2007 Stanley Cup playoffs

The 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 11, 2007. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-seven series for the Stanley Cup. The series ended on June 6 with the Anaheim Ducks defeating the Ottawa Senators in five games to win their first ever championship.

2007 Stanley Cup playoffs
Tournament details
DatesApril 11–June 6, 2007
Teams16
Defending championsCarolina Hurricanes
(did not qualify)
Final positions
ChampionsAnaheim Ducks
Runner-upOttawa Senators
Tournament statistics
Scoring leader(s)Daniel Alfredsson (Senators)
(22 points)
MVPScott Niedermayer (Ducks)
2006
2008

For the first time in NHL history, neither of the two teams that played in the previous year's Stanley Cup Finals (the Carolina Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oilers) qualified for the playoffs. For the first time since 1994, all four former WHA teams; Carolina (formerly the Hartford Whalers), Colorado (formerly the Quebec Nordiques), Edmonton, and Phoenix (formerly the Winnipeg Jets) missed the playoffs in the same year, this would not happen again until 2013. Also for the first time since 1994, the Philadelphia Flyers missed the playoffs. This was the only time that the Atlanta Thrashers qualified for the playoffs in their twelve years in Georgia (they became the new Winnipeg Jets in 2011). This was also the last time all three New York metropolitan area teams (the Devils, Islanders and Rangers) made the playoffs in the same year until 2023.[1]

Playoff seeds

Eastern Conference

  1. Buffalo Sabres, Northeast Division champions, Eastern Conference regular season champions, Presidents' Trophy winners – 113 points (53 wins)
  2. New Jersey Devils, Atlantic Division champions – 107 points
  3. Atlanta Thrashers, Southeast Division champions – 97 points
  4. Ottawa Senators – 105 points (48 wins)
  5. Pittsburgh Penguins – 105 points (47 wins)
  6. New York Rangers – 94 points
  7. Tampa Bay Lightning – 93 points
  8. New York Islanders – 92 points

Western Conference

  1. Detroit Red Wings, Central Division champions, Western Conference regular season champions – 113 points (50 wins)
  2. Anaheim Ducks, Pacific Division champions – 110 points
  3. Vancouver Canucks, Northwest Division champions – 105 points
  4. Nashville Predators – 110 points
  5. San Jose Sharks – 107 points (51 wins)
  6. Dallas Stars – 107 points (50 wins)
  7. Minnesota Wild – 104 points
  8. Calgary Flames – 96 points

Playoff bracket

In each round, the highest remaining seed in each conference is matched against the lowest remaining seed. The higher-seeded team is awarded home ice advantage, which gives them a maximum possible four games on their home ice, with the other team getting a maximum possible three. In the Stanley Cup Finals, home ice is determined based on regular season points.

Conference quarterfinals Conference semifinals Conference finals Stanley Cup Finals
            
1 Buffalo 4
8 NY Islanders 1
1 Buffalo 4
6 NY Rangers 2
2 New Jersey 4
7 Tampa Bay 2
1 Buffalo 1
Eastern Conference
4 Ottawa 4
3 Atlanta 0
6 NY Rangers 4
2 New Jersey 1
4 Ottawa 4
4 Ottawa 4
5 Pittsburgh 1
E4 Ottawa 1
W2 Anaheim 4
1 Detroit 4
8 Calgary 2
1 Detroit 4
5 San Jose 2
2 Anaheim 4
7 Minnesota 1
1 Detroit 2
Western Conference
2 Anaheim 4
3 Vancouver 4
6 Dallas 3
2 Anaheim 4
3 Vancouver 1
4 Nashville 1
5 San Jose 4

Conference quarterfinals

(1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (8) New York Islanders

The Buffalo Sabres entered the playoffs as the Presidents' Trophy winners (winning the tie-breaker with Detroit in total wins), the Eastern Conference regular season and Northeast Division champions with 113 points. The Islanders qualified as the eighth seed earning 92 points during the regular season. This was the fourth and most recent playoff meeting between these two teams, with New York winning all three of the previous series. They last met in the 1980 Stanley Cup Semifinals where New York won in six games. Buffalo won three of the four games during this year's regular season series.

The Sabres defeated the Islanders in five games. Brian Campbell and Chris Drury each scored twice for the Sabres in game one as they took the opening game 4–1. Marc-Andre Bergeron's power play goal at 8:37 of the third period gave the Islanders the lead in game two as they evened the series with a 3–2 victory. Sabres forward Daniel Briere scored the game-winning goal with a two-man advantage in the second period of game three giving Buffalo a 3–2 win. Chris Drury scored two goals in a game for the second time in this series as the Sabres won game four by a final score of 4–2. Buffalo held off a late charge by the Islanders in game five as they eliminated New York with a 4–3 win.

April 12 New York Islanders 1–4 Buffalo Sabres HSBC Arena Recap  
No scoring First period 09:30 – Brian Campbell (1)
Arron Asham (1) – 06:58 Second period 11:13 – ppChris Drury (1)
No scoring Third period 01:08 – Chris Drury (2)
16:35 – pp – Brian Campbell (2)
Wade Dubielewicz 31 saves / 35 shots Goalie stats Ryan Miller 20 saves / 21 shots
April 14 New York Islanders 3–2 Buffalo Sabres HSBC Arena Recap  
Trent Hunter (1) – 03:07
Bruno Gervais (1) – 11:03
First period 18:58 – Toni Lydman (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
Marc-Andre Bergeron (1) – pp – 08:37 Third period 02:12 – Dmitri Kalinin (1)
Rick DiPietro 32 saves / 34 shots Goalie stats Ryan Miller 29 saves / 32 shots
April 16 Buffalo Sabres 3–2 New York Islanders Nassau Coliseum Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Adam Mair (1) – 05:17
Thomas Vanek (1) – 08:38
Daniel Briere (1) – pp – 12:56
Second period 09:52 – Trent Hunter (2)
19:52 – Ryan Smyth (1)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Ryan Miller 20 saves / 22 shots Goalie stats Rick DiPietro 32 saves / 35 shots
April 18 Buffalo Sabres 4–2 New York Islanders Nassau Coliseum Recap  
Thomas Vanek (2) – 11:17
Chris Drury (3) – 13:05
First period 06:24 – Jason Blake (1)
19:44 – ppMike Sillinger (1)
Chris Drury (4) – pp – 00:39 Second period No scoring
Jason Pominville (1) – 18:48 Third period No scoring
Ryan Miller 24 saves / 26 shots Goalie stats Rick DiPietro 27 saves / 31 shots
April 20 New York Islanders 3–4 Buffalo Sabres HSBC Arena Recap  
No scoring First period 15:04 – Drew Stafford (1)
No scoring Second period 00:39 – Jason Pominville (2)
11:29 – Derek Roy (1)
Miroslav Satan (1) – 04:22
Trent Hunter (3) – 09:43
Chris Campoli (1) – 13:07
Third period 06:38 – Maxim Afinogenov (1)
Rick DiPietro 23 saves / 27 shots Goalie stats Ryan Miller 30 saves / 33 shots
Buffalo won series 4–1

(2) New Jersey Devils vs. (7) Tampa Bay Lightning

The New Jersey Devils entered the playoffs as the Atlantic Division champions, earning the second seed in the Eastern Conference with 107 points. Tampa Bay qualified as the seventh seed, earning 93 points during the regular season. This was the second meeting between these two teams, with New Jersey winning the only previous series in the 2003 Eastern Conference semifinals in five games. Tampa Bay won three of the four games during this year's regular season series.

