2020 Stanley Cup playoffs

Pandemic Context and Return to Play Plan

The 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs were fundamentally reshaped by the global COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the NHL to suspend its regular season on March 12, 2020. After months of planning, the league and the NHL Players Association ratified a Return to Play plan on July 10, which outlined a 24-team playoff format and extended the collective bargaining agreement through the 2025-26 season. The plan allowed any player to opt out of participating without penalty by July 13, when formal training camps opened. All games were played behind closed doors with no fans admitted, and the entire tournament was conducted in two designated hub cities in Canada to centralize operations and manage health risks. The league implemented a compressed schedule with more back-to-back games than usual to address potential bubble fatigue among players and staff living in isolation for several weeks.

Under the ratified protocols, players and team personnel were subject to rigorous COVID-19 testing, initially every other day and then increasing to three times within 48 hours starting July 19. Anyone who tested positive was isolated and listed as unfit to play, with all injury and health updates handled by the league instead of individual teams. Teams arrived in their hub cities on July 26 and entered a secure zone encompassing their hotels, practice facilities, dining areas, and the arena. Individuals were required to wear masks outside their hotel rooms except when eating, exercising, or on the ice. The NHL received an exception from Canada's 14-day quarantine requirement for travellers, provided all personnel remained strictly within the secure zone and had no contact with the general public.

Hub Cities and the Bubble Environment

The NHL selected Edmonton, Alberta, and Toronto, Ontario, as the two hub cities for the 2020 playoffs, announcing the decision on July 10 alongside the ratification of the Return to Play plan. These cities were chosen from a shortlist of ten that had included Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and Saint Paul. Vancouver was also a frontrunner but withdrew on June 25 after health officials in British Columbia could not agree with the league on protocols for a positive COVID-19 test. The original league intention was to have one hub in Canada and one in the United States, but a spike in cases in Nevada and other U.S. states in late June led to the selection of two Canadian sites.

From the start of the playoffs through the second round, the Eastern Conference teams played all their games at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, while the Western Conference teams played at Rogers Place in Edmonton. The conference finals and Stanley Cup Final were all held in Edmonton. Each hub featured a tightly controlled bubble environment with a secure perimeter. In Edmonton, the bubble covered four hotels in the Ice District and the existing practice facilities at Rogers Place. Toronto's bubble was split between the Fairmont Royal York hotel connected to Scotiabank Arena and Exhibition Place, which included Hotel X, BMO Field, and Coca-Cola Coliseum. Both sites provided dedicated fitness, dining, and recreation areas for players, with restaurants operating inside the secure zones and outside food delivery available via concierge services.

The in-arena presentation was customized for each team when they were the designated home team. This customization included the use of their goal music and other features. A large stage with multiple video screens was constructed to cover the empty stands for both teams in each end of the arena. Although the general public was not permitted within the direct vicinity of the arena or inside, Oilers Entertainment Group announced plans to set up an outdoor FanFest near Rogers Place with approval of municipal and provincial health officials. This FanFest featured a drive-in screening of games and a beer garden. With the New York Rangers playing designated home games in the hub cities instead of in Madison Square Garden, the team's home arena was able to keep its tax exemptions by executing an act of God clause in its agreement with New York City.

Playoff Format and Qualification

The 2020 playoffs employed a unique 24-team format, with 12 teams from each conference qualifying based on their points percentage when the regular season was suspended on March 12. The top four seeds in each conference participated in a round-robin tournament to determine their final seeding for the first round, playing under regular season overtime and shootout rules. The remaining eight teams in each conference competed in a best-of-five qualifying round, played under standard playoff overtime rules, to determine which four would advance to the first round. The NHL declared on May 28 that both the round-robin and qualifying round would count towards playoff records, and all teams in the qualifying round were considered to have made the playoffs.

For the first round onward, all series reverted to the traditional best-of-seven format and were re-seeded after each round, with the highest remaining seed facing the lowest remaining seed in each conference. Home ice advantage in the Stanley Cup Final was determined by regular season points percentage. The Boston Bruins entered as Presidents' Trophy winners with the league's best record. The playoff field included six Canadian-based teams, the most since 1993, and marked the first time since 1986 that all four Western Canadian clubs qualified. It was also the only time to date that both the Winnipeg Jets and Arizona Coyotes made the playoffs in the same season, and the Coyotes' last appearance before suspending operations in 2024.

