Docs Menu

2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs

ChampionsTampa Bay LightningDefending ChampionsSt. Louis Blues
Runner-upDallas StarsConn Smythe TrophyVictor Hedman (Lightning)

The 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs was the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL). The playoffs began on August 1, 2020, and concluded on September 28, 2020, with the Tampa Bay Lightning winning their second Stanley Cup in franchise history, defeating the Dallas Stars four games to two in the Stanley Cup Finals. The playoffs were originally scheduled to begin in April, a few days after the 2019–20 regular season, and end in June. However, on March 12, the regular season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On May 26, commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed that the league was going to use a 24-team playoff format to finish the season, conducted in two or more host cities as “hubs” with players placed under strict health protocols, quarantined from the general public, and all games played behind closed doors with no fans admitted. On July 10, the league ratified an agreement for its protocols with the NHL Players Association (NHLPA). The Eastern Conference played its early-round games at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, while the early rounds for the Western Conference, as well as the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals, were played at Rogers Place in Edmonton. This was the first Stanley Cup playoffs to be contested entirely in Canada since 1925, as well as the first time that the Stanley Cup was awarded on Canadian soil since 2011.

Stanley Cup Final

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Dallas Stars

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. Tampa Bay made their third Finals appearance. They last went to the Finals in 2015, which they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games. Dallas made their fifth appearance in the Finals. They last went to the Finals in 2000, which they lost to the New Jersey Devils in six games. Dallas won both games in this year’s regular-season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Sept. 19Dallas StarsTampa Bay Lightning4-1
Sept. 21Dallas StarsTampa Bay Lightning2-3
Sept. 23Tampa Bay LightningDallas Stars5-2
Sept. 25Tampa Bay LightningDallas Stars5-4 OT
Sept. 26Dallas StarsTampa Bay Lightning3-2 2OT
Sept. 28Tampa Bay LightningDallas Stars2-0

Lightning won the series 4-1 and the Stanley Cup

Conn Smythe Trophy: Victor Hedman (Lightning)

Stanley Cup Semifinals

(2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (6) New York Islanders

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams with Tampa Bay winning both previous series. They last met in the 2016 Eastern Conference Second Round, which Tampa Bay won in five games. This was Tampa Bay’s sixth Conference Finals appearance. They last went to the Conference Finals in 2018, which they lost to the Washington Capitals in seven games. This was New York’s fifth appearance in the Conference Finals. They last went to the Conference Finals in 1993, which they lost against the Montreal Canadiens in five games. New York won two of the three games in this year’s regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Sept. 7New York IslandersTampa Bay Lightning2-8
Sept. 9New York IslandersTampa Bay Lightning1-2
Sept. 11Tampa Bay LightningNew York Islanders3-5
Sept. 13Tampa Bay LightningNew York Islanders4-1
Sept. 15New York IslandersTampa Bay Lightning2-1 2OT
Sept. 17Tampa Bay LightningNew York Islanders2-1 OT

Lightning won series 4-2

(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (3) Dallas Stars

This was the first playoff series between these two teams. Vegas won their Round-robin game between these two teams earlier in this year’s playoffs 5–3. This was Vegas’ second appearance in the Conference Finals. Their only previous Conference Finals was in 2018, which they won against the Winnipeg Jets in five games. This was Dallas’s seventh Conference Finals appearance. They last went to the Conference Finals in 2008, which they lost to the Detroit Red Wings in six games. These teams split their two games in this year’s regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Sept. 6Dallas StarsVegas Golden Knights1-0
Sept. 8Dallas StarsVegas Golden Knights0-3
Sept. 10Vegas Golden KnightsDallas Stars2-3 OT
Sept. 12Vegas Golden KnightsDallas Stars1-2
Sept. 14Dallas StarsVegas Golden Knights3-2 OT

