2017 Stanley Cup playoffs

**The 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs** of the National Hockey League (NHL) began on April 12, 2017, after the 2016–17 season and concluded on June 11, 2017, with the Pittsburgh Penguins defeating the Nashville Predators four games to two in the Finals to win the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive year.

The Washington Capitals made the playoffs as the Presidents' Trophy winners for the second consecutive year with the most points (i.e. best record) during the regular season.

The Detroit Red Wings failed to make the playoffs for the first time since the 1989-90 NHL season, ending the NHL's longest active playoff streak at 25 consecutive seasons; the streak was also tied for the third-longest streak in NHL history.

The longest active playoff streak moved to the Pittsburgh Penguins with eleven consecutive appearances.

The Edmonton Oilers made the playoffs for the first time since 2006, ending a record-tying playoff drought for a team with ten years missed (the Florida Panthers also missed the playoffs between 2001 and 2011 inclusively).

For the first time since 2006, both Alberta teams, the Oilers and the Calgary Flames, qualified for the postseason in the same year.

For the first time since 2013, and the fourth time since 2002, all three Eastern Canadian teams (Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs) qualified for the playoffs.

In all, five Canadian-based teams made the playoffs, matching 2015, after a season in which none of the seven teams in Canada contended.

Five Original Six teams made the playoffs, with only the previously mentioned Red Wings failing to make it.

The first round saw eighteen overtime games, eclipsing the previous record of seventeen overtime games in the first round set in 2013.

There were 27 total overtime games in these playoffs, one short of the record set in 1993.

It was also the first time since 2001 that no first round series went the full seven games.

For the eighth season in a row (and the twelfth time in the last fourteen seasons), a California-based team was in the Western Conference Final.

## Playoff seeds

### Eastern Conference

#### Atlantic Division

1. Montreal Canadiens, Atlantic Division champions: 103 points
2. Ottawa Senators: 98 points
3. Boston Bruins: 95 points (42 ROWs)

#### Metropolitan Division

1. Washington Capitals, Metropolitan Division champions, Eastern Conference regular season champions, Presidents' Trophy winners: 118 points
2. Pittsburgh Penguins: 111 points
3. Columbus Blue Jackets: 108 points

#### Wild Cards

1. New York Rangers: 102 points
2. Toronto Maple Leafs: 95 points (39 ROWs)

### Western Conference

#### Central Division

1. Chicago Blackhawks, Central Division champions, Western Conference regular season champions: 109 points
2. Minnesota Wild: 106 points
3. St. Louis Blues: 99 points

#### Pacific Division

1. Anaheim Ducks, Pacific Division champions: 105 points
2. Edmonton Oilers: 103 points
3. San Jose Sharks: 99 points

#### Wild Cards

1. Calgary Flames: 94 points (41 ROWs)
2. Nashville Predators: 94 points (39 ROWs)

## First Round

### Eastern Conference First Round

#### Montreal Canadiens vs. (WC1) New York Rangers

The Montreal Canadiens finished first in the Atlantic Division earning 103 points. The New York Rangers finished as the Eastern Conference's first wild-card, earning 102 points.

This was the sixteenth playoff meeting between these two teams with New York winning eight of the fifteen previous series; they last met in the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals, which New York won in six games.

Montreal won all three games in this year's regular season series.

In the first game of the series, Tanner Glass and Michael Grabner scored the only goals of the games as the Rangers won the game 2–0 on Henrik Lundqvist's 31-save shutout.

In game two, the Canadiens tied the game with 18 seconds left, then in overtime,

Alexander Radulov pushed it past the Rangers' goaltender to give Montreal a 4–3 victory; Radulov continued his scoring into game three, getting a goal and an assist to help the Canadiens achieve a 3–1 victory.

The Rangers ended a six-game home-losing streak after game four, winning 2–1 over the Canadiens to tie the series 2–2.

Mika Zibanejad got the overtime-winner for the Rangers in game five after Chris Kreider deflected a pass off of Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin, landing towards the forward who put it past goaltender Carey Price in a 3–2 win.

Mats Zuccarello scored twice in game six as the Rangers eliminated the Canadiens in a 3–1 victory to advance to the second round.

The New York Rangers won the series 4–2, defeating the Montreal Canadiens in six games.

#### Ottawa Senators vs. (A3) Boston Bruins

The Ottawa Senators finished second in the Atlantic Division, earning 98 points. The Boston Bruins earned 95 points in the regular season to finish third in the Atlantic.

This was the first playoff meeting between the contemporary Ottawa franchise and Boston, and the first Boston-Ottawa series since the 1927 Stanley Cup Finals.

Ottawa won all four games in this year's regular season series.

In the first game, the Senators gained a 1–0 lead into the third on Bobby Ryan's goal in the second period, however, the Bruins scored twice in the final period with Brad Marchand having the final tally 2:33 before the game ended 2–1 for Boston.

