The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs are officially underway, as the top 16 teams in the NHL compete for the sport’s ultimate prize.
Although the intensity level rises in the NHL's postseason, performance levels don't always follow suit. On occasion, throughout the history of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there have been some rather dramatic blowouts and lopsided results.
We're going to take a look at the largest blowouts in the history of the NHL Playoffs, highlighting the most lopsided matchups throughout the league's long postseason history.
Biggest Blowouts in Stanley Cup Playoffs History
In the history of the NHL postseason, only 15 games have been decided by a margin of eight or more goals. Let's take a look at some of those games.
Let’s take a closer look at those top five:
Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens, 1944
No team has ever suffered as large a playoff defeat as the Maple Leafs during their series against the Canadiens in 1944, in which they lost 11–0. That defeat occurred in Game 5, which was the final game of the series. Montreal would go onto win the Stanley Cup, sweeping the Chicago Black Hawks in four games.
Kings. vs Oilers, 1987
Tied for the second largest playoff defeat of all time, the Kings were outmatched by the Oilers, 13–3. Wayne Gretzky provided one goal and six assists for Edmonton in their rout of L.A., and the Oilers would go onto win the Stanley Cup in seven games against the Flyers.
Maple Leafs vs. Bruins, 1969
25 years after losing 11–0 to the Canadiens, the Maple Leafs were once again handed a historic playoff defeat, this time a 10–0 loss to the Boston Bruins. Phil Esposito scored four goals and had six points in the lopsided affair, but the Bruins were bounced in the next round to the eventual-champion Canadiens.
Black Hawks vs. Oilers, 1985
The Oilers delivered a convincing rout of the Black Hawks in one of the highest-scoring series in NHL playoff history. The 11–2 victory came during the Western Conference finals and was highlighted by Gretzky's four-point performance. That series did not feature a single game with less than seven total goals.
Sabres vs. Bruins, 1983
This 9–0 beatdown by the Bruins featured four points from Barry Pederson. Despite the Sabres only being out-shot by four, they were outscored by nine, which stands as tied for the fourth-largest defeat in NHL postseason history. Boston would go on to lose in a six-game series against the Islanders in the Eastern Conference final.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Biggest Blowouts in NHL Playoff History.
