# 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2022 [Stanley Cup playoffs](https://www.edgepedia.org/stanley-cup-playoffs) were the [National Hockey League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-hockey-league)'s postseason tournament for the 2021-22 season, a 16-team, four-round, best-of-7 bracket that ended with the [Colorado Avalanche](https://www.edgepedia.org/colorado-avalanche) defeating the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 in the Stanley Cup Final to win their third championship and their first since 2001.[1](https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_2022.html) • [2](https://www.nhl.com/news/colorado-avalanche-tampa-bay-lightning-game-6-recap-334578586)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Champion | Colorado Avalanche, who beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 in the Final[1](https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_2022.html) |
| Clinching game | Game 6, June 26, 2022, a 2-1 Colorado road win at Amalie Arena in Tampa[2](https://www.nhl.com/news/colorado-avalanche-tampa-bay-lightning-game-6-recap-334578586) |
| Playoff MVP | Cale Makar, Conn Smythe Trophy, 8 goals and 21 assists for 29 points[1](https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_2022.html) |
| Avalanche playoff record | 16-4, after going 39-11-5 (83 points) from January 1 to the start of the playoffs[3](https://media.nhl.com/site/vasset/public/attachments/2023/01/16570/Year%20in%20Review%20by%20NHL%20Stats.pdf) |
| Scoring leaders | Connor McDavid led with 33 points; Evander Kane and Nathan MacKinnon led with 13 goals; Leon Draisaitl led with 25 assists[1](https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_2022.html) |
| Lightning's run | Third consecutive Final appearance, ending a stretch of a record 71 playoff games over three seasons[4](https://www.axios.com/2022/06/27/colorado-avalanche-stanley-cup) |
| First round start | Monday, May 2, 2022[5](https://www.nhl.com/news/first-round-schedule-for-2022-stanley-cup-playoffs-333612030) |
## Format
Sixteen teams qualified. The format was a set bracket that was largely division-based with wild cards: the top three teams in each division made up the first 12 playoff teams, and the remaining four spots went to the next two highest-placed finishers in each conference by regular-season record, regardless of division. Each of the four rounds was a best-of-7 series, with the first team to win four games advancing. Through the first two rounds, home-ice advantage went to the team that placed higher in the regular-season standings; in the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final, it went to the team with the better regular-season record regardless of division standing.[6](https://www.nhl.com/info/standings-info/playoff-format)
The first round opened on Monday, May 2, 2022, with eight series: Florida versus Washington, Toronto versus [Tampa Bay](https://www.edgepedia.org/tampa-bay), Carolina versus Boston, and the [New York Rangers](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-rangers) versus [Pittsburgh](https://www.edgepedia.org/pittsburgh) in the East; Colorado versus Nashville, Minnesota versus St. Louis, Calgary versus Dallas, and Edmonton versus Los Angeles in the West.[5](https://www.nhl.com/news/first-round-schedule-for-2022-stanley-cup-playoffs-333612030)
## Conference finals
The Western Conference Final began Tuesday, May 31 in Denver, matching the Colorado Avalanche (C1) against the [Edmonton Oilers](https://www.edgepedia.org/edmonton-oilers) (P2). Colorado swept the series 4-0, opening with an 8-6 game on May 31.[7](https://www.nhl.com/news/2022-nhl-conference-final-schedule-334387934) • [1](https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_2022.html)
The Eastern Conference Final began Wednesday, June 1 in New York, with the two-time defending champion [Tampa Bay Lightning](https://www.edgepedia.org/tampa-bay-lightning) (A3) against the New York Rangers (M2). Tampa Bay lost the first two games at home, then won four of the next five to take the series 4-2, closing with a 2-1 road win in Game 6 on June 11.[7](https://www.nhl.com/news/2022-nhl-conference-final-schedule-334387934) • [1](https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_2022.html)
