The Shield

The 2023-24 war

The Shield

One club carries it. Every game it plays is a siege. Break the holder, and the Shield is yours.

2023-24 Shield champion

Vegas Golden Knights

7 attackers beaten back, more than any club, across 2 reigns. Longest stand: 7 defenses.

Still standing with it at the last horn: the Columbus Blue Jackets, after Blue Jackets 6, Hurricanes 3.

Carried it into the season: Vegas Golden Knights. The Vegas Golden Knights won the 2023 Stanley Cup, so they opened 2023-24 holding the Shield.

THE SHIELD · MMXXIII · MMXXIV THE SHIELD · MMXXIII · MMXXIV ANAARIBOSBUFCGYCARCHICOLCBJDALDETEDMFLALAKMINMTLNSHNJDNYINYROTTPHIPITSJSSEASTLTBLTORVANVGKWSHWPG Anaheim Ducks: 1 defense, beaten back onceArizona Coyotes: 4 defenses, beaten back onceBoston Bruins: 4 defenses, beaten back onceBuffalo Sabres: Never held it, beaten back onceCalgary Flames: 4 defensesCarolina Hurricanes: 4 defenses, beaten back onceChicago Blackhawks: 0 defenses, beaten back 3 timesColorado Avalanche: 7 defenses, beaten back 3 timesColumbus Blue Jackets: 0 defenses, beaten back 2 timesDallas Stars: 1 defense, beaten back 2 timesDetroit Red Wings: Never held it, beaten back onceEdmonton Oilers: Never held it, beaten back 2 timesFlorida Panthers: 2 defenses, beaten back onceLos Angeles Kings: Never held it, beaten back 3 timesMinnesota Wild: Never held itMontréal Canadiens: 1 defense, beaten back onceNashville Predators: 2 defenses, beaten back onceNew Jersey Devils: 0 defenses, beaten back onceNew York Islanders: Never held it, beaten back onceNew York Rangers: 0 defensesOttawa Senators: Never held itPhiladelphia Flyers: 1 defense, beaten back 2 timesPittsburgh Penguins: 3 defenses, beaten back 2 timesSan Jose Sharks: Never held it, beaten back 2 timesSeattle Kraken: 1 defense, beaten back onceSt. Louis Blues: 0 defenses, beaten back 4 timesTampa Bay Lightning: Never held it, beaten back onceToronto Maple Leafs: Never held itVancouver Canucks: 2 defensesVegas Golden Knights: 7 defenses: Shield championsWashington Capitals: 0 defenses, beaten back 2 timesWinnipeg Jets: 0 defenses, beaten back 3 times Defense 1: Ducks 4, Golden Knights 2, Nov 5Defense 1: Coyotes 3, Lightning 1, Nov 28Defense 2: Coyotes 4, Avalanche 3 (OT), Nov 30Defense 3: Coyotes 4, Blues 1, Dec 2Defense 4: Coyotes 6, Capitals 0, Dec 4Defense 1: Bruins 5, Avalanche 2, Jan 18Defense 2: Bruins 9, Canadiens 4, Jan 20Defense 3: Bruins 4, Jets 1, Jan 22Defense 4: Bruins 3, Panthers 2 (OT), Apr 6Defense 1: Flames 3, Bruins 2 (OT), Feb 22Defense 2: Flames 6, Oilers 3, Feb 24Defense 3: Flames 4, Kings 2, Feb 27Defense 4: Flames 4, Penguins 3, Mar 2Defense 1: Hurricanes 3, Devils 2, Jan 25Defense 2: Hurricanes 3, Coyotes 1, Jan 27Defense 3: Hurricanes 5, Blues 2, Apr 12Defense 4: Hurricanes 4, Blackhawks 2, Apr 14Defense 1: Avalanche 3, Sharks 1, Dec 31Defense 2: Avalanche 5, Islanders 4 (OT), Jan 2Defense 3: Avalanche 5, Stars 4 (OT), Jan 4Defense 4: Avalanche 3, Oilers 2 (OT), Mar 16Defense 5 (gold): Avalanche 4, Blues 3, Mar 19Defense 6: Avalanche 6, Blue Jackets 1, Mar 22Defense 7: Avalanche 5, Penguins 4 (OT), Mar 24Defense 1: Stars 3, Predators 2, Dec 23Defense 1: Panthers 5, Blues 1, Jan 9Defense 2: Panthers 3, Kings 2 (OT), Jan 11Defense 1: Canadiens 4, Flyers 1, Mar 28Defense 1: Predators 6, Hurricanes 5 (OT), Dec 15Defense 2: Predators 3, Capitals 1, Dec 16Defense 1: Flyers 5, Avalanche 2, Dec 9Defense 1: Penguins 4, Kings 3 (OT), Nov 9Defense 2: Penguins 4, Sabres 0, Nov 11Defense 3: Penguins 5, Blue Jackets 3, Nov 14Defense 1: Kraken 4, Jets 3, Mar 5Defense 1: Canucks 4, Blackhawks 2, Feb 13Defense 2: Canucks 4, Red Wings 1, Feb 15Defense 1: Golden Knights 4, Kraken 1, Oct 10Defense 2: Golden Knights 4, Sharks 1, Oct 12Defense 3: Golden Knights 4, Ducks 1, Oct 14Defense 4: Golden Knights 3, Stars 2 (SO), Oct 17Defense 5 (gold): Golden Knights 5, Jets 3, Oct 19Defense 6: Golden Knights 5, Blackhawks 3, Oct 21Defense 7: Golden Knights 3, Flyers 2, Oct 24
VGK
Vegas Golden Knights

