Fansided

30 best NHL teams that failed to win the Stanley Cup

ByDave Stevenson|
May 29, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) reacts on the bench with teammates Tanner Glass (15) , Kevin Klein (8) and Dan Girardi (5) as the Rangers play with an empty net against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period in game seven of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
May 29, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) reacts on the bench with teammates Tanner Glass (15) , Kevin Klein (8) and Dan Girardi (5) as the Rangers play with an empty net against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period in game seven of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 1, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; The Pittsburgh Penguins starting line-up comprised of defenseman Ben Lovejoy (12) and defenseman Paul Martin (7) and left wing Chris Kunitz (14) and center Brandon Sutter (16) and right wing Steve Downie (23) stands for the national anthem before hosting the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Flyers won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; The Pittsburgh Penguins starting line-up comprised of defenseman Ben Lovejoy (12) and defenseman Paul Martin (7) and left wing Chris Kunitz (14) and center Brandon Sutter (16) and right wing Steve Downie (23) stands for the national anthem before hosting the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Flyers won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

#30: 2008 Pittsburgh Penguins

Michel Therrien has never won a Stanley Cup as an NHL head coach. He has never come closer to that elusive goal than he did in 2008 and he likely never will. He had two of the best centers in the NHL in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. He had an excellent defenseman in Sergei Gonchar. Unfortunately they didn’t have Crosby for 29 games during the regular season. Once the Penguins got healthy, the NHL was on notice: the Pens wanted a Stanley Cup and they didn’t care who they had to beat to win it.

The Pens had nine players with double-digit goals and ten players with at least 20 points during the regular season. Marc-Andre Fleury and Ty Conklin split the time in net to form an impressive goaltending duo that was arguably the best duo in the NHL. Crosby, Malkin, and Hossa all scored over 20 points in the playoffs to help the Penguins steamroll through the Eastern Conference. They swept the Ottawa Senators in the first round and lost a combined two games in their series against the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers.

The Penguins fought admirably against the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup finals but lost to them four games to two. They wouldn’t have to wait long to get their revenge.

Next: 2008-2009 Detroit Red Wings

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