Prior to the start of the 1917-18 campaign, the National Hockey Association dissolved and the NHL took its place. The new league started out with four teams - the Montreal Canadiens and Wanderers, Ottawa and Toronto - but the Wanderers withdrew after the Montreal Arena burned down.
After capturing the first NHL title, Toronto played host to Vancouver in the Stanley Cup finals which meant that eastern rules would be used in games one, three and five. Because neither club seemed comfortable playing an unfamiliar style, Toronto won the series with the advantage of playing the final game under eastern rules.
Alf Skinner led the Arenas with eight goals in five games, while Fred "Cyclone" Taylor paced Vancouver with nine. Rookie coach Dick Carroll steered his team to the NHL's first Stanley Cup championship.
1917-18 - Toronto Arenas - Rusty Crawford, Harry Meeking, Ken Randall, Corb Denneny, Harry Cameron, Jack Adams, Alf Skinner, Harry Mummery, Harry Holmes, Reg Noble, Sammy Hebert, Jack Marks, Jack Coughlin, Charlie Querrie (manager), Dick Carroll (coach), Frank Carroll (trainer).
SCORES
| Mar. 20 | Vancouver | 3 | at Toronto Arenas | 5 |
| Mar. 23 | Vancouver | 6 | at Toronto Arenas | 4 |
| Mar. 26 | Vancouver | 3 | at Toronto Arenas | 6 |
| Mar. 28 | Vancouver | 8 | at Toronto Arenas | 1 |
| Mar. 30 | Vancouver | 1 | at Toronto Arenas | 2 |