2016 Stanley Cup playoffs

{{further|Stanley Cup playoffs#Current format}}

This was the third year in which the top three teams in each division make the playoffs, along with two wild cards in each conference (for a total of eight playoff teams from each conference).

The following teams qualified for the playoffs:

1. Florida Panthers, Atlantic Division champions – 103 points
2. Tampa Bay Lightning – 97 points
3. Detroit Red Wings – 93 points

1. Washington Capitals, Metropolitan Division champions, Eastern Conference regular season champions, Presidents' Trophy winners – 120 points
2. Pittsburgh Penguins – 104 points
3. New York Rangers – 101 points

1. New York Islanders – 100 points
2. Philadelphia Flyers – 96 points

1. Dallas Stars, Central Division champions, Western Conference regular season champions – 109 points
2. St. Louis Blues – 107 points
3. Chicago Blackhawks – 103 points

1. Anaheim Ducks, Pacific Division champions – 103 points
2. Los Angeles Kings – 102 points
3. San Jose Sharks – 98 points

1. Nashville Predators – 96 points
2. Minnesota Wild – 87 points

In each round, teams competed in a best-of-seven series following a 2–2–1–1–1 format (scores in the bracket indicate the number of games won in each best-of-seven series). The team with home ice advantage played at home for games one and two (and games five and seven, if necessary), and the other team was at home for games three and four (and game six, if necessary). The top three teams in each division made the playoffs, along with two wild cards in each conference, for a total of eight teams from each conference.

In the first round, the lower seeded wild card in the conference played against the division winner with the best record while the other wild card played against the other division winner, and both wild cards were de facto #4 seeds. The other series matched the second and third place teams from the divisions. In the first two rounds, home ice advantage was awarded to the team with the better seed; in the last two rounds, it was awarded to the team that had the better regular season record.

{{#invoke:transcludable section|main|section=Bracket|text=

{{16TeamBracket

| RD1=First round

| RD2=Second round

| RD3=Conference finals

| RD4=Stanley Cup Finals

|RD2-group1=Eastern Conference

|RD2-group2=Western Conference

|RD1-seed01 = A1

|RD1-team01 = Florida

|RD1-score01 = 2

|RD1-seed02 = WC

|RD1-team02 = NY Islanders

|RD1-score02 = 4

|RD1-seed03 = A2

|RD1-team03 = Tampa Bay

|RD1-score03 = 4

|RD1-seed04 = A3

|RD1-team04 = Detroit

|RD1-score04 = 1

|RD1-seed05 = M1

|RD1-team05 = Washington

|RD1-score05 = 4

|RD1-seed06 = WC

|RD1-team06 = Philadelphia

|RD1-score06 = 2

|RD1-seed07 = M2

|RD1-team07 = Pittsburgh

|RD1-score07 = 4

|RD1-seed08 = M3

|RD1-team08 = NY Rangers

|RD1-score08 = 1

|RD1-seed09 = C1

|RD1-team09 = Dallas

|RD1-score09 = 4

|RD1-seed10 = WC

|RD1-team10 = Minnesota

|RD1-score10 = 2

|RD1-seed11 = C2

|RD1-team11 = St. Louis

|RD1-score11 = 4

|RD1-seed12 = C3

|RD1-team12 = Chicago

|RD1-score12 = 3

|RD1-seed13 = P1

|RD1-team13 = Anaheim

|RD1-score13 = 3

|RD1-seed14 = WC

|RD1-team14 = Nashville

|RD1-score14 = 4

|RD1-seed15 = P2

|RD1-team15 = Los Angeles

|RD1-score15 = 1

|RD1-seed16 = P3

|RD1-team16 = San Jose

|RD1-score16 = 4

|RD2-seed01 = WC

|RD2-team01 = NY Islanders

|RD2-score01 = 1

|RD2-seed02 = A2

|RD2-team02 = Tampa Bay

|RD2-score02 = 4

|RD2-seed03 = M1

|RD2-team03 = Washington

|RD2-score03 = 2

|RD2-seed04 = M2

|RD2-team04 = Pittsburgh

|RD2-score04 = 4

|RD2-seed05 = C1

|RD2-team05 = Dallas

|RD2-score05 = 3

|RD2-seed06 = C2

|RD2-team06 = St. Louis

|RD2-score06 = 4

|RD2-seed07 = WC

|RD2-team07 = Nashville

|RD2-score07 = 3

|RD2-seed08 = P3

|RD2-team08 = San Jose

|RD2-score08 = 4

|RD3-seed01 = A2

|RD3-team01 = Tampa Bay

|RD3-score01 = 3

|RD3-seed02 = M2

|RD3-team02 = Pittsburgh

|RD3-score02 = 4

|RD3-seed03 = C2

|RD3-team03 = St. Louis

|RD3-score03 = 2

|RD3-seed04 = P3

|RD3-team04 = San Jose

|RD3-score04 = 4

|RD4-seed01 = M2

|RD4-team01 = Pittsburgh

|RD4-score01 = 4

|RD4-seed02 = P3

|RD4-team02 = San Jose

|RD4-score02 = 2

}}}}

;Legend

• A1, A2, A3 – The first, second, and third place teams from the Atlantic Division, respectively
• M1, M2, M3 – The first, second, and third place teams from the Metropolitan Division, respectively
• C1, C2, C3 – The first, second, and third place teams from the Central Division, respectively
• P1, P2, P3 – The first, second, and third place teams from the Pacific Division, respectively
• WC – Wild Card teams

The Florida Panthers finished first in the Atlantic Division, earning 103 points. The New York Islanders finished as the Eastern Conference's first wild-card, earning 100 points. This was the first meeting between these two teams. Florida won two of the three games of the regular season series. This was the first time that a Stanley Cup playoff series was played at the Barclays Center. The series contained the two teams with the longest playoff win drought in the league (the Islanders had not won a series since 1993, and the Panthers since 1996).{{cite web|last1=Compton|first1=Brian|last2=Poupart|first2=Alain|title=Islanders vs. Panthers First Round series preview|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/new-york-islanders-florida-panthers-first-round-series-preview/c-280253594|website=NHL.com|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|access-date=April 11, 2016|date=April 11, 2016}} The team that both clubs defeated for their last respective playoff series victory were the Pittsburgh Penguins, of which Panthers' right winger Jaromir Jagr was a member.

The Islanders defeated the Panthers in six games and won a playoff series for the first time since 1993. John Tavares scored a goal and two assists for the Islanders in a 5–4 win in game one.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/islanders-defeat-panthers-in-game-1/c-280314378?tid=280285222|title=Tavares, Islanders defeat Panthers in Game 1|last=Poupart|first=Alain|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 14, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}} In game two, Roberto Luongo recorded 41 saves in a 3–1 win to help the Panthers tie the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/luongo-helps-panthers-even-series/c-280329378|title=Luongo makes 41 saves, helps Panthers even series|last=Poupart|first=Alain|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 15, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}} The Islanders came back from a two-goal deficit in the second period to win game three in overtime on Thomas Hickey's wrist shot.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/islanders-defeat-panthers-game-3/c-280358950?tid=280345022|title=Hickey lifts Islanders by Panthers in overtime|last=Satriano|first=David|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 17, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}} In game four, Jaromir Jagr had an assist to reach 200 points overall in the playoffs. The Panthers won the game 2–1.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/panthers-defeat-islanders-game-4/c-280402388?tid=280354240|title=Petrovic, Panthers top Islanders in Game 4|last=Kreiser|first=John|publisher=National Hockey League|date=April 20, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 22, 2016}} Games five and six both ended in double-overtime with identical scores of 2–1 and New York winning both games. In game five, Alan Quine scored the game-winner on a power play 16:00 into the second overtime. Thomas Greiss made 47 saves in the victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/islanders-defeat-panthers-game-5/c-280435956|title=Quine lifts Islanders to double-overtime Game 5 win|last=Poupart|first=Alain|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 22, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}} In game six, Tavares scored the first New York goal with 54 seconds left in the third period to send the game into overtime. In the second overtime, Tavares scored his second goal and the series winner.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/islanders-defeat-panthers-game-7/c-280464574|title=Tavares scores in double overtime, Islanders advance|last=Morreale|first=Mike G.|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 24, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=New York Islanders

|team2=Florida Panthers

|stadium2=Barclays Center

|stadium1=BB&T Center

|date1 =April 14

|score1 =5–4

|won1 =1

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/islanders-defeat-panthers-in-game-1/c-280314378

|1-1-1 =Brock Nelson (1) – 06:39
Frans Nielsen (1) – pp – 16:46

|1-1-2 =01:55 – Teddy Purcell (1)
13:51 – pp – Jussi Jokinen (1)

|1-2-1 =John Tavares (1) – 19:38

|1-2-2 =01:31 – Reilly Smith (1)

|1-3-1 =Kyle Okposo (1) – 02:33
Ryan Strome (1) – 06:01

|1-3-2 =06:56 – Reilly Smith (2)

|goalie1-1 =Thomas Greiss 42 saves / 46 shots

|goalie1-2 =Roberto Luongo 21 saves / 26 shots

|date2 =April 15

|score2 =1–3

|won2 =2

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/luongo-helps-panthers-even-series/c-280329378

|2-1-1 =No scoring

|2-1-2 =04:32 – Reilly Smith (3)

|2-2-1 =No scoring

|2-2-2 =06:17 – Nick Bjugstad (1)

|2-3-1 =John Tavares (2) – 16:27

|2-3-2 =19:50 – en – Dmitry Kulikov (1)

|goalie2-1 =Thomas Greiss 28 saves / 30 shots

|goalie2-2 =Roberto Luongo 41 saves / 42 shots

|date3 =April 17

|score3 =3–4

|ot3 =1

|won3 =1

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/islanders-defeat-panthers-game-3/c-280358950

|3-1-1 =No scoring

|3-1-2 =Reilly Smith (4) – 02:25

|3-2-1 =05:21 – pp – Ryan Pulock (1)
11:48 – Shane Prince (1)
16:55 – pp – Frans Nielsen (2)

|3-2-2 =Aleksander Barkov (1) – 01:11
Nick Bjugstad (2) – 07:23

|3-3-1 =No scoring

|3-3-2 =No scoring

|3-4-1 =12:31 – Thomas Hickey (1)

|3-4-2 =No scoring

|goalie3-1 =Thomas Greiss 36 saves / 39 shots

|goalie3-2 =Roberto Luongo 35 saves / 39 shots

|date4 =April 20

|score4 =2–1

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/panthers-defeat-islanders-game-4/c-280402388

|4-1-1 =No scoring

|4-1-2 =No scoring

|4-2-1 =19:44 – pp – John Tavares (3)

|4-2-2 =Teddy Purcell (2) – pp – 15:18

|4-3-1 =No scoring

|4-3-2 =Alex Petrovic (1) – 09:25

|goalie4-1 =Thomas Greiss 27 saves / 29 shots

|goalie4-2 =Roberto Luongo 26 saves / 27 shots

|date5 =April 22

|score5 =2–1

|ot5 =2

|won5 =1

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/islanders-defeat-panthers-game-5/c-280435956

|5-1-1 =Frans Nielsen (3) – 13:31

|5-1-2 =No scoring

|5-2-1 =No scoring

|5-2-2 =No scoring

|5-3-1 =No scoring

|5-3-2 =01:59 – Aleksander Barkov (2)

|5-4-1 =Alan Quine (1) – pp – 16:00

|5-4-2 =No scoring

|goalie5-1 =Thomas Greiss 47 saves / 48 shots

|goalie5-2 =Roberto Luongo 40 saves / 42 shots

|date6 =April 24

|score6 =1–2

|ot6 =2

|won6 =1

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/islanders-defeat-panthers-game-7/c-280464574

|6-1-1 =No scoring

|6-1-2 =Jonathan Huberdeau (1) – 18:58

|6-2-1 =No scoring

|6-2-2 =No scoring

|6-3-1 =19:06 – John Tavares (4)

|6-3-2 =No scoring

|6-4-1 =10:41 – John Tavares (5)

|6-4-2 =No scoring

|goalie6-1 =Thomas Greiss 41 saves / 42 shots

|goalie6-2 =Roberto Luongo 49 saves / 51 shots

|series = New York won series 4–2

}}

The Tampa Bay Lightning finished second in the Atlantic Division, earning 97 points. The Detroit Red Wings earned 93 points to finish third in the Atlantic. This was the second meeting between these teams; their only previous meeting was in last year's Eastern Conference First Round which Tampa Bay won in seven games. The teams split their four-game regular season series this year.

The Lightning defeated the Red Wings in five games. Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov scored twice and goalie Ben Bishop made 34 saves in a 3–2 win in Game 1.{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/lightning-defeat-red-wings-in-game-1/c-280296528?tid=280283716|title=Lightning strike first against Red Wings|last=Long|first=Corey|publisher=National Hockey League|date=April 13, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 21, 2016}} Tyler Johnson recorded two goals in Game 2 in a 5–2 win for the Lightning.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/lightning-defeat-red-wings-game-2/c-280328250|title=Johnson leads Lightning to Game 2 win vs. Red Wings|last=Long|first=Corey|publisher=National Hockey League|date=April 15, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 21, 2016}} In Game 3, Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard was replaced with Petr Mrazek, who stopped all 16 shots in a 2–0 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/red-wings-defeat-lightning-game-3/c-280357616?tid=280345020|title=Red Wings stifle Lightning, get crucial win|last=Harris|first=Paul|publisher=National Hockey League|date=April 17, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 21, 2016}} In Game 4, Kucherov had two goals and an assist and Jonathan Drouin assisted on all three goals scored by Tampa Bay in a 3–2 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/palat-gives-lightning-game-4-win/c-280385170|title=Palat gives Lightning Game 4 win|last=Harris|first=Paul|publisher=National Hockey League|date=April 19, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 21, 2016}} In the final game of the series, Alex Killorn scored with 1:43 left in the third period to give the Lightning a 1–0 lead and the series win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/lightning-defeat-red-wings-to-advance/c-280418270|title=Lightning defeat Red Wings, advance to second round|last=Long|first=Corey|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 21, 2016|website=NHl.com|access-date=April 22, 2016}}

Games 3 and 4 were the last playoff games ever played at Joe Louis Arena. The arena closed after the 2016-17 as the Red Wings moved into Little Caesars Arena. This was the last of 25 consecutive playoff appearances by the Red Wings, and is to date the last time in which they made the playoffs.

