2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Champions	Chicago Blackhawks	Defending Champions	Los Angeles Kings
Runner-up	Tampa Bay Lightning	Conn Smythe Trophy	Duncan Keith (Blackhawks)

The 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League (NHL) began on April 15, 2015, and ended on June 15, 2015, with the Chicago Blackhawks defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning four games to two in the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals.

The New York Rangers made the playoffs as the Presidents’ Trophy winners with the most points (i.e. best record) during the regular season. They also came back from a 3–1 series deficit for the second consecutive year. The Detroit Red Wings increased their consecutive post-season appearance streak to 24 seasons, the longest current streak at the time and tied for the fourth-longest streak in NHL history. The Winnipeg Jets qualified for the playoffs for the first time since the former Atlanta Thrashers franchise relocated to Winnipeg in 2011. The Ottawa Senators became the first team in the NHL’s modern era (since 1942–43) to overcome a 14-point deficit in the standings to clinch a playoff spot. Also, the Calgary Flames returned to the playoffs after a six-year absence. In total, five Canadian NHL teams qualified for the post-season, the most since 2004.

The Los Angeles Kings became the first defending Stanley Cup champions since the Carolina Hurricanes in 2007 to fail to make the playoffs. The Boston Bruins failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2007 and became the first reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners to miss the post-season since the Buffalo Sabres in 2008 (and the third overall). 

The Tampa Bay Lightning became the first team in league history to face an Original Six team in all four rounds of the playoffs in the same year, as they played against the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks, respectively. They also became the fourth team to defeat three consecutive Original Six teams.

Eastern Conference First Round

(A1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (WC1) Ottawa Senators

Date	Road Team	Home Team	Score/Recap
Apr. 15	Ottawa Senators	Montreal Canadiens	3-4
Apr. 17	Ottawa Senators	Montreal Canadiens	2-3 OT
Apr. 19	Montreal Canadiens	Ottawa Senators	2-1 OT
Apr. 22	Montreal Canadiens	Ottawa Senators	0-1
Apr. 24	Ottawa Senators	Montreal Canadiens	5-1
Apr. 26	Montreal Canadiens	Ottawa Senators	2-0

Candiens won series 4-2

(A2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (A3) Detroit Red Wings

Date	Road Team	Home Team	Score/Recap
Apr. 16	Detroit Red Wings	Tampa Bay Lightning	3-2
Apr. 18	Detroit Red Wings	Tampa Bay Lightning	1-5
Apr. 22	Tampa Bay Lightning	Detroit Red Wings	0-3
Apr. 23	Tampa Bay Lightning	Detroit Red Wings	3-2 OT
Apr. 25	Detroit Red Wings	Tampa Bay Lightning	4-0
Apr. 27	Tampa Bay Lightning	Detroit Red Wings	5-2
Apr. 29	Detroit Red Wings	Tampa Bay Lightning	0-2

Lightning won series 4-3

(M1) New York Rangers vs. (WC2) Pittsburgh Penguins

Date	Road Team	Home Team	Score/Recap
Apr. 16	Pittsburgh Penguins	New York Rangers	1-2
Apr. 18	Pittsburgh Penguins	New York Rangers	4-3
Apr. 20	New York Rangers	Pittsburgh Penguins	2-1
Apr. 22	New York Rangers	Pittsburgh Penguins	2-1 OT
Apr. 24	Pittsburgh Penguins	New York Rangers	1-2 OT

Rangers won series 4-1

(M2) Washington Capitals vs. (M3) New York Islanders

Date	Road Team	Home Team	Score/Recap
Apr. 15	New York Islanders	Washington Capitals	4-1
Apr. 17	New York Islanders	Washington Capitals	3-4
Apr. 19	Washington Capitals	New York Islanders	1-2 OT
Apr. 21	Washington Capitals	New York Islanders	2-1 OT
Apr. 23	New York Islanders	Washington Capitals	1-5
Apr. 25	Washington Capitals	New York Islanders	1-3
Apr. 27	New York Islanders	Washington Capitals	1-2

Capitals won series 4-3

Western Conference First Round

(C1) St. Louis Blues vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild

Date	Road Team	Home Team	Score/Recap
Apr. 16	Minnesota Wild	St. Louis Blues	4-1
Apr. 18	Minnesota Wild	St. Louis Blues	1-4
Apr. 20	St. Louis Blues	Minnesota Wild	0-3
Apr. 22	St. Louis Blues	Minnesota Wild	6-1
Apr. 24	Minnesota Wild	St. Louis Blues	4-1
Apr. 26	St. Louis Blues	Minnesota Wild	1-4

Wild won series 4-2

(C2) Nashville Predators vs. (C3) Chicago Blackhawks

Date	Road Team	Home Team	Score/Recap
Apr. 15	Chicago Blackhawks	Nashville Predators	4-3 2OT
Apr. 17	Chicago Blackhawks	Nashville Predators	2-6
Apr. 19	Nashville Predators	Chicago Blackhawks	2-4
Apr. 21	Nashville Predators	Chicago Blackhawks	2-3 OT
Apr. 23	Chicago Blackhawks	Nashville Predators	2-5
Apr. 25	Nashville Predators	Chicago Blackhawks	3-4

