The 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League (NHL), began after the conclusion of the 1993–94 NHL season. 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.
The playoffs ended when the New York Rangers defeated the Vancouver Canucks in the seventh game of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals. This was the beginning of Canada's longest absence from the Stanley Cup Finals.
For the first time in history, all four former WHA teams (Edmonton, Hartford, Quebec, and Winnipeg) failed to make the playoffs in the same year. This would not happen again until 2007 a decade after the three latter teams relocated. The Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks failed to make the playoffs. Both Florida teams missed the playoffs. For the third time in history, every Original Six team made the playoffs in the same season. This also happened in 1978 and 1987, and would happen again in 1996.
Wayne Gretzky missed the playoffs for the first of four times in his career.
Read more about 1994 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Playoff Bracket, Stanley Cup Final
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