The Devils defeated the Lightning in six games. New Jersey forward Zach Parise scored twice as New Jersey took game one 5–3. Johan Holmqvist made 34 saves for the Lightning and Vincent Lecavalier scored the game-winning goal early in the third period of game two as Tampa Bay evened the series with a 3–2 victory. The teams traded goals early in the third period of game three before Vaclav Prospal broke the tie with 6:29 remaining in regulation time as the Lightning won again by a score of 3–2. Devils centre Scott Gomez scored the overtime winner at 12:54 in game four to tie the series. New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur made 31 saves in his 22nd career playoff shutout as the Devils won game five 3–0. Devils forward Brian Gionta scored the series-winning goal in game six as New Jersey took the series four games to two with a 3–2 win.

April 12 Tampa Bay Lightning 3–5 New Jersey Devils Continental Airlines Arena Recap  
Martin St. Louis (1) – pp – 15:55 First period 07:43 – Zach Parise (1)
12:31 – ppPatrik Elias (1)
Vincent Lecavalier (1) – 11:46 Second period 03:36 – ppBrian Rafalski (1)
Vincent Lecavalier (2) – 02:51 Third period 03:54 – Zach Parise (2)
18:38 – Brian Gionta (1)
Johan Holmqvist 19 saves / 24 shots Goalie stats Martin Brodeur 23 saves / 26 shots
April 14 Tampa Bay Lightning 3–2 New Jersey Devils Continental Airlines Arena Recap  
Filip Kuba (1) – sh – 09:02 First period 18:11 – ppZach Parise (3)
Martin St. Louis (2) – 19:11 Second period 16:19 – ppJamie Langenbrunner (1)
Vincent Lecavalier (3) – 01:42 Third period No scoring
Johan Holmqvist 34 saves / 36 shots Goalie stats Martin Brodeur 17 saves / 20 shots
April 16 New Jersey Devils 2–3 Tampa Bay Lightning St. Pete Times Forum Recap  
No scoring First period 09:06 – ppVincent Lecavalier (4)
John Madden (1) – 17:27 Second period No scoring
Zach Parise (4) – 04:46 Third period 01:09 – Brad Richards (1)
13:31 – Vaclav Prospal (1)
Martin Brodeur 21 saves / 24 shots Goalie stats Johan Holmqvist 30 saves / 32 shots
April 18 New Jersey Devils 4–3 OT Tampa Bay Lightning St. Pete Times Forum Recap  
Brian Gionta (2) – 06:04
Zach Parise (5) – 14:20
First period 12:08 – Eric Perrin (1)
Zach Parise (6) – pp – 09:42 Second period 11:39 – Martin St. Louis (3)
15:20 – Vincent Lecavalier (5)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Scott Gomez (1) – 12:54 First overtime period No scoring
Martin Brodeur 30 saves / 33 shots Goalie stats Johan Holmqvist 33 saves / 37 shots
April 20 Tampa Bay Lightning 0–3 New Jersey Devils Continental Airlines Arena Recap  
No scoring First period 12:46 – Andy Greene (1)
No scoring Second period 09:59 – Brian Gionta (3)
No scoring Third period 18:13 – enScott Gomez (2)
Johan Holmqvist 11 saves / 13 shots Goalie stats Martin Brodeur 31 saves / 31 shots
April 22 New Jersey Devils 3–2 Tampa Bay Lightning St. Pete Times Forum Recap  
Brian Gionta (4) – pp – 14:29 First period No scoring
Brian Rafalski (2) – pp – 01:21
Brian Gionta (5) – 05:49
Second period 05:10 – ppBrad Richards (2)
10:46 – pp – Brad Richards (3)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Martin Brodeur 32 saves / 34 shots Goalie stats Johan Holmqvist 23 saves / 26 shots
New Jersey won series 4–2

(3) Atlanta Thrashers vs. (6) New York Rangers

The Atlanta Thrashers entered the playoffs as the Southeast Division champions, earning the third seed in the Eastern Conference with 97 points. The Rangers qualified as the sixth seed earning 94 points during the regular season. This was the first and to this date only playoff meeting between these two teams. This series also marked the first appearance of a team representing Atlanta in the Stanley Cup playoffs in 27 years. The most recent team to represent Atlanta prior to this was the Atlanta Flames who lost in the Preliminary Round in 1980. The Thrashers made their first playoff appearance since entering the league in the 1999–2000 season; this was the only playoff appearance that Atlanta made before the franchise relocated to Winnipeg in 2011. Atlanta won three of the four games during this year's regular season series.

The Rangers swept Atlanta in four games. New York entered the third period of game one with a two-goal lead and hung on to win by a score of 4–3. Ranger forward Brendan Shanahan scored the game-winner with four minutes remaining in game two as New York earned a 2–1 victory. The Rangers dominated Atlanta in game three winning 7–0, Michael Nylander scored a hat trick in the victory. Matt Cullen scored the series-clinching goal in game four and Jaromir Jagr added an empty-net goal in the dying minutes as New York completed the sweep of the Thrashers with a 4–2 win.

April 12 New York Rangers 4–3 Atlanta Thrashers Philips Arena Recap  
Jaromir Jagr (1) – 12:50
Michal Rozsival (1) – pp – 16:47
First period 19:01 – ppEric Belanger (1)
Marcel Hossa (1) – 10:52
Michael Nylander (1) – 16:56
Second period 12:19 – Shane Hnidy (1)
No scoring Third period 05:50 – Pascal Dupuis (1)
Henrik Lundqvist 21 saves / 24 shots Goalie stats Kari Lehtonen 34 saves / 38 shots
April 14 New York Rangers 2–1 Atlanta Thrashers Philips Arena Recap  
Sean Avery (1) – 08:08 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Brendan Shanahan (1) – 15:59 Third period 05:35 – Ilya Kovalchuk (1)
Henrik Lundqvist 27 saves / 28 shots Goalie stats Johan Hedberg 37 saves / 39 shots
April 17 Atlanta Thrashers 0–7 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden Recap  
No scoring First period 00:32 – Michael Nylander (2)
09:45 – Michael Nylander (3)
12:26 – Marek Malik (1)
No scoring Second period 06:27 – Ryan Callahan (1)
17:21 – pp – Ryan Callahan (2)
No scoring Third period 08:58 – ppBrendan Shanahan (2)
15:54 – pp – Michael Nylander (4)
Kari Lehtonen 28 saves / 35 shots Goalie stats Henrik Lundqvist 21 saves / 21 shots
April 18 Atlanta Thrashers 2–4 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden Recap  
Keith Tkachuk (1) – 06:38 First period 07:57 – ppMichal Rozsival (2)
Greg De Vries (1) – 12:26 Second period 18:18 – Brendan Shanahan (3)
No scoring Third period 02:06 – Matt Cullen (1)
18:27 – enJaromir Jagr (2)
Johan Hedberg 27 saves / 30 shots Goalie stats Henrik Lundqvist 24 saves / 26 shots
New York won series 4–0

(4) Ottawa Senators vs. (5) Pittsburgh Penguins

The Ottawa Senators entered the playoffs as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference with 105 points. The Pittsburgh Penguins also earned 105 points during the regular season, but they finished as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference after losing the tie-breaker with Ottawa in total wins. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. The Penguins qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2001. Pittsburgh won this year's four-game regular season series earning six of eight points.

The Senators defeated the Penguins in five games. Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was pulled in game one after allowing six goals to the Senators in a 6–3 loss. The Penguins scored three times in the third period as they overcame a one-goal deficit to defeat Ottawa 4–3 in game two and tie the series. Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson scored the game-winner and added an insurance goal in game three as Ottawa regained home-ice advantage with a 4–2 win. Just over nine minutes into the third period of game four Anton Volchenkov broke the tie for the Senators giving his team a 2–1 victory. After a scoreless opening period in game five the Senators struck three times in the second period and goaltender Ray Emery posted a 20 save shutout to eliminate the Penguins with a 3–0 win.