Blackhawks won series 4-2

(P1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (WC2) Winnipeg Jets

Date	Road Team	Home Team	Score/Recap
Apr. 15	Winnipeg Jets	Anaheim Ducks	2-4
Apr. 18	Winnipeg Jets	Anaheim Ducks	1-4
Apr. 20	Anaheim Ducks	Winnipeg Jets	5-4 OT
Apr. 22	Anaheim Ducks	Winnipeg Jets	5-2

Ducks won series 4-0

(P2) Vancouver Canucks vs. (P3) Calgary Flames

Date	Road Team	Home Team	Score/Recap
Apr. 15	Calgary Flames	Vancouver Canucks	2-1
Apr. 17	Calgary Flames	Vancouver Canucks	1-4
Apr. 19	Vancouver Canucks	Calgary Flames	2-4
Apr. 21	Vancouver Canucks	Calgary Flames	1-3
Apr. 23	Calgary Flames	Vancouver Canucks	1-2
Apr. 25	Vancouver Canucks	Calgary Flames	4-7

Flames won series 4-2

Eastern Conference Second Round

(A1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (A2) Tampa Bay Lightning

Date	Road Team	Home Team	Score/Recap
May 1	Tampa Bay Lightning	Montreal Canadiens	2-1 2OT
May 3	Tampa Bay Lightning	Montreal Canadiens	6-2
May 6	Montreal Canadiens	Tampa Bay Lightning	1-2
May 7	Montreal Canadiens	Tampa Bay Lightning	6-2
May 9	Tampa Bay Lightning	Montreal Canadiens	1-2
May 12	Montreal Canadiens	Tampa Bay Lightning	1-4

Lightning won series 4-2

(M1) New York Rangers vs. (M2) Washington Capitals

Date	Road Team	Home Team	Score/Recap
Apr. 30	Washington Capitals	New York Rangers	2-1
May 2	Washington Capitals	New York Rangers	2-3
May 4	New York Rangers	Washington Capitals	0-1
May 6	New York Rangers	Washington Capitals	1-2
May 8	Washington Capitals	New York Rangers	1-2 OT
May 10	New York Rangers	Washington Capitals	4-3
May 13	Washington Capitals	New York Rangers	1-2 OT

Rangers won series 4-3

Western Conference Second Round

(C3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild

Date	Road Team	Home Team	Score/Recap
May 1	Minnesota Wild	Chicago Blackhawks	3-4
May 3	Minnesota Wild	Chicago Blackhawks	1-4
May 6	Chicago Blackhawks	Minnesota Wild	1-0
May 7	Chicago Blackhawks	Minnesota Wild	4-3

Blackhawks won series 4-0

(P1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (P3) Calgary Flames

Date	Road Team	Home Team	Score/Recap
Apr. 30	Calgary Flames	Anaheim Ducks	1-6
May 3	Calgary Flames	Anaheim Ducks	0-3
May 5	Anaheim Ducks	Calgary Flames	3-4 OT
May 8	Anaheim Ducks	Calgary Flames	4-2
May 10	Calgary Flames	Anaheim Ducks	2-3 OT

Ducks won series 4-1

Eastern Conference Final

(M1) New York Rangers vs. (A2) Tampa Bay Lightning

Date	Road Team	Home Team	Score/Recap
May 16	Tampa Bay Lightning	New York Rangers	1-2
May 18	Tampa Bay Lightning	New York Rangers	6-2
May 20	New York Rangers	Tampa Bay Lightning	5-6 OT
May 22	New York Rangers	Tampa Bay Lightning	5-1
May 24	Tampa Bay Lightning	New York Rangers	2-0
May 26	New York Rangers	Tampa Bay Lightning	7-3
May 29	Tampa Bay Lightning	New York Rangers	2-0

Lightning won series 4-3

Western Conference Final

(P1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (C3) Chicago Blackhawks

Date	Road Team	Home Team	Score/Recap
May 17	Chicago Blackhawks	Anaheim Ducks	1-4
May 19	Chicago Blackhawks	Anaheim Ducks	3-2 3OT
May 21	Anaheim Ducks	Chicago Blackhawks	2-1
May 23	Anaheim Ducks	Chicago Blackhawks	4-5 2OT
May 25	Chicago Blackhawks	Anaheim Ducks	4-5 OT
May 27	Anaheim Ducks	Chicago Blackhawks	2-5
May 30	Chicago Blackhawks	Anaheim Ducks	5-3

Blackhawks won series 4-3

Stanley Cup Final

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Date	Road Team	Home Team	Score/Recap
June 3	Chicago Blackhawks	Tampa Bay Lightning	2-1
June 6	Chicago Blackhawks	Tampa Bay Lightning	3-4
June 8	Tampa Bay Lightning	Chicago Blackhawks	3-2
June 10	Tampa Bay Lightning	Chicago Blackhawks	1-2
June 13	Chicago Blackhawks	Tampa Bay Lightning	2-1
June 15	Tampa Bay Lightning	Chicago Blackhawks	0-2

Blackhawks won series 4-2 and the Stanley Cup

Conn Smythe Trophy: Duncan Keith

Sources

• Wikipedia