Ranking the Greatest NHL Playoffs Series
The Stanley Cup Playoffs have produced some of the most legendary series in sports history. Each spring, teams from the US and Canada put everything on the line, treating hockey fans to epic comebacks, overtime drama, and battles for glory.
Below, we rank five of the greatest NHL playoff series matchups that gripped fans and shaped the league’s history.
5. Los Angeles Kings vs. Chicago Blackhawks (2014 Western Conference Final)
In the early 2010s, few teams could match the level of the Chicago Blackhawks and the Los Angeles Kings. Their matchup in the 2014 Western Conference Final was a clash between two modern powerhouses. From 2010 to 2015, they won five of the six Stanley Cups, and this series captured the rivalry at its height.
The Kings took a 3-1 lead, but the Blackhawks punched back, winning Game 5 in double overtime and taking Game 6 in regulation to force a Game 7. The decider in Chicago was a goal-trading battle that ended with Alec Martinez scoring the winner in overtime to send the Kings through. This series had everything: pace, grit, momentum shifts, and multiple overtimes. Hockey fans were in paradise.
Players like Patrick Kane, Drew Doughty, and Jonathan Quick shone in the process and rose to the occasion. The stakes were already high, but the context made the standard of play even more impressive. The Kings had just pulled off a reverse sweep against San Jose in Round 1 and were chasing their third Game 7 win of the postseason, all on the road.
This series is still discussed to this day, and for good reason. Two elite teams at their peak, giving it everything they had, with the Kings eventually punching their ticket to another Stanley Cup. For many, it remains one of the greatest playoff series in NHL history.
4. Philadelphia Flyers vs. Boston Bruins (2010, East Semifinal)
Only four teams in NHL history have overcome a 3-0 series deficit. They are the 1942 Maple Leafs, 1975 Islanders, 2010 Flyers, and 2014 Kings. The Flyers’ comeback may be the most astonishing, as they trailed 3-0 in the series and 3-0 in Game 7, yet still won on the road in Boston against a higher seed.
Simon Gagné returned from injury in Game 4 and delivered the overtime winner to keep the Flyers alive. In Game 5, goaltender Brian Boucher left with an injury, forcing Michael Leighton to step in. He shut the door the rest of the way, earning a combined shutout and swinging momentum back in favour of Philadelphia. Game 6 saw more of the same with tight defence, timely scoring, and a 2-1 win to set up a Game 7 in Boston.
The series finale was a rollercoaster. Boston stormed out to a 3-0 lead in the first period with two power-play goals and another from Milan Lucic. Flyers coach Peter Laviolette called an early timeout to settle the team in. It worked. James van Riemsdyk scored late in the period to stop the bleeding, and early in the second, Scott Hartnell and Danny Brière tied it up. The turning point came when Boston took a bench penalty for too many men on the ice. On the ensuing power play, Gagné found the net again to finally give the Flyers a 4-3 lead.
Philadelphia held on to complete one of the greatest turnarounds in NHL playoff history. The comeback was a perfect storm, turning a near-certain exit into a moment that still echoes through Flyers history. It remains one of the most iconic and improbable series wins the league has ever seen.
3. Chicago Blackhawks vs. Boston Bruins (2013, Stanley Cup Final)
The 2013 Stanley Cup Final brought together two Original Six powerhouses in a scrabble that delivered non-stop drama. The series featured three overtime matchups, including a triple-overtime opener that defined the unforgiving tempo that was to come ahead. Through six games, neither team ever led by more than two goals.
Game 1 became an instant classic. The Bruins held a 3-1 lead deep into regulation time before the Blackhawks tied it late. The contest stretched into the third overtime, where Andrew Shaw redirected a shot off his shin to give Chicago a 4-3 win.
The series played out as a study of contrasting styles. Boston relied on physicality and defensive structure, while Chicago leaned on speed, puck movement, and skill. The tension carried into Game 6, where the Bruins looked set to force a Game 7. They led 2-1 with just over a minute left in regulation time when the Blackhawks stunned the home crowd with two goals just 17 seconds apart. Dave Bolland scored the Cup winner, sealing a sudden and unforgettable turnaround.
Goaltenders Corey Crawford and Tuukka Rask stood tall throughout the series, with both delivering exceptional performances when the pressure was at its greatest. Patrick Kane led the way for Chicago and subsequently was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. David Krejci continued his strong postseason form for Boston with consistent offensive contributions.
The Blackhawks’ win in Boston meant that this was their second Stanley Cup in four seasons, and the way it unfolded helped make this series one of the most memorable in recent history.
2. Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins (1979 Semifinal)
For many longtime hockey fans, the 1979 semifinal between the Canadiens and Bruins stands among the most dramatic series ever played. These two Original Six rivals had a deep history and a shared contempt that added fuel to every meeting. Montreal was chasing its fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. Boston, hungry for revenge and overdue for a breakthrough, came within minutes of ending a dynasty.