A defense Every fifth, gold Beaten back by the holder Lost the Shield Next challenger

The shield wall

Every club's own shield this season, crowned with its club's shape: painted once it has held the Shield, a rivet for every defense, an arrow for every time the holder threw it back, a gash for every time it lost the Shield. Pick one for its story.

The E 10 of 16 have held it

  • BOS
  • BUF
  • CAR
  • CBJ
  • DET
  • FLA
  • MTL
  • NJD
  • NYI
  • NYR
  • OTT
  • PHI
  • PIT
  • TBL
  • TOR
  • WSH

The We 12 of 16 have held it

  • ANA
  • ARI
  • CGY
  • CHI
  • COL
  • DAL
  • EDM
  • LAK
  • MIN
  • NSH
  • SEA
  • SJS
  • STL
  • VAN
  • VGK
  • WPG

The saga

35 reigns, every one ended by force but the last. Longest stand: the Golden Knights, 7 attackers beaten back.

VGK7CHI0ARI0ANA1PIT3NJD0NYR0DAL0VGK0ARI4PHI1NSH2VAN0DAL1STL0COL3FLA2NJD0BOS3CAR2VAN0BOS0WSH0VAN2WPG0CGY4SEA1WPG0VAN0COL4MTL1CAR0BOS1CAR2CBJ0

From Oct 1078 Shield games, 35 reigns

Each block is one reign, in order from opening night: as wide as the Shield games it lasted, with its club and the number of defenses it made. Pick a block for the game its reign began with.

