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2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs

ChampionsPittsburgh PenguinsDefending ChampionsChicago Blackhawks
Runner-upSan Jose SharksConn Smythe TrophySidney Crosby (Penguins)

The 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League (NHL) began on April 13, 2016 and ended on June 12, 2016, with the Pittsburgh Penguins defeating the San Jose Sharks four games to two in the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals.

For only the second time in league history (1970 being the only other time), none of the NHL’s Canadian-based teams, seven in total, qualified for the postseason. In addition, for the second season in a row and only the fifth time since joining the league in 1979, all four former WHA teams (the Edmonton OilersArizona CoyotesCarolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche) missed the playoffs. The Washington Capitals made the playoffs as the Presidents’ Trophy winners with the most points (i.e. best record) during the regular season. This was the final season of the Detroit Red Wings’ 25-season playoff appearance streak, the longest streak at the time and tied for third longest in NHL history. For the fourth time in six years, all three California-based teams made the playoffs in the same season. And, for only the second time ever (1996 being the only other time), both Florida-based teams made the playoffs in the same season.

For the first time since 2006, and only the third time in league history, all Original Six teams who made the playoffs (three in total) were eliminated in the first round. For the seventh consecutive season and eleventh out of thirteen seasons, a team from California was in the Western Conference Final.

For the first time since 2002, no team lost in a four-game sweep in a playoff series.

Eastern Conference First Round

(A1) Florida Panthers vs. (WC1) New York Islanders

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Apr. 14New York IslandersFlorida Panthers5-4
Apr. 15New York IslandersFlorida Panthers1-3
Apr. 17Florida PanthersNew York Islanders3-4 OT
Apr. 20Florida PanthersNew York Islanders2-1
Apr. 22New York IslandersFloirda Panthers2-1 2OT
Apr. 24Florida PanthersNew York Islanders1-3

Islanders won series 4-2

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

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Apr. 13Detroit Red WingsTampa Bay Lightning2-3
Apr. 15Detroit Red WingsTampa Bay Lightning2-5
Apr. 17Tampa Bay LightningDetroit Red Wings0-2
Apr. 19Tampa Bay LightningDetroit Red Wings3-2
Apr. 21Detroit Red WingsTampa Bay Lightning0-1

Lightning won series 4-1

(M1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Philadelphia Flyers

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Apr. 14Philadelphia FlyersWashington Capitals0-2
Apr. 16Philadelphia FlyersWashington Capitals1-4
Apr. 18Washington CapitalsPhiladelphia Flyers6-1
Apr. 20Washington CapitalsPhiladelphia Flyers1-2
Apr. 22Philadelphia FlyersWashington Capitals2-0
Apr. 24Washington CapitalsPhiladelphia Flyers1-0

Capitals won series 4-2

(M2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (M3) New York Rangers

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Apr. 13New York RangersPittsburgh Penguins2-5
Apr. 16New York RangersPittsburgh Penguins4-2
Apr. 19Pittsburgh PenguinsNew York Rangers3-1
Apr. 21Pittsburgh PenguinsNew York Rangers5-0
Apr. 23New York RangersPittsburgh Penguins3-6

Penguins won series 4-1

Western Conference First Round

(C1) Dallas Stars vs. (WC2) Minnesota Wild

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Apr. 14Minnesota WildDallas Stars0-4
Apr. 16Minnesota WildDallas Stars1-2
Apr. 18Dallas StarsMinnesota Wild3-5
Apr. 20Dallas StarsMinnesota Wild3-2
Apr. 22Minnesota WildDallas Stars5-4 OT
Apr. 24Dallas StarsMinnesota Wild5-4

Stars won series 4-2

(C2) St. Louis Blues vs. (C3) Chicago Blackhawks

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Apr. 13Chicago BlackhawksSt. Louis Blues0-1 OT
Apr. 15Chicago BlackhawksSt. Louis Blues3-2
Apr. 17St. Louis BluesChicago Blackhawks3-2
Apr. 19St. Louis BluesChicago Blackhawks4-3
Apr. 21Chicago BlackhawksSt. Louis Blues4-3 2OT
Apr. 23St. Louis BluesChicago Blackhawks3-6
Apr. 25Chicago BlackhawksSt. Louis Blues2-3

Blues won series 4-3

(P1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (WC1) Nashville Predators

