2014–15 NHL season facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 2014–15 NHL season |
|
|---|---|
| League | National Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 8, 2014 – June 15, 2015 |
| Number of games | 82 |
| Number of teams | 30 |
| Regular season | |
| Presidents' Trophy | New York Rangers |
| Season MVP | Carey Price (Montreal) |
| Top scorer | Jamie Benn (Dallas) |
| Playoffs | |
| Eastern champions | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Eastern runners-up | New York Rangers |
| Western champions | Chicago Blackhawks |
| Western runners-up | Anaheim Ducks |
| Playoffs MVP | Duncan Keith |
| Stanley Cup | |
| Stanley Cup champions | Chicago Blackhawks |
| Runners-up | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| NHL seasons | |
|
← 2013–14 |
2015–16 → |
The 2014–15 NHL season was an exciting year for ice hockey fans! It was the 98th season for the National Hockey League (NHL), which is a major professional ice hockey league in North America.
Thirty teams from across the United States and Canada competed in this season. Each team played 82 games during the regular season. This action-packed season ran from October 8, 2014, to June 15, 2015. The best teams then moved on to the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, which started on April 15, 2015. The ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup, was won by the Chicago Blackhawks.
Contents
What is the NHL Season?
The NHL season is divided into two main parts: the regular season and the playoffs. During the regular season, all 30 teams play a set number of games. These games help decide which teams are the strongest and will get a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup.
How Teams Qualify for Playoffs
Teams earn points for winning games or losing in overtime. The teams with the most points in each of the two conferences (Eastern and Western) qualify for the playoffs. It's a race to the finish to see who makes it!
The Regular Season Schedule
The 2014–15 regular season started in October 2014 and finished in April 2015. Teams played games almost every night, traveling across North America. This busy schedule tests the skill and endurance of all the players.
Who Won the Major Awards?
At the end of the regular season, several players were recognized for their amazing performances. These awards celebrate the best players in different categories.
Hart Memorial Trophy: Most Valuable Player
The Hart Memorial Trophy is given to the player who is considered the most valuable to his team. For the 2014–15 season, this award went to Carey Price, a fantastic goalie for the Montreal Canadiens. He helped his team win many games with his incredible saves.
Art Ross Trophy: Top Scorer
The Art Ross Trophy is awarded to the player who scores the most points (goals plus assists) during the regular season. In 2014–15, Jamie Benn from the Dallas Stars won this award. He was a scoring machine!
Presidents' Trophy: Best Regular Season Team
The Presidents' Trophy goes to the team that finishes the regular season with the most points. This shows they were the best team throughout the entire regular season. The New York Rangers earned this trophy in the 2014–15 season.
The Road to the Stanley Cup
After the regular season, the top teams battle it out in the playoffs. This is a thrilling tournament where teams play best-of-seven series. This means a team needs to win four games against their opponent to move on.
Conference Champions
The playoffs start with teams competing within their own conferences. The best team from the Eastern Conference plays against the best team from the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Eastern Conference Finalists
In the Eastern Conference, the Tampa Bay Lightning were the champions, making it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. They beat the New York Rangers in a tough series to win the Eastern Conference title.
Western Conference Finalists
Over in the Western Conference, the Chicago Blackhawks emerged as the champions. They defeated the Anaheim Ducks in an exciting series to earn their spot in the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Stanley Cup Finals
The 2015 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the NHL. It featured the two best teams from each conference playing for the ultimate prize in hockey.
Who Played in the Finals?
The 2015 Stanley Cup Finals saw the Chicago Blackhawks from the Western Conference face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning from the Eastern Conference. It was a clash of two very strong teams.
Who Won the Stanley Cup?
The Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in 2015! They defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in a thrilling series. This was a big moment for the Blackhawks and their fans.
Playoff MVP: Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy is given to the most valuable player during the entire playoffs. For the 2015 playoffs, this award went to Duncan Keith from the Chicago Blackhawks. He played an amazing role in helping his team win the Stanley Cup.