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Detroit Red Wings

|team2=Tampa Bay Lightning

|stadium2=Joe Louis Arena

|stadium1=Amalie Arena

|date1 =April 13

|score1 =2–3

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/lightning-defeat-red-wings-in-game-1/c-280296528

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =06:23 – Nikita Kucherov (1)

|1-2-1 =Mike Green (1) – 02:11
Justin Abdelkader (1) – 04:07

|1-2-2 =09:29 – Nikita Kucherov (2)

|1-3-1 =No scoring

|1-3-2 =08:52 – Alex Killorn (1)

|goalie1-1 =Jimmy Howard 31 saves / 34 shots

|goalie1-2 =Ben Bishop 34 saves / 36 shots

|date2 =April 15

|score2 =2–5

|won2 =2

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/lightning-defeat-red-wings-game-2/c-280328250

|2-1-1 =No scoring

|2-1-2 =15:17 – pp – Nikita Kucherov (3)

|2-2-1 =Dylan Larkin (1) – 03:30

|2-2-2 =06:46 – Brian Boyle (1)

|2-3-1 =Brad Richards (1) – pp – 04:27

|2-3-2 =06:32 – Tyler Johnson (1)
14:48 – Tyler Johnson (2)
17:16 – en – Alex Killorn (2)

|goalie2-1 =Jimmy Howard 26 saves / 30 shots

|goalie2-2 =Ben Bishop 30 saves / 32 shots

|date3 =April 17

|score3 =0–2

|won3 =1

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/red-wings-defeat-lightning-game-3/c-280357616

|3-1-1 =No scoring

|3-1-2 =No scoring

|3-2-1 =12:42 – Andreas Athanasiou (1)
17:22 – Henrik Zetterberg (1)

|3-2-2 =No scoring

|3-3-1 =No scoring

|3-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie3-1 =Petr Mrazek 16 saves / 16 shots

|goalie3-2 =Ben Bishop 28 saves / 30 shots

|date4 =April 19

|score4 =3–2

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/palat-gives-lightning-game-4-win/c-280385170

|4-1-1 =No scoring

|4-1-2 =Nikita Kucherov (4) – pp – 05:41

|4-2-1 =14:53 – Darren Helm (1)
19:50 – Gustav Nyquist (1)

|4-2-2 =Nikita Kucherov (5) – pp – 10:31

|4-3-1 =No scoring

|4-3-2 =Ondrej Palat (1) – pp – 17:01

|goalie4-1 =Petr Mrazek 30 saves / 33 shots

|goalie4-2 =Ben Bishop 26 saves / 28 shots

|date5 =April 21

|score5 =0–1

|won5 =2

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/lightning-defeat-red-wings-to-advance/c-280418270

|5-1-1 =No scoring

|5-1-2 =No scoring

|5-2-1 =No scoring

|5-2-2 =No scoring

|5-3-1 =No scoring

|5-3-2 =18:17 – Alex Killorn (3)

|goalie5-1 =Petr Mrazek 23 saves / 24 shots

|goalie5-2 =Ben Bishop 34 saves / 34 shots

|series = Tampa Bay won series 4–1

}}

The Washington Capitals earned the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's best regular season team with 120 points. The Philadelphia Flyers finished as the Eastern Conference's second wild-card, earning 96 points. This was the fifth meeting between these teams; with both teams splitting the four previous series. They last met in the 2008 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, which Philadelphia won in seven games. These teams split the four-game regular season series.

The Capitals defeated the Flyers in six games. Capitals goalie Braden Holtby shut out the Flyers in game one, stopping all 19 shots he faced in a 2–0 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/capitals-defeat-flyers-in-game-1/c-280313136?tid=280285220|title=Holtby shutout lifts Capitals past Flyers in Game 1|last=Brown|first=Katie|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 14, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}} In game two, Holtby made 41 saves and a fluke goal{{cite news|last=Allen|first=Scott|date=April 16, 2016|title=Jason Chimera scores fluke goal on Steve Mason with deflection from red line |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2016/04/16/jason-chimera-scores-fluke-goal-on-steve-mason-with-deflection-from-red-line/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 1, 2016}} by Capitals forward Jason Chimera turned to be the game-winning goal in a 4–1 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/capitals-defeat-flyers-in-game-2/c-280343658?tid=280335472|title=Holtby makes 41 saves, Capitals defeat Flyers|last=Brown|first=Katie|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 16, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}} The Capitals scored a franchise record five power play goals to rout the Flyers 6–1 in game three.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/capitals-defeat-flyers-in-game-3/c-280370374?tid=280350984|title=Capitals ride power play to big win against Flyers|last=Kimelman|first=Adam|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 18, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}} In game four, Philadelphia avoided elimination by switching goaltender Steve Mason, who gave up six goals in the previous game, to Michal Neuvirth who made 31 saves in a 2–1 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/flyers-defeat-capitals-in-game-4/c-280401612|title=Neuvirth, Flyers avoid elimination in Game 4|last=Kimelman|first=Adam|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 20, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}} The Flyers forced a sixth game after Neuvirth made 44 saves in a 2–0 win in game five; the Flyers had 11 shots in a playoff win, the fewest ever in franchise history.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/flyers-defeat-capitals-game-5/c-280434540|title=Neuvirth, Flyers shut out Capitals in Game 5 win|last=Brown|first=Katie|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 22, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/flyers-set-franchise-record-fewest-shots-playoff-game-win-anyway/|title=Flyers set franchise record for fewest shots in a playoff game, win anyway|last=Boylen|first=Ryan|publisher=Rogers Media|date=April 22, 2016|website=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=July 4, 2016}} Nicklas Backstrom scored the only goal for the Capitals in game six for his team to move onto the second round.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/capitals-defeat-flyers-game-6-recap/c-280456932|title=Capitals defeat Flyers to advance to second round|last=Kimelman|first=Adam|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 24, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Philadelphia Flyers

|team2=Washington Capitals

|stadium2=Wells Fargo Center

|stadium1=Verizon Center

|date1 =April 14

|score1 =0–2

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/capitals-defeat-flyers-in-game-1/c-280313136

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =No scoring

|1-2-1 =No scoring

|1-2-2 =16:21 – pp – John Carlson (1)

|1-3-1 =No scoring

|1-3-2 =16:36 – Jay Beagle (1)

|goalie1-1 =Steve Mason 29 saves / 31 shots

|goalie1-2 =Braden Holtby 19 saves / 19 shots

|date2 =April 16

|score2 =1–4

|won2 =2

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/capitals-defeat-flyers-in-game-2/c-280343658

|2-1-1 =No scoring

|2-1-2 =14:09 – pp – John Carlson (2)

|2-2-1 =Jakub Voracek (1) – 09:37

|2-2-2 =02:26 – Jason Chimera (1)
17:21 – pp – Alexander Ovechkin (1)

|2-3-1 =No scoring

|2-3-2 =17:47 – Nicklas Backstrom (1)

|goalie2-1 =Steve Mason 19 saves / 23 shots

|goalie2-2 =Braden Holtby 41 saves / 42 shots

|date3 =April 18

|score3 =6–1

|won3 =2

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/capitals-defeat-flyers-in-game-3/c-280370374

|3-1-1 =00:57 – Michael Raffl (1)

|3-1-2 =Marcus Johansson (1) – pp – 04:43

|3-2-1 =No scoring

|3-2-2 =Alexander Ovechkin (2) – 08:50

|3-3-1 =No scoring

|3-3-2 =Evgeny Kuznetsov (1) – pp – 01:58
John Carlson (3) – pp – 07:37
Alexander Ovechkin (3) – pp – 14:58
Jay Beagle (2) – pp – 18:20

|goalie3-1 =Steve Mason 21 saves / 27 shots

|goalie3-2 =Braden Holtby 31 saves / 32 shots

|date4 =April 20

|score4 =1–2

|won4 =1

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/flyers-defeat-capitals-in-game-4/c-280401612

|4-1-1 =05:51 – pp – Shayne Gostisbehere (1)

|4-1-2 =No scoring

|4-2-1 =03:51 – Andrew MacDonald (1)

|4-2-2 =No scoring

|4-3-1 =No scoring

|4-3-2 =T. J. Oshie (1) – 02:38

|goalie4-1 =Michal Neuvirth 31 saves / 32 shots

|goalie4-2 =Braden Holtby 23 saves / 25 shots

|date5 =April 22

|score5 =2–0

|won5 =1

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/flyers-defeat-capitals-game-5/c-280434540

|5-1-1 =No scoring

|5-1-2 =No scoring

|5-2-1 =Ryan White (1) – 07:52

|5-2-2 =No scoring

|5-3-1 =Chris VandeVelde (1) – en – 19:29

|5-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie5-1 =Michal Neuvirth 44 saves / 44 shots

|goalie5-2 =Braden Holtby 9 saves / 10 shots

|date6 =April 24

|score6 =1–0

|won6 =2

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/capitals-defeat-flyers-game-6-recap/c-280456932

|6-1-1 =No scoring

|6-1-2 =No scoring

|6-2-1 =No scoring

|6-2-2 =Nicklas Backstrom (2) – 08:59

|6-3-1 =No scoring

|6-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie6-1 =Michal Neuvirth 28 saves / 29 shots

|goalie6-2 =Braden Holtby 26 saves / 26 shots

|series = Washington won series 4–2

}}

The Pittsburgh Penguins finished second in the Metropolitan Division, earning 104 points. The New York Rangers earned 101 points in the regular season to finish third in the Metropolitan. This was the seventh meeting between these teams, and the third meeting in three consecutive seasons, with Pittsburgh losing the last two but winning four of the six overall. They last met in last year's Eastern Conference First Round, which the Rangers won in five games. Pittsburgh won three of the four games of the regular season series.

The Penguins defeated the Rangers in five games. Penguins forward Patric Hornqvist scored a hat trick in a 5–2 win in game one.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/c-280297750?tid=280283838|title=Zatkoff pushes Penguins past Rangers in Game 1|last=Crosby|first=Wes|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 13, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 23, 2016|location=Pittsburgh}} J. T. Miller had three assists to help the Rangers win 4–2 in game two.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/rangers-defeat-penguins-game-2/c-280339934?tid=280335470|title=Second-period surge leads Rangers by Penguins|last=Crosby|first=Wes|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 16, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 23, 2016|location=Pittsburgh}} In game three, Pittsburgh scored three times after New York took a 1–0 lead to win 3–1.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/penguins-defeat-rangers-in-game-3/c-280384608|title=Murray, Cullen lift Penguins by Rangers in Game 3|last=Lane|first=John|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 19, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 23, 2016}} Evgeni Malkin scored two power play goals and Matt Murray made 31 saves in game four for the Penguins in a 5–0 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/penguins-defeat-rangers-in-game-4/c-280418826|title=Malkin, Murray propel Penguins in Game 4|last=Satriano|first=David|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 21, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 23, 2016|location=New York City}} In game five, after the Penguins' four-goal second period, of which Bryan Rust had two goals and an assist, Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault pulled Henrik Lundqvist, who had given up six goals on 23 shots. The Penguins ended the series with a 6–3 victory. It was the first time the Rangers were eliminated in the opening round since 2011, snapping a five-year advancement streak. This was also the first playoff series in which two goaltenders on the same team played in and subsequently won their playoff debut, with Jeff Zatkoff winning game one and Matt Murray winning game three.{{cite web|url=https://penslabyrinth.com/2016/04/22/pittsburgh-penguins-goaltending-future-bright|title=Pittsburgh Penguins' Goaltending Future is Bright|last=Sparks|first=Sidney|publisher=FanSided Inc.|date=April 22, 2016|website=Pens' Labyrinth|access-date=April 23, 2016}}/