Stars won series 4-1

Western Conference Second Round

(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (5) Vancouver Canucks

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. These two teams split their two-game regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 23Vancouver CanucksVegas Golden Knights0-5
Aug. 25Vancouver CanucksVegas Golden Knights5-2
Aug. 29Vegas Golden KnightsVancouver Canucks3-0
Aug. 30Vegas Golden KnightsVancouver Canucks5-3
Sept. 1Vancouver CanucksVegas Golden Knights2-1
Sept. 3Vegas Golden KnightsVancouver Canucks0-4
Sept. 4Vancouver CanucksVegas Golden Knights0-3

Golden Knights won series 4-3

(2) Colorado Avalanche vs. (3) Dallas Stars

This was the fifth playoff series between these two teams, with both teams splitting the four previous series. They last met in the 2006 Western Conference Quarterfinals, which Colorado won in five games. Colorado won the round-robin game between these two teams earlier in this year’s playoffs 4–0. Dallas won all four games in this year’s regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 22Dallas StarsColorado Avalanche5-3
Aug. 24Dallas StarsColorado Avalanche5-2
Aug. 26Colorado AvalancheDallas Stars6-4
Aug. 30Colorado AvalancheDallas Stars4-5
Aug. 31Dallas StarsColorado Avalanche3-6
Sept. 2Colorado AvalancheDallas Stars4-1
Sept. 4Dallas StarsColorado Avalanche5-4 OT

Stars won series 4-3

Eastern Conference Second Round

(1) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (6) New York Islanders

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with Philadelphia winning three of the four previous series. They last met in the 1987 Patrick Division Finals, which Philadelphia won in seven games. New York won all three games in this year’s regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 24New York IslandersPhiladelphia Flyers4-0
Aug. 26New York IslandersPhiladelphia Flyers3-4 OT
Aug. 29Philadelphia FlyersNew York Islanders1-3
Aug. 30Philadelphia FlyersNew York Islanders2-3
Sept. 1New York IslandersPhiladelphia Flyers3-4 OT
Sept. 3Philadelphia FlyersNew York Islanders5-4 2OT
Sept. 5New York IslandersPhiladelphia Flyers4-0

Islanders won series 4-3

(2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (4) Boston Bruins

This was the third playoff series between these two teams with both teams splitting the two previous series. They last met in the 2018 Eastern Conference Second Round, which Tampa Bay won in five games. Tampa Bay won the Round-robin game between these two teams earlier in this year’s playoffs 3–2. Tampa Bay won three of four games in this year’s regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 23Boston BruinsTampa Bay Lightning3-2
Aug. 25Boston BruinsTampa Bay Lightning3-4 OT
Aug. 26Tampa Bay LightningBoston Bruins7-1
Aug. 29Tampa Bay LightningBoston Bruins3-1
Aug. 31Boston BruinsTampa Bay Lightning2-3 2OT

Lightning won series 4-1

Western Conference First Round

(1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (8) Chicago Blackhawks

Vegas earned the first seed in the Western Conference after finishing 3–0 in the Round-robin; during the regular season they finished with 86 points in 71 games for a .606 points percentage. Chicago earned the eighth seed in the Western Conference as the lowest advancing seed from the Qualifying Round by defeating Edmonton. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. Vegas won two of the three games in this year’s regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 11Chicago BlackhawksVegas Golden Knights1-4
Aug. 13Chicago BlackhawksVegas Golden Knights3-4 OT
Aug. 15Vegas Golden KnightsChicago Blackhawks2-1
Aug. 16Vegas Golden KnightsChicago Blackhawks1-3
Aug. 18Chicago BlackhawksVegas Golden Knights3-4

Golden Knights won series 4-1

(2) Colorado Avalanche vs. (7) Arizona Coyotes

Colorado earned the second seed in the Western Conference after finishing 2–1 in the Round-robin; during the regular season they finished with 92 points in 70 games for a .657 points percentage. Arizona earned the seventh seed in the Western Conference as the second lowest advancing seed from the Qualifying Round by defeating Nashville. This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams. Their only previous meeting was in the 2000 Western Conference Quarterfinals, which Colorado won in five games. These teams split their two-game regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 12Arizona CoyotesColorado Avalanche0-3
Aug. 14Arizona CoyotesColorado Avalanche2-3
Aug. 15Colorado AvalancheArizona Coyotes2-4
Aug. 17Colorado AvalancheArizona Coyotes7-1
Aug. 19Arizona CoyotesColorado Avalanche1-7

