Longest active NHL playoff streaks: Capitals postseason streak snapped, Penguins could be next

For the first time since 2014, the Stanley Cup playoffs won’t involve Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals.

One of the longest active NHL playoff streak was snapped this season, as Washington was officially eliminated from the postseason. It brought an end to an eight-year run of consecutive playoff appearances for the club. 

The Capitals’ streak was one of the longest active ones in the NHL, but it’s not the run that could be coming to an end. 

The Penguins own the longest active playoff streak, however, the club is battling for one of the final spots in the Eastern Conference. The team has been slipping in the final weeks of the regular season and there is a real chance the Stanley Cup playoffs go on without Pittsburgh involved. 

In addition, the Predators own one of the longer active postseason runs, but also could be missing out on the playoffs. They were a team that pivoted at the deadline to sellers, seemingly waiving the white flag on the 2022-23 season. However, Nashville remains in the playoff hunt, but are going to need to almost win out in order to get in. 

Will any of these streaks stay intact, or will these clubs miss the postseason for the first time in years?

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Here are the longest active and all-time NHL playoff streaks. 

What are the longest active NHL playoff streaks?

The Penguins own the longest active NHL playoff streak, and it is not particularly close. 

Pittsburgh has made the playoffs for the last 16 consecutive postseasons. The last time the Pens failed to make it to the postseason was in 2005-06, Sidney Crosby’s rookie season. In that time, the franchise has been to four Stanley Cup Finals and has won three Stanley Cups. 

The 16-season streak is double the next-closest mark. The Predators and Capitals are tied for the second-longest streak with eight seasons in a row of postseason play. 

What are the longest NHL playoff streaks of all time?

The Penguins’ 16-game streak is in the top 10 on the all-time list, but not near the top. 

Boston owns the record for most consecutive playoff appearances. The Bruins ripped off 29 seasons in a row where they made the postseason, starting from the 1967-68 season and going to 1995-96. During that span, the club went to seven Stanley Cup Finals and hoisted Lord Stanley’s mug twice. 

The Blackhawks’ streak of 28 seasons comes in at second, one shy of the Bruins’ mark. Ironically, Chicago’s streak started and ended right around the same time as Boston’s. The Blackhawks’ run started two seasons after the Bruins’ began its streak and ended one season after. 

In total, there have been seven different instances in NHL history of a club making the postseason at least 20 seasons in a row. 

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