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=New York Rangers

|team2=Pittsburgh Penguins

|stadium2=Madison Square Garden

|stadium1=Consol Energy Center

|date1 =April 13

|score1 =2–5

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/c-280297750

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =19:42 – Patric Hornqvist (1)

|1-2-1 =No scoring

|1-2-2 =18:56 – Sidney Crosby (1)

|1-3-1 =Derek Stepan (1) – pp – 03:10
Derek Stepan (2) – 10:11

|1-3-2 =05:31 – sh – Tom Kuhnhackl (1)
08:02 – pp – Patric Hornqvist (2)
17:10 – en – Patric Hornqvist (3)

|goalie1-1 =Henrik Lundqvist 10 saves / 11 shots
Antti Raanta 16 saves / 19 shots

|goalie1-2 =Jeff Zatkoff 35 saves / 37 shots

|date2 =April 16

|score2 =4–2

|won2 =1

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/rangers-defeat-penguins-game-2/c-280339934

|2-1-1 =No scoring

|2-1-2 =No scoring

|2-2-1 =Keith Yandle (1) – 12:38
Derick Brassard (1) – 12:56
Mats Zuccarello (1) – 16:52

|2-2-2 =03:21 – pp – Phil Kessel (1)

|2-3-1 =Chris Kreider (1) – 00:39

|2-3-2 =05:42 – pp – Phil Kessel (2)

|goalie2-1 =Henrik Lundqvist 29 saves / 31 shots

|goalie2-2 =Jeff Zatkoff 24 saves / 28 shots

|date3 =April 19

|score3 =3–1

|won3 =2

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/penguins-defeat-rangers-in-game-3/c-280384608

|3-1-1 =No scoring

|3-1-2 =No scoring

|3-2-1 =00:39 – sh – Rick Nash (1)

|3-2-2 =Sidney Crosby (2) – pp – 19:18

|3-3-1 =No scoring

|3-3-2 =Matt Cullen (1) – 04:16
Kris Letang (1) – en – 19:47

|goalie3-1 =Henrik Lundqvist 28 saves / 30 shots

|goalie3-2 =Matt Murray 16 saves / 17 shots

|date4 =April 21

|score4 =5–0

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/penguins-defeat-rangers-in-game-4/c-280418826

|4-1-1 =No scoring

|4-1-2 =Eric Fehr (1) – 01:09
Sidney Crosby (3) – pp – 07:11
Conor Sheary (1) – 16:12

|4-2-1 =No scoring

|4-2-2 =Evgeni Malkin (1) – pp – 04:00

|4-3-1 =No scoring

|4-3-2 =Evgeni Malkin (2) – pp – 03:28

|goalie4-1 =Henrik Lundqvist 14 saves / 18 shots
Antti Raanta 13 saves / 14 shots

|goalie4-2 =Matt Murray 31 saves / 31 shots

|date5 =April 23

|score5 =3–6

|won5 =2

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/penguins-eliminate-rangers-in-game-5/c-280447060

|5-1-1 =Rick Nash (2) – 01:02
Dominic Moore (1) – 10:35

|5-1-2 =09:50 – Carl Hagelin (1)
11:39 – pp – Phil Kessel (3)

|5-2-1 =No scoring

|5-2-2 =05:21 – Bryan Rust (1)
09:26 – Matt Cullen (2)
16:18 – Conor Sheary (2)
19:01 – Bryan Rust (2)

|5-3-1 =Chris Kreider (2) – pp – 05:38

|5-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie5-1 =Henrik Lundqvist 17 saves / 23 shots
Antti Raanta 5 saves / 5 shots

|goalie5-2 =Matt Murray 38 saves / 41 shots

|series = Pittsburgh won series 4–1

}}

The Dallas Stars finished first in the Central Division, earning 109 points. The Minnesota Wild finished as the Western Conference's second wild-card, earning 87 points. This was the first meeting in the playoffs between Minnesota's current NHL franchise and its former NHL franchise (then known as the North Stars). Dallas won four of the five games of the regular season series.

The Stars defeated the Wild in six games. Jamie Benn scored a goal and two assists and goalie Kari Lehtonen made 22 saves for the Stars in game one in a 4–0 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/stars-win-game-1-against-wild/c-280315596?tid=280285256|title=Benn, Spezza lift Stars to Game 1 win against Wild|last=Hunt|first=Steven|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 14, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}} Jamie Benn scored the game winner in game two in a 2–1 win for the Stars to take a 2–0 lead in the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/dallas-stars-minnesota-wild-game-2-kari-lehtonen/c-280345496?tid=280335474|title=Roussel's strange goal helps Stars defeat Wild again|last=Hunt|first=Steven|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 16, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}} In game three, after Patrick Sharp scored two goals in the first period for the Stars, the Wild scored four consecutive goals to take the lead. Jason Pominville scored two of the Wild goals in a 5–3 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/minnesota-wild-dallas-stars-stanley-cup-playoffs-game-3/c-280372490?tid=280350986|title=Wild have offensive outburst in Game 3 win|last=Myers|first=Dan|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 18, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}} Antti Niemi made 28 saves to help the Stars take a 3–1 series lead in a 3–2 win in game four.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/stars-defeat-wild-in-game-4/c-280405272|title=Stars push Wild to brink with Game 4 win|last=Myers|first=Dan|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 20, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}} The Wild avoided elimination in game five when forward Mikko Koivu scored his second goal of the game at 4:55 of the first overtime period, in a 5–4 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/wild-win-game-5-against-stars-in-ot/c-280438796|title=Wild stay alive with OT win against Stars|last=Hunt|first=Steven|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 22, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}} In Game six, the Stars took a four-goal lead before the Wild attempted a late comeback by scoring three goals in under five minutes during the third period. Alex Goligoski scored the eventual series-winner for Dallas halfway through the third period as the Stars hung on for a 5–4 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/stars-hold-off-wild-advance-to-second-round/c-280460614|title=Stars survive rally to win Game 6, eliminate Wild|last=Myers|first=Dan|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 24, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 1, 2016}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Minnesota Wild

|team2=Dallas Stars

|stadium2=Xcel Energy Center

|stadium1=American Airlines Center

|date1 =April 14

|score1 =0–4

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/stars-win-game-1-against-wild/c-280315596

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =No scoring

|1-2-1 =No scoring

|1-2-2 =03:53 – Radek Faksa (1)
12:17 – Jason Spezza (1)

|1-3-1 =No scoring

|1-3-2 =14:16 – pp – Patrick Eaves (1)
16:00 – en – Jamie Benn (1)

|goalie1-1 =Devan Dubnyk 28 saves / 31 shots

|goalie1-2 =Kari Lehtonen 22 saves / 22 shots

|date2 =April 16

|score2 =1–2

|won2 =2

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/dallas-stars-minnesota-wild-game-2-kari-lehtonen/c-280345496

|2-1-1 =No scoring

|2-1-2 =No scoring

|2-2-1 =No scoring

|2-2-2 =03:54 – Antoine Roussel (1)

|2-3-1 =Marco Scandella (1) – pp – 12:42

|2-3-2 =10:23 – Jamie Benn (2)

|goalie2-1 =Devan Dubnyk 26 saves / 28 shots

|goalie2-2 =Kari Lehtonen 25 saves / 26 shots

|date3 =April 18

|score3 =3–5

|won3 =1

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/minnesota-wild-dallas-stars-stanley-cup-playoffs-game-3/c-280372490

|3-1-1 =19:10 – Chris Porter (1)

|3-1-2 =Patrick Sharp (1) – 00:26
Patrick Sharp (2) – 04:10

|3-2-1 =06:04 – Erik Haula (1)
19:13 – Jason Pominville (1)

|3-2-2 =No scoring

|3-3-1 =06:26 – pp – Mikko Koivu (1)
18:46 – en – Jason Pominville (2)

|3-3-2 =Colton Sceviour (1) – 13:45

|goalie3-1 =Devan Dubnyk 14 saves / 17 shots

|goalie3-2 =Kari Lehtonen 20 saves / 24 shots

|date4 =April 20

|score4 =3–2

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/stars-defeat-wild-in-game-4/c-280405272

|4-1-1 =No scoring

|4-1-2 =No scoring

|4-2-1 =05:01 – Jason Pominville (3)
10:14 – Charlie Coyle (1)

|4-2-2 =Ales Hemsky (1) – pp – 09:11
Patrick Eaves (2) – pp – 13:24
Jason Spezza (2) – 18:51

|4-3-1 =No scoring

|4-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie4-1 =Devan Dubnyk 19 saves / 22 shots

|goalie4-2 =Antti Niemi 28 saves / 30 shots

|date5 =April 22

|score5 =5–4

|ot5 =1

|won5 =1

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/wild-win-game-5-against-stars-in-ot/c-280438796

|5-1-1 =Mikael Granlund (1) – 03:32
Jordan Schroeder (1) – 05:16

|5-1-2 =17:18 – Johnny Oduya (1)

|5-2-1 =No scoring

|5-2-2 =No scoring

|5-3-1 =Nino Niederreiter (1) – 01:50
Mikko Koivu (2) – 16:51

|5-3-2 =01:00 – Jamie Benn (3)
08:28 – Jason Spezza (3)
08:56 – Alex Goligoski (1)

|5-4-1 =Mikko Koivu (3) – 04:55

|5-4-2 =No scoring

|goalie5-1 =Devan Dubnyk 37 saves / 41 shots

|goalie5-2 =Antti Niemi 19 saves / 24 shots

|date6 =April 24

|score6 =5–4

|won6 =2

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/stars-hold-off-wild-advance-to-second-round/c-280460614

|6-1-1 =No scoring

|6-1-2 =John Klingberg (1) – pp – 05:56
Jason Spezza (4) – 09:07
Patrick Sharp (3) – 18:11

|6-2-1 =No scoring

|6-2-2 =Jamie Benn (4) – 19:36

|6-3-1 =03:48 – pp – Jared Spurgeon (1)
04:04 – Jonas Brodin (1)
08:39 – pp – Jared Spurgeon (2)
15:13 – Jason Pominville (4)

|6-3-2 =Alex Goligoski (2) – 10:28

|goalie6-1 =Devan Dubnyk 19 saves / 24 shots

|goalie6-2 =Kari Lehtonen 25 saves / 29 shots

|series = Dallas won series 4–2

}}

The St. Louis Blues finished second in the Central Division earning 107 points. The Chicago Blackhawks earned 103 points to finish third in the Central. This was the twelfth playoff meeting between these two rivals with Chicago winning eight of the eleven previous series. Their most recent meeting was the 2014 Western Conference First Round, which Chicago won in six games. St. Louis won three of the five games of the regular season series.

The Blues defeated the Blackhawks in seven games after nearly giving up a 3–1 series lead. In game one, neither team scored in regulation; David Backes scored 9:04 into the first overtime for the Blues as goalie Brian Elliott made 35 saves in the win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/st-louis-blues-top-chicago-blackhawks-in-overtime/c-280301276?tid=280284500|title=Backes' OT goal lifts Blues in Game 1|last=Korac|first=Louie|publisher=National Hockey League|date=April 13, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 21, 2016}} In game two, Patrick Kane had two assists to help the Blackhawks win 3–2.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/blackhawks-defeat-blues-in-game-2/c-280330400?tid=280306130|title=Keith helps Blackhawks tie series with Blues|last=Korac|first=Louie|publisher=National Hockey League|date=April 17, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 21, 2016}} The Blues recovered in game three, as Elliot made 44 saves in a 3–2 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/blues-rally-to-defeat-blackhawks-in-game-3/c-280354742|title=Blues score twice in 3rd, top Blackhawks in Game 3|last=Hedger|first=Brian|publisher=National Hockey League|date=April 17, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 21, 2016}} Game four saw Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford go after Blues rookie forward Robby Fabbri after the forward was bumped into the goaltender by Chicago captain Jonathan Toews. Five penalties were assessed and the Blackhawks scored on the power play that followed.{{cite web|url=http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-blackhawks/blackhawks-corey-crawford-goes-after-robby-fabbri|title=Blackhawks: Corey Crawford goes after Robby Fabbri|author=HawksTalk|publisher=Comcast Sportsnet: Chicago|date=April 19, 2016|website=CSN Chicago|access-date=April 23, 2016}} Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice for the Blues as they won the game 4–3.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/blues-defeat-blackhawks-game-4/c-280389054?tid=280350990|title=Tarasenko powers Blues to Game 4 victory|last=Hedger|first=Brian|publisher=National Hockey League|date=April 20, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 21, 2016}} Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw was given a one-game suspension and a $5,000 fine after he used a homophobic slur.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/andrew-shaw-suspended-one-game-fined-5000/c-280395876|title=Blackhawks' Shaw suspended one game, fined $5,000|publisher=NHL Public Relations|date=April 20, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 21, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2634433-andrew-shaw-suspended-for-using-homophobic-slur-latest-details-reaction|title=Andrew Shaw Suspended for Using Homophobic Slur: Latest Details, Reaction|last=Fitzgerald|first=Matt|publisher=Associated Press|date=April 20, 2016|website=Bleacher Report|access-date=April 23, 2016}} In game five, the Blues overcame a 3–1 deficit in the third period to send the game to overtime. In double-overtime, Patrick Kane scored the game-winner for the Blackhawks who avoided elimination with a 4–3 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/blackhawks-top-blues-on-kanes-double-ot-goal/c-280424200|title=Blackhawks top Blues in 2 OTs, avoid elimination|last=Korac|first=Louie|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 21, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 23, 2016}} The Blackhawks came back from a 3–1 deficit in game six, scoring five unanswered goals in a 6–3 victory to force a seventh game.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/blackhawks-defeat-blues-game-6/c-280452450|title=Blackhawks rally past Blues to win Game 6|last=Hedger|first=Brian|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 23, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}} In game seven, the Blues took a two-goal lead in the first period before the Blackhawks tied the game on goals by Marian Hossa and Andrew Shaw. In the third period, Troy Brouwer scored the series-winner as the Blues advanced past the opening round of the playoffs for the first time since 2012 with a 3–2 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/blues-defeat-blackhawks-game-7/c-280474814|title=Blues defeat Blackhawks in Game 7|last=Korac|first=Louie|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 25, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 25, 2016}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Chicago Blackhawks

|team2=St. Louis Blues

|stadium2=United Center

|stadium1=Scottrade Center

|date1 =April 13

|score1 =0–1

|ot1 =1

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/st-louis-blues-top-chicago-blackhawks-in-overtime/c-280301276

