The New York Rangers made the playoffs as the Presidents' Trophy winners with the most points (i.e. best record) during the regular season. Both the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs extended their respective playoff streaks to eight consecutive seasons, the longest active streaks in the NHL.[3] For the second year in a row and third time since entering the NHL as expansion teams in the 1967–68 NHL season, both Pennsylvania-based teams (the Flyers and Penguins) missed the playoffs in the same season.
For the fifth consecutive season, a Florida-based team reached the Stanley Cup Finals.[4] For the first time since 2015, the New York Rangers became the only Presidents' Trophy winning team to hold this award twice and advance to the semifinal round of the playoffs in the last ten years.[5] While the Oilers knocked off the division champion Canucks, this was the first time since 2018 that three of the four conference finalists – the Rangers, Panthers and Stars – were their respective division champions.[6] During game four of the Stanley Cup Finals, Connor McDavid set the playoff record for most assists in one year, eclipsing the previous record set by Wayne Gretzky in 1988.[7] The Edmonton Oilers became the tenth team to tie a series after trailing 3–0 in a series and the third team to do so in the Stanley Cup Finals.[8]
This was the ninth year in which the top three teams in each division made the playoffs, along with two wild cards in each conference (for a total of eight playoff teams from each conference).
The following teams qualified for the playoffs:[9]
In each round, teams competed in a best-of-seven series following a 2–2–1–1–1 format (scores in the bracket indicate the number of games won in each best-of-seven series). The team with home ice advantage played at home for games one and two (and games five and seven, if necessary), and the other team played at home for games three and four (and game six, if necessary). The top three teams in each division made the playoffs, along with two wild cards in each conference, for a total of eight teams from each conference.
In the first round, the lower seeded wild card in the conference played against the division winner with the best record while the other wild card played against the other division winner, and both wild cards were de facto #4 seeds. The other series matched the second and third-place teams from the divisions. In the first two rounds, home-ice advantage was awarded to the team with the better seed. Thereafter, it was awarded to the team that had the better regular season record.
A1, A2, A3 – The first, second, and third place teams from the Atlantic Division, respectively
M1, M2, M3 – The first, second, and third place teams from the Metropolitan Division, respectively
C1, C2, C3 – The first, second, and third place teams from the Central Division, respectively
P1, P2, P3 – The first, second, and third place teams from the Pacific Division, respectively
WC – Wild Card teams
First round
Eastern Conference first round
(A1) Florida Panthers vs. (WC1) Tampa Bay Lightning
The Florida Panthers finished first in the Atlantic Division earning 110 points. The Tampa Bay Lightning finished as the Eastern Conference's first wild card earning 98 points. This was the third playoff meeting between these two rivals with Tampa Bay winning both previous series. They had last met in the 2022 Eastern Conference second round, which Tampa Bay won in a four-game sweep. Florida won two of the three games in the regular season series.
The Panthers defeated the Lightning in five games. Aleksander Barkov assisted twice for the Panthers in game one, emerging victorious for a 3–2 score.[10] In game two, Carter Verhaeghe scored the overtime game-winning goal for the Panthers, providing a 3–2 victory for Florida and a 2–0 series lead.[11]Matthew Tkachuk scored twice for the Panthers in game three, pushing the series to a 3–0 series lead with a 5–3 win.[12] In game four, Steven Stamkos and Brandon Hagel both scored twice for Tampa Bay to prevent a series sweep by Florida, defeating the Panthers 6–3 to force game five.[13] However, Barkov and Verhaeghe both scored twice and provided an assist for the Panthers in the subsequent game five, routing the Lightning 6–1 to advance to the second round.[14]
The Boston Bruins finished second in the Atlantic Division earning 109 points. The Toronto Maple Leafs earned 102 points to finish third in the Atlantic. This was the seventeenth playoff meeting between these two rivals with both teams splitting the sixteen previous series, but with Boston winning the past six playoff series. They had last met in the 2019 Eastern Conference first round, which Boston won in seven games. Boston won all four games in the regular season series.
