The 1994 Stanley Cup playoffs, the playoff tournament 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 game 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. In total, an NHL record seven game sevens were played in this year's playoffs, two of which went to overtime.
For the first time since joining the NHL, all four former WHA teams (Edmonton, Hartford, Quebec, and Winnipeg) failed to make the playoffs. Wayne Gretzky also missed the playoffs for the first time in his career. Conversely, the San Jose Sharks became the first post-1990 expansion team to make the playoffs. All series played between Central and Pacific Division teams had a 2–3–2 format to reduce travel. This remains the last time that two Canadian teams made it to the Conference Finals in the same year, let alone faced each other in that particular round.
Playoff seeds
This was the first season of the NHL's new conference-oriented playoff format, emulating the NBA's seeding format in use then for the opening round. The following teams qualified for the playoffs:
Eastern Conference
New York Rangers, Atlantic Division champions, Eastern Conference regular season champions, Presidents' Trophy winners – 112 points Pittsburgh Penguins, Northeast Division champions – 101 points New Jersey Devils – 106 points Boston Bruins – 97 points Montreal Canadiens – 96 points Buffalo Sabres – 95 points Washington Capitals – 88 points New York Islanders – 84 points
Western Conference
Detroit Red Wings, Central Division champions, Western Conference regular season champions – 100 points Calgary Flames, Pacific Division champions – 97 points Toronto Maple Leafs – 98 points Dallas Stars – 97 points St. Louis Blues – 91 points Chicago Blackhawks – 87 points Vancouver Canucks – 85 points San Jose Sharks – 82 points
Playoff bracket
Conference Quarterfinals
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
(1) New York Rangers vs. (8) New York Islanders
The New York Rangers earned the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's best regular season team with 112 points. The Islanders qualified as the eighth seed earning 84 points during the regular season. This was the eighth playoff series between these two rivals, with the Islanders winning five of the previous seven series. They last met in the 1990 Patrick Division Semifinals which the Rangers won in five games. The Islanders won the season series earning six of ten points during this year's five game regular season series.
This was the last time that the Islanders got swept in a playoff series until the 2019 Eastern Conference Second Round.
(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (7) Washington Capitals
The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the playoffs as the second seed in the Eastern Conference by winning the Northeast Division with 101 points. The Washington Capitals earned 88 points during the regular season to finish seventh overall in the Eastern Conference. This was the third playoff meeting between these two rivals, with Pittsburgh winning both previous series. They last met in the 1992 Patrick Division Semifinals which Pittsburgh won in seven games after erasing a 3–1 deficit. Washington won the season series earning five of eight points during this year's four game regular season series.
Until 2018, this was the only time the Capitals had defeated the Penguins in their first ten playoff series.
(3) New Jersey Devils vs. (6) Buffalo Sabres
The New Jersey Devils entered the playoffs as the third seed in the Eastern Conference with 106 points. The Buffalo Sabres earned 95 points during the regular season to finish sixth overall in the Eastern Conference. This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams. New Jersey won three of the four games in this year's regular season series.