Avalanche won series 4-1

(3) Dallas Stars vs. (6) Calgary Flames

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 11Calgary FlamesDallas Stars3-2
Aug. 13Calgary FlamesDallas Stars4-5
Aug. 14Dallas StarsCalgary Flames0-2
Aug. 16Dallas StarsCalgary Flames5-4
Aug. 18Calgary FlamesDallas Stars1-2
Aug. 20Dallas StarsCalgary Flames7-3

Stars won series 4-2

(4) St. Louis Blues vs. (5) Vancouver Canucks

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 12Vancouver CanucksSt. Louis Blues5-2
Aug. 14Vancouver CanucksSt. Louis Blues4-3 OT
Aug. 16St. Louis BluesVancouver Canucks3-2 OT
Aug. 17St. Louis BluesVancouver Canucks3-1
Aug. 19Vancouver CanucksSt. Louis Blues4-3
Aug. 21St. Louis BluesVancouver Canucks2-6

Canucks won series 4-2

Eastern Conference First Round

(1) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (8) Montreal Canadiens

Philadelphia earned the first seed in the Eastern Conference after finishing 3–0 in the Round-robin; during the regular season they finished with 89 points in 69 games for a .645 points percentage. Montreal earned the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference as the lowest advancing seed from the Qualifying Round by defeating Pittsburgh. This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams with both teams splitting the six previous series. They last met in the 2010 Eastern Conference Final, which Philadelphia won in five games. Philadelphia won two of the three games in this year’s regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 12Montreal CanadiensPhiladelphia Flyers1-2
Aug. 14Montreal CanadiensPhiladelphia Flyers5-0
Aug. 16Philadelphia FlyersMontreal Canadiens1-0
Aug. 18Philadelphia FlyersMontreal Canadiens2-0
Aug. 19Montreal CanadiensPhiladelphia Flyers5-3
Aug. 21Philadelphia FlyersMontreal Canadiens3-2

Flyers won series 4-2

(2) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (7) Columbus Blue Jackets

Tampa Bay earned the second seed in the Eastern Conference after finishing 2–1 in the Round-robin; during the regular season they finished with 92 points in 70 games for a .657 points percentage. Columbus earned the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference as the second lowest advancing seed from the Qualifying Round by defeating Toronto. This was the second consecutive playoff meeting and second postseason match-up between these two teams. Columbus won last year’s Eastern Conference First Round playoff meeting in a four-game sweep. Tampa Bay won the only game in this year’s regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 11Columbus Blue JacketsTampa Bay Lightning2-3 5OT
Aug. 13Columbus Blue JacketsTampa Bay Lightning3-1
Aug. 15Tampa Bay LightningColumbus Blue Jackets3-2
Aug. 17Tampa Bay LightningColumbus Blue Jackets2-1
Aug. 19Columbus Blue JacketsTampa Bay Lightning4-5 OT

Lightning won series 4-1

(3) Washington Capitals vs. (6) New York Islanders

Washington earned the third seed in the Eastern Conference after finishing 1–2 in the Round-robin; during the regular season they finished with 90 points in 69 games for a .652 points percentage. New York earned the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference as the second highest advancing seed from the Qualifying Round by defeating Florida. This was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams with New York winning five of the seven previous series. They last met in the 2015 Eastern Conference First Round, which Washington won in seven games. These teams split the four games in this year’s regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 12New York IslandersWashington Capitals4-2
Aug. 14New York IslandersWashington Capitals5-2
Aug. 16Washington CapitalsNew York Islanders1-2
Aug. 18Washington CapitalsNew York Islanders3-2
Aug. 20New York IslandersWashington Capitals4-0

Islanders won series 4-1

(4) Boston Bruins vs. (5) Carolina Hurricanes

Boston earned the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference after finishing 0–3 in the Round-robin; during the regular season they finished with 100 points in 70 games for a .714 points percentage. Carolina earned the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference as the highest advancing seed from the Qualifying Round by defeating the New York Rangers.