The Bruins defeated the Maple Leafs in seven games after leading the series 3–1. In game one, Jake DeBrusk scored twice and goaltender Jeremy Swayman made 35 saves to backstop the Bruins to a 5–1 victory.[15]Max Domi scored a goal and provided an assist for the Maple Leafs in game two to tie the series with a 3–2 victory.[16]Brad Marchand scored twice and provided an assist for the Bruins in game three, emerging victorious over the Maple Leafs 4–2.[17] Marchand continued his goal-scoring and assisting in game four, providing one of each in Boston's 3–1 victory to take a 3–1 series lead.[18] Game five required overtime, wherein Toronto forward Matthew Knies scored to give the Maple Leafs a 2–1 victory, extending the series to a sixth game.[19] In game six, William Nylander scored twice for the Maple Leafs, forcing a seventh game with a 2–1 victory.[20]David Pastrnak scored the overtime-winning goal at 1:54 for the Bruins in game seven, preventing a 3–1 series comeback from the Maple Leafs with a 2–1 victory.[21] With the loss, Toronto extended their game seven-losing streak to six games, with four against Boston; in addition Toronto lost their seventh consecutive playoff series against Boston.[21][22]
(M1) New York Rangers vs. (WC2) Washington Capitals
The New York Rangers earned the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's best regular season team with 114 points. Washington finished as the Eastern Conference's second wild card earning 91 points, winning the tiebreaker against Detroit with 32 RWs. This was the tenth playoff meeting between these two rivals with New York winning five of the nine previous series. They had last met in the 2015 Eastern Conference second round, which New York came back from a 3–1 series deficit to win in seven games. These teams split their four-game regular season series.
The Rangers defeated the Capitals in a four-game sweep. The Rangers scored three goals in the span of 2:06 in the second period of game one en route to a 4–1 victory.[23] In game two, Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad each scored a goal and provided an assist for the Rangers, skating away with a 4–3 victory.[24]Igor Shesterkin made 29 saves for the Rangers in game three, leading New York to a 3–1 victory and a 3–0 series lead.[25] In game four, Artemi Panarin scored a goal and provided an assist to the Rangers' 4–2 victory, completing the four-game sweep.[26] It was the first sweep for the Rangers since 2007, and they became the sixth Presidents' Trophy-winning team to sweep their opening-round series.[26]
(M2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (M3) New York Islanders
The Carolina Hurricanes finished second in the Metropolitan Division earning 111 points. The New York Islanders earned 94 points to finish third in the Metropolitan. This was the second consecutive and third overall playoff meeting between these two teams with Carolina winning both previous series. Carolina won the previous year's Eastern Conference first round in six games. These teams split their four-game regular season series.
The Hurricanes defeated the Islanders in five games. Goaltender Frederik Andersen made 33 saves for the Hurricanes in game one, triumphing over the Islanders 3–1.[27] Down 3–0 in game two, the Hurricanes scored twice in nine seconds with 2:15 left in the game to rally and take the lead to emerge victorious 5–3.[28] In game three, the Hurricanes forced the Islanders to switch out goaltenders after potting three goals on fourteen shots in a 3–2 victory for a 3–0 series lead.[29] Game four went to double-overtime, during which forward Mathew Barzal scored his second of the game for the Islanders, forcing a fifth game with a 3–2 victory.[30] In game five, the Hurricanes scored twice in eight seconds to take a 5–3 lead in the third period, adding an insurance goal to advance to the second round with a 6–3 victory.[31]
The Dallas Stars finished first in the Central Division and Western Conference earning 113 points. The Vegas Golden Knights earned 98 points to finish as the Western Conference's second wild card. This was the second consecutive and third overall playoff series between these two teams with both teams splitting the previous two series. Vegas won the previous year's Western Conference final in six games. Vegas won all three games in the regular season series.
The Stars defeated the Golden Knights in seven games. Defenceman Brayden McNabb potted a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights in game one who triumphed over the Stars 4–3.[32] In game two, Jonathan Marchessault and Jack Eichel each scored a goal and provided an assist to the Golden Knights' 3–1 victory.[33] Dallas forward Wyatt Johnston scored twice in game three, including the overtime-winning goal with 3:37 remaining, granting the Stars a 3–2 victory.[34] In game four, Jake Oettinger made 32 saves for the Stars, defeating the Golden Knights 4–2 and tying the series 2–2.[35] Johnston assisted twice for the Stars in game five, granting Dallas a 3–2 victory and a 3–2 series lead.[36] In game six, Adin Hill stopped all 23 shots he faced for the Golden Knights, defeating the Stars 2–0 to force a seventh game.[37] In game seven, Oettinger made 22 saves for the Stars and Radek Faksa provided the game-winning goal to send the Stars to the second round with a 2–1 victory.[38]
The Winnipeg Jets finished second in the Central Division earning 110 points. The Colorado Avalanche earned 107 points to finish third in the Central. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. Winnipeg won all three games in the regular season series.
