Since the 1981-82 season, the National Hockey League (NHL), which began play in 1917-18, has designated the second-to-last round of the Stanley Cup playoffs as the Conference Finals. This change coincided with a league realignment aimed at better reflecting teams` geographical locations. The official names “Eastern Conference” and “Western Conference” were formally adopted during the 1993-94 season.
In the 2021 playoffs, however, this round was temporarily referred to as the Stanley Cup Semifinals. This was a necessary adjustment because teams were playing across conference lines due to the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic at the time.
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Key Records and Statistics
- Player with the most assists in a single game: Toe Blake (Montreal Canadiens, 5 in 1944 Game 2 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs – *Note: Original text has 1994, confirmed online it was 1944*); Glenn Anderson (Edmonton Oilers, 5 in 1987 Game 5 vs. Detroit Red Wings); Paul Coffey (Edmonton Oilers, 5 in 1985 Game 5 vs. Chicago Black Hawks)
- Player with the most points in a single game: Paul Coffey (Edmonton Oilers, 6 in 1985 Game 5 vs. Chicago Black Hawks)
- Player with the most goals in a series: Jari Kurri (Edmonton Oilers, 12 in 1985 vs. Chicago Black Hawks)
- Player with the most assists in a series: Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers, 14 in 1985 vs. Chicago Black Hawks)
- Player with the most points in a series: Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers, 18 in 1985 vs. Chicago Black Hawks)
- Goaltender with the most shutouts in a series: Michael Leighton (Philadelphia Flyers, 3 in 2010 vs. Montreal Canadiens); Jean-Sebastien Giguere (Anaheim Ducks, 3 in 2003 vs. Minnesota Wild)
- Team with the most goals in a single game: Edmonton Oilers, 11 (1985 Game 1 vs. Chicago Black Hawks)
- Team with the most goals in a series: Edmonton Oilers, 44 (1985 vs. Chicago Black Hawks)
Note: Jari Kurri`s 12 goals in six games during the 1985 series also stands as the record for the most goals scored in any single playoff series.
Eastern Conference Finals Winners
- 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
- 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)