In game two, Ottawa came back from a two-goal deficit in the third period and won via Dion Phaneuf whose goal in overtime helped tie the series 1–1 after a 4–3 conquest.

In game three, Ottawa had a three-goal lead with Mike Hoffman scoring twice, but the Bruins came back with three goals in the third period.

In overtime, Bruins forward Riley Nash took a roughing penalty and on the ensuing power play, Bobby Ryan tipped in a pass from Kyle Turris ending the game 4–3 for the Senators.

Bobby Ryan scored the only goal in game four, at the 5:49 mark of the third period, allowing the Senators to achieve a 3–1 series lead.

Boston came back from an early 2–0 deficit in game five and the game would go to overtime.

In double-overtime, Bruins rookie Sean Kuraly scored his second goal of the game, completing the comeback in a 3–2 feat.

In game six, Clarke MacArthur scored the series-winning goal on the power play in overtime for Ottawa to advance to the second round.

The Ottawa Senators won the series 4-2, defeating the Boston Bruins in six games.

#### Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Toronto Maple Leafs

The Washington Capitals earned the Presidents' Trophy for the second consecutive year as the NHL's best regular season team this time with 118 points.

The Toronto Maple Leafs finished as the Eastern Conference's second wild-card, earning 95 points. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.

Washington won two of the three games in this year's regular season series.

This became only the third playoff series in NHL history in which five games were decided in overtime (the first being the 1951 Stanley Cup Finals between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens and the second occurring in the 2012 Western Conference Quarterfinals between the Phoenix Coyotes and the Chicago Blackhawks).

Although Toronto had a two-goal lead in the first ten minutes of the first game, Washington scored two goals, both from Justin Williams, and won the game 3–2 in overtime from Tom Wilson's goal.

In game two, rookie Kasperi Kapanen scored twice including the game-winner in double-overtime leading the Maple Leafs to a 4–3 victory.

Washington took two two-goal leads in game three; the first pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Auston Matthews, helped soften the lead with his first playoff goal, but after the Capitals got a 3–1 lead, the Maple Leafs scored twice to tie the game.

Then in overtime, Tyler Bozak tipped a shot past the Capitals' goaltender to give the Leafs a 2–1 series lead.

Game four was the only game of the series not to go into overtime; Tom Wilson and T.J. Oshie both scored two goals and Oshie's second goal proved to be the game-winner in a 5–4 victory after an attempted comeback by Toronto was thwarted.

Game five featured the fourth overtime game of this series with Justin Williams scoring for Capitals in a 2–1, taking a 3–2 series lead in the process.

In game six, the game went to overtime for the fifth time this series and at 6:31 of the first overtime period Marcus Johansson scored his second goal for the Capitals in a 2–1 victory and another trip to the second round.

The Washington Capitals won the series 4-2, defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games.

#### Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (M3) Columbus Blue Jackets

The Pittsburgh Penguins finished second in the Metropolitan Division earning 111 points. The Columbus Blue Jackets earned 108 points to finish third in the Metropolitan.

This was the second playoff meeting between these teams; they last met in the 2014 Eastern Conference First Round, which Pittsburgh won in six games. The teams split this year's four-game regular season series.

Before game one began, Penguins starting goaltender Matt Murray injured himself during warm-ups forcing Marc-Andre Fleury, who had been demoted to the backup for the season, to start the game; his team would win the game 3–1, making 31 saves in the process.

Sidney Crosby got a goal and two assists in game two as the Penguins defeated the Blue Jackets 4–1 and took a 2–0 series lead.

In game three, Jake Guentzel scored a hat-trick, his third being the overtime-winner as the Penguins came back from a two-goal deficit and defeated the Blue Jackets 5–4 and take a 3–0 series lead.

Columbus avoided a sweep in game four, scoring with five different players in a 5–4 victory; this was also the franchise's first playoff win in regulation.

In game five, Bryan Rust scored twice, including the series-winner, and Fleury made 49 saves in a 5–2 win for the Penguins to advance to the second round.

The Pittsburgh Penguins won the series 4-1, defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets in five games.

### Western Conference First Round

#### Chicago Blackhawks vs. (WC2) Nashville Predators

The Chicago Blackhawks finished first in the Central Division earning 109 points. The Nashville Predators finished as the Western Conference's second wild-card, earning 94 points.

This was the third playoff meeting between these teams with Chicago winning both previous series; they last met in the 2015 Western Conference First Round, which Chicago won in six games.

Chicago won four of the five games in this year's regular season series.

Viktor Arvidsson scored the only goal in game one as the Predators shut out the Blackhawks, stopping all 29 shots they faced.

The Blackhawks remained scoreless after game two, instead being outscored 5–0 with Pekka Rinne not only stopping all 30 shots he faced, but also providing two assists.