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =No scoring

|1-2-1 =No scoring

|1-2-2 =No scoring

|1-3-1 =No scoring

|1-3-2 =No scoring

|1-4-1 =No scoring

|1-4-2 =09:04 – David Backes (1)

|goalie1-1 =Corey Crawford 17 saves / 18 shots

|goalie1-2 =Brian Elliott 35 saves / 35 shots

|date2 =April 15

|score2 =3–2

|won2 =1

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/blackhawks-defeat-blues-in-game-2/c-280330400

|2-1-1 =No scoring

|2-1-2 =No scoring

|2-2-1 =Duncan Keith (1) – 19:55

|2-2-2 =15:20 – Vladimir Tarasenko (1)

|2-3-1 =Andrew Shaw (1) – pp – 15:41
Artemi Panarin (1) – en – 18:34

|2-3-2 =19:58 – Kevin Shattenkirk (1)

|goalie2-1 =Corey Crawford 29 saves / 31 shots

|goalie2-2 =Brian Elliott 26 saves / 28 shots

|date3 =April 17

|score3 =3–2

|won3 =2

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/blues-rally-to-defeat-blackhawks-in-game-3/c-280354742

|3-1-1 =02:18 – pp – Brent Seabrook (1)

|3-1-2 =Colton Parayko (1) – pp – 12:11

|3-2-1 =01:04 – Artem Anisimov (1)

|3-2-2 =No scoring

|3-3-1 =No scoring

|3-3-2 =Patrik Berglund (1) – 05:15
Jaden Schwartz (1) – pp – 13:22

|goalie3-1 =Corey Crawford 33 saves / 36 shots

|goalie3-2 =Brian Elliott 44 saves / 46 shots

|date4 =April 19

|score4 =4–3

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/blues-defeat-blackhawks-game-4/c-280389054

|4-1-1 =No scoring

|4-1-2 =Vladimir Tarasenko (2) – 14:02

|4-2-1 =09:12 – Andrew Shaw (2)
13:09 – pp – Duncan Keith (2)

|4-2-2 =Vladimir Tarasenko (3) – pp – 17:31

|4-3-1 =14:40 – Duncan Keith (3)

|4-3-2 =Jaden Schwartz (2) – pp – 01:36
Alexander Steen (1) – 04:46

|goalie4-1 =Corey Crawford 16 saves / 20 shots

|goalie4-2 =Brian Elliott 39 saves / 42 shots

|date5 =April 21

|score5 =4–3

|ot5 =2

|won5 =1

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/-blackhawks-top-blues-on-kanes-double-ot-goal/c-280424200

|5-1-1 =No scoring

|5-1-2 =No scoring

|5-2-1 =Marian Hossa (1) – sh – 11:32
Artem Anisimov (2) – 15:24
Artemi Panarin (2) – 19:59

|5-2-2 =12:29 – pp – Jaden Schwartz (3)

|5-3-1 =No scoring

|5-3-2 =06:57 – Robby Fabbri (1)
14:50 – David Backes (2)

|5-4-1 =Patrick Kane (1) – 03:07

|5-4-2 =No scoring

|goalie5-1 =Corey Crawford 43 saves / 46 shots

|goalie5-2 =Brian Elliott 31 saves / 35 shots

|date6 =April 23

|score6 =3–6

|won6 =1

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/blackhawks-defeat-blues-game-6/c-280452450

|6-1-1 =03:47 – Andrew Ladd (1)

|6-1-2 =Scottie Upshall (1) – 06:18
Alex Pietrangelo (1) – 08:51
Vladimir Tarasenko (4) – 11:00

|6-2-1 =04:13 – pp – Artem Anisimov (3)
12:21 – Trevor van Riemsdyk (1)
16:18 – Dale Weise (1)

|6-2-2 =No scoring

|6-3-1 =16:53 – pp – Andrew Shaw (3)
17:40 – en – Marian Hossa (2)

|6-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie6-1 =Corey Crawford 24 saves / 27 shots

|goalie6-2 =Brian Elliott 30 saves / 35 shots

|date7 =April 25

|score7 =2–3

|won7 =2

|recap7 =www.nhl.com/news/blues-defeat-blackhawks-game-7/c-280474814

|7-1-1 =Marian Hossa (3) – 18:30

|7-1-2 =01:00 – Jori Lehtera (1)
13:43 – Colton Parayko (2)

|7-2-1 =Andrew Shaw (4) – pp – 03:20

|7-2-2 =No scoring

|7-3-1 =No scoring

|7-3-2 =08:31 – Troy Brouwer (1)

|goalie7-1 =Corey Crawford 23 saves / 26 shots

|goalie7-2 =Brian Elliott 31 saves / 33 shots

|series = St. Louis won series 4–3

}}

The Anaheim Ducks finished first in the Pacific Division, earning 103 points. The Nashville Predators finished as the Western Conference's first wild-card, earning 96 points. This was the second meeting between these teams in the playoffs; their only previous series was the 2011 Western Conference quarterfinals, which Nashville won in six games. Nashville won two of the three games of the regular season series.

For the fourth straight year, the Ducks were eliminated in a seventh game at home after having a 3–2 series lead. James Neal scored 35 seconds into game one and Pekka Rinne made 27 saves for the Predators' 3–2 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/predators-defeat-ducks-in-game-1/c-280332594|title=Forsberg lifts Predators to Game 1 win|last=Mastracco|first=Abbey|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 16, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 24, 2016}} In game two, Rinne again made 27 saves in another 3–2 win to take their first ever 2–0 series lead.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/predators-edge-ducks-in-game-2/c-280361956?tid=280345032|title=Predators top Ducks, take first-ever 2-0 series lead|last=Mastracco|first=Abbey|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 17, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 25, 2016}} Before game three, Anaheim replaced goaltender John Gibson with Frederik Andersen who stopped all 27 shots he faced in a 3–0 Ducks victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/ducks-defeat-predators-in-game-3/c-280389052|title=Andersen, Ducks blank Predators in Game 3|last=Stanley|first=Robby|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 19, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 25, 2016}} Andersen made 30 saves in a 4–1 victory in game four to tie the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/ducks-even-series-predators-game-4/c-280419740|title=Andersen, Ducks even series against Predators|last=Stanley|first=Robby|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 21, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 25, 2016}} Three players for the Ducks, Ryan Getzlaf, David Perron, and Sami Vatanen, had two points in a 5–2 win in game five to stake the Ducks to a 3–2 series lead.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/ducks-defeat-predators-game-5/c-280449798|title=Ducks grab series lead with Game 5 victory|last=Mastracco|first=Abbey|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 23, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 25, 2016}} The Predators forced their first ever seventh game after Rinne made 26 saves in a 3–1 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/predators-win-to-force-game-7-against-ducks/c-280474126|title=Rinne, Predators defeat Ducks to stay alive|last=Stanley|first=Robby|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 25, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 25, 2016}} In game seven, Rinne stopped 36 shots for the Predators in a 2–1 win to advance to the second round.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/predators-hold-off-ducks-in-game-7/c-280498078|title=Predators hand Ducks fourth straight Game 7 loss|last=Mastracco|first=Abbey|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 27, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 1, 2016}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Nashville Predators

|team2=Anaheim Ducks

|stadium2=Bridgestone Arena

|stadium1=Honda Center

|date1 =April 15

|score1 =3–2

|won1 =1

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/predators-defeat-ducks-in-game-1/c-280332594

|1-1-1 =James Neal (1) – 00:35

|1-1-2 =17:39 – pp – Ryan Getzlaf (1)

|1-2-1 =Colin Wilson (1) – 07:55

|1-2-2 =00:48 – Ryan Kesler (1)

|1-3-1 =Filip Forsberg (1) – 10:25

|1-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie1-1 =Pekka Rinne 27 saves / 29 shots

|goalie1-2 =John Gibson 30 saves / 33 shots

|date2 =April 17

|score2 =3–2

|won2 =1

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/predators-edge-ducks-in-game-2/c-280361956

|2-1-1 =Mattias Ekholm (1) – 19:04

|2-1-2 =14:20 – Andrew Cogliano (1)

|2-2-1 =Craig Smith (1) – 09:55
Shea Weber (1) – pp – 19:21

|2-2-2 =No scoring

|2-3-1 =No scoring

|2-3-2 =17:18 – Nate Thompson (1)

|goalie2-1 =Pekka Rinne 27 saves / 29 shots

|goalie2-2 =John Gibson 24 saves / 27 shots

|date3 =April 19

|score3 =3–0

|won3 =2

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/ducks-defeat-predators-in-game-3/c-280389052

|3-1-1 =No scoring

|3-1-2 =Jamie McGinn (1) – 10:05

|3-2-1 =No scoring

|3-2-2 =Rickard Rakell (1) – 11:33
Chris Stewart (1) – 17:06

|3-3-1 =No scoring

|3-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie3-1 =Pekka Rinne 18 saves / 21 shots

|goalie3-2 =Frederik Andersen 27 saves / 27 shots

|date4 =April 21

|score4 =4–1

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/c-280419740

|4-1-1 =No scoring

|4-1-2 =Ryan Getzlaf (2) – 01:02

|4-2-1 =11:26 – Mike Fisher (1)

|4-2-2 =Nate Thompson (2) – 17:04
Jamie McGinn (2) – 18:56

|4-3-1 =No scoring

|4-3-2 =Andrew Cogliano (2) – 16:52

|goalie4-1 =Pekka Rinne 21 saves / 25 shots

|goalie4-2 =Frederik Andersen 30 saves / 31 shots

|date5 =April 23

|score5 =2–5

|won5 =2

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/ducks-defeat-predators-game-5/c-280449798

|5-1-1 =No scoring

|5-1-2 =No scoring

|5-2-1 =Ryan Johansen (1) – 14:13

|5-2-2 =14:35 – David Perron (1)
16:23 – Ryan Garbutt (1)

|5-3-1 =Miikka Salomaki (1) – 13:29

|5-3-2 =08:34 – Sami Vatanen (1)
16:37 – pp – Cam Fowler (1)
18:14 – en – Ryan Kesler (2)

|goalie5-1 =Pekka Rinne 27 saves / 31 shots

|goalie5-2 =Frederik Andersen 27 saves / 29 shots

|date6 =April 25

|score6 =1–3

|won6 =1

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/predators-win-to-force-game-7-against-ducks/c-280474126

|6-1-1 =No scoring

|6-1-2 =No scoring

|6-2-1 =08:10 – Mattias Ekholm (2)
17:45 – James Neal (2)

|6-2-2 =Ryan Kesler (3) – pp – 19:46

|6-3-1 =19:50 – en – Shea Weber (2)

|6-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie6-1 =Pekka Rinne 26 saves / 27 shots

|goalie6-2 =Frederik Andersen 23 saves / 25 shots

|date7 =April 27

|score7 =2–1

|won7 =1

|recap7 =www.nhl.com/news/predators-hold-off-ducks-in-game-7/c-280498078

|7-1-1 =Colin Wilson (2) – 06:19
Paul Gaustad (1) – 15:53

|7-1-2 =No scoring

|7-2-1 =No scoring

|7-2-2 =No scoring

|7-3-1 =No scoring

|7-3-2 =01:45 – pp – Ryan Kesler (4)

|goalie7-1 =Pekka Rinne 36 saves / 37 shots

|goalie7-2 =Frederik Andersen 18 saves / 20 shots

|series = Nashville won series 4–3

}}

The Los Angeles Kings finished second in the Pacific Division, earning 102 points. The San Jose Sharks earned 98 points to finish third in the Pacific. This was the fourth meeting between these two teams, with Los Angeles winning two of the three previous meetings. They last met in the 2014 Western Conference first round, which Los Angeles came back from a 3–0 deficit to defeat the Sharks in seven games. San Jose won three of the five games of the regular season series.

