The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs represented a return to normalcy, after a bubble-encased postseason in 2020 and a 2021 tournament that featured realigned intradivisional play, followed by a rebracketing for the final two rounds. Sixteen teams started and only the Colorado Avalanche were left standing at the end, skating the Stanley Cup around the ice after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. It was the first Cup title for the Avalanche since 2000-2001.
Read on for the full playoff coverage from every first-round series all the way through the Cup final.
More: Playoff schedule
Under-the-radar playoff stars
How officials handle the pressure of playoffs
Ranking the top 50 players in the playoffs
Stanley Cup Final
Colorado Avalanche vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Avalanche hoist the Stanley Cup for the third time in franchise history
Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche hoist the Stanley Cup after their win over the Lightning in Game 6.
Leading playoff scorers:
Avalanche: D Cale Makar (8 G | 21 A)
Lightning: RW Nikita Kucherov (8 G | 19 A)
How Nathan MacKinnon molded the Avalanche into Stanley Cup champions
Avalanche win first Stanley Cup since 2001 with comeback victory in Game 6
Avs open as favorites to win 2023 Stanley Cup
Keys to the offseason for Avs and Lightning (ESPN+)
Video: Cooper -- "I think I'll remember this team the most"
Avalanche win, 4-2
Game 1 (at COL): Avalanche 4, Lightning 3 (OT) | Replay
Game 2 (at COL): Avalanche 7, Lightning 0 | Replay
Game 3 (at TB): Lightning 6, Avalanche 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at TB): Avalanche 3, Lightning 2 (OT) | Replay
Game 5 (at COL): Lightning 3, Avalanche 2 | Replay
Game 6 (at TB): Avalanche 2, Lightning 1 | Replay
Conference finals
Jump to:
East: NYR-TB
West: COL-EDM
Eastern Conference
New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Lightning celebrate as they head to 3rd straight Cup appearance
The Lightning advance to the Stanley Cup final for the third consecutive season as they hold off the Rangers in the final moments for a 2-1 Game 6 win.
Leading playoff scorers:
Rangers: C Mika Zibanejad (10 G | 14 A)
Lightning: RW Nikita Kucherov (7 G | 15 A)
Wyshynski: 'A unique, special talent:' How Nikita Kucherov became one of the NHL's best
Wyshynski: 'It's the way I've always played:' Jacob Trouba isn't looking to be a villain
Wyshynski: Takeaways after two games: What we've seen and what's ahead
Wyshynski: Shesterkin vs. Vasilevskiy: Inside the playoffs' ultimate goalie showdown
Wyshynski: Full series preview
Lightning advance, 4-2
Game 1 (at NYR): Rangers 6, Lightning 2 | Replay
Game 2 (at NYR): Rangers 3, Lightning 2 | Replay
Game 3 (at TB): Lightning 3, Rangers 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at TB): Lightning 4, Rangers 1 | Replay
Game 5 (at NYR): Lightning 3, Rangers 1 | Replay
Game 6 (at TB): Lightning 2, Rangers 1 | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Rangers
Western Conference
Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers
Avalanche scramble in front of net to get goal back vs. Oilers
Gabriel Landeskog fights his way to a goal to bring the Avalanche within one vs. the Oilers.
Leading playoff scorers:
Avalanche: D Cale Makar (3 G | 10 A); C Nathan MacKinnon (8 G | 5 A)
Oilers: C Connor McDavid (7 G | 19 A); C Leon Draisaitl (7 G | 19 A)
Shilton: Why the Cup Final-bound Avalanche must be seen to be believed
Shilton: Top takeaways after the first two games -- and what it all means for the series
Shilton: "Family comes first..." or does it? Josh Manson faces his father, an Oilers assistant
Shilton: Full series preview
Avalanche advance, 4-0
Game 1 (at COL): Avalanche 8, Oilers 6 | Replay
Game 2 (at COL): Avalanche 4, Oilers 0 | Replay
Game 3 (at EDM): Avalanche 4, Oilers 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at EDM): Avalanche 6, Oilers 5 (OT) | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Oilers
Second round
Jump to:
FLA-TB
CAR-NYR
COL-STL
CGY-EDM
Atlantic Division
No. 1 Florida Panthers vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning
Panthers can't capitalize on late chance as Lightning sweep the series
The Panthers can't score on a great chance as Ondrej Palat scores the series-clinching empty-net goal.