The Avalanche defeated the Jets in five games. In game one, Kyle Connor and Adam Lowry each scored twice for the Jets, triumphing over the Avalanche 7–6.[39] Goaltender Alexander Georgiev bounced back in game two for the Avalanche, making 28 saves in a 5–2 victory.[40] Colorado was granted a five-goal third period, ensuring a 6–2 victory in game three for the Avalanche.[41]Valeri Nichushkin scored a hat-trick in game four for the Avalanche, snatching a 5–1 triumph with a 3–1 series lead.[42] In game five, Mikko Rantanen scored twice and provided an assist for the Avalanche, defeating the Jets 6–3 to advance to the second round.[43]
(P1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (WC1) Nashville Predators
The Vancouver Canucks finished first in the Pacific Division earning 109 points. The Nashville Predators earned 99 points to finish as the first wild card in the Western Conference. This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams. Their only previous meeting was in the 2011 Western Conference semifinals, which Vancouver won in six games. Vancouver won all three games in the regular season series.
The Canucks defeated the Predators in six games. In game one, Dakota Joshua scored twice and added an assist for the Canucks, defeating the Predators 4–2.[44]Filip Forsberg scored a goal and provided an assist for the Predators in game two, tying the series with a 4–1 victory.[45] In game three, goaltender Casey DeSmith made 29 saves for the Canucks, defeating the Predators 2–1.[46] Down 3–1 with under 3 minutes to go left in the game, Brock Boeser scored with 2:47 left to make it 3-2. Colton Sissons hit the post on an empty net with 1:50 left. Boeser then put home a rebound with 6.2 seconds to go to finish the hat-trick and tie the game at 3-3. Elias Lindholm scored 1:02 into overtime for Vancouver to cap off the rally and give the Canucks a 3–1 series lead.[47] In game five, Forsberg assisted on both Nashville goals as the Predators forced a sixth game with a 2–1 victory.[48]Pius Suter scored the only goal of game six with 1:39 left in the game, and with Arturs Silovs' 28 saves, Vancouver moved onto the second round with a 1–0 victory.[49]
The Edmonton Oilers finished second in the Pacific Division earning 104 points. The Los Angeles Kings finished third in the Pacific with 99 points. This was the third consecutive and tenth overall playoff meeting between these two rivals with Edmonton winning seven of the nine previous series. Edmonton won the previous year's Western Conference first round series in six games. Edmonton won three of the four games in the regular season series.
The Oilers defeated the Kings in five games. In game one, Zach Hyman scored a hat-trick and Connor McDavid provided five assists to hold off the Kings for a 7–4 victory.[50]Anze Kopitar scored the overtime goal and provided two assists for the Kings in game two, tying the series with a 5–4 win.[51] The Oilers routed the Kings in game three with Hyman and Leon Draisaitl both scoring twice in Edmonton's 6–1 victory.[52] In game four, Evan Bouchard scored the only goal and goaltender Stuart Skinner stopped all 33 shots he faced to give the Oilers a 1–0 victory and a 3–1 series lead.[53] McDavid and Bouchard each assisted thrice in game five, sending the Oilers to the second round with a 4–3 victory.[54]
This was the second consecutive and third overall playoff meeting between these two teams with Florida winning both previous series. Florida won the previous year's Eastern Conference first round which they won by coming back from a 3–1 series deficit to win in seven games. Boston won all four games in the regular season series.
The Panthers defeated the Bruins six games. Jeremy Swayman made 38 saves for the Bruins in game one, coming out on top 5–1.[55] The Panthers stormed back in game two, outscoring the Bruins 6–1 with Aleksander Barkov's two goals and two assists to tie the series 1–1.[56] In game three, Evan Rodrigues scored twice and Matthew Tkachuk provided three assists for the Panthers, defeating the Bruins 6–2.[57] The Panthers came back from a two-goal deficit in game four to win 3–2 and take a 3–1 series lead.[58] In game five, Swayman made 28 saves for the Bruins as they held off the Panthers for a 2–1 victory, forcing a sixth game.[59]Gustav Forsling scored with 1:33 left in the third period of game six for the Panthers, holding off the Bruins for a 2–1 victory and a second consecutive conference finals appearance.[60] During the game, Boston set the record for the most "too many men on the ice" penalties in one playoff year with seven.[61]
(M1) New York Rangers vs. (M2) Carolina Hurricanes
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams with both teams splitting the two previous series. They had last met in the 2022 Eastern Conference second round, which New York won in seven games. New York won two of the three games in the regular season series.