April 11 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–6 Ottawa Senators Scotiabank Place Recap  
No scoring First period 01:37 – Andrej Meszaros (1)
06:38 – Chris Kelly (1)
Jordan Staal (1) – 16:58 Second period 14:38 – ppTom Preissing (1)
Sergei Gonchar (1) – pp – 12:42
Sidney Crosby (1) – pp – 19:11
Third period 00:09 – ppDany Heatley (1)
05:39 – Chris Neil (1)
08:22 – Mike Comrie (1)
Marc-Andre Fleury 30 saves / 36 shots
Jocelyn Thibault 1 save / 1 shot
Goalie stats Ray Emery 23 saves / 26 shots
April 14 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–3 Ottawa Senators Scotiabank Place Recap  
Ryan Whitney (1) – pp – 03:01 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 08:28 – Jason Spezza (1)
16:44 – ppDaniel Alfredsson (1)
Gary Roberts (1) – pp – 02:04
Jordan Staal (2) – 09:34
Sidney Crosby (2) – 11:44
Third period 06:18 – Chris Kelly (2)
Marc-Andre Fleury 34 saves / 37 shots Goalie stats Ray Emery 17 saves / 21 shots
April 15 Ottawa Senators 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Mellon Arena Recap  
Dean McAmmond (1) – 18:04 First period 00:52 – Gary Roberts (2)
Mike Comrie (2) – 02:13
Daniel Alfredsson (2) – pp – 07:20
Daniel Alfredsson (3) – 17:12
Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 14:40 – Sidney Crosby (3)
Ray Emery 17 saves / 19 shots Goalie stats Marc-Andre Fleury 21 saves / 25 shots
April 17 Ottawa Senators 2–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Mellon Arena Recap  
Jason Spezza (2) – pp – 03:25 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 08:08 – Jordan Staal (3)
Anton Volchenkov (1) – 09:12 Third period No scoring
Ray Emery 23 saves / 24 shots Goalie stats Marc-Andre Fleury 24 saves / 26 shots
April 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–3 Ottawa Senators Scotiabank Place Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 01:08 – ppDany Heatley (2)
06:20 – Antoine Vermette (1)
17:55 – Chris Kelly (3)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Marc-Andre Fleury 23 saves / 26 shots Goalie stats Ray Emery 20 saves / 20 shots
Ottawa won series 4–1

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (8) Calgary Flames

The Detroit Red Wings entered the playoffs as the Western Conference regular season and Central Division champions (losing the tie-breaker with Buffalo in total wins for the Presidents' Trophy) with 113 points. Calgary qualified as the eighth seed earning 96 points during the regular season. This was the third and most recent playoff meeting between these two teams, with the teams splitting the two previous series. They last met in the 2004 Western Conference semifinals where Calgary won in six games. The teams split this year's four-game regular season series.

The Red Wings eliminated the Flames in six games. In game one the Red Wings dominated the Flames in a 4–1 victory. Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff made 48 saves in game two as his team lost 3–1 and the Red Wings took a 2–0 series lead. Jarome Iginla scored the game-winning goal in game three as the Flames won by a score of 3–2. Calgary centre Daymond Langkow scored twice on the power play in game four as the Flames evened the series with a 3–2 win. After allowing five goals against in game five Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff was pulled in favour of backup Jamie McLennan. Kiprusoff was forced back into the game just 18 seconds later as Jamie McLennan was assessed a match penalty and game misconduct for slashing Red Wings forward Johan Franzen in the stomach. McLennan was later suspended for five games; the Flames organization and Head Coach Jim Playfair were also fined after a 5–1 loss. Johan Franzen scored the series-winner in double overtime in game six as the Red Wings eliminated the Flames with a 2–1 victory.

April 12 Calgary Flames 1–4 Detroit Red Wings Joe Louis Arena Recap  
No scoring First period 04:51 – Valtteri Filppula (1)
08:36 – ppNicklas Lidstrom (1)
No scoring Second period 06:56 – Pavel Datsyuk (1)
09:57 – Mathieu Schneider (1)
Alex Tanguay (1) – pp – 14:55 Third period No scoring
Miikka Kiprusoff 42 saves / 46 shots Goalie stats Dominik Hasek 19 saves / 20 shots
April 15 Calgary Flames 1–3 Detroit Red Wings Joe Louis Arena Recap  
No scoring First period 01:02 – Pavel Datsyuk (2)
03:50 – ppNicklas Lidstrom (2)
Dion Phaneuf (1) – pp – 02:42 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 06:05 – Valtteri Filppula (2)
Miikka Kiprusoff 48 saves / 51 shots Goalie stats Dominik Hasek 14 saves / 15 shots
April 17 Detroit Red Wings 2–3 Calgary Flames Pengrowth Saddledome Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Kris Draper (1) – 11:30 Second period 09:20 – ppMatthew Lombardi (1)
Kris Draper (2) – 00:39 Third period 04:43 – ppMark Giordano (1)
09:21 – Jarome Iginla (1)
Dominik Hasek 25 saves / 28 shots Goalie stats Miikka Kiprusoff 28 saves / 30 shots
April 19 Detroit Red Wings 2–3 Calgary Flames Pengrowth Saddledome Recap  
Todd Bertuzzi (1) – 11:07
Johan Franzen (1) – 15:37
First period 08:29 – ppDaymond Langkow (1)
13:33 – Craig Conroy (1)
No scoring Second period 08:19 – pp – Daymond Langkow (2)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Dominik Hasek 18 saves / 21 shots Goalie stats Miikka Kiprusoff 33 saves / 35 shots
April 21 Calgary Flames 1–5 Detroit Red Wings Joe Louis Arena Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 03:32 – sh-psDaniel Cleary (1)
08:50 – ppHenrik Zetterberg (1)
10:54 – shChris Chelios (1)
Andrei Zyuzin (1) – sh – 10:03 Third period 05:12 – pp – Henrik Zetterberg (2)
15:42 – ppPavel Datsyuk (3)
Miikka Kiprusoff 33 saves / 38 shots
Jamie McLennan 0 saves / 0 shots
Goalie stats Dominik Hasek 23 saves / 24 shots
April 22 Detroit Red Wings 2–1 2OT Calgary Flames Pengrowth Saddledome Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Robert Lang (1) – 16:53 Second period 03:09 – Jarome Iginla (2)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Johan Franzen (2) – 04:23 Second overtime period No scoring
Dominik Hasek 20 saves / 21 shots Goalie stats Miikka Kiprusoff 53 saves / 55 shots
Detroit won series 4–2

(2) Anaheim Ducks vs. (7) Minnesota Wild

The Anaheim Ducks entered the playoffs as the Pacific Division champions, earning the second seed in the Western Conference with 110 points. Minnesota qualified as the seventh seed earning 104 points during the regular season. This was the second and most recent playoff meeting between these two teams, with Anaheim winning the only previous series. They last met in the 2003 Western Conference Final where Anaheim won in four games. Anaheim won this year's four-game regular season series earning five of eight points.

The Ducks eliminated the Wild in five games. Ducks forward Dustin Penner scored the game-winner late in the third period as Anaheim took game one 2–1. In game two Francois Beauchemin scored twice on the power-play for the Ducks as they took a 2–0 series lead with a 3–2 win. The Ducks earned a tight win in game three with a 2–1 victory. The Wild avoided elimination with a three-goal third period in game four, earning a 4–1 win. Jean-Sebastien Giguere started game five for the Ducks and Ryan Getzlaf scored the series-winning goal late in the second period as Anaheim ended the series with a 4–1 victory.

