Ottawa Senators Win the Stanley Cup in a Wild, Brawling Finish
April 13, 1927.
The Ottawa Senators defeated the Boston Bruins 3-1 at the Ottawa Auditorium to clinch the Stanley Cup, two wins to zero with two ties.
It was the first time the Cup was contested exclusively by NHL teams, following the collapse of the Western Hockey League. Cy Denneny scored twice and Frank Finnigan once to put Ottawa ahead 3-0 before the game descended into chaos — fistfights broke out on the ice, Ottawa police rushed in to restore order, and after the final whistle, Boston’s Billy Coutu attacked a referee and was banned from hockey for life.
Why It Mattered
This was a landmark moment for professional hockey. With the Western Hockey League gone, the Stanley Cup became the exclusive trophy of the NHL — a status it holds to this day. For Ottawa, it was their eleventh Cup and fourth since 1920, cementing a dynasty.
But it was also the end: financial troubles would soon force the Senators to sell off their stars, and the original franchise would fold within a decade. The rough play also prompted the league to crack down on violence, shaping the modern game.
Then vs Now
The original Ottawa Senators folded in 1934. A new franchise bearing the same name returned in 1992 and reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2007 — 80 years after this win. One fan, Russell Williams, attended both the 1927 and 2007 games. The Stanley Cup remains the NHL’s championship trophy, and Billy Coutu remains the only player permanently banned for attacking an official during a Final.
Source: Wikipedia: 1927 Stanley Cup Final; Hockey Reference