2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs

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Official Logo for the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 9, 2008. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the Stanley Cup. The series ended on June 4, 2008 with the Detroit Red Wings defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins four games to two to win their eleventh championship and their fourth in eleven seasons.

Events

Milestones

In Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Minnesota Wild, captain Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche extended his record for playoff overtime goals to 8, with a goal 11:11 into overtime. Chris Chelios of the Detroit Red Wings appeared in his 248th career playoff game, passing Patrick Roy for most career playoff games of all-time.

In Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals in San Jose, Brad Richards tied an NHL record for most points in one period of a playoff game, when he recorded one goal and three assists in the third period.

In the Western Conference Semifinals against the Colorado Avalanche, Johan Franzen set a Detroit Red Wings record for most goals in a playoff series with 9, beating the previous record of 8 set by Gordie Howe in 1949.^[1] Franzen achieved this feat in only four games, while Howe achieved it in seven.^[1]

Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Sharks and Stars was the eighth longest game in the history of the NHL, lasting 129:03. Stars' captain Brenden Morrow ended the game at 9:03 of the fourth overtime tapping in a power play goal. Goalies Marty Turco and Evgeni Nabokov set team records for saves in a game with 61 and 53 respectively. The final score was 2–1.

Nicklas Lidstrom became the first team captain born and trained in Europe whose team won the Stanley Cup. Charlie Gardiner (born in Scotland) and Johnny Gottselig (born in Russia) both won the Stanley Cup as captains of the Chicago Black Hawks (in 1934 and 1938, respectively), but they were both raised in Canada.

New interpretation of NHL rule

In Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, while on a 5-on-3 powerplay, the New York Rangers' Sean Avery tried to screen the New Jersey Devils' goaltender Martin Brodeur by waving his hands and stick while facing Brodeur. This prompted the NHL to issue an interpretation of the league's rules, stating that an unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty will be called on actions such as the one used by Avery.^[2]

Playoff seeds

After the 2007–08 NHL regular season, the standard of 16 teams qualified for the playoffs. The Detroit Red Wings were the Western Conference regular season champions and were also the Presidents' Trophy winners with the best record at 115 points. The Montreal Canadiens earned the Eastern Conference regular season crown with 104 points.

Eastern Conference

The Stanley Cup

1. Montreal Canadiens – Northeast Division and Eastern Conference regular season champions, 104 points
2. Pittsburgh Penguins – Atlantic Division champions, 102 points
3. Washington Capitals – Southeast Division champions, 94 points
4. New Jersey Devils – 99 points
5. New York Rangers – 97 points
6. Philadelphia Flyers – 95 points
7. Ottawa Senators – 94 points (43 wins)
8. Boston Bruins – 94 points (41 wins)

Western Conference

1. Detroit Red Wings – Central Division and Western Conference regular season champions; President's Trophy winners, 115 points
2. San Jose Sharks – Pacific Division champions, 108 points
3. Minnesota Wild – Northwest Division champions, 98 points
4. Anaheim Ducks – 102 points
5. Dallas Stars – 97 points
6. Colorado Avalanche – 95 points
7. Calgary Flames – 94 points
8. Nashville Predators – 91 points

Bracket

In each round, the highest remaining seed in each conference is matched against the lowest remaining seed. The higher-seeded team is awarded home ice advantage, which gives them a possible maximum of four games on their home ice, with the lower-seeded team getting a possible maximum of three. In the Stanley Cup Finals, home ice is determined based on regular season points; thus, the Detroit Red Wings had home ice advantage throughout the playoffs, including in the Finals. Each best-of-seven series follows a 2–2–1–1–1 format. This means that the higher-seeded team will have home ice for Games 1 and 2, and if necessary, Games 5 and 7, while the lower-seeded team will have home ice for Games 3, 4, and, if necessary, Game 6.

Statistical leaders

Skaters

These are the top ten skaters based on points.^[3]

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

Goaltending

These are the top five goaltenders based on either goals against average or save percentage with at least four games played.^[4]

GP = Games Played; W = Wins; L = Losses; SA = Shots Against; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; Sv% = Save Percentage; SO = Shutouts; TOI = Time On Ice (minutes:seconds)

Conference Quarterfinals

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

(1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (8) Boston Bruins

Going into the playoffs, expectations were high for the Montreal Canadiens, since they had won all eight games against the Boston Bruins during the 2007–08 season and the last three games of the previous season. Additionally, Montreal ended the regular season going 8–1–1 while Boston had a mediocre finish with 4–2–4. One potential disadvantage for Montreal was the inexperience of their young goaltenders: Carey Price, age 20, had only played 41 NHL games, and Jaroslav Halak, age 23, had only played 16 NHL games. Neither Price nor Halák had any NHL playoff experience. However, Boston's Tim Thomas had only played 165 career NHL games, and he also had no NHL playoff experience.