The Sharks defeated the Kings in five games. In game one, Joe Pavelski scored twice including the game-winner to help the Sharks win 4–3.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-edge-kings-in-game-1/c-280317492?tid=280285258|title=Pavelski powers Sharks past Kings in Game 1|last=Zupke|first=Curtis|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 14, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 22, 2016}} Sharks goalie, and former Kings backup goalie, Martin Jones allowed one goal on 27 shots in game two in a 2–1 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-defeat-kings-game-2/c-280348078?tid=280335444|title=Sharks edge Kings, head home with 2-0 series lead|last=Mastracco|first=Abbey|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 16, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 22, 2016}} Game three in San Jose required overtime with the game tied 1–1 after regulation time, before Tanner Pearson scored the game-winner for the Kings at 3:47 of the first overtime.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/los-angeles-kings-san-jose-sharks-game-3-recap/c-280375080|title=Pearson, Kings win in OT, avoid 3-0 hole|last=Gilmore|first=Eric|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|date=April 19, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 22, 2016}} In game four, all three Sharks goals came on the power play before the Kings tried to make a comeback cutting the deficit to 3–2, but that was the final score of the game.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-defeat-kings-game-4/c-280406382|title=Sharks power past Kings in Game 4|last=Gilmore|first=Eric|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 21, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 22, 2016}} In game five, the Sharks took a 3–0 lead until the Kings scored three goals to tie the game in the second period. Early in the third period, San Jose rookie Joonas Donskoi's second goal of the game, broke the tie to give the Sharks a 4–3 lead; Joe Pavelski and Melker Karlsson provided insurance goals as the Sharks ended the series with a 6–3 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-eliminate-kings-in-game-5/c-280439690|title=Sharks eliminate Kings with Game 5 victory|last=Mastracco|first=Abbey|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 22, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 23, 2016}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=San Jose Sharks

|team2=Los Angeles Kings

|stadium2=SAP Center

|stadium1=Staples Center

|date1 =April 14

|score1 =4–3

|won1 =1

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/sharks-edge-kings-in-game-1/c-280317492

|1-1-1 =Joe Pavelski (1) – pp – 06:25

|1-1-2 =02:53 – Jake Muzzin (1)

|1-2-1 =Brent Burns (1) – 06:50
Tomas Hertl (1) – 17:48

|1-2-2 =07:30 – pp – Jeff Carter (1)
17:18 – sh – Trevor Lewis (1)

|1-3-1 =Joe Pavelski (2) – 00:17

|1-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie1-1 =Martin Jones 21 saves / 24 shots

|goalie1-2 =Jonathan Quick 19 saves / 23 shots

|date2 =April 16

|score2 =2–1

|won2 =1

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/sharks-defeat-kings-game-2/c-280348078

|2-1-1 =Joe Pavelski (3) – 03:37

|2-1-2 =No scoring

|2-2-1 =Logan Couture (1) – pp – 08:44

|2-2-2 =No scoring

|2-3-1 =No scoring

|2-3-2 =14:59 – pp – Vincent Lecavalier (1)

|goalie2-1 =Martin Jones 26 saves / 27 shots

|goalie2-2 =Jonathan Quick 21 saves / 23 shots

|date3 =April 18

|score3 =2–1

|ot3 =1

|won3 =2

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/los-angeles-kings-san-jose-sharks-game-3-recap/c-280375080

|3-1-1 =00:30 – Joe Thornton (1)

|3-1-2 =Anze Kopitar (1) – pp – 08:10

|3-2-1 =No scoring

|3-2-2 =No scoring

|3-3-1 =No scoring

|3-3-2 =No scoring

|3-4-1 =No scoring

|3-4-2 =Tanner Pearson (1) – 03:47

|goalie3-1 =Martin Jones 22 saves / 24 shots

|goalie3-2 =Jonathan Quick 29 saves / 30 shots

|date4 =April 20

|score4 =2–3

|won4 =1

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/sharks-defeat-kings-game-4/c-280406382

|4-1-1 =No scoring

|4-1-2 =No scoring

|4-2-1 =02:09 – pp – Brent Burns (2)
09:21 – pp – Joe Pavelski (4)

|4-2-2 =No scoring

|4-3-1 =01:40 – pp – Patrick Marleau (1)

|4-3-2 =Trevor Lewis (2) – 02:49
Luke Schenn (1) – 06:44

|goalie4-1 =Martin Jones 26 saves / 28 shots

|goalie4-2 =Jonathan Quick 26 saves / 29 shots

|date5 =April 22

|score5 =6–3

|won5 =1

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/sharks-eliminate-kings-in-game-5/c-280439690

|5-1-1 =Joonas Donskoi (1) – 01:08
Chris Tierney (1) – 11:21

|5-1-2 =No scoring

|5-2-1 =Matt Nieto (1) – 04:05

|5-2-2 =07:44 – Anze Kopitar (2)
11:26 – Jeff Carter (2)
16:36 – Kris Versteeg (1)

|5-3-1 =Joonas Donskoi (2) – 03:58
Joe Pavelski (5) – 12:24
Melker Karlsson (1) – en – 19:38

|5-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie5-1 =Martin Jones 19 saves / 22 shots

|goalie5-2 =Jonathan Quick 22 saves / 27 shots

|series = San Jose won series 4–1

}}

This was the second playoff meeting between these teams; their only previous series was in the 2004 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, which Tampa Bay won in five games. This was the first series in the current playoff format in which a wild-card team had more points than its opponent during the regular season and did not have home ice advantage. New York won two of the three games of the regular season series.

The Lightning defeated the Islanders in five games. The Islanders took game one by a score of 5–3 with two goals scored by Shane Prince.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/islanders-defeat-lightning-in-game-1/c-280495354|title=Islanders use fast start to win Game 1|last=Long|first=Corey|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P|date=April 27, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 27, 2016}} Tyler Johnson scored two goals in a 4–1 victory for the Lightning in game two to tie the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/islanders-lightning-game-2-recap/c-280525752|title=Drouin goal helps Lightning win Game 2|last=Long|first=Corey|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 30, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 1, 2016}} Games three and four both ended in overtime with Lightning victories as well as Nikita Kucherov scoring the tying goal in the third period. In game three, Kucherov scored with 39 seconds left in the third period to send it to overtime. In overtime, Brian Boyle scored the game-winner for a 5–4 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/lightning-beat-islanders-in-overtime-game-3/c-280555050|title=Lightning tie it late, win Game 3 in overtime|last=Satriano|first=David|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 3, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 8, 2016}} In game four, Kucherov scored 7:49 into the third period to tie the game. Jason Garrison scored the game-winner for the Lightning 1:49 into overtime in a 2–1 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/lightning-islanders-game-4-recap/c-280591264|title=Garrison, Lightning defeat Islanders in OT of Game 4|last=Kreiser|first=John|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 6, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 8, 2016}} Victor Hedman scored twice and Ben Bishop stopped all 28 shots for the Lightning in game five to move on to the conference finals for the second season in a row and third in six seasons.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/islanders-lightning-game-5-recap/c-280606598?tid=280202670|title=Lightning advance to Eastern Conference Final|last=Long|first=Corey|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 8, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 8, 2016}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=New York Islanders

|team2=Tampa Bay Lightning

|stadium2=Barclays Center

|stadium1=Amalie Arena

|date1 =April 27

|score1 =5–3

|won1 =1

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/islanders-defeat-lightning-in-game-1/c-280495354

|1-1-1 =Travis Hamonic (1) – 05:44
Shane Prince (2) – 17:28
Shane Prince (3) – 19:57

|1-1-2 =03:05 – Ondrej Palat (2)

|1-2-1 =John Tavares (6) – pp – 08:59

|1-2-2 =No scoring

|1-3-1 =Cal Clutterbuck (1) – en – 19:05

|1-3-2 =07:41 – Nikita Kucherov (6)
17:28 – Valtteri Filppula (1)

|goalie1-1 =Thomas Greiss 33 saves / 36 shots

|goalie1-2 =Ben Bishop 9 saves / 13 shots
Andrei Vasilevskiy 8 saves / 8 shots

|date2 =April 30

|score2 =1–4

|won2 =2

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/islanders-lightning-game-2-recap/c-280525752

|2-1-1 =Nikolay Kulemin (1) – pp – 15:15

|2-1-2 =06:03 – Tyler Johnson (3)
11:55 – Jonathan Drouin (1)

|2-2-1 =No scoring

|2-2-2 =11:59 – pp – Victor Hedman (1)

|2-3-1 =No scoring

|2-3-2 =17:42 – en – Tyler Johnson (4)

|goalie2-1 =Thomas Greiss 27 saves / 30 shots

|goalie2-2 =Ben Bishop 19 saves / 20 shots

|date3 =May 3

|score3 =5–4

|ot3 =1

|won3 =2

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/lightning-beat-islanders-in-overtime-game-3/c-280555050

|3-1-1 =07:55 – Josh Bailey (1)

|3-1-2 =Ryan Callahan (1) – pp – 19:47

|3-2-1 =14:50 – Nick Leddy (1)

|3-2-2 =Victor Hedman (2) – 08:10

|3-3-1 =02:27 – pp – Josh Bailey (2)
11:23 – Cal Clutterbuck (2)

|3-3-2 =Vladislav Namestnikov (1) – 03:25
Nikita Kucherov (7) – 19:21

|3-4-1 =No scoring

|3-4-2 =Brian Boyle (2) – 02:48

|goalie3-1 =Thomas Greiss 36 saves / 41 shots

|goalie3-2 =Ben Bishop 35 saves / 39 shots

|date4 =May 6

|score4 =2–1

|ot4 =1

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/lightning-islanders-game-4-recap/c-280591264

|4-1-1 =04:20 – pp – Kyle Okposo (2)

|4-1-2 =No scoring

|4-2-1 =No scoring

|4-2-2 =No scoring

|4-3-1 =No scoring

|4-3-2 =Nikita Kucherov (8) – 07:49

|4-4-1 =No scoring

|4-4-2 =Jason Garrison (1) – 01:34

|goalie4-1 =Thomas Greiss 20 saves / 22 shots
Jean-Francois Berube 2 saves / 2 shots

|goalie4-2 =Ben Bishop 27 saves / 28 shots

|date5 =May 8

|score5 =0–4

|won5 =2

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/islanders-lightning-game-5-recap/c-280606598

|5-1-1 =No scoring

|5-1-2 =13:49 – Victor Hedman (3)
18:41 – Brian Boyle (3)

|5-2-1 =No scoring

|5-2-2 =04:22 – pp – Victor Hedman (4)

|5-3-1 =No scoring

|5-3-2 =04:40 – Nikita Kucherov (9)

|goalie5-1 =Thomas Greiss 21 saves / 25 shots

|goalie5-2 =Ben Bishop 28 saves / 28 shots

|series = Tampa Bay won series 4–1

}}

This was the ninth playoff meeting between these teams, with Pittsburgh winning seven of the eight previous series. Their most recent meeting was in the 2009 Eastern Conference semifinals, which Pittsburgh won in seven games. Pittsburgh won three of the five games of the regular season series.

The Penguins defeated the Capitals in six games. T. J. Oshie scored a hat-trick, his third goal being in overtime, in game one for the Capitals in a 4–3 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/t-j-oshie-captials-defeat-penguins-in-game-1/c-280509418|title=Oshie completes hat trick in OT, Capitals win Game 1|last=Brown|first=Katie|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 28, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 1, 2016}} Former Capitals forward Eric Fehr scored the game-winner in the third period for the Penguins to take game two by a score of 2–1.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/fehr-leads-penguins-past-capitals/c-280529516|title=Penguins score in 3rd to win Game 2 against Capitals|last=Brown|first=Katie|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 30, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 1, 2016}} Matt Murray made 47 saves for the Penguins in game three for a 3–2 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/penguins-defeat-capitals-in-game-3/c-280544876|title=Murray, Penguins defeat Capitals in Game 3|last=Crosby|first=Wes|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 2, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 6, 2016}} In game four, Patric Hornqvist scored the game-winner for the Penguins in overtime as well as an assist in a 3–2 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/penguins-capitals-game-4-recap/c-280570438|title=Penguins win Game 4 early in OT against Capitals|last=Crosby|first=Wes|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 4, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 6, 2016}} The Capitals avoided elimination in game five, with Braden Holtby stopping 30 of the 31 shots he faced in a 3–1 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/capitals-penguins-game-5-recap/c-280599604|title=Capitals win Game 5, extend series with Penguins|last=Brown|first=Katie|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 7, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 10, 2016}} In game six, Pittsburgh took a 3–0 lead with two goals from Phil Kessel before the Capitals tied the game 3–3 late in the third period. In overtime, Nick Bonino scored the series-winner 6:32 into the first overtime period to send the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Eastern Conference Final.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/penguins-capitals-game-6-recap/c-280628750?tid=280531774|title=Penguins eliminate Capitals with Game 6 OT win|last=Crosby|first=Wes|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 10, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 10, 2016}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Pittsburgh Penguins

|team2=Washington Capitals

|stadium2=Consol Energy Center

|stadium1=Verizon Center

|date1 =April 28

|score1 =3–4

|ot1 =1

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/t-j-oshie-captials-defeat-penguins-in-game-1/c-280509418