• The Eastern Conference round-robin participants were the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, and Philadelphia Flyers.
• The Western Conference round-robin participants were the St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, and Dallas Stars.
• Eastern Conference qualifying round matchups: (5) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (12) Montreal Canadiens; (6) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (11) New York Rangers; (7) New York Islanders vs. (10) Florida Panthers; (8) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (9) Columbus Blue Jackets.
• Western Conference qualifying round matchups: (5) Edmonton Oilers vs. (12) Chicago Blackhawks; (6) Nashville Predators vs. (11) Arizona Coyotes; (7) Vancouver Canucks vs. (10) Minnesota Wild; (8) Calgary Flames vs. (9) Winnipeg Jets.

Tournament Summary and Key Series

The playoffs commenced after all 24 teams played one exhibition game between July 28 and 30. In the Eastern Conference round-robin, the Philadelphia Flyers emerged as the top seed, followed by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, and Boston Bruins. Key moments included Carter Hart's 34-save performance for Philadelphia against Boston and Nikita Kucherov's shootout winner for Tampa Bay against Washington, the first shootout in Stanley Cup playoff history. In the Western Conference round-robin, the Vegas Golden Knights claimed the first seed after an overtime win against Colorado, with the Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and St. Louis Blues filling out the top four. Nazem Kadri scored with 0.1 seconds left to give Colorado a win over St. Louis in the opening game.

The qualifying round produced several notable upsets and sweeps. The twelfth-seeded Montreal Canadiens stunned the fifth-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins in four games, with Carey Price posting a shutout in the clinching game and Jeff Petry scoring two overtime winners. The Carolina Hurricanes swept the New York Rangers in three games, featuring a playoff hat trick by Andrei Svechnikov in game two. In the West, the Chicago Blackhawks, as the twelfth seed, upset the fifth-seeded Edmonton Oilers in four games, while the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Minnesota Wild in four games to advance.

The tournament set several records for duration and intensity. Game two of the second-round series between Vancouver and Vegas was the 94th game of the playoffs, surpassing the previous single-year record of 93 set in 2014. On September 17, the Tampa Bay Lightning became the first team in NHL history to win the clinching game of their first three series in overtime. The Dallas Stars set a record by playing 27 games in one playoff year during game six of the Stanley Cup Final, breaking the previous mark of 26 games. That same game was the 130th of the playoffs, establishing a new all-time record for most games in a single postseason.

Path to the Stanley Cup Final

The Tampa Bay Lightning advanced through the Eastern Conference bracket after securing the second seed in the round-robin. They faced the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round, winning the series in five gruelling games that included a five-overtime marathon in game one. They then defeated the Boston Bruins in five games in the second round and the New York Islanders in six games in the Eastern Conference Final, with each series-clinching victory coming in overtime. The Dallas Stars moved through the Western Conference after being seeded third. They defeated the Calgary Flames in six games in the first round, the Colorado Avalanche in seven games in a dramatic second-round series, and finally the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the Western Conference Final.

The Stanley Cup Final was a matchup between the Lightning's high-powered offence and the Stars' structured defensive game. All games were played at Rogers Place in Edmonton, with the Lightning holding home ice advantage due to a superior regular season points percentage. The series opened with Tampa Bay winning game one 4-1, but Dallas responded with a 4-3 overtime victory in game two, with Joe Pavelski scoring the winner. The Lightning reclaimed control with a 5-2 win in game three and a 5-4 overtime victory in game four, where Kevin Shattenkirk scored the winner. Dallas staved off elimination with a 3-2 double-overtime win in game five, but Tampa Bay closed out the series and won the Stanley Cup with a 2-0 shutout victory in game six on September 28, 2020.

Player Protests and Cultural Impact

The 2020 playoffs were briefly interrupted by a player-led protest against racial injustice. Following the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, players from several teams decided not to play their scheduled games on August 27 and 28. This wildcat strike led to the postponement of all playoff games on those dates, as players held meetings and discussions on how to use their platform to promote social change. The action was part of a wider wave of athlete protests across North American professional sports during the summer of 2020. After two days, players voted to resume the playoffs, with the league affirming its support for the players' message and commitment to fighting racism. The bubble environment itself became a significant story, demonstrating that a major professional sports tournament could be completed safely during a pandemic with strict protocols.

The success of the NHL's model was later studied by other leagues. The absence of fans created a unique auditory experience for television broadcasts, where on-ice communication and hits were more audible. The traditional handshake lines were initially replaced with fist bumps at the end of the qualifying round series as a health precaution, but they returned for the first round and beyond as the bubble remained free of COVID-19 cases. The league reported no positive tests among personnel inside the bubble after teams arrived in the hub cities, confirming the effectiveness of the protocols.