This was the second consecutive postseason match-up and sixth playoff meeting overall between these two teams; with Boston winning four of the five previous series. Boston won last year’s Eastern Conference Final series in a four-game sweep. Boston won the only game in this year’s regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 12Carolina HurricanesBoston Bruins3-4 2OT
Aug. 13Carolina HurricanesBoston Bruins3-2
Aug. 15Boston BruinsCarolina Hurricanes3-1
Aug. 17Boston BruinsCarolina Hurricanes4-3
Aug. 19Carolina HurricanesBoston Bruins1-2

Bruins won series 4-1

Western Conference Qualifying Round

(5) Edmonton Oilers vs. (12) Chicago Blackhawks

Edmonton finished fifth in the Western Conference with 83 points in 71 games for a points percentage of .585. Chicago gained 72 points in 70 games for a points percentage of .514 to finish twelfth in the Western Conference. This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with Edmonton winning three of the four previous series. They last met in the 1992 Clarence Campbell Conference Final, which Chicago won in a four-game sweep. Chicago won two of the three games in this year’s regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 1Chicago BlackhawksEdmonton Oilers6-4
Aug. 3Chicago BlackhawksEdmonton Oilers3-6
Aug. 5Edmonton OilersChicago Blackhawks3-4
Aug. 7Edmonton OilersChicago Blackhawks2-3

Blackhawks won series 3-1

(6) Nashville Predators vs. (11) Arizona Coyotes

Nashville finished sixth in the Western Conference with 78 points in 69 games for a points percentage of .565, winning the tiebreaker against Vancouver with 28 RWs. Arizona gained 74 points in 70 games for a points percentage of .529 to finish eleventh in the Western Conference. This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams. Their only previous meeting was in the 2012 Western Conference Semifinals, which Arizona won in five games. These teams split their two-game regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 2Arizona CoyotesNashville Predators4-3
Aug. 4Arizona CoyotesNashville Predators2-4
Aug. 5Nashville PredatorsArizona Coyotes1-4
Aug. 7Nashville PredatorsArizona Coyotes3-4

Coyotes won series 3-1

(7) Vancouver Canucks vs. (10) Minnesota Wild

Vancouver finished seventh in the Western Conference with 78 points in 69 games for a points percentage of .565, losing the tiebreaker against Nashville with 27 RWs. Minnesota gained 77 points in 69 games for a points percentage of .558 to finish tenth in the Western Conference. This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams. Their only previous meeting was in the 2003 Western Conference Semifinals, which Minnesota came back from a 3–1 series deficit to win in seven games. Minnesota won two of the three games in this year’s regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 2Minnesota WildVancouver Canucks4-3
Aug. 4Minnesota WildVancouver Canucks2-4
Aug. 6Vancouver CanucksMinnesota Wild1-4
Aug. 7Vancouver CanucksMinnesota Wild3-4

(8) Calgary Flames vs. (9) Winnipeg Jets

Calgary finished eighth in the Western Conference with 79 points in 70 games for a points percentage of .564. Winnipeg gained 80 points in 71 games for a points percentage of .563 to finish ninth in the Western Conference. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. This was also the first Stanley Cup playoff meeting between these two cities since the 1987 Smythe Division Semifinals. Winnipeg won the only game in this year’s regular season series, which was played outdoors.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 1Winnipeg JetsCalgary Flames1-4
Aug. 3Winnipeg JetsCalgary Flames3-2
Aug. 4Calgary FlamesWinnipeg Jets6-2
Aug. 6Calgary FlamesWinnipeg Jets4-0

Flames won series 3-1

Eastern Conference Qualifying Round

(5) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (12) Montreal Canadiens

Pittsburgh finished fifth in the Eastern Conference with 86 points in 69 games for a points percentage of .623. Montreal gained 71 points in 71 games for a points percentage of .500 to finish twelfth in the Eastern Conference. This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with Montreal winning both previous series. They last met in the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals, which Montreal won in seven games. Pittsburgh won two of the three games in this year’s regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 1Montreal CanadiensPittsburgh Penguins3-2
Aug. 3Montreal CanadiensPittsburgh Penguins1-3
Aug. 5Pittsburgh PenguinsMontreal Canadiens3-4
Aug. 7Pittsburgh PenguinsMontreal Canadiens0-2