Chicago finally scored a goal in game three and they maintained a two-goal lead throughout the second period, but in the third period, Filip Forsberg scored twice for Nashville to tie the game and send it to overtime.

In overtime, Nashville forward Kevin Fiala skated around Chicago goalie Corey Crawford and put the puck past the Chicago net minder to complete the comeback in a 3–2 victory giving them their first 3–0 series lead.

In game four, Roman Josi scored twice in a 4–1 victory and Rinne made 30 saves for the Predators, who swept a playoff opponent for the first time in franchise history.

The Nashville Predators defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in a four-game sweep; this was the first time in NHL playoff history that an eighth-seeded team swept a playoff series against the top seed in their conference.

#### Minnesota Wild vs. (C3) St. Louis Blues

The Minnesota Wild finished second in the Central Division earning 106 points. The St. Louis Blues earned 99 points to finish third in the Central.

This was the second playoff meeting between these teams; their only previous meeting was the 2015 Western Conference First Round, which Minnesota won in six games.

St. Louis won three of the five games in this year's regular season series.

St. Louis won the first game of the series 2–1 17:48 into overtime from Joel Edmundson's wrist shot after the Wild tied the game in the final minute of the game, Jake Allen made 51 saves in the process.

In game two, Jaden Schwartz scored the game-winner with 2:27 left in the third period, giving the Blues another 2–1 victory over the Wild.

The Wild continued to score only one goal in each game this series, losing the game nevertheless, this time 3–1 as Allen made 40 saves and the Blues took a 3–0 series lead.

Devan Dubnyk kept the Wild alive in the series, stopping all 28 shots he faced in a 2–0 victory in game four.

In game five, the Blues took a 3–1 lead in the third period only to see the Wild tie it up in the last ten minutes. However, in overtime, Magnus Paajarvi ended the game for St. Louis, defeating the Wild 4–3 to advance to the second round.

The St. Louis Blues won the series 4-1, defeating the Minnesota Wild in five games.

#### Anaheim Ducks vs. (WC1) Calgary Flames

The Anaheim Ducks finished first in the Pacific Division for the fifth consecutive year, this time earning 105 points.

The Calgary Flames finished as the Western Conference's first wild-card, earning 94 points. This was the third playoff meeting between these teams with Anaheim winning both previous series.

They last met in the 2015 Western Conference Second Round which Anaheim won in five games. Anaheim won four of the five games in this year's regular season series.

Anaheim has also won 25 straight regular-season home games against Calgary.

In game one, both Ryan Getzlaf and Jakob Silfverberg had a goal and an assist, the latter of whom had the game-winning goal in a 3–2 victory for the Ducks.

Anaheim continued their home-dominance over Calgary defeating the Flames 3–2 with a goal and an assist by Getzlaf again.

The Flames had a lead of 4–1 in game three, forcing Ducks goaltender John Gibson to be replaced by Jonathan Bernier.

The Ducks came back in this game, scoring three times, in what would become the fourth overtime game of this night.

Corey Perry then threw the puck towards the net and it bounced off both Calgary goaltender Brian Elliott and defenceman Michael Stone and into the net, to give the Ducks a 3–0 series lead.

In game four, Gibson stopped 36 shots by the Flames, but allowed only one goal as the Ducks ended the series with a 3–1 win.

The Anaheim Ducks won the series 4-0, sweeping them in four games.

#### Edmonton Oilers vs. (P3) San Jose Sharks

The Edmonton Oilers finished second in the Pacific Division with 103 points. The San Jose Sharks earned 99 points in the regular season to finish third in the Pacific. Edmonton started a playoff series at home for the first time since the 1991 Campbell Conference Finals.

This was the second playoff meeting between these teams; their only previous series was the 2006 Western Conference Semifinals, which Edmonton won in six games.

Edmonton won three of the five games in this year's regular season series.

In Edmonton's first playoff game since 2006, the Oilers took a 2–0 lead in the first period, but the Sharks scored three goals over the second, third, and first overtime period winning the game 3–2 from Melker Karlsson's goal.

The Oilers scored two shorthanded goals in game two as they blanked San Jose 2–0.

The shutout streak continued in game three, as Zack Kassian scored the only goal for the Oilers and Cam Talbot stopped 23 shots.

Logan Couture & Joe Pavelski scored two goals each and Martin Jones stopped all 23 shots as the Sharks blanked the Oilers 7–0 in game four to tie the series at two.

The Sharks gained a 3–1 lead over the Oilers in game five, but both Mark Letestu and Oscar Klefbom scored to tie the game and send it to overtime. David Desharnais would end it at 18:15 of overtime to give the Oilers a 4–3 triumph and a 3–2 series lead.

In game six, the Oilers scored twice in the second period, both on breakaways, and closed out the series with a 3–1 win.

The Edmonton Oilers won the series 4-2, defeating the San Jose Sharks in six games.