April 11 Minnesota Wild 1–2 Anaheim Ducks Honda Center Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Pavol Demitra (1) – 06:01 Second period 09:52 – Teemu Selanne (1)
No scoring Third period 14:40 – Dustin Penner (1)
Niklas Backstrom 32 saves / 34 shots Goalie stats Ilya Bryzgalov 24 saves / 25 shots
April 13 Minnesota Wild 2–3 Anaheim Ducks Honda Center Recap  
No scoring First period 13:19 – ppFrancois Beauchemin (1)
Marian Gaborik (1) – 03:33 Second period 16:17 – pp – Francois Beauchemin (2)
18:43 – shRyan Getzlaf (1)
Mikko Koivu (1) – 15:04 Third period No scoring
Niklas Backstrom 22 saves / 25 shots Goalie stats Ilya Bryzgalov 30 saves / 32 shots
April 15 Anaheim Ducks 2–1 Minnesota Wild Xcel Energy Center Recap  
Andy McDonald (1) – pp – 16:05 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Rob Niedermayer (1) – 09:43 Third period 19:21 – ppPetteri Nummelin (1)
Ilya Bryzgalov 19 saves / 20 shots Goalie stats Niklas Backstrom 17 saves / 19 shots
April 17 Anaheim Ducks 1–4 Minnesota Wild Xcel Energy Center Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Chris Pronger (1) – pp – 06:08 Second period 18:03 – Pierre-Marc Bouchard (1)
No scoring Third period 03:23 – ppMarian Gaborik (2)
09:27 – Brian Rolston (1)
10:44 – Mark Parrish (1)
Ilya Bryzgalov 32 saves / 36 shots
Jean-Sebastien Giguere 4 saves / 4 shots
Goalie stats Niklas Backstrom 28 saves / 29 shots
April 19 Minnesota Wild 1–4 Anaheim Ducks Honda Center Recap  
No scoring First period 01:02 – Chris Pronger (2)
Marian Gaborik (3) – sh – 15:42 Second period 16:29 – ppRyan Getzlaf (2)
No scoring Third period 10:29 – Corey Perry (1)
19:03 – enTravis Moen (1)
Niklas Backstrom 35 saves / 38 shots Goalie stats Jean-Sebastien Giguere 26 saves / 27 shots
Anaheim won series 4–1

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (6) Dallas Stars

The Vancouver Canucks entered the playoffs as the Northwest Division champions, earning the third seed in the Western Conference with 105 points. Dallas qualified as the sixth seed earning 107 points (losing the tie-breaker with San Jose in total wins) during the regular season. This was the second and most recent playoff meeting between these two teams with Vancouver winning the only previous series. They last met in the 1994 Western Conference semifinals where Vancouver won in five games. The teams split this year's four-game regular season series.

Vancouver hung on to defeat the Stars in seven games. Dallas overcame a two-goal deficit in game one to force overtime, however, they came up short as Henrik Sedin won the game for Vancouver when he scored at 18:06 of the fourth overtime; this was the sixth-longest playoff game in NHL history. Roberto Luongo made 72 saves in the 5–4 Canucks victory. The Stars opened game two with a goal just 24 seconds in and the Canucks were not able to recover as Dallas goaltender Marty Turco posted a 35 save shutout in a 2–0 win. Canucks forward Taylor Pyatt scored the game-winner at 7:47 of the first overtime for a 2–1 win in game three. The Canucks pulled out another 2–1 victory in game four as Mattias Ohlund and Trevor Linden scored for Vancouver. In game five both Roberto Luongo and Marty Turco pushed aside every shot in regulation and Stars captain Brenden Morrow scored the only goal of the game 6:22 into the first overtime for a 1–0 Dallas victory. Marty Turco shutout Vancouver in game six for the second consecutive game and the third time overall in the series as the Stars forced a seventh game with a 2–0 win. After allowing the opening goal in game seven the Canucks scored four unanswered goals and took the deciding game of the series 4–1.

April 11 Dallas Stars 4–5 4OT Vancouver Canucks General Motors Place Recap  
Brenden Morrow (1) – pp – 05:28 First period 04:20 – Daniel Sedin (1)
Trevor Daley (1) – 10:00 Second period 06:26 – ppMattias Ohlund (1)
13:47 – Markus Naslund (1)
Antti Miettinen (1) – 08:31
Ladislav Nagy (1) – 13:46
Third period 07:36 – Bryan Smolinski (1)
No scoring Fourth overtime period 18:06 – Henrik Sedin (1)
Marty Turco 51 saves / 56 shots Goalie stats Roberto Luongo 72 saves / 76 shots
April 13 Dallas Stars 2–0 Vancouver Canucks General Motors Place Recap  
Jeff Halpern (1) – 00:24 First period No scoring
Joel Lundqvist (1) – 00:45 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Marty Turco 35 saves / 35 shots Goalie stats Roberto Luongo 25 saves / 27 shots
April 15 Vancouver Canucks 2–1 OT Dallas Stars American Airlines Center Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 13:09 – ppStu Barnes (1)
Jan Bulis (1) – 05:18 Third period No scoring
Taylor Pyatt (1) – 07:47 First overtime period No scoring
Roberto Luongo 29 saves / 30 shots Goalie stats Marty Turco 35 saves / 37 shots
April 17 Vancouver Canucks 2–1 Dallas Stars American Airlines Center Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Mattias Ohlund (2) – 09:46
Trevor Linden (1) – 14:29
Third period 12:29 – Darryl Sydor (1)
Roberto Luongo 26 saves / 27 shots Goalie stats Marty Turco 27 saves / 29 shots
April 19 Dallas Stars 1–0 OT Vancouver Canucks General Motors Place Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Brenden Morrow (2) – pp – 06:22 First overtime period No scoring
Marty Turco 21 saves / 21 shots Goalie stats Roberto Luongo 29 saves / 30 shots
April 21 Vancouver Canucks 0–2 Dallas Stars American Airlines Center Recap  
No scoring First period 03:05 – ppMike Modano (1)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 07:22 – Jeff Halpern (2)
Roberto Luongo 28 saves / 30 shots Goalie stats Marty Turco 21 saves / 21 shots
April 23 Dallas Stars 1–4 Vancouver Canucks General Motors Place Recap  
Joel Lundqvist (2) – 16:32 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 15:12 – ppHenrik Sedin (2)
No scoring Third period 07:00 – ppTrevor Linden (2)
18:57 – enTaylor Pyatt (2)
19:13 – enBryan Smolinski (1)
Marty Turco 28 saves / 30 shots Goalie stats Roberto Luongo 19 saves / 20 shots
Vancouver won series 4–3

(4) Nashville Predators vs. (5) San Jose Sharks

The Nashville Predators entered the playoffs as the fourth seed in the Western Conference with 110 points. San Jose qualified as the fifth seed earning 107 points (winning the tie-breaker with Dallas in total wins) during the regular season. This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams with San Jose winning the only previous series. They last met in the previous year's Western Conference quarterfinals where San Jose won in five games. Nashville won three of the four games during this year's regular season series.

For the second consecutive year, the Sharks eliminated Nashville in five games. Patrick Rissmiller scored the overtime winner for San Jose at 8:14 of the second overtime period as the Sharks won a high-scoring game one 5–4. Predator forwards Jean-Pierre Dumont and Peter Forsberg scored twice in game two as Nashville evened the series with a 5–2 win. Nashville goaltender Tomas Vokoun made 38 saves in a losing effort in game three as the Sharks won the game 3–1. Milan Michalek's second goal of the game gave the Sharks an insurmountable lead in game four as San Jose took a 3–2 victory. The teams were tied late into the third period of game five before Sharks captain Patrick Marleau scored the series-winning goal to eliminate the Predators by a final score of 3–2.