Regular-season records:
Panthers: 58-18-6, 122 points
Lightning: 51-23-8, 110 points
Leading playoff scorers:
Panthers: LW Carter Verhaeghe (6 G | 6 A)
Lightning: RW Nikita Kucherov (4 G | 11 A)
Wyshynski: Where does Panthers-Lightning fit in rankings of NHL rivalries?
Lightning advance, 4-0
Game 1 (at FLA): Lightning 4, Panthers 1 | Replay
Game 2 (at FLA): Lightning 2, Panthers 1 | Replay
Game 3 (at TB): Lightning 5, Panthers 1 | Replay
Game 4 (at TB): Lightning 2, Panthers 0 | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Panthers
Metropolitan Division
No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 2 New York Rangers
Rangers foil Canes' comeback attempt with Chytil's goal
Rangers foil Canes' comeback attempt with Chytil's goal
Regular-season records:
Hurricanes: 54-20-8, 116 points
Rangers: 52-24-6, 110 points
Leading playoff scorers:
Hurricanes: LW Teuvo Teravainen (2 G | 7 A)
Rangers: C Mika Zibanejad (4 G | 9 A)
Wyshynski: How the Rangers' 'Kid Line' has sparked New York's offense
Wyshynski: The ex-Rangers fueling the Hurricanes this postseason
Wyshynski: Will some 'added nastiness' bring out the best of the Rangers?
Wyshynski: Hurricanes swear road woes are 'nonissue' in Game 6
Rangers advance 4-3:
Game 1 (at CAR): Hurricanes 2, Rangers 1 (OT) | Replay
Game 2 (at CAR): Hurricanes 2, Rangers 0 | Replay
Game 3 (at NYR): Rangers 3, Hurricanes 1 | Replay
Game 4 (at NYR): Rangers 4, Hurricanes 1 | Replay
Game 5 (at CAR): Hurricanes 3, Rangers 1 | Replay
Game 6 (at NYR): Rangers 5, Hurricanes 2 | Replay
Game 7 (at CAR): Rangers 6, Hurricanes 2 | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Hurricanes
Central Division
No. 1 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. 3 St. Louis Blues
The moment the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup
Pandemonium ensues in the final seconds as the Colorado Avalanche take down the Tampa Bay Lightning to win the Stanley Cup.
Regular-season records:
Avalanche: 56-19-7, 119 points
Blues: 49-22-11, 109 points
Leading playoff scorers:
Avalanche: D Cale Makar (3 G | 9 A)
Blues: LW David Perron (9 G | 4 A)
Wyshynski: Can the Blues still win without Jordan Binnington?
Shilton/Wyshynski: Why the Avs are the NHL's postseason juggernaut
Wyshynski: 'You never know what to expect:' Why Cale Makar continues to fluster opponents
Avalanche advance 4-2
Game 1 (at COL): Avalanche 3, Blues 2 (OT) | Replay
Game 2 (at COL): Blues 4, Avalanche 1 | Replay
Game 3 (at STL): Avalanche 5, Blues 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at STL): Avalanche 6, Blues 3 | Replay
Game 5 (at COL): Blues 5, Avalanche 4 (OT) | Replay
Game 6 (at STL): Avalanche 3, Blues 2 | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Blues
Pacific Division
No. 1 Calgary Flames vs. No. 2 Edmonton Oilers
Darnell Nurse and Jesse Puljujarvi score to bring the Oilers level
Darnell Nurse and Jesse Puljujarvi score in rapid succession to tie it up for the Oilers against the Flames.
Regular-season records:
Flames: 50-21-11, 111 points
Oilers: 49-27-6, 104 points
Leading playoff scorers:
Flames: LW Johnny Gaudreau (2 G | 11 A)
Oilers: C Connor McDavid (6 G | 17 A)
Shilton: The wild past and furious present of the Battle of Alberta
Shilton: Flames star Matthew Tkachuk sends shout out to young Oilers fan battling brain cancer
Shilton: How Connor McDavid has somehow taken his game to another level
Shilton: 'This team is in our blood:' How Oilers, Flames fans bring the action outside the arenas
Wyshynski: Mike Smith is the playoffs' most fascinating player
Oilers advance, 4-1
Game 1 (at CGY): Flames 9, Oilers 6 | Replay
Game 2 (at CGY): Oilers 5, Flames 3 | Replay
Game 3 (at EDM): Oilers 4, Flames 1 | Replay
Game 4 (at EDM): Oilers 5, Flames 3 | Replay
Game 5 (at CGY): Oilers 5, Flames 4 | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Flames
First round
Jump to:
Atlantic: FLA-WSH | TOR-TB
Metro: CAR-BOS | NYR-PIT
Central: COL-NSH | MIN-STL
Pacific: CGY-DAL | EDM-LA
Atlantic Division
No. 1 Florida Panthers vs. No. 4 Washington Capitals
Carter Verhaeghe scores OT winner as Panthers win series against Capitals
Carter Verhaeghe receives the pass in front of goal and finishes the backhanded shot for the Panthers in overtime.