  1. Columbus Blue Jackets 0 defenses Cut it from the grip of the Hurricanes on Apr 16, 6-3. Still standing at the last horn.
  2. Carolina Hurricanes 2 defenses Took it by force from the Bruins on Apr 9, 4-1. Stripped of it by the Blue Jackets on Apr 16, 6-3.
  3. Boston Bruins 1 defense Wrenched it from the Hurricanes on Apr 4, 4-1. Overrun by the Hurricanes on Apr 9, 4-1.
  4. Carolina Hurricanes 0 defenses Ripped it from the Canadiens on Mar 30, 3-0. Broken by the Bruins on Apr 4, 4-1.
  5. Montréal Canadiens 1 defense Seized it from the Avalanche on Mar 26, 2-1. Lost it to the Hurricanes on Mar 30, 3-0.
  6. Colorado Avalanche 4 defenses Tore it from the Canucks on Mar 13, 4-3 OT. Fell to the Canadiens on Mar 26, 2-1.
  7. Vancouver Canucks 0 defenses Cut it from the grip of the Jets on Mar 9, 5-0. Stripped of it by the Avalanche on Mar 13, 4-3 OT.
  8. Winnipeg Jets 0 defenses Took it by force from the Kraken on Mar 8, 3-0. Overrun by the Canucks on Mar 9, 5-0.
  9. Seattle Kraken 1 defense Wrenched it from the Flames on Mar 4, 4-2. Broken by the Jets on Mar 8, 3-0.
  10. Calgary Flames 4 defenses Ripped it from the Jets on Feb 19, 6-3. Lost it to the Kraken on Mar 4, 4-2.
  11. Winnipeg Jets 0 defenses Seized it from the Canucks on Feb 17, 4-2. Fell to the Flames on Feb 19, 6-3.
  12. Vancouver Canucks 2 defenses Tore it from the Capitals on Feb 11, 3-2 OT. Stripped of it by the Jets on Feb 17, 4-2.
  13. Washington Capitals 0 defenses Cut it from the grip of the Bruins on Feb 10, 3-0. Overrun by the Canucks on Feb 11, 3-2 OT.
  14. Boston Bruins 0 defenses Took it by force from the Canucks on Feb 8, 4-0. Broken by the Capitals on Feb 10, 3-0.
  15. Vancouver Canucks 0 defenses Wrenched it from the Hurricanes on Feb 6, 3-2. Lost it to the Bruins on Feb 8, 4-0.
  16. Carolina Hurricanes 2 defenses Ripped it from the Bruins on Jan 24, 3-2. Fell to the Canucks on Feb 6, 3-2.
  17. Boston Bruins 3 defenses Seized it from the Devils on Jan 15, 3-0. Stripped of it by the Hurricanes on Jan 24, 3-2.
  18. New Jersey Devils 0 defenses Tore it from the Panthers on Jan 13, 4-1. Overrun by the Bruins on Jan 15, 3-0.
  19. Florida Panthers 2 defenses Cut it from the grip of the Avalanche on Jan 6, 8-4. Broken by the Devils on Jan 13, 4-1.
  20. Colorado Avalanche 3 defenses Took it by force from the Blues on Dec 29, 2-1. Lost it to the Panthers on Jan 6, 8-4.
  21. St. Louis Blues 0 defenses Wrenched it from the Stars on Dec 27, 2-1. Fell to the Avalanche on Dec 29, 2-1.
  22. Dallas Stars 1 defense Ripped it from the Canucks on Dec 21, 4-3 OT. Stripped of it by the Blues on Dec 27, 2-1.
  23. Vancouver Canucks 0 defenses Seized it from the Predators on Dec 19, 5-2. Overrun by the Stars on Dec 21, 4-3 OT.
  24. Nashville Predators 2 defenses Tore it from the Flyers on Dec 12, 3-2 OT. Broken by the Canucks on Dec 19, 5-2.
  25. Philadelphia Flyers 1 defense Cut it from the grip of the Coyotes on Dec 7, 4-1. Lost it to the Predators on Dec 12, 3-2 OT.
  26. Arizona Coyotes 4 defenses Took it by force from the Golden Knights on Nov 25, 2-0. Fell to the Flyers on Dec 7, 4-1.
  27. Vegas Golden Knights 0 defenses Wrenched it from the Stars on Nov 22, 2-1 OT. Stripped of it by the Coyotes on Nov 25, 2-0.
  28. Dallas Stars 0 defenses Ripped it from the Rangers on Nov 20, 6-3. Overrun by the Golden Knights on Nov 22, 2-1 OT.
  29. New York Rangers 0 defenses Seized it from the Devils on Nov 18, 5-3. Broken by the Stars on Nov 20, 6-3.
  30. New Jersey Devils 0 defenses Tore it from the Penguins on Nov 16, 5-2. Lost it to the Rangers on Nov 18, 5-3.
  31. Pittsburgh Penguins 3 defenses Cut it from the grip of the Ducks on Nov 7, 2-0. Fell to the Devils on Nov 16, 5-2.
  32. Anaheim Ducks 1 defense Took it by force from the Coyotes on Nov 1, 4-3 OT. Stripped of it by the Penguins on Nov 7, 2-0.
  33. Arizona Coyotes 0 defenses Wrenched it from the Blackhawks on Oct 30, 8-1. Overrun by the Ducks on Nov 1, 4-3 OT.
  34. Chicago Blackhawks 0 defenses Ripped it from the Golden Knights on Oct 27, 4-3 OT. Broken by the Coyotes on Oct 30, 8-1.
  35. Vegas Golden Knights 7 defenses Carried it into the season as Cup champions. Lost it to the Blackhawks on Oct 27, 4-3 OT.

The war road

Every arena the Shield has been carried into this season, in order. Faint lines are its oldest marches; crossed swords mark where it was taken by force.