April 11 San Jose Sharks 5–4 2OT Nashville Predators Gaylord Entertainment Center Recap  
Matt Carle (1) – 07:18 First period No scoring
Mike Grier (1) – 05:31
Craig Rivet (1) – pp – 12:57
Milan Michalek (1) – 15:52
Second period 02:35 – Alexander Radulov (1)
03:56 – Jean-Pierre Dumont (1)
No scoring Third period 13:05 – Alexander Radulov (2)
19:09 – Jean-Pierre Dumont (2)
Patrick Rissmiller (1) – 08:14 Second overtime period No scoring
Evgeni Nabokov 39 saves / 43 shots Goalie stats Tomas Vokoun 33 saves / 38 shots
April 13 San Jose Sharks 2–5 Nashville Predators Gaylord Entertainment Center Recap  
Craig Rivet (2) – 04:37 First period 06:54 – Alexander Radulov (3)
15:56 – Peter Forsberg (1)
No scoring Second period 10:26 – shJean-Pierre Dumont (3)
12:56 – pp – Jean-Pierre Dumont (4)
Ryan Clowe (1) – 09:52 Third period 18:55 – en – Peter Forsberg (2)
Evgeni Nabokov 17 saves / 21 shots Goalie stats Tomas Vokoun 22 saves / 24 shots
April 16 Nashville Predators 1–3 San Jose Sharks HP Pavilion Recap  
Ryan Suter (1) – 11:53 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 08:38 – Milan Michalek (2)
12:18 – Ryan Clowe (2)
No scoring Third period 15:34 – Patrick Marleau (1)
Tomas Vokoun 38 saves / 41 shots Goalie stats Evgeni Nabokov 19 saves / 20 shots
April 18 Nashville Predators 2–3 San Jose Sharks HP Pavilion Recap  
No scoring First period 03:29 – Milan Michalek (3)
Jason Arnott (1) – 02:32 Second period 01:06 – Joe Pavelski (1)
12:53 – Milan Michalek (4)
Scott Hartnell (1) – pp – 17:08 Third period No scoring
Tomas Vokoun 20 saves / 23 shots Goalie stats Evgeni Nabokov 23 saves / 25 shots
April 20 San Jose Sharks 3–2 Nashville Predators Gaylord Entertainment Center Recap  
Ryan Clowe (3) – 08:21 First period No scoring
Patrick Marleau (2) – pp – 17:46 Second period 03:47 – ppJason Arnott (2)
04:26 – Vernon Fiddler (1)
Patrick Marleau (3) – 15:39 Third period No scoring
Evgeni Nabokov 22 saves / 24 shots Goalie stats Tomas Vokoun 34 saves / 37 shots
San Jose won series 4–1

Conference semifinals

(1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (6) New York Rangers

This was the second and most recent playoff meeting between these two teams with Buffalo winning the only previous series. They last met in the 1978 Preliminary Round where Buffalo won in three games. Buffalo won all four games during this year's regular season series.

Buffalo eliminated the Rangers in six games. Sabres forward Thomas Vanek scored twice including the game-winner as Buffalo took game one 5–2. Chris Drury and Thomas Vanek each scored their fifth goal of the playoffs for the Sabres in the third period of game two as Buffalo overcame a goal deficit, winning by a score of 3–2. In game three Michal Rozsival gave the Rangers a 2–1 win in double overtime by scoring at 16:43. The Rangers scored twice on the power-play in game four as they evened the series with a 2–1 victory. Sabres co-captain Chris Drury scored the tying goal with less than eight seconds remaining and Maxim Afinogenov ended the game 4:39 into the first overtime on the power-play as Buffalo won game five 2–1. Jochen Hecht's second goal of the playoffs was the series-clinching goal as the Sabres ended New York's season with 5–4 victory in game six.

This is the last time the Sabres won a playoff series, and with the Toronto Maple Leafs winning their first round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023, the Sabres now hold the longest active playoff series win drought.[2]

April 25 New York Rangers 2–5 Buffalo Sabres HSBC Arena Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 14:19 – ppThomas Vanek (3)
16:19 – Ales Kotalik (1)
18:24 – Thomas Vanek (4)
Marcel Hossa (2) – 10:44
Brendan Shanahan (4) – pp – 19:12
Third period 13:47 – Jason Pominville (3)
19:44 – enDrew Stafford (2)
Henrik Lundqvist 32 saves / 36 shots Goalie stats Ryan Miller 32 saves / 34 shots
April 27 New York Rangers 2–3 Buffalo Sabres HSBC Arena Recap  
Martin Straka (1) – pp – 10:08 First period 10:58 – ppBrian Campbell (3)
Paul Mara (1) – pp – 18:40 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 00:24 – Chris Drury (5)
10:11 – Thomas Vanek (5)
Henrik Lundqvist 15 saves / 18 shots Goalie stats Ryan Miller 31 saves / 33 shots
April 29 Buffalo Sabres 1–2 2OT New York Rangers Madison Square Garden Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 00:33 – Jaromir Jagr (3)
Daniel Briere (2) – pp – 12:14 Third period No scoring
No scoring Second overtime period 16:43 – Michal Rozsival (3)
Ryan Miller 44 saves / 46 shots Goalie stats Henrik Lundqvist 38 saves / 39 shots
May 1 Buffalo Sabres 1–2 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 00:45 – ppJaromir Jagr (4)
Ales Kotalik (2) – 09:04 Third period 08:31 – ppBrendan Shanahan (5)
Ryan Miller 26 saves / 28 shots Goalie stats Henrik Lundqvist 29 saves / 30 shots
May 4 New York Rangers 1–2 OT Buffalo Sabres HSBC Arena Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
Martin Straka (2) – 16:41 Third period 19:52 – Chris Drury (6)
No scoring First overtime period 04:39 – ppMaxim Afinogenov (2)
Henrik Lundqvist 38 saves / 40 shots Goalie stats Ryan Miller 22 saves / 23 shots
May 6 Buffalo Sabres 5–4 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden Recap  
No scoring First period 17:10 – Michael Nylander (5)
Dmitri Kalinin (2) – 01:29
Jason Pominville (4) – 02:53
Jochen Hecht (1) – 07:41
Chris Drury (7) – pp – 11:15
Second period 04:40 – ppPaul Mara (2)
Jochen Hecht (2) – 14:50 Third period 05:08 – ppJaromir Jagr (5)
17:09 – pp – Michael Nylander (6)
Ryan Miller 32 saves / 36 shots Goalie stats Henrik Lundqvist 24 saves / 29 shots
Buffalo won series 4–2

(2) New Jersey Devils vs. (4) Ottawa Senators

This was the third and most recent playoff meeting between these two teams with the teams splitting the two previous series. They last met in the 2003 Eastern Conference Final where New Jersey won in seven games. New Jersey won three of the four games during this year's regular season series.

Ottawa defeated the Devils in five games. The Senators scored four times in the opening period of game one and hung on to win the game 5–4. The Senators tied game two late in the third period, but Jamie Langenbrunner scored the winning goal for the Devils 1:55 into the second overtime. Game three remained scoreless into the third period before Tom Preissing put the Senators on the board, Ray Emery made 25 saves for his second playoff shutout in a 2–0 Ottawa win. New Jersey goaltender Martin Brodeur made 33 saves in a losing effort in game four as the Senators won 3–2. Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson scored the series-winning goal late in the second period of game five as the Senators ended New Jersey's season with a 3–2 win. Game five was also the final game played at Continental Airlines Arena as the Devils began playing at the Prudential Center the following year.