Regular-season records:
Panthers: 58-18-6, 122 points
Capitals: 44-26-12, 100 points
Leading scorers:
Panthers: LW Jonathan Huberdeau, 115 points (30 G, 85 A)
Capitals: LW Alex Ovechkin, 90 points (50 G, 40 A)
Claude Giroux's fun new world with the Panthers
Panthers advance 4-2:
Game 1 (at FLA): Capitals 4, Panthers 2 | Replay
Game 2 (at FLA): Panthers 5, Capitals 1 | Replay
Game 3 (at WSH): Capitals 6, Panthers 1 | Replay
Game 4 (at WSH): Panthers 3, Capital 2 (OT) | Replay
Game 5 (at FLA): Panthers 5, Capitals 3 | Replay
Game 6 (at WSH): Panthers 4, Capitals 3 (OT) | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Capitals
No. 2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning
Nick Paul weaves through Toronto's defense for his second goal
Tampa Bay's Nick Paul shows off his stick work to give the Lightning a 2-1 lead.
Regular-season records:
Maple Leafs: 54-21-7, 115 points
Lightning: 51-23-8, 110 points
Leading scorers:
Maple Leafs: C Auston Matthews, 106 points (60 G, 46 A)
Lightning: C Steven Stamkos, 106 points (42 G, 64 A)
Why the Lightning's three-peat quest will be so difficult
Lightning advance 4-3:
Game 1 (at TOR): Maple Leafs 5, Lightning 0 | Replay
Game 2 (at TOR): Lightning 5, Maple Leafs 3 | Replay
Game 3 (at TB): Maple Leafs 5, Lightning 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at TB): Lightning 7, Maple Leafs 3 | Replay
Game 5 (at TOR): Maple Leafs 4, Lightning 3 | Replay
Game 6 (at TB): Lightning 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT) | Replay
Game 7 (at TOR): Lightning 2, Maple Leafs 1 | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 4 Boston Bruins
Max Domi's second goal increases Hurricanes' lead
Max Domi grabs his second goal of the game as he zips it in to pad the Hurricanes lead to 3-1 vs. the Bruins.
Regular-season records:
Hurricanes: 54-20-8, 116 points
Bruins: 51-26-5, 107 points
Leading scorers:
Hurricanes: C Sebastian Aho, 81 points (37 G, 44 A)
Bruins: LW Brad Marchand, 80 points (32 G, 48 A)
Hurricanes advance 4-3:
Game 1 (at CAR): Hurricanes 5, Bruins 1 | Replay
Game 2 (at CAR): Hurricanes 5, Bruins 2 | Replay
Game 3 (at BOS): Bruins 4, Hurricanes 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at BOS): Bruins 5, Hurricanes 2 | Replay
Game 5 (at CAR): Hurricanes 5, Bruins 1 | Replay
Game 6 (at BOS): Bruins 5, Hurricanes 2 | Replay
Game 7 (at CAR): Hurricanes 3, Bruins 2 | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Bruins
No. 2 New York Rangers vs. No. 3 Pittsburgh Penguins
Panarin wins it in OT as Rangers eliminate Penguins
Artemi Panarin's power-play goal in overtime lifts the Rangers past the Penguins in Game 7.
