The NHL, which held its inaugural season in 1917-18, has labeled its penultimate round of the Stanley Cup playoffs as the conference finals since the 1981-82 campaign. The league realigned its teams that season to better reflect their geographical locations. The league officially adopted the Eastern Conference and Western Conference labels during the 1993-94 season.
The NHL labeled the conference finals round as the Stanley Cup semifinals during the 2021 playoffs due to teams playing across conferences amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2026, the Vegas Golden Knights advanced out of the Western Conference and await their Eastern Conference opponent for the Stanley Cup Final.
Here are key facts and stats about the NHL's conference finals:
Player with the most assists in a conference finals game
Toe Blake, Montreal Canadiens, five (1944 Game 2 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs); Glenn Anderson, Edmonton Oilers, five (1987 Game 5 vs. Detroit Red Wings); Paul Coffey, Edmonton Oilers, five (1985 Game 5 vs. Chicago Black Hawks)
Player with the most points in a conference finals game
Paul Coffey, Edmonton Oilers, six (1985 Game 5 vs. Chicago Black Hawks)
Player with the most goals in a conference finals series
Jari Kurri, Edmonton Oilers, 12* (1985 vs. Chicago Black Hawks)
Player with the most assists in a conference finals series
Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, 14 (1985 vs. Chicago Black Hawks)
Player with the most points in a conference finals series
Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers, 18 (1985 vs. Chicago Black Hawks)
Player with the most shutouts in a conference finals series
Michael Leighton, Philadelphia Flyers, three (2010 vs. Montreal Canadiens); Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Anaheim Ducks, three (2003 vs. Minnesota Wild)
Team with the most goals in a conference finals game
Edmonton Oilers, 11 (1985 Game 1 vs. Chicago Black Hawks)
Team with the most goals in a conference finals series
Edmonton Oilers, 44 (1985 vs. Chicago Black Hawks)
* Kurri's 12 goals (in six games) is the record for a single playoff series.
Eastern Conference finals winners list
2025: Florida Panthers (def. Carolina Hurricanes 4-1)
2024: Florida Panthers (def. New York Rangers 4-2)
2023: Florida Panthers (def. Carolina Hurricanes 4-0)
2022: Tampa Bay Lightning (def. New York Rangers 4-2)
2020: Tampa Bay Lightning (def. New York Islanders 4-2)
2019: Boston Bruins (def. Carolina Hurricanes 4-0)
2018: Washington Capitals (def. Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3)
2017: Pittsburgh Penguins (def. Ottawa Senators 4-3)
2016: Pittsburgh Penguins (def. Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3)
2015: Tampa Bay Lightning (def. New York Rangers 4-3)
2014: New York Rangers (def. Montreal Canadiens 4-2)
2013: Boston Bruins (def. Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0)
2012: New Jersey Devils (def. New York Rangers 4-2)
2011: Boston Bruins (def. Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3)
2010: Philadelphia Flyers (def. Montreal Canadiens 4-1)
2009: Pittsburgh Penguins (def. Carolina Hurricanes 4-0)
2008: Pittsburgh Penguins (def. Philadelphia Flyers 4-1)
2007: Ottawa Senators (def. Buffalo Sabres 4-1)
2006: Carolina Hurricanes (def. Buffalo Sabres 4-3)
2005: Lockout
2004: Tampa Bay Lightning (def. Philadelphia Flyers 4-3)
2003: New Jersey Devils (def. Ottawa Senators 4-3)
2002: Carolina Hurricanes (def. Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2)