April 26 Ottawa Senators 5–4 New Jersey Devils Continental Airlines Arena Recap  
Jason Spezza (3) – 01:30
Joe Corvo (1) – pp – 06:49
Dean McAmmond (2) – sh – 14:43
Dany Heatley (3) – 16:39
First period 17:38 – Travis Zajac (1)
No scoring Second period 02:20 – Brian Gionta (6)
04:57 – Andy Greene (2)
Wade Redden (1) – pp – 00:43 Third period 19:30 – Zach Parise (7)
Ray Emery 26 saves / 30 shots Goalie stats Martin Brodeur 21 saves / 26 shots
April 28 Ottawa Senators 2–3 2OT New Jersey Devils Continental Airlines Arena Recap  
No scoring First period 01:43 – ppBrian Gionta (7)
19:59 – ppSergei Brylin (1)
Daniel Alfredsson (4) – pp – 04:23 Second period No scoring
Dany Heatley (4) – 19:33 Third period No scoring
No scoring Second overtime period 01:55 – Jamie Langenbrunner (2)
Ray Emery 30 saves / 33 shots Goalie stats Martin Brodeur 43 saves / 45 shots
April 30 New Jersey Devils 0–2 Ottawa Senators Scotiabank Place Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 04:46 – Tom Preissing (2)
19:04 – enJason Spezza (4)
Martin Brodeur 32 saves / 33 shots Goalie stats Ray Emery 25 saves / 25 shots
May 2 New Jersey Devils 2–3 Ottawa Senators Scotiabank Place Recap  
No scoring First period 04:34 – Daniel Alfredsson (5)
Brian Gionta (8) – pp – 04:17 Second period 14:44 – Dany Heatley (5)
Jay Pandolfo (1) – 09:36 Third period 03:58 – Mike Fisher (1)
Martin Brodeur 33 saves / 36 shots Goalie stats Ray Emery 29 saves / 31 shots
May 5 Ottawa Senators 3–2 New Jersey Devils Continental Airlines Arena Recap  
No scoring First period 06:59 – Scott Gomez (3)
Antoine Vermette (2) – 05:19
Jason Spezza (5) – pp – 12:06
Daniel Alfredsson (6) – 17:28
Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 19:20 – Scott Gomez (4)
Ray Emery 27 saves / 29 shots Goalie stats Martin Brodeur 21 saves / 24 shots
Ottawa won series 4–1

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (5) San Jose Sharks

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams with the teams splitting the two previous series. They last met in the 1995 Western Conference semifinals where Detroit won in four games. San Jose won three of the four games during this year's regular season series.

The Red Wings won three consecutive games to eliminate San Jose in six games. Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov made 34 saves as San Jose shutout the Red Wings in game one by a score of 2–0. Pavel Datsyuk gave the Red Wings the lead with just 1:24 remaining in the third period, taking a 3–2 victory. San Jose forward Jonathan Cheechoo scored the game-winner on the power play in game three as the Sharks won the game 2–1. Detroit came back from a two-goal deficit in game four by scoring in the final minute of both the second and third periods and Mathieu Schneider scored the overtime winner on the power-play for the Red Wings in a 3–2 win. After allowing the opening goal in game five the Red Wings scored four unanswered goals winning the game 4–1. Two goals from Detroit winger Mikael Samuelsson and a shutout by Dominik Hasek in game six ended the series in a 2–0 Red Wings victory.

April 26 San Jose Sharks 2–0 Detroit Red Wings Joe Louis Arena Recap  
Matt Carle (2) – pp – 09:45
Mike Grier (2) – 10:09
First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Evgeni Nabokov 34 saves / 34 shots Goalie stats Dominik Hasek 17 saves / 19 shots
April 28 San Jose Sharks 2–3 Detroit Red Wings Joe Louis Arena Recap  
Jonathan Cheechoo (1) – 00:36
Joe Thornton (1) – 04:17
First period 17:30 – Henrik Zetterberg (3)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 01:23 – shDaniel Cleary (2)
18:36 – Pavel Datsyuk (4)
Evgeni Nabokov 19 saves / 22 shots Goalie stats Dominik Hasek 17 saves / 19 shots
April 30 Detroit Red Wings 1–2 San Jose Sharks HP Pavilion Recap  
Nicklas Lidstrom (3) – pp – 11:13 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 12:43 – Ryane Clowe (4)
No scoring Third period 13:19 – ppJonathan Cheechoo (2)
Dominik Hasek 25 saves / 27 shots Goalie stats Evgeni Nabokov 29 saves / 30 shots
May 2 Detroit Red Wings 3–2 OT San Jose Sharks HP Pavilion Recap  
No scoring First period 17:52 – Jonathan Cheechoo (3)
Tomas Holmstrom (1) – pp – 19:55 Second period 08:07 – Marcel Goc (1)
Robert Lang (2) – 19:26 Third period No scoring
Mathieu Schneider (2) – pp – 16:04 First overtime period No scoring
Dominik Hasek 25 saves / 27 shots Goalie stats Evgeni Nabokov 46 saves / 49 shots
May 5 San Jose Sharks 1–4 Detroit Red Wings Joe Louis Arena Recap  
Marcel Goc (2) – 04:53 First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 03:10 – Henrik Zetterberg (4)
16:13 – Pavel Datsyuk (5)
No scoring Third period 03:46 – ppMikael Samuelsson (1)
06:14 – ppTomas Holmstrom (2)
Evgeni Nabokov 29 saves / 33 shots Goalie stats Dominik Hasek 23 saves / 24 shots
May 7 Detroit Red Wings 2–0 San Jose Sharks HP Pavilion Recap  
Mikael Samuelsson (2) – 15:26
Mikael Samuelsson (3) – 19:52
First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period No scoring
Dominik Hasek 28 saves / 28 shots Goalie stats Evgeni Nabokov 20 saves / 22 shots
Detroit won series 4–2

(2) Anaheim Ducks vs. (3) Vancouver Canucks

This was the first and to date only playoff meeting between these two teams. Anaheim won three of the four games during this year's regular season series.

The Ducks eliminated Vancouver in five games. After allowing the opening goal in game one Anaheim responded with five unanswered goals and won by a final score of 5–1, Ducks forward Andy McDonald recorded a hat trick in the contest. The teams traded a goal apiece during regulation time and Jeff Cowan ended the game 7:49 into double overtime as Vancouver tied the series with a 2–1 victory. Anaheim's special teams made the difference in game three as the Ducks successfully killed off seven penalties and scored twice on the power-play as Anaheim won the game 3–2. The Ducks came back from a two-goal deficit in the third period of game four to force overtime and won the game 3–2 on a goal scored by Travis Moen at 2:07 of the first overtime period. After Vancouver forced overtime in game five goaltender Roberto Luongo was unavailable to his team at the start of the first overtime period as he was suffering from an illness, backup Dany Sabourin stopped five Anaheim shots before Luongo returned to action 3:34 into the period.[3] Shortly into the second overtime period Scott Niedermayer fired a wrist shot that found the back of the net giving the Ducks a 2–1 win that clinched the series and moved them on to the Western Conference Final.

