What Is 2016 National Hockey League playoffs

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2016 National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs began on April 20, 2016, and concluded on June 12, 2016, with the Pittsburgh Penguins defeating the San Jose Sharks in six games to win their fourth Stanley Cup title.

Key Facts

The 2016 NHL playoffs started on April 20, 2016, and ended on June 12, 2016.
Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup by defeating the San Jose Sharks 4–2 in the Final series.
Sidney Crosby was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
The Penguins became the first team in NHL history to have a losing regular-season record and win the Cup.
The playoffs featured 16 teams, with three rounds before the Stanley Cup Final.

Overview

The 2016 National Hockey League playoffs marked the postseason elimination tournament to determine the winner of the 2015–16 NHL season. It featured 16 teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences competing in a best-of-seven series format.

Ultimately, the Pittsburgh Penguins emerged as champions, defeating the San Jose Sharks in six games to claim their fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history. The series concluded on June 12, 2016, at SAP Center in San Jose, with Pittsburgh winning Game 6 by a 3–1 margin.

Start date: The playoffs officially began on April 20, 2016, with eight first-round series opening across North America.
Champion: The Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup, marking their first championship since 2009 and fourth overall.
Final opponent: The San Jose Sharks made their first-ever appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, losing in six games.
MVP: Sidney Crosby was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy after recording 27 points (9 goals, 18 assists) in 24 playoff games.
Historic achievement: Pittsburgh became the first team in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup despite finishing the regular season with a losing record (48–26–8).

How It Works

The NHL playoff format follows a structured bracket system based on regular-season performance and conference alignment. Teams compete in four rounds, each a best-of-seven series, until a champion is crowned.

Seeding: The top three teams from each of the four divisions qualify, plus two wild-card teams per conference based on points.
First Round: The division winner with the most points faces the wild-card team with fewer points in its conference.
Second Round: Known as the conference semifinals, winners advance to play within their conference bracket.
Conference Finals: The Eastern and Western Conference champions are determined in best-of-seven series.
Stanley Cup Final: The last two teams face off for the championship, with home-ice advantage going to the team with more regular-season points.
Overtime rules: Playoff games use 20-minute sudden-death overtime periods; games can go multiple overtimes, with no shootout.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of key teams and outcomes from the 2016 NHL playoffs:

Team	Regular Season Record	Playoff Result	Key Stat
Pittsburgh Penguins	48–26–8 (104 pts)	Stanley Cup Champions	First team with losing record to win Cup
San Jose Sharks	51–23–8 (110 pts)	Lost in Final (4–2)	First Final appearance in franchise history
Washington Capitals	56–18–8 (120 pts)	Lost in Second Round	Best regular-season record eliminated early
Tampa Bay Lightning	46–31–5 (97 pts)	Lost in Conference Final	Defending Eastern Conference champs
St. Louis Blues	49–24–9 (107 pts)	Lost in First Round	Top Western Conference seed ousted early

This table highlights how playoff success doesn’t always correlate with regular-season dominance. Despite the Capitals earning the league’s best record, they were eliminated by the Penguins in the second round. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s underdog run defied expectations, proving the unpredictability of postseason hockey.

Why It Matters

The 2016 NHL playoffs had significant implications for team legacies, player careers, and league history. It reshaped perceptions about regular-season performance and playoff success.

Historic win: Pittsburgh’s championship marked the first time a team with a losing record won the Stanley Cup.
Sharks’ breakthrough: San Jose’s first Final appearance brought national attention to the franchise and its fan base.
Crosby’s legacy: Sidney Crosby solidified his status as a clutch performer with his second Conn Smythe Trophy.
Coaching impact: Mike Sullivan, hired mid-season, transformed Pittsburgh’s fortunes and won his first Cup.
Goaltending performance: Matt Murray, a rookie, started 14 playoff games and posted a 2.08 goals-against average.
Parity in the NHL: The outcome underscored the league’s competitive balance and the value of playoff momentum.

The 2016 playoffs remain a benchmark for resilience and adaptability in professional hockey, demonstrating that postseason success often hinges on timing, teamwork, and coaching strategy rather than regular-season records alone.