A strong performance in Game 1 reinforced the idea of a quick win for Montreal. The Bruins also lost Game 2 but demonstrated strong play throughout the game, culminating in two third period goals to take the game into overtime, where they quickly lost.

Boston won Game 3 in overtime, ending the 13-game winning streak that Montreal had accumulated against the Bruins. The tight competition continued into Game 4, with Canadiens goaltender Carey Price notching his first playoff shutout in a 1–0 win.

After two periods in Game 5, with the score 1–1, the game looked as though it would be another close battle. However, a mishandling of the puck by Carey Price early in the third period resulted in a goal for Glen Metropolit; this ended up being a turning point in the game; Boston followed up with three more goals in the period to win 5–1. The Bruins also won Game 6 in a high scoring match to tie the series at 3–3.

In Game 7, Montreal rebounded from the lackluster performances of its previous games and won with a dominant and convincing 5–0 win, resulting in Price's second career playoff shutout.

(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (7) Ottawa Senators

The Pittsburgh Penguins swept the defending Eastern Conference champion Ottawa Senators in the opening playoff round. Sidney Crosby led the Penguins with 8 points (2 goals and 6 assists). Meanwhile, the Senators entered the series with key players out with injuries, including captain Daniel Alfredsson who missed the first two games.

(3) Washington Capitals vs. (6) Philadelphia Flyers

The Washington Capitals began a late season surge that saw them clinch the third overall spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Philadelphia Flyers returned to the playoffs after finishing last in the league the previous season. After the Capitals were victorious in Game 1, the Flyers won three straight games to take a 3-1 lead in the series, including 4-3 Game 3 victory in double overtime. But Washington was able to win the next two games to force a Game 7. Joffrey Lupul scored a power play goal in overtime of Game 7 to advance the Philadelphia Flyers to the next playoff round.

(4) New Jersey Devils vs. (5) New York Rangers

Tension was high in this series, as the Rangers won 7 of the 8 games against the Devils during the regular season. The New York Rangers mostly dominated the New Jersey Devils in the opening round, becoming the first team to win on New Jersey's home ice three times in a playoff series.^[5] The Devils' only win was an overtime victory in Game 3 with a goal by John Madden. In Game 3, the Rangers' Sean Avery tried to screen New Jersey's goaltender Martin Brodeur by waving his hands and stick while facing Brodeur. This prompted the NHL to issue an interpretation of the league's rules, stating that an unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty will be called on actions such as the one used by Avery.^[2]

Western Conference Quarterfinals

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (8) Nashville Predators

The Detroit Red Wings began the playoffs as the President's Trophy winners as the highest seed in the NHL, while the Nashville Predators had battled for a playoff spot, clinching a spot in the final days of the regular season. The Red Wings won each of the first two games at home, but when the series shifted to Nashville for Games 3 and 4, the Predators battled back to tie the series at two games apiece. The turning point in the series came when Red Wings starting goaltender Dominik Hasek was replaced by Chris Osgood in the middle of Game 4. Osgood was then named the starter for the remainder of the series. Detroit won Game 5 thanks to an overtime goal from Johan Franzen, and then shut out the Predators 3-0 in Game 6 in Nashville to take the series in six games, advancing to the second round.

(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (7) Calgary Flames

San Jose came into the series as Stanley Cup favorites and the hottest team in the NHL, while the Flames were considered the underdogs. Calgary won Game 1 with two goals by Stephane Yelle and two assists from Jarome Iginla, before San Jose goaltender Evgeni Nabokov recorded a shutout in Game 2 to tie the series. The Flames then rallied from a three-goal deficit to earn a Game 3 victory thanks to backup goaltender Curtis Joseph's strong performance in relief of Miikka Kiprusoff, and appeared to be on their way to a Game 4 win as well, but the Sharks scored two goals late in the third period to win the game and tie the series. San Jose jumped again to a three-goal lead and held off a Calgary comeback in Game 5, but Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff recorded his own shutout in Game 6 to force a deciding Game 7. Jeremy Roenick scored two goals to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 5-3 Game 7 victory over the Flames. Calgary captain Jarome Iginla was a force once again leading all players with 9 points in the series and helping the Flames force the series to 7 games.