April 25 Vancouver Canucks 1–5 Anaheim Ducks Honda Center Recap  
Jeff Cowan (1) – 07:07 First period 09:24 – ppAndy McDonald (2)
14:56 – Teemu Selanne (2)
19:11 – Andy McDonald (3)
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 09:05 – Ryan Getzlaf (3)
19:08 – pp – Andy McDonald (4)
Roberto Luongo 27 saves / 31 shots
Dany Sabourin 5 saves / 6 shots
Goalie stats Jean-Sebastien Giguere 26 saves / 27 shots
April 27 Vancouver Canucks 2–1 2OT Anaheim Ducks Honda Center Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Markus Naslund (2) – 06:30 Second period 11:01 – Travis Moen (2)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Jeff Cowan (2) – 07:49 Second overtime period No scoring
Roberto Luongo 43 saves / 44 shots Goalie stats Jean-Sebastien Giguere 47 saves / 49 shots
April 29 Anaheim Ducks 3–2 Vancouver Canucks General Motors Place Recap  
Dustin Penner (2) – 03:08 First period 19:12 – ppMarkus Naslund (3)
Francois Beauchemin (3) – pp – 09:45 Second period 14:31 – Daniel Sedin (2)
Corey Perry (2) – pp – 07:51 Third period No scoring
Jean-Sebastien Giguere 24 saves / 26 shots Goalie stats Roberto Luongo 21 saves / 24 shots
May 1 Anaheim Ducks 3–2 OT Vancouver Canucks General Motors Place Recap  
No scoring First period 12:55 – Markus Naslund (4)
No scoring Second period 17:31 – Brendan Morrison (1)
Chris Pronger (3) – 03:58
Teemu Selanne (3) – 14:18
Third period No scoring
Travis Moen (3) – 02:07 First overtime period No scoring
Jean-Sebastien Giguere 24 saves / 26 shots Goalie stats Roberto Luongo 27 saves / 30 shots
May 3 Vancouver Canucks 1–2 2OT Anaheim Ducks Honda Center Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 00:14 – Samuel Pahlsson (1)
Alexandre Burrows (1) – 11:03 Third period No scoring
No scoring Second overtime period 04:30 – Scott Niedermayer (1)
Roberto Luongo 56 saves / 58 shots
Dany Sabourin 5 saves / 5 shots
Goalie stats Jean-Sebastien Giguere 26 saves / 27 shots
Anaheim won series 4–1

Conference finals

(1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (4) Ottawa Senators

This was the fourth and most recent playoff meeting between these two teams, with Buffalo winning all three previous series. They last met in the previous year's Eastern Conference semifinals where Buffalo won in five games. This was Buffalo's second consecutive Conference finals appearance, and their fourth overall; they lost to Carolina in seven games in the previous year. Ottawa most recently made it to the conference finals in 2003 where they lost to New Jersey in seven games. Ottawa won five of the eight games during this year's regular season series.

The Senators advanced to their first Stanley Cup Finals by eliminating the Sabres in five games. The Senators took control of game one in the third period and scored three goals to win 5–2. Buffalo forward Daniel Briere scored with only six seconds left in game two to force overtime. Joe Corvo scored the game-winning goal for Ottawa at 4:58 of double overtime in a 4–3 victory. Ray Emery made 15 saves and Daniel Alfredsson scored the only goal in game three as Ottawa shut out the Sabres 1–0. The Sabres took a three-goal lead just before the halfway point of game four and hung on to force a fifth game with a 3–2 win. Overtime was needed in game five as the teams traded goals through regulation time, Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson ended the series with his goal at 9:32 of the first overtime as the Senators won by a final score of 3–2.

May 10 Ottawa Senators 5–2 Buffalo Sabres HSBC Arena Recap  
Mike Fisher (2) – sh – 04:32
Daniel Alfredsson (7) – pp – 07:54
First period 10:55 – Maxim Afinogenov (3)
No scoring Second period 08:45 – Toni Lydman (2)
Oleg Saprykin (1) – 07:41
Jason Spezza (6) – pp – 15:48
Dean McAmmond (3) – en – 19:47
Third period No scoring
Ray Emery 18 saves / 20 shots Goalie stats Ryan Miller 29 saves / 33 shots
May 12 Ottawa Senators 4–3 2OT Buffalo Sabres HSBC Arena Recap  
Daniel Alfredsson (8) – 14:22 First period 03:41 – Thomas Vanek (6)
06:13 – Jochen Hecht (3)
Mike Fisher (3) – pp – 06:08
Wade Redden (2) – pp – 19:44
Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 19:54 – Daniel Briere (3)
Joe Corvo (2) – 04:58 Second overtime period No scoring
Ray Emery 34 saves / 37 shots Goalie stats Ryan Miller 28 saves / 32 shots
May 14 Buffalo Sabres 0–1 Ottawa Senators Scotiabank Place Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 13:40 – Daniel Alfredsson (9)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Ryan Miller 31 saves / 32 shots Goalie stats Ray Emery 15 saves / 15 shots
May 16 Buffalo Sabres 3–2 Ottawa Senators Scotiabank Place Recap  
Derek Roy (2) – 00:09 First period No scoring
Maxim Afinogenov (4) – pp – 04:32
Chris Drury (8) – 08:06
Second period 14:55 – Dean McAmmond (4)
16:41 – Peter Schaefer (1)
No scoring Third period No scoring
Ryan Miller 31 saves / 33 shots Goalie stats Ray Emery 19 saves / 22 shots
May 19 Ottawa Senators 3–2 OT Buffalo Sabres HSBC Arena Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
Dany Heatley (6) – 15:41
Jason Spezza (7) – 19:21
Second period 04:30 – Jochen Hecht (4)
No scoring Third period 10:58 – ppMaxim Afinogenov (5)
Daniel Alfredsson (10) – 09:32 First overtime period No scoring
Ray Emery 27 saves / 29 shots Goalie stats Ryan Miller 22 saves / 25 shots
Ottawa won series 4–1

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (2) Anaheim Ducks

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with Detroit winning two of the three previous series. They last met in the 2003 Western Conference quarterfinals where Anaheim won in four games. Detroit most recently made it to the conference finals in 2002 where they defeated Colorado in seven games, while Anaheim most recently made it to the conference finals in the previous year where they lost in five games to Edmonton. The teams split this year's four-game regular season series.

Anaheim defeated the Red Wings in six games. Detroit goaltender Dominik Hasek made 31 saves as the Red Wings took game one with a 2–1 victory. Scott Niedermayer ended game two at 14:17 of the first overtime as the Ducks tied the series with a 4–3 win. The Red Wings chased Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere from game three after he allowed three goals on thirteen shots, Detroit scored two more times and won the game 5–0. After the game Chris Pronger was suspended for one game by the NHL; his suspension was the result of a simultaneous hit on Tomas Holmstrom that Scott Niedermayer was penalized for. While Pronger received no penalty on the play for the hit during the game he was later suspended after NHL officials reviewed the replays, which showed Holmstrom being boarded from behind as a result of a Pronger elbow. The Ducks broke a tie in the third period of game four when Ryan Getzlaf scored on the power-play, they went on to add an empty net goal from Rob Niedermayer that gave Anaheim a 5–3 win that tied the series at two games. Scott Niedermayer forced overtime in game five as he scored on the power-play with 47.3 seconds remaining in the game; Teemu Selanne completed the comeback for Anaheim at 11:57 of the first overtime period as the Ducks took a 2–1 victory. The Red Wings mounted a late comeback attempt in game six before coming up short in a 4–3 loss than ended the series and sent Anaheim to the second Stanley Cup Finals in their history.

