2008 Stanley Cup playoffs
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| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 9 – June 4, 2008 |
| Teams | 16 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Detroit Red Wings |
| Runner-up | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Semifinalists | |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Scoring leader(s) |
Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit) Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh) (27 points) |
| MVP | Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit) |
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← 2007
2009 →
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The 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League (NHL) began on April 9, 2008, after the 2007–08 regular season. The 16 teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, then the conference champions played a best-of-seven series for the Stanley Cup.
The Buffalo Sabres became the second team to miss the playoffs after winning the Presidents' Trophy in the prior season. This would not happen again until 2015.
The Finals 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. It was the first championship in the 16-year career of Red Wings winger Dallas Drake, who retired following the season. Red Wings winger Henrik Zetterberg was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' Most Valuable Player. Sidney Crosby and Zetterberg led the tournament with 27 points.
The San Jose Sharks were the media's favorite to win the cup going into the playoffs, having gone the entire month of March without a regulation loss and nearly finishing first overall during the regular season.
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 eight, with a goal 11:11 into overtime. Chris Chelios appeared in his 248th career playoff game surpassing Patrick Roy for most career playoff games of all time.
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