1996 Stanley Cup playoffs
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 16–June 10, 1996 |
| Teams | 16 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Colorado Avalanche |
| Runner-up | Florida Panthers |
| Semifinalists | |
|
← 1995
1997 →
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The 1996 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League (NHL), began on April 16, 1996. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-seven series for the Stanley Cup. These playoffs are noted as being the first playoffs in which all Canadian teams were eliminated during the first round. The New Jersey Devils, who had won the cup the year before, missed these playoffs. This was the first time that both Florida teams made it to the playoffs.
The playoffs ended on June 10 with the Colorado Avalanche sweeping the Florida Panthers in both teams' first-ever Finals appearance. It was Colorado's first-ever Stanley Cup championship in their inaugural season after relocating from Quebec City prior to the start of the regular season; in the previous years they were known as the Quebec Nordiques. Joe Sakic was named playoff MVP and awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy.
For the second time in three years and the last time until 2013, every Original Six team reached the playoffs. This is also the last time every California-based team missed the playoffs.
The following teams qualified for the playoffs:
This was the first playoff series between these two teams. This was the first time that the Tampa Bay area was represented in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Game four of this series is the fifth longest game in NHL history. Game six was the last playoff game at USAir Arena.
This was the first and to date only playoff series between these two teams. This was the first time that Miami was represented in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
This was the first playoff series between these two teams. This was the final playoff series for the original Winnipeg Jets as they relocated to Phoenix, Arizona after the season. Game six was the final NHL game played at the Winnipeg Arena.
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