Former Badger teammates face off for the Stanley Cup
May 30, 2017 | Men's Hockey, NHL Badgers
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Madison native Craig Smith takes on Justin Schultz and the defending champions
MADISON, Wis. – If Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz wins the Stanley Cup this year, he will become the fifth Wisconsin Badger to skate his way onto sport's most famous trophy on multiple occasions.
If Nashville Predators forward Craig Smith wins the Stanley Cup this year, he will become the 15th skater to have his name engraved on the Cup as a Wisconsin alum.
Those are among the stakes for Badger Nation as the Stanley Cup Final continues.
Schultz and Smith facing off for the Cup makes it two consecutive seasons, and eight series all-time, that Badgers opposed each other for the NHL championship.
Last season, Schultz' Penguins defeated Joe Pavelski and the San Jose Sharks for the title.
Steve Reinprecht and the Colorado Avalanche got the better of Brian Rafalski and the New Jersey Devils in the 2001 Stanley Cup Final.Other Cup matchups include: 1993, when Sean Hill's Montreal Canadiens won over Tony Granato, Gary Shuchuk and the Los Angeles Kings; 1992, when Paul Stanton and Pittsburgh upended Chris Chelios' Chicago Blackhawks; 1989, when Gary Suter's Calgary Flames beat out Chelios' Montreal Canadiens; 1986, when Chelios, Dave Maley and Montreal defeated Calgary's Mike Eaves, who came out of retirement during the playoffs, as well as the injured Gary Suter and head coach Bob Johnson; and 1979, when Montreal's Brian Engblom beat out the New York Rangers, who had Wayne Thomas and Dean Talafous on the roster that season.
Schultz has become a key figure in the Penguins run to a second-straight Cup Final. Last season he was a trade-deadline addition. This season, Schultz quarterbacks the power play and is among the team's top defenseman after stalwart Kris Letang went down with an injury during the regular season.
Schultz finished the regular season seventh in the league and boasted career highs with 12 goals, 39 assists and 51 points.
He is tied for third among defenseman in playoff scoring with 11 points on three goals and eight assists in 16 games played, despite missing a handful of games in the Eastern Conference Final due to an injury.
Smith put up 12 goals and 29 points in 78 regular-season games for the Predators, who grabbed the Western Conference's final playoff spot and earned the No. 8 seed.
In the playoffs, Smith has skated in just five games due to an injury, but returned to action for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Predators outshot the Penguins, 26-12, in the game, a 5-3 loss.
In addition to Smith and Schultz, a two other Badgers begin their quest for titles.
Starting Friday, June 2, former Badger teammates and 2006 NCAA champions Ben Street and Matthew Ford are again on the same side as the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins skate in Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals against the Syracuse Crunch.
The entire Calder Cup Finals will air for free online at AHL Live.
STANLEY CUP FINAL SCHEDULE
Monday, May 29 – Game 1
at Pittsburgh 5, Nashville 3
Wednesday, May 31 – Game 2
Nashville at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)
Saturday, June 3 – Game 3
Pittsburgh at Nashville, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)
Monday, June 5 – Game 4
Nashville at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (NBC)
Thursday, June 8 – Game 5*
Nasville at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, June 11 – Game 6*
Pittsburgh at Nashville, 7 p.m. (NBC)
Wednesday, June 14 – Game 7*
Nashville at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (NBC)
* - If necessary
Â
Wisconsin Badgers on the Stanley Cup
Colorado Avalanche
Steve Reinprecht, 2000–01
Calgary Flames
Gary Suter, 1988–89
Chicago Blackhawks
Adam Burish, 2009–10
Detroit Red Wings
Chris Chelios, 2001–02, '07–08
Brian Rafalski, 2007–08
Los Angeles Kings
Davis Drewiske, 2011–12
Montreal Canadiens
Sean Hill, 1992–93
Chris Chelios, 1985–86
Dave Maley, 1985–86
Brian Engblom, 1976–77, '77–78, '78–79
Wayne Thomas, 1972–73
New Jersey Devils
Brian Rafalski, 1999–2000, '02–03
Bruce Driver*, 1994–95
New York Rangers
Mike Richter, 1993–94
Pittsburgh Penguins
Paul Stanton, 1990–91, '91–92
Bob Johnson, 1990–91#
Justin Schultz, 2015–16
Anaheim Ducks
Dave McNab^, 2006–07
Â
* alternate captain; # - head coach;Â ^ assistant GM
If Nashville Predators forward Craig Smith wins the Stanley Cup this year, he will become the 15th skater to have his name engraved on the Cup as a Wisconsin alum.