ANAARIBOSBUFCARCBJCGYCHICOLDALDETEDMFLALAKMINMTLNJDNSHNYINYROTTPHIPITSEASJSSTLTBLTORVANVGKWPGWSH Oct 27: The Blackhawks strip the Shield from the Golden KnightsOct 30: The Coyotes tear the Shield from the BlackhawksNov 1: The Ducks take the Shield from the CoyotesNov 7: The Penguins strip the Shield from the DucksNov 16: The Devils tear the Shield from the PenguinsNov 18: The Rangers tear the Shield from the DevilsNov 20: The Stars break the Rangers and seize the ShieldNov 22: The Golden Knights tear the Shield from the StarsNov 25: The Coyotes strip the Shield from the Golden KnightsDec 7: The Flyers take the Shield from the CoyotesDec 12: The Predators strip the Shield from the FlyersDec 19: The Canucks strip the Shield from the PredatorsDec 21: The Stars tear the Shield from the CanucksDec 27: The Blues take the Shield from the StarsDec 29: The Avalanche take the Shield from the BluesJan 6: The Panthers break the Avalanche and seize the ShieldJan 13: The Devils take the Shield from the PanthersJan 15: The Bruins strip the Shield from the DevilsJan 24: The Hurricanes tear the Shield from the BruinsFeb 6: The Canucks tear the Shield from the HurricanesFeb 8: The Bruins break the Canucks and seize the ShieldFeb 10: The Capitals take the Shield from the BruinsFeb 11: The Canucks break the Capitals and seize the ShieldFeb 17: The Jets take the Shield from the CanucksFeb 19: The Flames take the Shield from the JetsMar 4: The Kraken take the Shield from the FlamesMar 8: The Jets take the Shield from the KrakenMar 9: The Canucks strip the Shield from the JetsMar 13: The Avalanche take the Shield from the CanucksMar 26: The Canadiens take the Shield from the AvalancheMar 30: The Hurricanes take the Shield from the CanadiensApr 4: The Bruins break the Hurricanes and seize the ShieldApr 9: The Hurricanes strip the Shield from the BruinsApr 16: The Blue Jackets take the Shield from the Hurricanes

How the war ended

Most defenses wins the season's Shield. Level? Longest reign, then captures, then whoever got there first.

#TeamDefensesLongest reignCapturesReignsChallenges
1 Golden Knights 7 7 1 2 2
2 Avalanche 7 4 2 2 5
3 Coyotes 4 4 2 2 3
4 Flames 4 4 1 1 1
5 Bruins 4 3 3 3 4
6 Hurricanes 4 2 3 3 4
7 Penguins 3 3 1 1 3
8 Canucks 2 2 4 4 4
9 Predators 2 2 1 1 2
10 Panthers 2 2 1 1 2
11 Stars 1 1 2 2 4
12 Ducks 1 1 1 1 2
13 Flyers 1 1 1 1 3
14 Kraken 1 1 1 1 2
15 Canadiens 1 1 1 1 2
16 Devils 0 0 2 2 3
17 Jets 0 0 2 2 5
18 Blue Jackets 0 0 1 1 3
19 Blackhawks 0 0 1 1 4
20 Rangers 0 0 1 1 1
21 Blues 0 0 1 1 5
22 Capitals 0 0 1 1 3

Never laid a hand on it: Islanders, Kings, Lightning, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Red Wings, Sabres, Senators, Sharks, Wild.

Shieldbearers

Every Shield game names a Shieldbearer: the warrior on the winning side who did most to hold the wall or break it. How they're picked.

#PlayerClubShieldbearer
1Shea TheodoreGolden Knights2
2Michael CarconeCoyotes2
3Alex KerfootCoyotes2
4Filip ForsbergPredators2
5Nathan MacKinnonAvalanche2
6Sam ReinhartPanthers2
7Jesper BrattDevils2
8Elias LindholmCanucks2
9Nazem KadriFlames2
10Yegor SharangovichFlames2

The warriors

Every goal, assist and win in net in a Shield game this season, for the wall or against it.

Goals

#PlayerGoals
1Nathan MacKinnonAvalanche10
2Mikko RantanenAvalanche8
3Michael CarconeCoyotes8
4Sidney CrosbyPenguins6
5Charlie CoyleBruins6
6Jonathan DrouinAvalanche6
7Jake GuentzelHurricanes6
8David PastrnakBruins6

Points

#PlayerPoints
1Nathan MacKinnonAvalanche2210G 12A
2Mikko RantanenAvalanche178G 9A
3Cale MakarAvalanche163G 13A
4Sidney CrosbyPenguins146G 8A
5Charlie CoyleBruins146G 8A
6Jonathan DrouinAvalanche146G 8A
7Jake GuentzelHurricanes136G 7A
8David PastrnakBruins136G 7A

Wins in net

#PlayerWins in net
1Alexandar GeorgievAvalanche8
2Connor IngramCoyotes62 shutouts
3Thatcher DemkoCanucks51 shutout
4Adin HillGolden Knights5
5Jeremy SwaymanBruins41 shutout
6Jacob MarkstromFlames4
7Tristan JarryPenguins32 shutouts
8Pyotr KochetkovHurricanes31 shutout

The law of the Shield

  1. One holder. One club carries the Shield at a time. The reigning Stanley Cup champions carry it into opening night.
  2. Every game is a siege. Whenever the holder plays, the Shield is on the line. Any opponent, any arena.
  3. Win, and the wall holds. A win in regulation, overtime or a shootout is a defense, and a rivet hammered into the Shield.
  4. Lose, and it's gone. Beat the holder and the Shield is yours on the spot. Now everyone is coming for you.

The full law: no extra games, no bracket, the NHL standings untouched.