The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes in six games. In game one, Mika Zibanejad scored twice and provided an assist for the Rangers, defeating the Hurricanes 4–3.[62]Artemi Panarin assisted thrice and Vincent Trocheck scored the double-overtime goal for the Rangers, taking a 2–0 series lead with a 4–3 victory.[63]Igor Shesterkin made 45 saves in game three and Panarin scored the overtime goal for the Rangers, defeating the Hurricanes 3–2 for a 3–0 series lead.[64] With the victory, the Rangers became the first team since the 2008 Pittsburgh Penguins to start 7–0 in the playoffs. The streak did not continue into game four as Brady Skjei's goal with 3:11 left in the game broke the tie for the Hurricanes, forcing a fifth game with a 4–3 victory.[65] In game five, the Hurricanes scored four unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the Rangers 4–1 and force a sixth game.[66] In game six, the Rangers came back from a two-goal deficit in the third period, capped off by Chris Kreider's natural hat trick to defeat the Hurricanes 5–3 and advance to the conference finals for the second time in three years, making them the first Presidents' Trophy-winning team to advance to the penultimate round since they did so in 2015.[67][5]
This was the sixth playoff series between these two teams with Dallas winning three of the five previous series. They had last met in the 2020 Western Conference second round, which Dallas won in seven games. Colorado won three of the four games in the regular season series.
The Stars defeated the Avalanche in six games. In game one, the Avalanche mounted a three-goal comeback to force overtime during which, Miles Wood scored to give a Colorado a 4–3 victory.[68] The Stars prevented a four-goal comeback from the Avalanche in game two, holding off Colorado for a 5–3 victory and tying the series.[69] In game three, Jake Oettinger made 28 saves and both Tyler Seguin and Logan Stankoven scored twice to give the Stars a 4–1 victory.[70]Wyatt Johnston scored twice and provided an assist for the Stars in game four, triumphing over the Avalanche 5–1 to take a 3–1 series lead.[71] In game five, Cale Makar scored twice for Colorado who forced a sixth game with a 5–3 victory.[72] Game six went into double-overtime, during which Stars forward Matt Duchene scored at 11:42 to give Dallas a 2–1 victory and a second consecutive conference finals appearance.[73]
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams with Edmonton winning both previous series. They had last met in the 1992 Smythe Division final, which Edmonton won in six games. Vancouver won all four games in the regular season series.
The Oilers defeated the Canucks in seven games. In game one, Conor Garland beat Stuart Skinner with 5:34 left in the third period to take the lead, ultimately defeating the Oilers 5–4.[74] In game two, Evan Bouchard scored the overtime game-winning goal for the Oilers, emerging victorious 4–3.[75]Arturs Silovs made 42 saves for the Canucks in game three, helping Vancouver win 4–3.[76] Although the Canucks came back from a two-goal deficit in game four to tie the game, Bouchard scored with 39 seconds remaining in the game to give the Oilers a 3–2 victory to tie the series 2–2.[77] In game five, J. T. Miller scored with 33 seconds remaining in the third period to give the Canucks a 3–2 victory and a 3–2 series lead.[78]Connor McDavid assisted three times in game six, pushing the series to a seventh game with a 5–1 victory.[79] In game seven, the Oilers prevented a three-goal third period comeback from the Canucks, defeating Vancouver 3–2 to advance to the conference finals.[80]
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams. Their only previous meeting was in the 1997 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, which New York won in five games. The Rangers made their eighth semifinals/conference finals appearance since the league began using a 16-team or greater playoff format in 1980. They lost their most recent appearance in the 2022 Eastern Conference final to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. This was Florida's second consecutive and third overall conference finals appearance. They won the previous year's Eastern Conference final in a four-game sweep against the Carolina Hurricanes. Florida won two of the three games in the regular season series.
This was also the fourth Eastern Conference Finals in the past five years to feature Florida vs New York teams.