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Apr. 15Nashville PredatorsAnaheim Ducks3-2
Apr. 17Nashville PredatorsAnaheim Ducks3-2
Apr. 19Anaheim DucksNashville Predators3-0
Apr. 21Anaheim DucksNashville Predators4-1
Apr. 23Nashville PredatorsAnaheim Ducks2-5
Apr. 25Anaheim DucksNashville Predators1-3
Apr. 27Nashville PredatorsAnaheim Ducks2-1

Predators won series 4-3

(P2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (P3) San Jose Sharks

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Apr. 14San Jose SharksLos Angeles Kings4-3
Apr. 16San Jose SharksLos Angeles Kings2-1
Apr. 18Los Angeles KingsSan Jose Sharks2-1 OT
Apr. 20Los Angeles KingsSan Jose Sharks2-3
Apr. 22San Jose SharksLos Angeles Kings6-3

Sharks won series 4-1

Eastern Conference Second Round

(A2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (WC1) New York Islanders

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Apr. 27New York IslandersTampa Bay Lightning5-3
Apr. 30New York IslandersTampa Bay Lightning1-4
May 3Tampa Bay LightningNew York Islanders5-4 OT
May 6Tampa Bay LightningNew York Islanders2-1 OT
May 8New York IslandersTampa Bay Lightning0-4

Lightning won series 4-1

(M1) Washington Capitals vs. (M2) Pittsburgh Penguins

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Apr. 28PIttsburgh PenguinsWashington Capitals3-4 OT
Apr. 30PIttsburgh PenguinsWashington Capitals2-1
May 2Washington CapitalsPIttsburgh Penguins2-3
May 4Washington CapitalsPIttsburgh Penguins2-3 OT
May 7New York IslandersWashington Capitals1-3
May 10Washington CapitalsPIttsburgh Penguins3-4 OT

Penguins won series 4-2

Western Conference Second Round

(C1) Dallas Stars vs. (C2) St. Louis Blues

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Apr. 29St. Louis BluesDallas Stars1-2
May 1St. Louis BluesDallas Stars4-3 OT
May 3Dallas StarsSt. Louis Blues1-6
May 5Dallas StarsSt. Louis Blues3-2 OT
May 7St. Louis BluesDallas Stars4-1
May 9Dallas StarsSt. Louis Blues3-2
May 11St. Louis BluesDallas Stars6-1

Blues won series 4-3

(P3) San Jose Sharks vs. (WC1) Nashville Predators

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Apr. 29Nashville PredatorsSan Jose Sharks2-5
May 1Nashville PredatorsSan Jose Sharks2-3
May 3San Jose SharksNashville Predators1-4
May 5San Jose SharksNashville Predators3-4 3OT
May 7Nashville PredatorsSan Jose Sharks1-5
May 9San Jose SharksNashville Predators3-4 OT
May 12Nashville PredatorsSan Jose Sharks0-5

Sharks won series 4-3

Eastern Conference Final

(M2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (A2) Tampa Bay Lightning

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
May 13Tampa Bay LightningPittsburgh Penguins3-1
May 16Tampa Bay LightningPittsburgh Penguins2-3 OT
May 18Pittsburgh PenguinsTampa Bay Lightning4-2
May 20Pittsburgh PenguinsTampa Bay Lightning3-4
May 22Tampa Bay LightningPittsburgh Penguins4-3 OT
May 24Pittsburgh PenguinsTampa Bay Lightning5-2
May 26Tampa Bay LightningPittsburgh Penguins2-1

Penguins won series 4-3

Western Conference Final

(C2) St. Louis Blues vs. (P3) San Jose Sharks

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
May 13San Jose SharksSt. Louis Blues1-2
May 16San Jose SharksSt. Louis Blues4-0
May 18St. Louis BluesSan Jose Sharks0-3
May 20St. Louis BluesSan Jose Sharks6-3
May 22San Jose SharksSt. Louis Blues6-3
May 24St. Louis BluesSan Jose Sharks2-5

Sharks won series 4-2

Stanley Cup Final

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. San Jose Sharks

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
May 13San Jose SharksPittsburgh Penguins2-3
May 16San Jose SharksPittsburgh Penguins1-2 OT
May 18Pittsburgh PenguinsSan Jose Sharks2-3 OT
May 20Pittsburgh PenguinsSan Jose Sharks3-1
May 22San Jose SharksPittsburgh Penguins4-2
May 24Pittsburgh PenguinsSan Jose Sharks3-1

Penguins won series 4-2 and the Stanley Cup

Conn Smythe Trophy: Sidney Crosby

Sources