This Day in Stanley Cup History

Thirty-five years ago tonight, the Philadelphia Flyers became the first expansion team in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup with a thrilling 1-0 win over the Boston Bruins in Game 6 of the 1974 finals. A shutout was a fitting finale for the Flyers' brilliant goalie, Bernie Parent, whose heroics throughout the playoffs earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy.

The game, however, is remembered today in Philadelphia as much for the heroics of Kate Smith as it is for those of Parent. Smith, whose rendition of “God Bless America” had become the good luck charm of the Flyers during the '74 playoffs, showed up in Philly to sing the song in person before the deciding Game 6. And what a performance she gave, complete with dramatic air-punches and a mock pistol fired in the direction of the Bruins bench. After that, well, the Bruins just didn't stand a chance (note Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito skating up to shake Smith's hand at the end of the video ... trying to steal a little of the Flyers' mojo no doubt.)

Twenty-five years ago tonight, the NHL experienced a most dramatic changing of the guard, as the high-scoring Edmonton Oilers became the first former WHA team to win the Stanley Cup by defeating the New York Islanders in the fifth game of the 1984 finals. The Islanders were the four-time defending champions, and this was the last gasp of their storied run of greatness. One dynasty gave way to another in 1984, with Edmonton defeating New York for its first of five Stanley Cups in seven years. Wayne Gretzky, who won his fifth straight Hart Trophy that season, scored two goals in the first period of that fateful Game 5 against the Isles, and yet it was the Oilers' star defenseman Paul Coffey who would be awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.