Divide and Conquer Trivia Quiz

Answer: Metropolitan

The New York Rangers, one of the Original Six, were founded in 1926 and became the first NHL franchise in the United States to win the Stanley Cup. They went on to win two additional Stanley Cups in 1933 and 1940. Despite their early successes the Rangers suffered a "drought" which became known as the "Curse of 1940" until the 1993-94 season.

It was their most successful season in 54 years. Mike Keenan coached the Rangers to the 1994 Stanley Cup championship winning their fourth Cup.

Answer: Atlantic

The Bruins are another Original Six team founded in 1924 making them the oldest NHL team to be based in the US. They enjoyed a very impressive post-season "streak" in the Playoffs from 1968 through 1996 and won the Cup in 1970 and 1972.

Answer: Central

Originally founded in 1972 as the Quebec Nordiques, they joined the NHL in 1979. After seven consecutive post season successes (1981-1987) they began a decline which would continue until 1992. Coincidentally, it was the same time the Nordiques traded Eric Lindros to the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Nordiques reached the playoffs for the first time in six years in 1993. After suffering financially the team was sold and relocated to Denver as the Colorado Avalanche. Apparently the the move and renaming brought them luck.

In 1996 the swept the Final in four games against the Florida Panthers winning their first Stanley Cup as the Avalanche.

Answer: Pacific

The Golden Knights, founded in 2017, are the first major sports franchise to represent Las Vegas. They were immediately successful in qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs in their first four seasons while reaching the Finals in their first season. Their 13 playoff wins in their quest for the 2018 Stanley Cup were a stellar achievement in an inaugural postseason run.

Answer: Metropolitan

The franchise was originally the Hartford Whalers. The team relocated to North Carolina in 1997 rebranding themselves as the Hurricanes. Carolina advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 2002. The Hurricanes won the 2006 Stanley Cup over the Edmonton Oilers, giving the state of North Carolina its first major professional sports championship.

Answer: Atlantic

As a member of the Original Six, the Toronto Leafs were one of the teams that managed to get through the NHL's financial difficulty during the Great Depression. Since 2000 their playoff runs have been up and down. Prices their home game tickets are one of the priciest in the League! Their fans are noted for their loyalty regardless of performance.

Answer: Pacific

The Edmonton Oilers joined the NHL in 1979. They won the Cup in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1990. Their overall success in the 1980s and early 1990s earned them Dynasty status on the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Answer: Metropolitan

The New Jersey Devils were founded as the Kansas City Scouts in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1974. The Scouts moved to Denver in 1976 and became the Colorado Rockies. In 1982, they moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, and became the Devils. They're one of the three teams in the New York's Metropolitan area (along with the Rangers and Islanders).

Answer: Atlantic

The Tampa Bay Lightning joined the NHL in 1992. They reached the Playoffs in 1995-96, their fourth season, by edging out the defending Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils for the last spot in the Eastern Conference. They lost in the first round to the Flyers in April 1996. However, their playoff game in the Thunderdome drew 28,183 fans, one of the largest indoor crowds in NHL history!

Answer: Central

Originally founded as the Minnesota North Stars, the franchise relocated to Dallas for the 1993-94 NHL season where the team was rebranded as the Dallas Stars. Over the course of the franchise's history in both Minnesota and Dallas, they have played in numerous Stanley Cup Finals.

Answer: Pacific

The Seattle Kraken began play in the 2021-22 season. Their place in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference necessitated a shift for the Arizona Coyotes from the Pacific to the Central Division. In January of 2023 the Kraken became the first team in NHL history with a seven game streak of winning road trips to their credit.

They clinched a spot in the 2023 playoffs and went on to win their inaugural playoff series in seven games, defeating the defending champion, the Colorado Avalanche.

Answer: Metropolitan

The Islanders won four consecutive Stanley Cup championships between 1980 and 1983. They had 19 consecutive Playoff series wins between 1980 and 1984 which in itself is quite a feat in the history of professional sports.

Answer: Atlantic

The Panthers began playing in the 1993-94 NHL season, where they set the record for the most points by an expansion team in its inaugural season, until surpassed by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017-18. The team made their first appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs in 1996, eventually losing the Finals to the Colorado Avalanche.

Their seventh appearance came in 2022, which saw their first-ever playoff series win.

Answer: Central

Founded in 1997, the Minnesota Wild start playing in the the 2000-01 season. They were the first NHL franchise in Minnesota since the Minnesota North Stars moved to Dallas in 1993. The 2003 Playoffs marked their first appearance in the Western Conference Finals but unfortunately were swept by the Anaheim Ducks.

Answer: Pacific

Probably one of the most notable events in the Los Angeles Kings' history occurred in 1988 when the team acquired Wayne Gretzky from Edmonton. Canadian fans had lost their "national treasure". To add insult to injury the Kings eliminated the Oilers in the first round of the 1989 Playoffs. Ouch!

Answer: Central

Formerly known as the Atlanta Thrashers, the Winnipeg Jets began to play in the 1999-2000 season. After new owners bought the team in May 2011 they relocated to Winnipeg. The move made them the first NHL franchise to relocate since the Hartford Whalers became the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997.