round Sweep	Playoff Fate
2008	Pittsburgh Penguins over Ottawa	Lost in Stanley Cup Finals to Detroit 4-2
2007	New York Rangers over Atlanta	Lost in 2nd Round to Buffalo 4-2
2006	New Jersey Devils over New York Rangers	Lost in 2nd Round to Carolina 4-1
2005	Lockout
2004	No 1st Round Sweeps
2003	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim over Detroit	Lost in Stanley Cup Finals to New Jersey 4-3
2002	No 1st Round Sweeps
2001	Toronto Maple Leafs over Ottawa	Lost in 2nd Round to New Jersey 4-3
	Colorado Avalanche over Vancouver	Won Stanley Cup
2000	New Jersey Devils over Florida	*Won Stanley Cup*
1999	Buffalo Sabres over Ottawa	Lost in Stanley Cup Finals to Dallas 4-2
	Dallas Stars over Edmonton	Won Stanley Cup
	Detroit Red Wings over Anaheim	Lost in 2nd Round to Colorado 4-2
1998	St. Louis Blues over Los Angeles	Lost in 2nd Round to Detroit 4-2
1997	No 1st Round Sweeps
1996	Chicago Blackhawks over Calgary	Lost in 2nd Round to Colorado 4-2
1995	No 1st Round Sweeps
1994	Dallas Stars over St. Louis	Lost in 2nd Round to Vancouver 4-1
	New York Rangers over New York Islanders	Won Stanley Cup
1993	Buffalo Sabres over Boston	Lost in 2nd Round to Montreal 4-0
	St. Louis Blues over Chicago	Lost in 2nd Round to Toronto
1992	No 1st Round Sweeps
1991	No 1st Round Sweeps
1990	No 1st Round Sweeps
1989	Pittsburgh Penguins over New York Rangers	Lost in 2nd Round to Philadelphia 4-3
	Montreal Canadiens over Hartford	Lost in Stanley Cup Finals to Calgary 4-2
1988	No 1st Round Sweeps

The Bruins have swept a series in the first round* five times throughout their history (6 counting this year). Of those five times, the Bruins have advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals three times. The 1928-1929 Boston Bruins swept the Montreal Canadiens and went on to win the Stanley Cup

*For the purpose of this analysis, the term "first round" refers to the first playoff series in which the Bruins played in that season. The NHL has used different playoff formats throughout the league's history, including the use of preliminary round byes.

	Bruins First Round Sweep	Playoff Fate
1979	Bruins over Pittsburgh	Lost Next Round to Montreal 4-3
1978	Bruins over Chicago	Lost in Stanley Cup Finals to Montreal 4-2
1974	Bruins over Toronto	Lost in Stanley Cup Finals to Philadelphia 4-2
1969	Bruins over Toronto	Lost in Next Round to Montreal 4-2
1929	Bruins over Montreal	Won Stanley Cup

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Comments

What I find really interesting about this is how it does seem to fit with the conventional wisdom that the layoff hurts you (you come out flat at the start of round 2), but the rest helps you (you have an extra gear for round 3 and 4).

Not once did a team sweep in the first round then lose in the third round. 8 of 18 first round sweepers made it to the Cup finals. That’s remarkable.

by RyanV on Apr 27, 2009 1:50 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

interesting stuff.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure!

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Apr 27, 2009 7:35 AM EDT up reply actions

That is interesting, but then again, the Bruins have already had a long lay over during the regular season, and it ended up being the start of a nice winning streak.

When you figure that we need to play Thomas all the way, I’ll gladly give him a week of rest, especially when he had that flu (more alarming now!) and sinus infection. Pluse we get Ferrence back.

I’ll be ready for them to start playing again though. Sadly, I think the Rangers missed their chance to knock off Washington.

by 13_Legion on Apr 27, 2009 9:40 AM EDT reply actions