Canadiens won series 3-1

(6) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (11) New York Rangers

Carolina finished sixth in the Eastern Conference with 81 points in 68 games for a points percentage of .596. New York gained 79 points in 70 games for a points percentage of .564 to finish eleventh in the Eastern Conference. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. New York won all four games in this year’s regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 1New York RangersCarolina Hurricanes2-3
Aug. 3New York RangersCarolina Hurricanes1-4
Aug. 4Carolina HurricanesNew York Rangers4-1

Hurricanes won series 3-0

(7) New York Islanders vs. (10) Florida Panthers

New York finished seventh in the Eastern Conference with 80 points in 68 games for a points percentage of .588. Florida gained 78 points in 69 games for a points percentage of .565 to finish tenth in the Eastern Conference. This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams. Their only previous meeting was in the 2016 Eastern Conference First Round, which New York won in six games. New York won all three games in this year’s regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 1Florida PanthersNew York Islanders1-2
Aug. 4Florida PanthersNew York Islanders2-4
Aug. 5New York IslandersFlorida Panthers2-3
Aug. 7New York IslandersFlorida Panthers5-1

Islanders won series 3-1

(8) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (9) Columbus Blue Jackets

Toronto finished eighth in the Eastern Conference with 81 points in 70 games for a points percentage of .579 and 28 RWs. Columbus had the same points percentage, but with 25 RWs they finished ninth. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. These teams split their two-game regular season series.

DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 2Columbus Blue JacketsToronto Maple Leafs2-0
Aug. 4Columbus Blue JacketsToronto Maple Leafs0-3
Aug. 6Toronto Maple LeafsColumbus Blue Jackets3-4 OT
Aug. 7Toronto Maple LeafsColumbus Blue Jackets4-3 OT
Aug. 9Columbus Blue JacketsToronto Maple Leafs3-0

Blue Jackets won series 3-2

Stanley Cup Playoff Qualifiers Round-Robin

The top four playoff teams in each conference played in a round-robin tournament against each other to determine the final playoff seeding. The Round-robin games were played with regular season overtime and shootout rules, with the teams accumulating points like the regular season, and any ties in the round-robin standings were broken by the regular-season points percentage instead of regulation wins.

The bottom eight playoff teams in each conference played in a best-of-five series to determine which four teams advanced to the First Round. The Qualifying Round games were played with Stanley Cup playoff overtime rules. Seeding was determined by regular season points percentage.

Eastern Conference Seeding Round-Robin

PosTeamGPWLOTLPCTGFGAGDPts
1Philadelphia Flyers33000.645113+86
2Tampa Bay Lightning32100.65778−14
3Washington Capitals31110.65257−23
4Boston Bruins30300.71449−50
DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 2Philadelphia FlyersBoston Bruins4-1
Aug. 3Washington CapitalsTampa Bay Lightning2-3 SO
Aug. 5Tampa Bay LightningBoston Bruins3-2
Aug. 6Washington CapitalsPhiladelphia Flyers4-3
Aug. 8Philadelphia FlyersTampa Bay Lightning3-0
Aug. 9Boston BruinsWashington Capitals1-2

Western Conference Seeding Round-Robin

PosTeamGPWLOTLPCTGFGAGDPts
1Vegas Golden Knights33000.6061510+56
2Colorado Avalanche32010.65795+45
3Dallas Stars31200.594510−52
4St. Louis Blues30210.662610−41
DateRoad TeamHome TeamScore/Recap
Aug. 2St. Louis BluesColorado Avalanche1-2
Aug. 3Dallas StarsVegas Golden Knights3-5
Aug. 5Colorado AvalancheDallas Stars4-0
Aug. 6Vegas Golden KnightsSt. Louis Blues6-4
Aug. 8Vegas Golden KnightsColorado Avalanche4-3 OT
Aug. 9Dallas StarsSt. Louis Blues2-1 SO

Sources