Editor’s note: The 2017 NHL playoff schedule and results are over here.
NHL playoffs 2016: Bracket, schedule, scores and more
The 2016 Stanley Cup Final lasted six games, many of them close, and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the San Jose Sharks for their fourth championship in franchise history. The Cup Final was the culmination of an exciting four postseason rounds.
The Sharks were in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in their franchise history, after eliminating the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference Final in six games. The Sharks took out the 2012 and 2014 champion Kings, while the Blues eliminated the 2010, 2013 and 2015 champion Blackhawks.
In the Eastern Conference, the Pittsburgh Penguins the league’s hottest team, outlasted the defending conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games to return to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2009.
Plenty of intrigue in the playoffs this year. We’re having fun.
The format
The top three teams in each division — Atlantic, Metropolitan, Central, Pacific — earned automatic postseason berths, while the final four spots were given to two wild card teams in each conference based on point totals. The top seeds in both conferences play against the lowest wild card teams in the first round, and the other division winners face off against the other wild card qualifiers. Otherwise, the matchups aren't based on conference standings — rather, the second and third seeds in each division square off. From there, whoever emerges from the series involving division champions take on the winners of the series involving the second and third seeds in what is known as the conference semifinals. The winners advance to the Conference Finals, and then the Stanley Cup Final.
Each series is best-of-seven, played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format.
The teams
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division1. Florida Panthers - 103 points2. Tampa Bay Lightning - 97 points3. Detroit Red Wings - 93 points
Metropolitan Division1. Washington Capitals - 120 points
2. Pittsburgh Penguins - 104 points3. New York Rangers - 101 points
Wild Cards1. New York Islanders - 100 points2. Philadelphia Flyers - 96 points
Western Conference
Central Division1. Dallas Stars - 109 points2. St. Louis Blues - 107 points3. Chicago Blackhawks - 103 points
Pacific Division1. Anaheim Ducks - 103 points2. Los Angeles Kings - 102 points3. San Jose Sharks - 98 points
Wild Cards1. Nashville Predators - 96 points2. Minnesota Wild - 87 points
Bracket
Schedule and results
All times Eastern
*if necessary
First round
Friday, April 15
Eastern Conference quarterfinals
Game 2: Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Detroit Red Wings 2 (recap)
Game 2: Florida Panthers 3, New York Islanders 1 (recap)
Western Conference quarterfinals
Game 2: Chicago Blackhawks 3, St. Louis Blues 2 (recap)
Game 1: Nashville Predators 3, Anaheim Ducks 2 (recap)
Sunday, April 17
Eastern Conference quarterfinals
Game 3: Detroit Red Wings 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 0 (recap)
Game 3: NY Islanders 4, Florida Panthers 3 OT (recap)
Western Conference quarterfinals
Game 3: St. Louis Blues 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2 (recap)
Game 2: Nashville Predators 3, Anaheim Ducks 2 (recap)
Tuesday, April 19
Eastern Conference quarterfinals
Game 4: Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Detroit Red Wings 2 (recap)
Game 3: Pittsburgh Penguins 3, NY Rangers 1 (recap)
Western Conference quarterfinals
Game 4: St. Louis Blues 4, Chicago Blackhawks 3 (recap)
Game 3: Anaheim Ducks 3, Nashville Predators 0 (recap)
Thursday, April 21
Eastern Conference quarterfinals
Game 4: Pittsburgh Penguins 5, NY Rangers 0 (recap)
Game 5: Tampa Bay Lightning 1, Detroit Red Wings 0 (recap)
Western Conference quarterfinals
Game 4: Anaheim Ducks 4, Nashville Predators 1 (recap)
Game 5: Chicago Blackhawks 4, St. Louis Blues 3, 2OT (recap)
Friday, April 22
Eastern Conference quarterfinals
Game 5: Philadelphia Flyers 2, Washington Capitals 0 (recap)
Game 5: NY Islanders 2, Florida Panthers 1, 2OT (recap)
Western Conference quarterfinals
Game 5: Minnesota Wild 5, Dallas Stars 4, OT (recap)
Game 5: San Jose Sharks 6, Los Angeles Kings 3 (recap)
Second round
Thursday, April 28
Eastern Conference semifinals
Game 1: Washington Capitals 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 3, OT (recap)
Monday, May 2
Eastern Conference semifinals
Game 3: Pittsburgh Penguins 3, Washington Capitals 2 (recap)
Game 3: St. Louis Blues 6, Dallas Stars 1 (recap)
Wednesday, May 4
Eastern Conference semifinals
Game 4: Pittsburgh Penguins 3, Washington Capitals 2, OT (recap)
Friday, May 6
Eastern Conference semifinals
Game 4: Tampa Bay Lightning 2, NY Islanders 1, OT (recap)
Sunday, May 8
Eastern Conference semifinals
Game 5: Tampa Bay Lightning 4, NY Islanders 0 (recap)
Tuesday, May 10
Eastern Conference semifinals
Game 6: Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Washington Capitals 3, OT (recap)
Wednesday, May 11
Western Conference semifinals
Game 7: St. Louis Blues 6, Dallas Stars 1 (recap)
Thursday, May 12
Western Conference semifinals
Game 7: San Jose Sharks 5, Nashville Predators 0 (recap)
Conference finals
Friday, May 13
Eastern Conference Final
Game 1: Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 1 (recap)
Sunday, May 15
Western Conference Final
Game 1: St. Louis Blues 2, San Jose Sharks 1 (recap)
Monday, May 16
Eastern Conference Final
Game 2: Pittsburgh Penguins 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2, OT (recap)
Tuesday, May 17
Western Conference Final
Game 2: San Jose Sharks 4, St. Louis Blues 0 (recap)
Wednesday, May 18
Eastern Conference Final
Game 3: Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (recap)
Thursday, May 19
Western Conference Final
Game 3: San Jose Sharks 3, St. Louis Blues 0 (recap)
Friday, May 20
Eastern Conference Final
Game 4: Tampa Bay Lightning 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (recap)
Saturday, May 21
Western Conference Final
Game 4: St. Louis Blues 6, San Jose Sharks 3 (recap)
Sunday, May 22
Eastern Conference Final
Game 5: Tampa Bay Lightning 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 3, OT (recap)
Monday, May 23
Western Conference Final
Game 5: San Jose Sharks 6, St. Louis Blues 3 (recap)
Tuesday, May 24
Eastern Conference Final
Game 6: Pittsburgh Penguins 5, Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (recap)
Wednesday, May 25
Western Conference Final
Game 6: San Jose Sharks 5, St. Louis Blues 2 (recap)
Thursday, May 26
Eastern Conference Final
Game 7: Pittsburgh Penguins 2, Tampa Bay Lightning 1 (recap)
Stanley Cup Final
Monday, May 30
Game 1: Pittsburgh Penguins 3, San Jose Sharks 2 (recap)
Wednesday, June 1
Game 2: Pittsburgh 2, San Jose 1, OT (recap)
Saturday, June 4
Game 3: San Jose 3, Pittsburgh 2, OT (recap)
Monday, June 6
Game 4: Pittsburgh 3, San Jose 1 (recap)
Thursday, June 9
Game 5: San Jose 4, Pittsburgh 2 (recap)
Sunday, June 12
Game 6: Pittsburgh 3, San Jose 1 (recap)
* * *
Nick Bonino’s amazing goal to win Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final
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