## Tampa Bay's path to a third straight Final
Tampa Bay reached the Final for the third consecutive season. The [Lightning](https://www.edgepedia.org/lightning) defeated the [Toronto Maple Leafs](https://www.edgepedia.org/toronto-maple-leafs) in seven games in the Eastern Conference first round, swept the [Florida Panthers](https://www.edgepedia.org/florida-panthers) in four games in the second round, and then rallied from a 2-0 series deficit to beat the New York Rangers in six games in the Eastern Conference Final.[8](https://www.nhl.com/news/why-tampa-bay-lost-stanley-cup-final-334754378) Their bid for a third straight Cup ended two wins short, closing a stretch in which the franchise played a record 71 playoff games over three seasons.[4](https://www.axios.com/2022/06/27/colorado-avalanche-stanley-cup)
## Stanley Cup Final
The Final began Wednesday, June 15 in Denver. Colorado won Game 1 4-3 in overtime and Game 2 7-0; Tampa Bay answered with a 6-2 win in Game 3, then Colorado took Game 4 3-2 in overtime. Tampa Bay won Game 5 3-2 at home, and Colorado closed the series with a 2-1 win in Game 6 on June 26 at [Amalie Arena](https://www.edgepedia.org/amalie-arena).[1](https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_2022.html) • [2](https://www.nhl.com/news/colorado-avalanche-tampa-bay-lightning-game-6-recap-334578586)
The title was Colorado's first since the 2000-01 season and third overall in franchise history.[2](https://www.nhl.com/news/colorado-avalanche-tampa-bay-lightning-game-6-recap-334578586) • [9](https://www.nbcsports.com/nhl/news/nhl-stanley-cup-playoffs-2022-schedule-tv-info) Across the full season, including the playoffs, the [Avalanche](https://www.edgepedia.org/avalanche) won 72 games, and during the postseason they recorded 10 come-from-behind wins, tying the 2009 Penguins for the most in a single postseason.[4](https://www.axios.com/2022/06/27/colorado-avalanche-stanley-cup)
## Individual performance
Avalanche defenseman [Cale Makar](https://www.edgepedia.org/cale-makar) won the [Conn Smythe Trophy](https://www.edgepedia.org/conn-smythe-trophy) as playoff MVP with 8 goals and 21 assists for 29 points in the postseason.[1](https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_2022.html) At 23, he became the first player to win the Hobey Baker Award (best college player), the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year), the Norris Trophy (top defenseman), the Conn Smythe Trophy, and a Stanley Cup.[4](https://www.axios.com/2022/06/27/colorado-avalanche-stanley-cup)
Edmonton's Connor McDavid led all playoff scorers with 33 points, Leon Draisaitl led in assists with 25, and Evander Kane and Nathan MacKinnon shared the goals lead with 13 each.[1](https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_2022.html) Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic was named winner of the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.[3](https://media.nhl.com/site/vasset/public/attachments/2023/01/16570/Year%20in%20Review%20by%20NHL%20Stats.pdf)
## References
1. [2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Summary, Hockey-Reference.com](https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/NHL_2022.html)
2. [Avalanche edge Lightning in Game 6, win Cup for first time since 2001, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/colorado-avalanche-tampa-bay-lightning-game-6-recap-334578586)
3. [Year in Review by NHL Stats, NHL Media](https://media.nhl.com/site/vasset/public/attachments/2023/01/16570/Year%20in%20Review%20by%20NHL%20Stats.pdf)
4. [Colorado Avalanche lift the Stanley Cup, Axios](https://www.axios.com/2022/06/27/colorado-avalanche-stanley-cup)
5. [First-round schedule for 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/first-round-schedule-for-2022-stanley-cup-playoffs-333612030)
6. [Playoff Format, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/info/standings-info/playoff-format)
7. [2022 NHL conference finals schedule, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/2022-nhl-conference-final-schedule-334387934)
8. [Lightning lose Stanley Cup Final, past deep playoff runs among reasons, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/why-tampa-bay-lost-stanley-cup-final-334754378)
9. [NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2022 schedule, TV info, NBC Sports](https://www.nbcsports.com/nhl/news/nhl-stanley-cup-playoffs-2022-schedule-tv-info)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Hockey and remaining team sports › National Hockey League › NHL seasons, playoffs, and Finals*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license