May 11 Anaheim Ducks 1–2 Detroit Red Wings Joe Louis Arena Recap  
No scoring First period 03:44 – ppHenrik Zetterberg (5)
No scoring Second period No scoring
Chris Kunitz (1) – 01:34 Third period 15:06 – Tomas Holmstrom (3)
Jean-Sebastien Giguere 17 saves / 19 shots Goalie stats Dominik Hasek 31 saves / 32 shots
May 13 Anaheim Ducks 4–3 OT Detroit Red Wings Joe Louis Arena Recap  
Rob Niedermayer (2) – 17:04 First period No scoring
Andy McDonald (5) – 11:40 Second period 10:34 – shKirk Maltby (1)
16:07 – ppNicklas Lidstrom (4)
Travis Moen (4) – 05:06 Third period 01:03 – ppPavel Datsyuk (6)
Scott Niedermayer (2) – 14:17 First overtime period No scoring
Jean-Sebastien Giguere 24 saves / 27 shots Goalie stats Dominik Hasek 29 saves / 33 shots
May 15 Detroit Red Wings 5–0 Anaheim Ducks Honda Center Recap  
Johan Franzen (3) – 11:09
Tomas Holmstrom (4) – pp – 19:17
First period No scoring
Todd Bertuzzi (2) – 03:17
Tomas Holmstrom (5) – 03:34
Second period No scoring
Valtteri Filppula (3) – 10:58 Third period No scoring
Dominik Hasek 29 saves / 29 shots Goalie stats Jean-Sebastien Giguere 10 saves / 13 shots
Ilya Bryzgalov 13 saves / 15 shots
May 17 Detroit Red Wings 3–5 Anaheim Ducks Honda Center Recap  
Daniel Cleary (3) – 03:29 First period 01:37 – Corey Perry (3)
11:46 – ppRic Jackman (1)
18:31 – Teemu Selanne (4)
Todd Bertuzzi (3) – pp – 07:48
Daniel Cleary (4) – pp – 15:36
Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 05:24 – ppRyan Getzlaf (4)
18:52 – enRob Niedermayer (3)
Dominik Hasek 18 saves / 22 shots Goalie stats Jean-Sebastien Giguere 36 saves / 39 shots
May 20 Anaheim Ducks 2–1 OT Detroit Red Wings Joe Louis Arena Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period 06:13 – Andreas Lilja (1)
Scott Niedermayer (3) – pp – 19:12 Third period No scoring
Teemu Selanne (5) – 11:57 First overtime period No scoring
Jean-Sebastien Giguere 36 saves / 37 shots Goalie stats Dominik Hasek 24 saves / 26 shots
May 22 Detroit Red Wings 3–4 Anaheim Ducks Honda Center Recap  
No scoring First period 03:51 – shRob Niedermayer (4)
No scoring Second period 09:52 – Corey Perry (4)
18:33 – ppRyan Getzlaf (5)
Henrik Zetterberg (6) – 03:15
Pavel Datsyuk (7) – pp – 10:08
Pavel Datsyuk (8) – pp – 16:56
Third period 05:54 – Samuel Pahlsson (2)
Dominik Hasek 25 saves / 29 shots Goalie stats Jean-Sebastien Giguere 26 saves / 29 shots
Anaheim won series 4–2

Stanley Cup Finals

This was the first and to date only playoff meeting between these two teams. Anaheim most recently made it to the Finals in 2003 where they were defeated by New Jersey in seven games, while Ottawa made their first Finals appearance in their fifteenth season. This was the first Finals series to be played in Ottawa since the original Ottawa Senators won the Stanley Cup in 1927. For the first time since 1999, neither of the two Stanley Cup finalists had previously won the Stanley Cup. The teams did not play each other during this year's regular season.

Anaheim became the first team based in the Pacific Time zone in the NHL's modern era to win the Stanley Cup; they also became the first west coast team to win the Stanley Cup since the Victoria Cougars in 1925, as well as the first team from California to win the Cup. The Senators became first NHL team from Ontario to reach the Finals since the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1967.

May 28 Ottawa Senators 2–3 Anaheim Ducks Honda Center Recap  
Mike Fisher (4) – pp – 01:38 First period 10:55 – Andy McDonald (6)
Wade Redden (3) – pp – 04:36 Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 05:44 – Ryan Getzlaf (6)
17:09 – Travis Moen (5)
Ray Emery 29 saves / 32 shots Goalie stats Jean-Sebastien Giguere 18 saves / 20 shots
May 30 Ottawa Senators 0–1 Anaheim Ducks Honda Center Recap  
No scoring First period No scoring
No scoring Second period No scoring
No scoring Third period 14:16 – Samuel Pahlsson (3)
Ray Emery 30 saves / 31 shots Goalie stats Jean-Sebastien Giguere 16 saves / 16 shots
June 2 Anaheim Ducks 3–5 Ottawa Senators Scotiabank Place Recap  
Andy McDonald (7) – pp – 05:39 First period 16:10 – Chris Neil (2)
Corey Perry (5) – 05:20
Ryan Getzlaf (7) – 07:38
Second period 05:47 – Mike Fisher (5)
16:14 – ppDaniel Alfredsson (11)
18:34 – Dean McAmmond (5)
No scoring Third period 08:22 – Anton Volchenkov (2)
Jean-Sebastien Giguere 24 saves / 29 shots Goalie stats Ray Emery 19 saves / 22 shots
June 4 Anaheim Ducks 3–2 Ottawa Senators Scotiabank Place Recap  
No scoring First period 19:59 – ppDaniel Alfredsson (12)
Andy McDonald (8) – 10:06
Andy McDonald (9) – 11:06
Second period 18:00 – Dany Heatley (7)
Dustin Penner (3) – 04:07 Third period No scoring
Jean-Sebastien Giguere 21 saves / 23 shots Goalie stats Ray Emery 18 saves / 21 shots
June 6 Ottawa Senators 2–6 Anaheim Ducks Honda Center Recap  
No scoring First period 03:41 – ppAndy McDonald (10)
17:41 – Rob Niedermayer (5)
Daniel Alfredsson (13) – 11:27
Daniel Alfredsson (14) – sh – 17:38
Second period 15:44 – Travis Moen (6)
18:28 – ppFrancois Beauchemin (4)
No scoring Third period 04:01 – Travis Moen (7)
17:00 – Corey Perry (6)
Ray Emery 12 saves / 18 shots Goalie stats Jean-Sebastien Giguere 11 saves / 13 shots
Anaheim won series 4–1

Player statistics

Skaters

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
Daniel AlfredssonOttawa Senators2014822+410
Jason SpezzaOttawa Senators2071522+510
Dany HeatleyOttawa Senators2071522+414
Nicklas LidstromDetroit Red Wings184141806
Ryan GetzlafAnaheim Ducks2171017+132
Pavel DatsyukDetroit Red Wings188816+28
Corey PerryAnaheim Ducks216915+537
Teemu SelanneAnaheim Ducks2151015+110
Chris ProngerAnaheim Ducks1931215+1026
Daniel BriereBuffalo Sabres1631215+316

Goaltending

These are the top five goaltenders based on either goals against average or save percentage with at least four games played.

GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; TOI = Time On Ice (minutes:seconds); Sv% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts

Player Team GP W L SA GA GAA TOI Sv% SO
Marty TurcoDallas Stars734229111.30509:13.9523
Roberto LuongoVancouver Canucks1257427251.77847:26.9410
Miikka KiprusoffCalgary Flames624255182.81383:35.9290
Henrik LundqvistNew York Rangers1064291222.07637:25.9241
Niklas BackstromMinnesota Wild514145112.22296:39.9240
Dominik HasekDetroit Red Wings18108444341.791,139:49.9232
Jean-Sebastien GiguereAnaheim Ducks18134451351.971,067:04.9221

Events and milestones

Detroit Red Wings defenceman Chris Chelios made his 22nd post-season appearance, breaking the record for most post-season appearances. The New York Rangers set a new post-season franchise record that year by defeating the Atlanta Thrashers 7–0 on April 17.

See also

References

  1. Sears, Ethan (April 12, 2023). "Islanders whip Canadiens to clinch playoff spot". NYPost.com. NYP Holdings, Inc. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  2. Harrington, Mike (April 30, 2023). "Series victory by Leafs adds new drought to Sabres' postseason resume". Buffalo News. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  3. "MIA Lou reveals he was ... in the loo". May 7, 2007. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
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