Records and Statistical Highlights

The 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs were a record-setting tournament in several respects beyond the total number of games played. The Dallas Stars set the record for the most games played by one team in a single postseason with 27, breaking a record previously shared by five teams. The Tampa Bay Lightning achieved a unique feat by becoming the first team to win the clinching game of their first three series in overtime. The playoffs also featured the first shootout in Stanley Cup playoff history during the Eastern Conference round-robin game between Tampa Bay and Washington on August 3, which was won by Nikita Kucherov. For the first time since 1996, all three California-based NHL teams missed the playoffs, while a record six Canadian teams qualified.

Individual performances also stood out. Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price recorded a shutout in the clinching game of the qualifying round against Pittsburgh. Andrei Svechnikov of the Carolina Hurricanes scored the first playoff hat trick of his career in the qualifying round against the New York Rangers. The round-robin stage saw dramatic finishes, such as Nazem Kadri's goal with 0.1 seconds left for Colorado against St. Louis and Alex Tuch's overtime winner for Vegas against Colorado to secure the top seed in the West.

• Most games in a playoff year: 130 (new NHL record).
• Most games by one team: 27, Dallas Stars (new NHL record).
• First team to win three series-clinching games in overtime: Tampa Bay Lightning.
• First playoff shootout: August 3, 2020 (Tampa Bay vs. Washington).
• Canadian teams in playoffs: 6 (most since 1993).
• Last playoff appearance for Arizona Coyotes before 2024 operations suspension.

Questions about 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs

Why were the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs held in Canada?

The playoffs were held in two Canadian hub cities, Edmonton and Toronto, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The NHL needed secure locations with comprehensive health protocols and the ability to isolate players from the public. After a spike in cases in the United States in late June, Canadian cities became the safest option. The league received an exception from Canada's 14-day quarantine rule for travellers, allowing players to enter the country provided they remained strictly within the controlled bubble environments.

What was the bubble and how did it work?

The bubble was a secure zone created in each hub city that included hotels, practice facilities, dining areas, and the arena. Players, coaches, and essential staff lived and worked within this perimeter for the duration of their team's participation, isolated from the general public. They underwent daily COVID-19 testing and symptom checks. Amenities like gyms, restaurants, and recreation areas were provided inside the bubble. Anyone leaving without approval faced a mandatory 14-day quarantine or being barred from returning. The system was highly effective, with no positive COVID-19 cases reported after teams entered the bubbles.

How many teams made the 2020 playoffs and what was the format?

A total of 24 teams qualified for the 2020 playoffs, 12 from each conference, based on their points percentage when the regular season was suspended. The top four seeds in each conference played a round-robin tournament to determine first-round seeding. The other eight teams in each conference played a best-of-five qualifying round, with the four winners advancing to the first round. All series from the first round onward were best-of-seven. The NHL stated that teams in the qualifying round were considered to have made the playoffs, and records from both the round-robin and qualifying round counted as playoff statistics.

Why were games postponed in late August 2020?

All games scheduled for August 27 and 28, 2020, were postponed due to a player wildcat strike. This action was a protest against racial injustice and specifically in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Players from several teams decided not to play, leading to the postponements. After two days of discussions and meetings, the players voted to resume the playoffs, with the league expressing support for their message and commitment to social justice initiatives.

What records were set during the 2020 playoffs?

The 2020 playoffs set several records. The total number of games played reached 130, a new NHL record. The Dallas Stars set a record by playing 27 games in one postseason. The Tampa Bay Lightning became the first team to win the clinching game of their first three series in overtime. Game two of the second round was the 94th game, breaking the previous single-year record of 93. The playoffs also featured the first shootout in Stanley Cup playoff history during a round-robin game between Tampa Bay and Washington on August 3, 2020.

Which Canadian teams made the playoffs in 2020?

Six Canadian based teams qualified for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, the most since 1993. The teams were the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Montreal Canadiens. This marked the first time since 1986 that all four teams based in Western Canada made the postseason. The Montreal Canadiens entered as the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference and pulled off a significant upset by defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins in the qualifying round. This was also the only time to date that both the Winnipeg Jets and Arizona Coyotes, the franchise that was originally the Jets, qualified for the playoffs in the same season.

Sources and further reading

• 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs (Wikipedia)
• 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Summary (hockey-reference.com)
• 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs have unique NCAA Final Four feel (cbc.ca)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.