If you are following NHL scores, you are well aware of the history of the Stanley Cup, which may be the coolest trophy in professional sports and the traditions that come with the Cup are well documented.

The Stanley Cup is named for Lord Stanley of Preston, who was the Governor General of Canada and donated the Cup in 1893 to the Montreal Hockey Club. Since 1927, the Stanley Cup has been awarded to the champions of the National Hockey League, and the team with the most victories is the Montreal Canadiens, who have won a staggering 24 Cups in their storied history, while Toronto is next in line with 13 and Detroit comes in with 11. Last season’s Cup was won by Boston, who defeated the team that most price per head services had as the favorites, Vancouver, in a seven-game series. Seven defunct teams have won the Stanley Cup, and there are six current teams that have never had the chance to play for Lord Stanley’s Cup. It is a very difficult task to repeat as champions in the NHL, and the last team to do so was Detroit, back in 1997 and 1998.

The Stanley Cup playoffs is arguably the toughest of all the postseasons in professional sports, but the winner gets to drink champagne out of the Cup (a tradition that began in 1896), and the image of the winning captain hoisting the Cup and skating around the rink is one that NHL fans look forward to every year. Make sure to take history into account before making your sport betting pick for the Stanley Cup.