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =10:13 – Andre Burakovsky (1)

|1-2-1 =Ben Lovejoy (1) – 10:40
Evgeni Malkin (3) – 11:37

|1-2-2 =12:10 – T. J. Oshie (2)

|1-3-1 =Nick Bonino (1) – 08:42

|1-3-2 =03:23 – T. J. Oshie (3)

|1-4-1 =No scoring

|1-4-2 =09:33 – T. J. Oshie (4)

|goalie1-1 =Matt Murray 31 saves / 35 shots

|goalie1-2 =Braden Holtby 42 saves / 45 shots

|date2 =April 30

|score2 =2–1

|won2 =1

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/fehr-leads-penguins-past-capitals/c-280529516

|2-1-1 =No scoring

|2-1-2 =No scoring

|2-2-1 =Carl Hagelin (2) – 07:08

|2-2-2 =No scoring

|2-3-1 =Eric Fehr (2) – 15:32

|2-3-2 =04:08 – pp – Marcus Johansson (2)

|goalie2-1 =Matt Murray 23 saves / 24 shots

|goalie2-2 =Braden Holtby 33 saves / 35 shots

|date3 =May 2

|score3 =2–3

|won3 =1

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/penguins-defeat-capitals-in-game-3/c-280544876

|3-1-1 =06:37 – Patric Hornqvist (4)
07:37 – Tom Kuhnhackl (2)

|3-1-2 =No scoring

|3-2-1 =15:03 – Carl Hagelin (3)

|3-2-2 =No scoring

|3-3-1 =No scoring

|3-3-2 =Alexander Ovechkin (4) – 08:02
Justin Williams (1) – 19:04

|goalie3-1 =Matt Murray 47 saves / 49 shots

|goalie3-2 =Braden Holtby 20 saves / 23 shots

|date4 =May 4

|score4 =2–3

|ot4 =1

|won4 =1

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/penguins-capitals-game-4-recap/c-280570438

|4-1-1 =09:16 – Trevor Daley (1)

|4-1-2 =Jay Beagle (3) – 02:58

|4-2-1 =03:07 – Matt Cullen (3)

|4-2-2 =John Carlson (4) – 16:19

|4-3-1 =No scoring

|4-3-2 =No scoring

|4-4-1 =02:34 – Patric Hornqvist (5)

|4-4-2 =No scoring

|goalie4-1 =Matt Murray 34 saves / 36 shots

|goalie4-2 =Braden Holtby 30 saves / 33 shots

|date5 =May 7

|score5 =1–3

|won5 =2

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/capitals-penguins-game-5-recap/c-280599604

|5-1-1 =Chris Kunitz (1) – pp – 07:08

|5-1-2 =04:04 – pp – Alexander Ovechkin (5)

|5-2-1 =

|5-2-2 =04:00 – pp – T. J. Oshie (5)
09:58 – Justin Williams (2)

|5-3-1 =No scoring

|5-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie5-1 =Matt Murray 16 saves / 19 shots

|goalie5-2 =Braden Holtby 30 saves / 31 shots

|date6 =May 10

|score6 =3–4

|ot6 =1

|won6 =1

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/penguins-capitals-game-6-recap/c-280628750

|6-1-1 =05:41 – Phil Kessel (4)

|6-1-2 =No scoring

|6-2-1 =07:05 – pp – Phil Kessel (5)
07:38 – pp – Carl Hagelin (4)

|6-2-2 =T. J. Oshie (6) – pp – 18:30

|6-3-1 =No scoring

|6-3-2 =Justin Williams (3) – 07:23
John Carlson (5) – pp – 13:01

|6-4-1 =06:32 – Nick Bonino (2)

|6-4-2 =No scoring

|goalie6-1 =Matt Murray 36 saves / 39 shots

|goalie6-2 =Braden Holtby 37 saves / 41 shots

|series = Pittsburgh won series 4–2

}}

This was the thirteenth playoff meeting between these teams; the two teams have split the twelve previous series. They last met in the 2001 Western Conference semifinals, which St. Louis won in a four-game sweep. St. Louis won four of the five games of the regular season series.

The Blues defeated the Stars in seven games. In game one, Radek Faksa scored with 4:44 left in the third period to give the Dallas Stars a 2–1 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/stars-beat-blues-in-game-1/c-280518136|title=Stars score in third to take Game 1 from Blues|last=Hunt|first=Steven|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 29, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 11, 2016}} In game two, Dallas scored two goals in the third period to tie the game 3–3 after being down 3–1. In overtime, Blues' captain David Backes scored a power play goal to tie the series at a game apiece.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/backes-scores-in-ot-blues-beat-stars/c-280534318|title=Backes scores in OT, Blues top Stars to even series|last=Hunt|first=Steven|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 1, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 11, 2016}} Alexander Steen scored twice and Vladimir Tarasenko scored a goal and two assists to help the Blues rout the Stars 6–1 in game three.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/blues-score-six-unanswered-against-stars-in-game-3/c-280557872|title=Blues cruise to Game 3 win against Stars|last=Korac|first=Louie|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 3, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 8, 2016}} Jamie Benn had two assists in game four as well as the overtime-game-winner by Cody Eakin for the Stars in a 3–2 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/eakin-lifts-stars-to-ot-win-in-game-4/c-280580126|title=Eakin lifts Stars to OT win in Game 4|last=Korac|first=Louie|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 5, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 8, 2016}} In game five, Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist and Brian Elliott made 27 saves in a 4–1 victory to take a 3–2 series lead.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/blues-stars-game-5-recap/c-280595650|title=Blues defeat Stars in Game 5, take 3-2 series lead|last=Hunt|first=Steven|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 7, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 8, 2016}} Dallas scored three goals in the first period in game six prompting St. Louis head coach Ken Hitchcock to replace Elliott who had only stopped four shots. Dallas won the game 3–2 to force a seventh game.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/blues-stars-game-6-recap/c-280617260|title=Stars defeat Blues to force Game 7|last=Korac|first=Louie|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 9, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 10, 2016}} In game seven, six different players scored a goal for the Blues in a 6–1 victory to make their first Conference finals since 2001.

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=St. Louis Blues

|team2=Dallas Stars

|stadium2=Scottrade Center

|stadium1=American Airlines Center

|date1 =April 29

|score1 =1–2

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/stars-beat-blues-in-game-1/c-280518136

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =No scoring

|1-2-1 =No scoring

|1-2-2 =09:36 – Antoine Roussel (2)

|1-3-1 =Kevin Shattenkirk (2) – 11:32

|1-3-2 =15:16 – Radek Faksa (2)

|goalie1-1 =Brian Elliott 40 saves / 42 shots

|goalie1-2 =Kari Lehtonen 31 saves / 32 shots

|date2 =May 1

|score2 =4–3

|ot2 =1

|won2 =1

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/backes-scores-in-ot-blues-beat-stars/c-280534318

|2-1-1 =Patrik Berglund (2) – 04:11
Joel Edmundson (1) – 07:02
Troy Brouwer (2) – pp – 18:40

|2-1-2 =03:36 – Alex Goligoski (3)

|2-2-1 =No scoring

|2-2-2 =No scoring

|2-3-1 =No scoring

|2-3-2 =04:35 – Mattias Janmark (1)
17:24 – Jamie Benn (5)

|2-4-1 =David Backes (3) – pp – 10:58

|2-4-2 =No scoring

|goalie2-1 =Brian Elliott 31 saves / 34 shots

|goalie2-2 =Kari Lehtonen 2 saves / 5 shots
Antti Niemi 19 saves / 20 shots

|date3 =May 3

|score3 =1–6

|won3 =1

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/blues-score-six-unanswered-against-stars-in-game-3/c-280557872

|3-1-1 =05:41 – Alexander Steen (2)
16:10 – pp – David Backes (4)

|3-1-2 =Colton Sceviour (2) – 04:44

|3-2-1 =02:34 – Troy Brouwer (3)
03:50 – Vladimir Tarasenko (5)
18:03 – pp – Alexander Steen (3)

|3-2-2 =No scoring

|3-3-1 =18:06 – David Backes (5)

|3-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie3-1 =Brian Elliott 25 saves / 26 shots

|goalie3-2 =Antti Niemi 9 saves / 12 shots
Kari Lehtonen 24 saves / 27 shots

|date4 =May 5

|score4 =3–2

|ot4 =1

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/eakin-lifts-stars-to-ot-win-in-game-4/c-280580126

|4-1-1 =10:17 – Vladimir Tarasenko (6)

|4-1-2 =No scoring

|4-2-1 =13:06 – pp – Paul Stastny (1)

|4-2-2 =Radek Faksa (3) – 04:05
Patrick Sharp (4) – pp – 05:14

|4-3-1 =No scoring

|4-3-2 =No scoring

|4-4-1 =No scoring

|4-4-2 =Cody Eakin (1) – 02:58

|goalie4-1 =Brian Elliott 25 saves / 28 shots

|goalie4-2 =Kari Lehtonen 24 saves / 26 shots

|date5 =May 7

|score5 =4–1

|won5 =1

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/blues-stars-game-5-recap/c-280595650

|5-1-1 =Robby Fabbri (2) – 06:00

|5-1-2 =10:58 – Alex Goligoski (4)

|5-2-1 =Dmitrij Jaskin (1) – 10:31
Troy Brouwer (4) – 17:42

|5-2-2 =No scoring

|5-3-1 =Paul Stastny (2) – en – 18:20

|5-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie5-1 =Brian Elliott 27 saves / 28 shots

|goalie5-2 =Kari Lehtonen 18 saves / 21 shots

|date6 =May 9

|score6 =3–2

|won6 =2

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/blues-stars-game-6-recap/c-280617260

|6-1-1 =No scoring

|6-1-2 =Mattias Janmark (2) – 04:53
Vernon Fiddler (1) – 05:13
Jason Spezza (5) – pp – 16:49

|6-2-1 =07:29 – Alexander Steen (4)

|6-2-2 =No scoring

|6-3-1 =08:59 – Patrik Berglund (3)

|6-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie6-1 =Brian Elliott 4 saves / 7 shots
Jake Allen 7 saves / 7 shots

|goalie6-2 =Kari Lehtonen 35 saves / 37 shots

|date7 =May 11

|score7 =6–1

|won7 =1

|recap7 =www.nhl.com/news/blues-beat-stars-game-7/c-280638588

|7-1-1 =Robby Fabbri (3) – pp – 05:23
Paul Stastny (3) – 18:22
Patrik Berglund (4) – 19:56

|7-1-2 =No scoring

|7-2-1 =David Backes (6) – 03:50
Troy Brouwer (5) – 15:06

|7-2-2 =No scoring

|7-3-1 =Vladimir Tarasenko (7) – en – 15:20

|7-3-2 =05:15 – Patrick Eaves (3)

|goalie7-1 =Brian Elliott 31 saves / 32 shots

|goalie7-2 =Kari Lehtonen 5 saves / 8 shots
Antti Niemi 8 saves / 10 shots

|series = St. Louis won series 4–3

}}

This was the third playoff meeting between these teams, with San Jose winning both previous series. They last met in the 2007 Western Conference quarterfinals, which San Jose won in five games. Nashville won two of the three games of the regular season series.

The Sharks defeated the Predators in seven games. The home team won every game in the series. Logan Couture scored two goals in game one for the Sharks in a 5–2 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-predators-game-1-recap/c-280520060|title=Sharks use big third period to win Game 1|last=Gilmore|first=Eric|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=April 30, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 1, 2016}} In game two, Martin Jones made 37 saves for the Sharks in a 3–2 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-defeat-predators-in-game-2/c-280537200|title=Sharks edge Predators, lead series 2-0|last=Gilmore|first=Eric|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 1, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 1, 2016}} Shea Weber scored a goal and an assist and Pekka Rinne made 26 saves in a 4–1 win for the Predators in game three.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/predators-power-past-sharks-in-game-3/c-280556272|title=Power play lifts Predators past Sharks in Game 3|last=Stanley|first=Robby|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 3, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 12, 2016}} The Predators played in their longest playoff game in game four going 11:12 into triple overtime. Mike Fisher scored his second goal of the game to end overtime and tie the series with a 4–3 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/predators-sharks-game-4-recap/c-280582448|title=Predators win Game 4 in third overtime|last=Stanley|first=Robby|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 6, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 12, 2016}} Joe Pavelski scored twice for the Sharks in game five who took a 3–2 series lead with a 5–1 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-beat-predators-game-5/c-280601904|title=Sharks storm past Predators in Game 5|last=Gilmore|first=Eric|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 7, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 12, 2016}} In game six, the Predators came back from an early 2–0 deficit, sending the game into overtime. In overtime, rookie Viktor Arvidsson scored the game-winner to force a seventh game in a 4–3 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-predators-game-6-recap/c-280618942|title=Predators top Sharks in OT, force Game 7|last=Stanley|first=Robby|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 9, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 12, 2016}} In game seven, Martin Jones stopped all 20 shots and Logan Couture scored a goal and two assists in a 5–0 win to send the Sharks onto the Western Conference Final.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/predators-sharks-game-7-recap/c-280651298|title=Sharks shut out Predators in Game 7|last=Gilmore|first=Eric|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 12, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 12, 2016}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Nashville Predators

|team2=San Jose Sharks

|stadium2=Bridgestone Arena

|stadium1=SAP Center

|date1 =April 29

|score1 =2–5

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/sharks-predators-game-1-recap/c-280520060