2001: New Jersey Devils (def. Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1)
2000: New Jersey Devils (def. Philadelphia Flyers 4-3)
1999: Buffalo Sabres (def. Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1)
1998: Washington Capitals (def. Buffalo Sabres 4-2)
1997: Philadelphia Flyers (def. New York Rangers 4-1)
1996: Florida Panthers (def. Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3)
1995: New Jersey Devils (def. Philadelphia Flyers 4-2)
1994: New York Rangers (def. New Jersey Devils 4-3)
1993: Montreal Canadiens (def. New York Islanders 4-1)
1992: Pittsburgh Penguins (def. Boston Bruins 4-0)
1991: Pittsburgh Penguins (def. Boston Bruins 4-2)
1990: Boston Bruins (def. Washington Capitals 4-0)
1989: Montreal Canadiens (def. Philadelphia Flyers 4-2)
1988: Boston Bruins (def. New Jersey Devils 4-3)
1987: Philadelphia Flyers (def. Montreal Canadiens 4-2)
1986: Montreal Canadiens (def. New York Rangers 4-1)
1985: Philadelphia Flyers (def. Quebec Nordiques 4-2)
1984: New York Islanders (def. Montreal Canadiens 4-2)
1983: New York Islanders (def. Boston Bruins 4-2)
1982: New York Islanders (def. Quebec Nordiques 4-0)
Western Conference finals winners list
2026: Vegas Golden Knights (def. Colorado Avalanche 4-0)
2025: Edmonton Oilers (def. Dallas Stars 4-1)
2024: Edmonton Oilers (def. Dallas Stars 4-2)
2023: Vegas Golden Knights (def. Dallas Stars 4-2)
2022: Colorado Avalanche (def. Edmonton Oilers 4-0)
2020: Dallas Stars (def. Vegas Golden Knights 4-1)
2019: St. Louis Blues (def. San Jose Sharks 4-2)
2018: Vegas Golden Knights (def. Winnipeg Jets 4-1)
2017: Nashville Predators (def. Anaheim Ducks 4-2)
2016: San Jose Sharks (def. St. Louis Blues 4-2)
2015: Chicago Blackhawks (def. Anaheim Ducks 4-3)
2014: Los Angeles Kings (def. Chicago Blackhawks 4-3)
2013: Chicago Blackhawks (def. Los Angeles Kings 4-1)
2012: Los Angeles Kings (def. Phoenix Coyotes 4-1)
2011: Vancouver Canucks (def. San Jose Sharks 4-1)
2010: Chicago Blackhawks (def. San Jose Sharks 4-0)
2009: Detroit Red Wings (def. Chicago Blackhawks 4-1)
2008: Detroit Red Wings (def. Dallas Stars 4-2)
2007: Anaheim Ducks (def. Detroit Red Wings 4-2)
2006: Edmonton Oilers (def. Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 4-1)
2005: Lockout
2004: Calgary Flames (def. San Jose Sharks 4-2)
2003: Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (def. Minnesota Wild 4-0)
2002: Detroit Red Wings (def. Colorado Avalanche 4-3)
2001: Colorado Avalanche (def. St. Louis Blues 4-1)
2000: Dallas Stars (def. Colorado Avalanche 4-3)
1999: Dallas Stars (def. Colorado Avalanche 4-3)
1998: Detroit Red Wings (def. Dallas Stars 4-2)
1997: Detroit Red Wings (def. Colorado Avalanche 4-2)
1996: Colorado Avalanche (def. Detroit Red Wings 4-2)
1995: Detroit Red Wings (def. Chicago Blackhawks 4-1)
1994: Vancouver Canucks (def. Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1)
1993: Los Angeles Kings (def. Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3)
1992: Chicago Blackhawks (def. Edmonton Oilers 4-0)
1991: Minnesota North Stars (def. Edmonton Oilers 4-1)
1990: Edmonton Oilers (def. Chicago Blackhawks 4-2)
1989: Calgary Flames (def. Chicago Blackhawks 4-1)
1988: Edmonton Oilers (def. Detroit Red Wings 4-1)
1987: Edmonton Oilers (def. Detroit Red Wings 4-1)
1986: Calgary Flames (def. St. Louis Blues 4-3)
1985: Edmonton Oilers (def. Chicago Black Hawks 4-2)
1984: Edmonton Oilers (def. Minnesota North Stars 4-0)
1983: Edmonton Oilers (def. Chicago Black Hawks 4-0)
1982: Vancouver Canucks (def. Chicago Black Hawks 4-1)
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