Regular-season records:
Rangers: 52-24-6, 110 points
Penguins: 46-25-11, 103 points
Leading scorers:
Rangers: LW Artemi Panarin, 96 points (22 G, 74 A)
Penguins: C Sidney Crosby, 84 points (31 G, 53 A)
Rangers advance 4-3:
Game 1 (at NYR): Penguins 4, Rangers 3 (3OT) | Replay
Game 2 (at NYR): Rangers 5, Penguins 2 | Replay
Game 3 (at PIT): Penguins 7, Rangers 4 | Replay
Game 4 (at PIT): Penguins 7, Rangers 2 | Replay
Game 5 (at NYR): Rangers 5, Penguins 3 | Replay
Game 6 (at PIT): Rangers 5, Penguins 3 | Replay
Game 7 (at NYR): Rangers 4, Penguins 3 (OT) | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Penguins
Central Division
No. 1 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. 4 Nashville Predators
MacKinnon seals Avs' sweep of the Preds
Nate MacKinnon scores an empty-netter to seal the Avalanche's four-game sweep of the Predators.
Regular-season records:
Avalanche: 56-19-7, 119 points
Predators: 45-30-7, 97 points
Leading scorers:
Avalanche: RW Mikko Rantanen, 92 points (36 G, 56 A)
Predators: D Roman Josi, 95 points (23 G, 72 A)
Avalanche advance 4-0:
Game 1 (at COL): Avalanche 7, Predators 2 | Replay
Game 2 (at COL): Avalanche 2, Predators 1 (OT) | Replay
Game 3 (at NSH): Avalanche 7, Predators 3 | Replay
Game 4 (at NSH): Avalanche 5, Predators 3 | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Predators
No. 2 Minnesota Wild vs. No. 3 St. Louis Blues
Colton Parayko seals Blues' win with empty-net score
Colton Parayko finds the net as the Blues secure a 5-1 win over the Wild and advance to the Western Conference quarterfinals.
Regular-season records:
Wild: 53-22-7, 113 points
Blues: 49-22-11, 109 points
Leading scorers:
Wild: LW Kirill Kaprizov, 108 points (47 G, 61 A)
Blues: RW Vladimir Tarasenko, 82 points (34 G, 48 A)
Blues advance 4-2:
Game 1 (at MIN): Blues 4, Wild 0 | Replay
Game 2 (at MIN): Wild 6, Blues 2 | Replay
Game 3 (at STL): Wild 5, Blues 1 | Replay
Game 4 (at STL): Blues 5, Wild 2 | Replay
Game 5 (at MIN): Blues 5, Wild 2 | Replay
Game 6 (at STL): Blues 5, Wild 1 | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Wild
Pacific Division
No. 1 Calgary Flames vs. No. 4 Dallas Stars
Gaudreau sends Calgary into a frenzy with series-clinching OT goal
The Scotiabank Saddledome goes wild as Johnny Gaudreau gets the overtime winner to send the Flames to the second round over the Stars.
Regular season records:
Flames: 50-21-11, 111 points
Stars: 46-30-6, 98 points
Leading scorers:
Flames: LW Johnny Gaudreau, 115 points (40 G, 75 A)
Stars: C Joe Pavelski, 81 points (27 G, 54 A)
How the Flames' top line continues to ignite their offensive engine
Flames advance 4-3:
Game 1 (at CGY): Flames 1, Stars 0 | Replay
Game 2 (at CGY): Stars 2, Flames 1 | Replay
Game 3 (at DAL): Stars 4, Flames 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at DAL): Flames 4, Stars 1 | Replay
Game 5 (at CGY): Flames 3, Stars 1 | Replay
Game 6 (at DAL): Stars 4, Flames 2 | Replay
Game 7 (at CGY): Flames 3, Stars 2 (OT) | Replay
Keys to the offseason for the Stars
No. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Kings
McDavid wraps around to net impressive an insurance goal
Connor McDavid lets out a roar of excitement after he outworks the Kings to score a nice second-chance goal.
Regular season records:
Oilers: 49-27-6, 104 points
Kings: 44-27-11, 99 points
Leading scorers:
Oilers: C Connor McDavid, 123 points (44 G, 79 A)
Kings: C Anze Kopitar, 67 points (19 G, 48 A)
Oilers advance 4-3:
Game 1 (at EDM): Kings 4, Oilers 3 | Replay
Game 2 (at EDM): Oilers 6, Kings 0 | Replay
Game 3 (at LA): Oilers 8, Kings 2 | Replay
Game 4 (at LA): Kings 4, Oilers 0 | Replay
Game 5 (at EDM): Kings 5, Oilers 4 (OT) | Replay
Game 6 (at LA): Oilers 4, Kings 2 | Replay
Game 7 (at EDM): Oilers 2, Kings 0 | Replay