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =No scoring

|1-2-1 =Mike Fisher (2) – pp – 04:33

|1-2-2 =No scoring

|1-3-1 =Ryan Johansen (2) – 18:11

|1-3-2 =02:37 – pp – Tomas Hertl (2)
11:49 – Joel Ward (1)
15:40 – pp – Logan Couture (2)
18:31 – en – Logan Couture (3)
19:10 – en – Tommy Wingels (1)

|goalie1-1 =Pekka Rinne 33 saves / 36 shots

|goalie1-2 =Martin Jones 29 saves / 31 shots

|date2 =May 1

|score2 =2–3

|won2 =2

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/sharks-defeat-predators-in-game-2/c-280537200

|2-1-1 =No scoring

|2-1-2 =No scoring

|2-2-1 =No scoring

|2-2-2 =18:36 – pp – Logan Couture (4)

|2-3-1 =Mattias Ekholm (3) – 12:56
Ryan Johansen (3) – 19:55

|2-3-2 =17:20 – Joe Pavelski (6)
19:04 – en – Joe Thornton (2)

|goalie2-1 =Pekka Rinne 22 saves / 24 shots

|goalie2-2 =Martin Jones 37 saves / 39 shots

|date3 =May 3

|score3 =1–4

|won3 =1

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/predators-power-past-sharks-in-game-3/c-280556272

|3-1-1 =No scoring

|3-1-2 =Patrick Marleau (2) – 13:13

|3-2-1 =05:11 – pp – James Neal (3)
14:44 – Shea Weber (3)

|3-2-2 =No scoring

|3-3-1 =06:55 – Colin Wilson (3)
15:49 – pp – Filip Forsberg (2)

|3-3-2 =

|goalie3-1 =Pekka Rinne 26 saves / 27 shots

|goalie3-2 =Martin Jones 21 saves / 25 shots

|date4 =May 5

|score4 =3–4

|ot4 =3

|won4 =1

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/predators-sharks-game-4-recap/c-280582448

|4-1-1 =00:41 – Colin Wilson (4)
09:50 – Mike Fisher (3)

|4-1-2 =Brent Burns (3) – 03:08

|4-2-1 =No scoring

|4-2-2 =Joonas Donskoi (3) – 14:09

|4-3-1 =15:39 – James Neal (4)

|4-3-2 =Brent Burns (4) – pp – 06:48

|4-4-1 =11:12 – Mike Fisher (4)

|4-4-2 =No scoring

|goalie4-1 =Pekka Rinne 44 saves / 47 shots

|goalie4-2 =Martin Jones 41 saves / 45 shots

|date5 =May 7

|score5 =1–5

|won5 =2

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/sharks-beat-predators-game-5/c-280601904

|5-1-1 =Mike Fisher (5) – 15:40

|5-1-2 =10:47 – Patrick Marleau (3)
17:21 – Joe Pavelski (7)

|5-2-1 =No scoring

|5-2-2 =00:35 – Logan Couture (5)
19:22 – pp – Joe Pavelski (8)

|5-3-1 =No scoring

|5-3-2 =19:10 – Melker Karlsson (2)

|goalie5-1 =Pekka Rinne 23 saves / 27 shots
Carter Hutton 1 save / 2 shots

|goalie5-2 =Martin Jones 24 saves / 25 shots

|date6 =May 9

|score6 =3–4

|ot6 =1

|won6 =1

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/sharks-predators-game-6-recap/c-280618942

|6-1-1 =15:27 – Roman Josi (1)

|6-1-2 =Chris Tierney (2) – 09:55
Chris Tierney (3) – 11:51

|6-2-1 =01:25 – Ryan Johansen (4)

|6-2-2 =No scoring

|6-3-1 =12:44 – Colin Wilson (5)

|6-3-2 =Logan Couture (6) – pp – 10:04

|6-4-1 =02:03 – Viktor Arvidsson (1)

|6-4-2 =No scoring

|goalie6-1 =Pekka Rinne 15 saves / 18 shots

|goalie6-2 =Martin Jones 28 saves / 32 shots

|date7 =May 12

|score7 =0–5

|won7 =2

|recap7 =www.nhl.com/news/predators-sharks-game-7-recap/c-280651298

|7-1-1 =No scoring

|7-1-2 =09:02 – pp – Joe Pavelski (9)
16:51 – Joel Ward (2)

|7-2-1 =No scoring

|7-2-2 =00:36 – Logan Couture (7)

|7-3-1 =No scoring

|7-3-2 =00:32 – pp – Joe Thornton (3)
03:54 – Patrick Marleau (4)

|goalie7-1 =Pekka Rinne 21 saves / 26 shots
Carter Hutton 1 save / 1 shot

|goalie7-2 =Martin Jones 20 saves / 20 shots

|series = San Jose won series 4–3

}}

{{Main|NHL conference finals}}

This was the second playoff meeting between these teams. Their only previous series was the 2011 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, which Tampa Bay came back from a 3–1 series deficit to win in seven games. Pittsburgh last made the conference finals in 2013 where they were swept in four games by the Boston Bruins. This was Tampa Bay's second consecutive Conference finals appearance; they defeated the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers in seven games in the previous year. Tampa Bay won all three games of the regular season series.

The Penguins defeated the Lightning in seven games. In game one, Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop suffered a lower-body injury in the first period, requiring him to leave the game on a stretcher.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/lightning-goalie-ben-bishop-day-day-game-1-injury/|title=Lightning goalie Ben Bishop day-to-day after Game 1 injury|last=Sadler|first=Emily|publisher=Rogers Media|date=May 14, 2016|website=SPORTSNET.ca|access-date=May 19, 2016}} Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves in relief to help the Lightning win 3–1.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/lightning-penguins-game-1-recap/c-280696686|title=Lightning defeat Penguins in Game 1, lose Bishop|last=Crosby|first=Wes|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 13, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 19, 2016}} Four goals were scored in the first period, two by each team, in game two leaving the score tied going into overtime. Sidney Crosby scored 40 seconds into overtime for the Penguins to tie the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/penguins-lightning-game-2-recap/c-280716336|title=Crosby lifts Penguins to OT win in Game 2|last=Crosby|first=Wes|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 16, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 19, 2016}} Carl Hagelin and Phil Kessel both had a goal and an assist for the Penguins in a 4–2 feat in game three.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/penguins-lightning-game-3-recap/c-280744436|title=Penguins defeat Lightning, take 2-1 series lead|last=Long|first=Corey|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 18, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 19, 2016}} The Lightning tied the series in game four in a 4–3 win with both Nikita Kucherov and Alex Killorn providing two assists each, including the game-winning goal, and the team preventing a third period comeback from the Penguins.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/penguins-lightning-game-4-recap/c-280762906|title=Lightning win Game 4, even series|last=Long|first=Corey|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 20, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 20, 2016}} The Penguins gave up leads of both 2–0 and 3–2 and lost in overtime when Tyler Johnson scored for the Lightning 53 seconds into the first overtime period of game five.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/lightning-penguins-game-5-recap/c-280776734|title=Lightning rally for OT victory in Game 5|last=Crosby|first=Wes|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 22, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 25, 2016}} Although Brian Boyle scored twice for the Lightning, Pittsburgh forced a seventh game after a 5–2 victory in which Crosby had a goal and an assist.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/penguins-lightning-game-6-recap/c-280796918|title=Penguins win Game 6, extend series|last=Long|first=Corey|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 24, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 25, 2016}} In game seven, Bryan Rust scored both goals for Pittsburgh in a 2–1 victory to send the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2009 and fifth time in franchise history and prevented the Lightning from clinching a second consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals and third time in franchise history altogether.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/penguins-beat-lightning-head-to-stanley-cup-final/c-280816740|title=Penguins defeat Lightning, Stamkos in Game 7|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 26, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 26, 2016}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=Tampa Bay Lightning

|team2=Pittsburgh Penguins

|stadium2=Amalie Arena

|stadium1=Consol Energy Center

|date1 =May 13

|score1 =3–1

|won1 =1

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/lightning-penguins-game-1-recap/c-280696686

|1-1-1 =Alex Killorn (4) – 18:46

|1-1-2 =No scoring

|1-2-1 =Ondrej Palat (3) – pp – 02:33
Jonathan Drouin (2) – 18:25

|1-2-2 =19:05 – pp – Patric Hornqvist (6)

|1-3-1 =No scoring

|1-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie1-1 =Ben Bishop 9 saves / 9 shots
Andrei Vasilevskiy 25 saves / 26 shots

|goalie1-2 =Matt Murray 17 saves / 20 shots

|date2 =May 16

|score2 =2–3

|ot2 =1

|won2 =2

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/penguins-lightning-game-2-recap/c-280716336

|2-1-1 =Anton Stralman (1) – 16:37
Jonathan Drouin (3) – 19:10

|2-1-2 =04:32 – Matt Cullen (4)
09:37 – Phil Kessel (6)

|2-2-1 =No scoring

|2-2-2 =No scoring

|2-3-1 =No scoring

|2-3-2 =No scoring

|2-4-1 =No scoring

|2-4-2 =00:40 – Sidney Crosby (4)

|goalie2-1 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 37 saves / 40 shots

|goalie2-2 =Matt Murray 19 saves / 21 shots

|date3 =May 18

|score3 =4–2

|won3 =2

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/penguins-lightning-game-3-recap/c-280744436

|3-1-1 =No scoring

|3-1-2 =No scoring

|3-2-1 =No scoring

|3-2-2 =Carl Hagelin (5) – 19:50

|3-3-1 =05:30 – Tyler Johnson (5)
18:16 – Ondrej Palat (4)

|3-3-2 =Phil Kessel (7) – 05:16
Sidney Crosby (5) – pp – 10:50
Chris Kunitz (2) – 13:12

|goalie3-1 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 44 saves / 48 shots

|goalie3-2 =Matt Murray 26 saves / 28 shots

|date4 =May 20

|score4 =3–4

|won4 =1

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/penguins-lightning-game-4-recap/c-280762906

|4-1-1 =00:27 – Ryan Callahan (2)
14:28 – Andrej Sustr (1)

|4-1-2 =No scoring

|4-2-1 =14:38 – pp – Jonathan Drouin (4)
17:48 – Tyler Johnson (6)

|4-2-2 =No scoring

|4-3-1 =No scoring

|4-3-2 =Phil Kessel (8) – 01:18
Evgeni Malkin (4) – 11:13
Chris Kunitz (3) – pp – 13:08

|goalie4-1 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 35 saves / 38 shots

|goalie4-2 =Matt Murray 26 saves / 30 shots
Marc-Andre Fleury 7 saves / 7 shots

|date5 =May 22

|score5 =4–3

|ot5 =1

|won5 =1

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/lightning-penguins-game-5-recap/c-280776734

|5-1-1 =No scoring

|5-1-2 =19:59 – Brian Dumoulin (1)

|5-2-1 =Alex Killorn (5) – 13:15
Nikita Kucherov (10) – 14:25

|5-2-2 =01:30 – Patric Hornqvist (7)
19:10 – Chris Kunitz (4)

|5-3-1 =Nikita Kucherov (11) – 16:44

|5-3-2 =No scoring

|5-4-1 =Tyler Johnson (7) – 00:53

|5-4-2 =No scoring

|goalie5-1 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 31 saves / 34 shots

|goalie5-2 =Marc-Andre Fleury 21 saves / 25 shots

|date6 =May 24

|score6 =5–2

|won6 =2

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/penguins-lightning-game-6-recap/c-280796918

|6-1-1 =No scoring

|6-1-2 =Phil Kessel (9) – pp – 18:46

|6-2-1 =No scoring

|6-2-2 =Kris Letang (2) – 07:40
Sidney Crosby (6) – 19:34

|6-3-1 =05:30 – Brian Boyle (4)
12:43 – Brian Boyle (5)

|6-3-2 =Bryan Rust (3) – 17:52
Nick Bonino (3) – en – 19:06

|goalie6-1 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 29 saves / 33 shots

|goalie6-2 =Matt Murray 29 saves / 31 shots

|date7 =May 26

|score7 =1–2

|won7 =2

|recap7 =www.nhl.com/news/penguins-beat-lightning-head-to-stanley-cup-final/c-280816740

|7-1-1 =No scoring

|7-1-2 =No scoring

|7-2-1 =Jonathan Drouin (5) – 09:36

|7-2-2 =01:55 – Bryan Rust (4)
10:06 – Bryan Rust (5)

|7-3-1 =No scoring

|7-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie7-1 =Andrei Vasilevskiy 37 saves / 39 shots

|goalie7-2 =Matt Murray 16 saves / 17 shots

|series = Pittsburgh won series 4–3

}}

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these teams, with both teams splitting the four previous playoff series. They last met in the 2012 Western Conference quarterfinals, which St. Louis won in five games. St. Louis most recently made the conference finals in 2001, when they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in five games. San Jose last made the conference finals in 2011, where they lost in five games to the Vancouver Canucks. San Jose won two of the three games of the regular season series.

The Sharks defeated the Blues in six games. The Blues won game one 2–1 with help from goalie Brian Elliott who made 31 saves in the process.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/blues-sharks-game-1-recap/c-280707366|title=Elliott, Blues hang on to defeat Sharks in Game 1|last=Korac|first=Louie|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 15, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 19, 2016}} The Sharks bounced back in game two with Brent Burns scoring twice and goalie Martin Jones stopping all 26 shots he faced in a 4–0 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-blues-game-2-recap/c-280734832|title=Sharks shut out Blues in Game 2|last=Korac|first=Louie|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 17, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 19, 2016}} In game three, Jones again shutout the Blues, blocking 22 shots; Tomas Hertl scored twice for the Sharks in their 3–0 victory at home.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/blues-sharks-game-3-recap/c-280753766|title=Sharks blank Blues in Game 3, take 2-1 series lead|last=Gilmore|first=Eric|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 19, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 20, 2016}} Troy Brouwer and Kyle Brodziak scored twice in a 6–3 victory for the Blues to tie the series in game four.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/blues-sharks-game-4-recap/c-280768722|title=Allen, Blues defeat Sharks in Game 4|last=Gilmore|first=Eric|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 21, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 22, 2016}} Joe Pavelski and Joel Ward both scored twice in the Sharks' 6–3 victory in game five.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-blues-game-5-recap/c-280786004|title=Sharks defeat Blues in Game 5, lead series 3-2|last=Korac|first=Louie|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 23, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 25, 2016}} The Sharks were able to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in their 25-year history after game six with Joel Ward scoring the winning goal 3:01 into the third period in a 5–2 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-beat-blues-reach-first-stanley-cup-final/c-280806204|title=Sharks win Game 6, reach first Stanley Cup Final|last=Gilmore|first=Eric|publisher=NHL Enterprise, L.P.|date=May 25, 2016|website=NHL.com|access-date=May 25, 2016}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=San Jose Sharks

|team2=St. Louis Blues

|stadium2=SAP Center

|stadium1=Scottrade Center

|date1 =May 15

|score1 =1–2

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/blues-sharks-game-1-recap/c-280707366

|1-1-1 =Tomas Hertl (3) – 15:38

|1-1-2 =15:04 – pp – David Backes (7)

|1-2-1 =No scoring

|1-2-2 =09:15 – Jori Lehtera (2)

|1-3-1 =No scoring

|1-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie1-1 =Martin Jones 21 saves / 23 shots