Game 7 at the Montreal Forum is still talked about for one infamous moment: Too Many Men. With the Bruins holding a 4-3 lead late in the third period, a bench minor for having too many skaters handed Montreal a power play. Guy Lafleur made the most of it, ripping a game-tying goal that sent the Forum into chaos. In overtime, Yvon Lambert completed the comeback with the series-winning goal. Just like that, Boston’s hopes vanished, and Montreal survived.
That single penalty changed the course of the playoffs. The Canadiens went on to win the Stanley Cup again, completing a four-peat and adding to their legendary run in the 1970s. The Bruins, crushed by the loss, parted ways with coach Don Cherry shortly after. Their Cup drought would drag on.
As NHL fans, this is the kind of series we live for, but for Boston supporters, it remains a sore subject even today. With star players like Lafleur, Ken Dryden, and Brad Park on the ice, every game felt like a battle, and the tension never dipped.
Scotty Bowman later called Game 7 the most special win of his career. The Too Many Men call became a turning point in the series and in NHL history. Montreal capitalized and went on to claim a fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. Boston came within minutes of ending that run, but instead suffered one of the most painful losses in franchise history.
1. New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils (1994, East Final)
The 1994 Eastern Conference Final between the Rangers and Devils is widely considered the greatest playoff series in NHL history.
New York entered the series with a loaded roster and the weight of a 54-year Stanley Cup drought. The Devils, younger and less decorated, gave them all they could handle. New Jersey led the series 3-2, threatening to send the Rangers into yet another heartbreak. Then came the moment that changed everything. With his team facing elimination, Rangers captain Mark Messier told reporters they would win Game 6. He followed up that promise with a natural hat trick in the third period, flipping a 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 win. It remains one of the most iconic single-game performances in NHL history.
Game 7 at Madison Square Garden was as tense as any in playoff history. With the score tied 1-1 deep into double overtime, Stéphane Matteau scored on a wraparound. The goal, and Howie Rose’s unforgettable “Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!” call, are still replayed by fans across generations.
The Rangers won the Stanley Cup in the next round, but this was the series everyone talks about. Every shift mattered. Multiple games went to overtime. Martin Brodeur was brilliant. Claude Lemieux was relentless. The Rangers kept finding answers.
The intensity never let up. The stakes, the pressure, and the personalities all aligned into something unforgettable. What makes this series so great is that people aren't just romanticizing the series because of the ending; it was spectacular from start to finish. Years later, people still wear Matteau shirts in Manhattan, and that says enough. This series defined playoff hockey at its absolute best.
Honourable Mentions
Narrowing this list down to five was no easy task. The playoffs have produced countless unforgettable moments, and several more could have easily made the cut. Here are a few series that just missed the top tier but still deserve a place in the conversation. Edmonton Oilers vs. Philadelphia Flyers (1987 Stanley Cup Final)
The 1987 Final played out with the drama of a Hollywood script. Edmonton’s roster was flowing with talent, with Hall of Fame talent in Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, and Paul Coffey. At the same time, Philadelphia leaned on the brilliance of rookie goaltender Ron Hextall.
Philadelphia forced a Game 7 with a comeback in Game 6, but the Oilers ultimately proved to be too much for them in the decider. Hextall’s performance was so remarkable that he claimed the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP despite being on the losing side.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks (2011 First Round)
Few opening-round series have matched the passion of Vancouver’s series with Chicago in 2011. The top-seeded Canucks bolted out to a 3-0 series lead, only for the defending-champion Blackhawks to fight back and force a Game 7.
Alex Burrows’ overtime winner in Game 7, remembered as “slaying the dragon,” finally ended years of playoff frustration against Chicago. That victory propelled Vancouver to its first Stanley Cup Final in nearly two decades. The near-collapse and the unforgettable overtime finish showed that even the earliest rounds can produce hockey at its most extraordinary.
Montreal Canadiens vs. Chicago Blackhawks (1971 Stanley Cup Final)
Game 7 of the 1971 Final remains one of hockey’s most incredible comebacks. At Chicago Stadium, the Blackhawks raced to a 2-0 lead, but rookie goalie Ken Dryden kept Montreal within reach. Henri Richard tied the game and then scored the winner, silencing the crowd as the Canadiens claimed a 3-2 victory and the Cup. It was the night Dryden’s legend was born, the Blackhawks’ hearts were broken, and the series became one of the most unforgettable Finals in NHL history.
Why These Series Endure
These series live in memory because speed and skill crash into playoff pressure. Stars thread passes through traffic, goalies steal periods, and fourth lines turn games with a single hard shift. The best-of-seven rhythm gives the series time to breathe as injuries are managed, adjustments take hold, and coaches chase matchups, so the narrative can unfold.
Leads wobble, buildings tilt, and overtime tests nerve as much as talent. You remember the roar after a tying goal, the hush after a post, the hands to helmets after a winner. Add the history between these teams and the stakes of a season on the edge, and the details stick. Years later, the goals, the saves, and the faces on the bench stay vivid because the hockey was sharp and the tension never eased.
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