NHL Playoffs Stats 1994-2011, Sweeps, Game seven's and more

Here is a somewhat oddly detailed chart of the playoffs since 1994. It focuses not on teams or players but games in the playoffs themselves. I picked 1994 because it was only after 94 that the NHL moved to the East and West divisions; Before it was a 4 division system which doesn’t cooperate well with my chart. Also 1994 is a long time ago so I thought it would be enough.

First some stats then the chart!

1)      4-9; The record of teams that have played less games than their opposition in the Stanley cup finals. Four times the teams have been tied (in games played) going into the finals.

2)      There were four Stanley Cup Final Sweeps in a Row from 95 – 98

3)      In 17 years, there has been only been one more Western Conference Game Playoff Game (west 679, East 678)

4)      But there have 5 more Western conference Series sweeps

5)      There is an average of 2 sweeps a year and 3.5 Game 7’s a year

6)      Home teams win 57% of game 7s, 

7)      But, in 2010 & 2011 Home teams were a shocking 20% in game 7s

8)      Excluding those years, Home teams are 64% in game 7s

9)      On average, there are 86 playoff games a year. 

10)  The high over 17 years for playoff games was 90, in 1994 and 2002.

11)  In 2007 there were only 80 games, the lowest in the 17 year span. Funnily, there was only one sweep that year. 

12)   2002 was the only year where there wasn’t a series sweep in the whole playoffs. 

13)  There has never been a post season without a game 7.