|goalie1-2 =Brian Elliott 31 saves / 32 shots

|date2 =May 17

|score2 =4–0

|won2 =1

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/sharks-blues-game-2-recap/c-280734832

|2-1-1 =Tommy Wingels (2) – 02:07

|2-1-2 =No scoring

|2-2-1 =Brent Burns (5) – pp – 07:04

|2-2-2 =No scoring

|2-3-1 =Brent Burns (6) – pp – 11:58
Dainius Zubrus (1) – en – 19:41

|2-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie2-1 =Martin Jones 26 saves / 26 shots

|goalie2-2 =Brian Elliott 20 saves / 23 shots

|date3 =May 19

|score3 =0–3

|won3 =1

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/blues-sharks-game-3-recap/c-280753766

|3-1-1 =15:53 – Tomas Hertl (4)

|3-1-2 =No scoring

|3-2-1 =11:44 – Joonas Donskoi (4)

|3-2-2 =No scoring

|3-3-1 =06:09 – Tomas Hertl (5)

|3-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie3-1 =Martin Jones 22 saves / 22 shots

|goalie3-2 =Brian Elliott 11 saves / 14 shots
Jake Allen 2 saves / 2 shots

|date4 =May 21

|score4 =6–3

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/blues-sharks-game-4-recap/c-280768722

|4-1-1 =No scoring

|4-1-2 =Troy Brouwer (6) – pp – 06:14
Jori Lehtera (3) – 10:11

|4-2-1 =No scoring

|4-2-2 =Kyle Brodziak (1) – sh – 06:09
Kyle Brodziak (2) – 10:11

|4-3-1 =01:05 – Joe Pavelski (10)
06:57 – Chris Tierney (4)
16:28 – Melker Karlsson (3)

|4-3-2 =Troy Brouwer (7) – pp – 03:55
Alex Pietrangelo (2) – en – 15:39

|goalie4-1 =Martin Jones 15 saves / 19 shots
James Reimer 6 saves / 7 shots

|goalie4-2 =Jake Allen 31 saves / 34 shots

|date5 =May 23

|score5 =6–3

|won5 =1

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/sharks-blues-game-5-recap/c-280786004

|5-1-1 =Marc-Edouard Vlasic (1) – 03:51

|5-1-2 =07:04 – Jaden Schwartz (4)
15:08 – Troy Brouwer (8)

|5-2-1 =Joel Ward (3) – pp – 04:37
Joe Pavelski (11) – pp – 18:33

|5-2-2 =11:58 – pp – Robby Fabbri (4)

|5-3-1 =Joe Pavelski (12) – 00:16
Chris Tierney (5) – en – 19:06
Joel Ward (4) – en – 19:27

|5-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie5-1 =Martin Jones 18 saves / 21 shots

|goalie5-2 =Jake Allen 21 saves / 25 shots

|date6 =May 25

|score6 =2–5

|won6 =1

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/sharks-beat-blues-reach-first-stanley-cup-final/c-280806204

|6-1-1 =03:57 – Joe Pavelski (13)

|6-1-2 =No scoring

|6-2-1 =05:02 – Joel Ward (5)

|6-2-2 =No scoring

|6-3-1 =03:01 – Joel Ward (6)
08:11 – Joonas Donskoi (5)
19:40 – en – Logan Couture (8)

|6-3-2 =Vladimir Tarasenko (8) – 11:39
Vladimir Tarasenko (9) – 16:25

|goalie6-1 =Martin Jones 24 saves / 26 shots

|goalie6-2 =Brian Elliott 22 saves / 26 shots
Jake Allen 0 saves / 0 shots

|series = San Jose won series 4–2

}}

{{Main|2016 Stanley Cup Finals}}

This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. Pittsburgh made their fifth Stanley Cup Finals appearance; their most recent appearance was in {{scfy|2009}}, when they defeated the Detroit Red Wings in seven games. San Jose made their first Finals appearance in their twenty-fifth season since entering the league in 1991–92. These teams split their two-game regular season series.

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1=San Jose Sharks

|team2=Pittsburgh Penguins

|stadium2=SAP Center

|stadium1=Consol Energy Center

|date1 =May 30

|score1 =2–3

|won1 =2

|recap1 =www.nhl.com/news/sharks-penguins-game-1-recap/c-280843036

|1-1-1 =No scoring

|1-1-2 =12:46 – Bryan Rust (6)
13:48 – Conor Sheary (3)

|1-2-1 =Tomas Hertl (6) – pp – 03:02
Patrick Marleau (5) – 18:12

|1-2-2 =No scoring

|1-3-1 =No scoring

|1-3-2 =17:27 – Nick Bonino (4)

|goalie1-1 =Martin Jones 38 saves / 41 shots

|goalie1-2 =Matt Murray 24 saves / 26 shots

|date2 =June 1

|score2 =1–2

|ot2 =1

|won2 =2

|recap2 =www.nhl.com/news/penguins-sharks-game-2-recap-stanley-cup-final/c-280861242

|2-1-1 =No scoring

|2-1-2 =No scoring

|2-2-1 =No scoring

|2-2-2 =08:20 – Phil Kessel (10)

|2-3-1 =Justin Braun (1) – 15:55

|2-3-2 =No scoring

|2-4-1 =No scoring

|2-4-2 =02:35 – Conor Sheary (4)

|goalie2-1 =Martin Jones 28 saves / 30 shots

|goalie2-2 =Matt Murray 21 saves / 22 shots

|date3 =June 4

|score3 =2–3

|ot3 =1

|won3 =1

|recap3 =www.nhl.com/news/penguins-sharks-stanley-cup-final-game-3-recap/c-280888004

|3-1-1 =09:34 – Justin Braun (2)

|3-1-2 =Ben Lovejoy (2) – 05:29

|3-2-1 =No scoring

|3-2-2 =Patric Hornqvist (8) – 19:07

|3-3-1 =08:48 – pp – Joel Ward (7)

|3-3-2 =No scoring

|3-4-1 =12:18 – Joonas Donskoi (6)

|3-4-2 =No scoring

|goalie3-1 =Martin Jones 40 saves / 42 shots

|goalie3-2 =Matt Murray 23 saves / 26 shots

|date4 =June 6

|score4 =3–1

|won4 =2

|recap4 =www.nhl.com/news/penguins-win-stanley-cup-final-game-4/c-280902276

|4-1-1 =No scoring

|4-1-2 =Ian Cole (1) – 07:36

|4-2-1 =No scoring

|4-2-2 =Evgeni Malkin (5) – pp – 02:37

|4-3-1 =08:07 – Melker Karlsson (4)

|4-3-2 =Eric Fehr (3) – 17:58

|goalie4-1 =Martin Jones 17 saves / 20 shots

|goalie4-2 =Matt Murray 23 saves / 24 shots

|date5 =June 9

|score5 =4–2

|won5 =1

|recap5 =www.nhl.com/news/sharks-penguins-stanley-cup-final-game-5-recap/c-280926468

|5-1-1 =Brent Burns (7) – 01:04
Logan Couture (9) – 02:43
Melker Karlsson (5) – 14:47

|5-1-2 =04:44 – pp – Evgeni Malkin (6)
05:06 – Carl Hagelin (6)

|5-2-1 =No scoring

|5-2-2 =No scoring

|5-3-1 =Joe Pavelski (14) – en – 18:40

|5-3-2 =No scoring

|goalie5-1 =Martin Jones 44 saves / 46 shots

|goalie5-2 =Matt Murray 18 saves / 21 shots

|date6 =June 12

|score6 =3–1

|won6 =2

|recap6 =www.nhl.com/news/penguins-win-stanley-cup/c-280948494

|6-1-1 =No scoring

|6-1-2 =Brian Dumoulin (2) – pp – 08:16

|6-2-1 =06:27 – Logan Couture (10)

|6-2-2 =Kris Letang (3) – 07:46

|6-3-1 =No scoring

|6-3-2 =Patric Hornqvist (9) – en – 18:58

|goalie6-1 =Martin Jones 24 saves / 26 shots

|goalie6-2 =Matt Murray 18 saves / 19 shots

|series = Pittsburgh won series 4–2

}}

These are the top ten skaters based on points.

This is a combined table of the top five goaltenders based on goals against average and the top five goaltenders based on save percentage, with at least 420 minutes played. The table is sorted by GAA, and the criteria for inclusion are bolded.

This marked the fifth postseason under NBC Sports' 10-year contract for American television rights, and the second under Sportsnet and TVA Sports' current 12-year contract for Canadian television rights. In the United States, all playoff games were nationally televised by either NBC, NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network, and NHL Network. During the first round, these national telecasts co-existed with those of the regional rightsholders, after which NBC had exclusive rights to the remaining games.{{cite press release|url=http://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2016/04/06/dont-miss-a-moment-nbc-sports-group-to-present-every-stanley-cup-playoff-game-for-fifth-consecutive-season/| title=NBC Sports Group to present every Stanley Cup playoff game for fifth consecutive year|publisher=NBC Sports|date=April 6, 2016|access-date=April 8, 2016|location=Stamford, Connecticut}} In Canada, all games were aired in English during the second postseason coverage of Rogers Media's 12-year contract of exclusive NHL rights, through its Sportsnet channel and CBC (as part of Hockey Night in Canada), and in French by TVA Sports.{{cite news|last=Shoalts|first=David|title=Hockey Night in Canada: How CBC lost it all|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/hockey-night-in-canada-how-cbc-lost-it-all/article21072643/|access-date=April 10, 2016|work=The Globe and Mail|date=October 10, 2014|location=Toronto}}

With all seven of the NHL's Canadian teams out of the playoffs, media sources predicted that Rogers would take a massive decline in viewership.{{cite news|last=Sagan|first=Aleksandra|title=Canadian NHL playoff drought could be 'massive hit' to Rogers|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/02/24/canadian-nhl-playoff-drought-could-be-massive-hit-to-rogers.html|access-date=February 24, 2016|work=Toronto Star|agency=The Canadian Press|publisher=Star Media Group|date=February 24, 2016|location=Toronto}}{{cite web|last=Nugent-Bowman|first=Daniel|title=The Seven: A season of infamy for Canada's NHL teams|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-seven--a-season-of-infamy-for-canada-s-nhl-teams-173859705-nhl.html|website=sports.yahoo.com|publisher=Yahoo! Sports|access-date=March 11, 2016|date=March 11, 2016}}{{cite news|last=Bonesteel|first=Matt|title=Great White Nope: Canadian teams likely will be shut out of NHL playoffs|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/03/02/great-white-nope-canadian-teams-likely-will-be-shut-out-of-nhl-playoffs/|access-date=March 2, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post|publisher=Nash Holdings, LLC.|date=March 2, 2016}} During the regular season, the Sunday-night Hometown Hockey games saw ratings drop 34 percent, while Hockey Night in Canada fell 18 per cent, culminating in the season closer on April 9 that attracted just 721,000 viewers.{{cite news|last=Brioux|first=Bill |title=Rogers feeling the sting of all seven Canadian teams missing NHL playoffs|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/rogers+feeling+sting+seven+canadian+teams+missing+playoffs/11846855/story.html|access-date=April 14, 2016|work=The Province|agency=The Canadian Press|publisher=Postmedia Network|date=April 12, 2016|location=Vancouver}} To cut production costs, Rogers only employed three full-time play-by-play crews, along with a fourth on spot duty, during the first round.{{cite news|last=Shoalts|first=David|title=Canadian viewers have an ironic aversion to Rogers hockey broadcasts|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/canadian-viewers-have-an-ironic-aversion-to-rogers-hockey-broadcasts/article29671335/|access-date=April 18, 2016|work=The Globe and Mail|publisher=The Woodbridge Company|date=April 18, 2016}} In the second round, Rogers only sent a crew for games broadcast on CBC, while simulcasting NBC's feeds for all other games (which aired on Sportsnet). The Hockey News estimated that Rogers saved {{Currency|100000|CAD}} per game if they simulcasted a U.S. feed instead of producing their own separate broadcast.{{cite news|last=Campbell|first=Ken|title=Rogers feeling the sting of all seven Canadian teams missing NHL playoffs|url=http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/playoff-tv-ratings-down-a-shocking-61-percent-in-canada/|access-date=May 14, 2016|publisher=The Hockey News|date=April 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513011155/http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/playoff-tv-ratings-down-a-shocking-61-percent-in-canada/|archive-date=May 13, 2016|url-status=dead}}

Ratings were also down in the United States, with the conference finals down by 9%, and ratings for the finals down to an average of 4 million viewers, making it the third-lowest-rated finals since 2006. The decline was credited to multiple factors, including the lack of Original Six teams or teams from key media markets such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, and heavy competition from the 2016 NBA Playoffs and Game of Thrones (which aired against the series-ending game 6).{{Cite web|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/currency/nba-finals-soar-nhl-stanley-cup-final-faces-ratings-obstacles/157044|title=As NBA Finals Soar, NHL Stanley Cup Final Faces Ratings|website=Broadcasting & Cable|date=June 3, 2016 |access-date=October 4, 2017}}{{Cite news|url=http://adage.com/article/media/puck/304511/|title=Stanley Cup Final Ratings Are Toothless|work=Ad Age|access-date=October 4, 2017|language=en}}

{{reflist}}

{{S-start}}

{{Succession box|title=Stanley Cup playoffs|years=2016|before=2015 Stanley Cup playoffs|after=2017 Stanley Cup playoffs}}

{{S-end}}

{{2015–16 NHL season by team}}

{{Stanley Cup playoffs}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs}}

Category:Stanley Cup playoffs

Playoffs