Template:2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs

In each round, teams compete in a best-of-seven series following a 2–2–1–1–1 format (scores in the bracket indicate the number of games won in each best-of-seven series). The team with home ice advantage plays at home for games one and two (and games five and seven, if necessary), and the other team is at home for games three and four (and game six, if necessary). The top three teams in each division make the playoffs, along with two wild cards in each conference, for a total of eight teams from each conference.

In the First Round, the lower seeded wild card in the conference plays against the division winner with the best record while the other wild card plays against the other division winner, and both wild cards are de facto #4 seeds. The other series match the second and third place teams from the divisions. In the first two rounds, home ice advantage is awarded to the team with the better seed; in the last two rounds, it is awarded to the team that had the better regular season record.


 * Legend
 * A1, A2, A3 – The first, second, and third place teams from the Atlantic Division, respectively
 * M1, M2, M3 – The first, second, and third place teams from the Metropolitan Division, respectively
 * C1, C2, C3 – The first, second, and third place teams from the Central Division, respectively
 * P1, P2, P3 – The first, second, and third place teams from the Pacific Division, respectively
 * WC – Wild Card teams