Those are among the stakes for Badger Nation as the Stanley Cup Final continues.
Schultz and Smith facing off for the Cup makes it two consecutive seasons, and eight series all-time, that Badgers opposed each other for the NHL championship.
Last season, Schultz' Penguins defeated Joe Pavelski and the San Jose Sharks for the title.
Steve Reinprecht and the Colorado Avalanche got the better of Brian Rafalski and the New Jersey Devils in the 2001 Stanley Cup Final.Other Cup matchups include: 1993, when Sean Hill's Montreal Canadiens won over Tony Granato, Gary Shuchuk and the Los Angeles Kings; 1992, when Paul Stanton and Pittsburgh upended Chris Chelios' Chicago Blackhawks; 1989, when Gary Suter's Calgary Flames beat out Chelios' Montreal Canadiens; 1986, when Chelios, Dave Maley and Montreal defeated Calgary's Mike Eaves, who came out of retirement during the playoffs, as well as the injured Gary Suter and head coach Bob Johnson; and 1979, when Montreal's Brian Engblom beat out the New York Rangers, who had Wayne Thomas and Dean Talafous on the roster that season.
Schultz has become a key figure in the Penguins run to a second-straight Cup Final. Last season he was a trade-deadline addition. This season, Schultz quarterbacks the power play and is among the team's top defenseman after stalwart Kris Letang went down with an injury during the regular season.
Schultz finished the regular season seventh in the league and boasted career highs with 12 goals, 39 assists and 51 points.
He is tied for third among defenseman in playoff scoring with 11 points on three goals and eight assists in 16 games played, despite missing a handful of games in the Eastern Conference Final due to an injury.
Smith put up 12 goals and 29 points in 78 regular-season games for the Predators, who grabbed the Western Conference's final playoff spot and earned the No. 8 seed.
In the playoffs, Smith has skated in just five games due to an injury, but returned to action for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Predators outshot the Penguins, 26-12, in the game, a 5-3 loss.
In addition to Smith and Schultz, a two other Badgers begin their quest for titles.
Starting Friday, June 2, former Badger teammates and 2006 NCAA champions Ben Street and Matthew Ford are again on the same side as the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins skate in Game 1 of the Calder Cup Finals against the Syracuse Crunch.
The entire Calder Cup Finals will air for free online at AHL Live.
STANLEY CUP FINAL SCHEDULE
Monday, May 29 – Game 1
at Pittsburgh 5, Nashville 3
Wednesday, May 31 – Game 2
Nashville at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)
Saturday, June 3 – Game 3
Pittsburgh at Nashville, 7 p.m. (NBCSN)
Monday, June 5 – Game 4
Nashville at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (NBC)
Thursday, June 8 – Game 5*
Nasville at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, June 11 – Game 6*
Pittsburgh at Nashville, 7 p.m. (NBC)
Wednesday, June 14 – Game 7*
Nashville at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. (NBC)
* - If necessary
Â
Wisconsin Badgers on the Stanley Cup
Colorado Avalanche
Steve Reinprecht, 2000–01
Calgary Flames
Gary Suter, 1988–89
Chicago Blackhawks
Adam Burish, 2009–10
Detroit Red Wings
Chris Chelios, 2001–02, '07–08
Brian Rafalski, 2007–08
Los Angeles Kings
Davis Drewiske, 2011–12
Montreal Canadiens
Sean Hill, 1992–93
Chris Chelios, 1985–86
Dave Maley, 1985–86
Brian Engblom, 1976–77, '77–78, '78–79
Wayne Thomas, 1972–73
New Jersey Devils
Brian Rafalski, 1999–2000, '02–03
Bruce Driver*, 1994–95
New York Rangers
Mike Richter, 1993–94
Pittsburgh Penguins
Paul Stanton, 1990–91, '91–92
Bob Johnson, 1990–91#
Justin Schultz, 2015–16
Anaheim Ducks
Dave McNab^, 2006–07
Â
* alternate captain; # - head coach;Â ^ assistant GM
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