The Panthers defeated the Rangers in six games. In game one, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky shut out the Rangers with a 24-save 3–0 victory for the Panthers.[81]Barclay Goodrow scored the overtime-winning goal for the Rangers in game two, evening the series with a 2–1 triumph.[82] Although Florida tied game three after being down by two goals, Alexander Wennberg scored in overtime to give New York a 5–4 victory.[83] In game four, and for the third straight game, the match ended in overtime with Sam Reinhart of the Panthers scoring to even the series 2–2 with a 3–2 win.[84]Sam Bennett provided a goal and an assist for the Panthers in game five, leading Florida to a 3–2 victory and a 3–2 series lead.[85] In game six, the Panthers held off a late push in the third period to win 2–1, advancing to a second consecutive Finals appearance.[86]
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams with Dallas winning six of the eight previous series and the past five playoff series. They had last met in the 2003 Western Conference quarterfinals, which Dallas won in six games. This was Dallas's second consecutive and ninth semifinals/conference finals appearance overall since the league began using a 16-team or greater playoff format in 1980. They lost the previous year's Western Conference final to the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. Edmonton made their eleventh conference finals appearance. They last made the conference finals in 2022, which they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in a four-game sweep. Dallas won two of the three games in the regular season series.
The Oilers defeated the Stars in six games and won a playoff series against the Stars for the first time since 1997, ending a five series losing streak. Oilers captain Connor McDavid ended game one 32 seconds into double-overtime, giving Edmonton a 3–2 victory.[87] Stars captain Jamie Benn provided a goal and an assist in game two for the Stars, evening the series with a 3–1 victory.[88]Jason Robertson scored a hat-trick in game three for the Stars, defeating the Oilers 5–3.[89] In game four, the Oilers came back from an early two-goal deficit by scoring five unanswered goals, easing past the Stars 5–2 to tie the series 2–2.[90]Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored twice in game five, defeating the Stars with a 3–1 victory.[91] In game six, Stuart Skinner made 33 saves as the Oilers advanced to the Finals for the first time in 18 years with a 2–1 victory.[92]
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. This was the second consecutive and third overall Finals appearance for the Panthers. They lost the previous year's Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. This was Edmonton's eighth Finals appearance. They lost their previous appearance against the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games in 2006. Florida won both games in the regular season series.
This is a combined table of the top five goaltenders based on goals against average and the top five goaltenders based on save percentage, with at least 420 minutes played. The table is sorted by GAA, and the criteria for inclusion are bolded.[94]
In Canada, this marked the tenth postseason under Rogers Media's 12-year contract. Games aired across the Sportsnet networks and CBC under the Hockey Night in Canada brand. For first and second-round U.S.–U.S. games not on CBC, Sportsnet generally simulcasts the U.S. feed instead of producing their own telecast. The 2024 Stanley Cup Finals will be simulcast on both CBC and Sportsnet.[95]
Sportsnet+ streams every game.[95]CBC Gem was not streaming games televised on CBC this postseason, and any first-round games that appeared on that streaming service was due to an error.[96]
First round games were split between ESPN-produced telecasts (either on ESPN, ABC, or ESPN2) and TNT Sports-produced telecasts (either on TNT or TBS, with selected simulcasts on TruTV), while working around their 2024 NBA playoffs telecasts and other broadcasting commitments. Each U.S. team's regional broadcaster also televised local coverage of first-round games, except for games on ABC.
With the Stanley Cup playoffs starting on the same day as the NBA playoffs this year, in the first round, ESPN or ESPN2 aired games on Monday through Thursday nights, TNT on Friday nights, TBS on Saturdays and Sundays and TruTV simulcasts all TNT-Sports produced games with some exceptions (ESPN and ESPN2 aired the opening Sunday of games, TNT airing one Sunday game on the middle weekend, TBS aired select games on Tuesday–Thursdays and ABC aired one Saturday night game on the final weekend).[97][98][99]
In the second round, ESPN aired games on Monday through Wednesday nights, TNT on Thursday and Friday nights, with weekend games split between all broadcasters (with ESPN airing the opening Sunday, and TBS airing the following weekend, TNT airing the Saturday games in the middle weekend and ESPN airing one the following weekend).[100]
ESPN/ABC had the first choice of which conference final series to air, choosing the Eastern Conference finals this season, and TNT aired the Western Conference finals. As per the alternating rotation, ABC has coverage of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals.[101]
This was the first playoffs that the streaming service Max had live access to all TNT Sports-produced games on its Bleacher Report Sports add-on tier.[102]ESPN+ streamed all ABC games and ESPN's Conference final games, along with replays of all games.
This was the third of a four-year deal that Sports USA Radio Network was syndicating select Stanley Cup playoff games via NHL Radio across the U.S., including the entire conference finals and Stanley Cup Finals.[103]
