NHL Postseason Woes: A Look Back at the Worst Performances
The ups and downs of playoff hockey have led many fans to ponder their team’s least successful postseason endeavors. While being swept in the first round is undoubtedly harsh, one intriguing metric that sheds light on a team’s playoff struggles is goal differential—a statistic that reflects both offensive prowess and defensive vulnerabilities.
Using goal differential as a measure, here’s a rundown of NHL teams’ most disappointing postseasons. Starting with more modest failures, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Seattle Kraken had close calls, finishing their playoff runs with goal differentials of -0 and -1, respectively.
As we delve deeper, franchises like the Buffalo Sabres and the Florida Panthers reveal dark patches in their histories. The Sabres had an -8 differential in 1984, while the Panthers experienced a -9 mark during their 2022 campaign.
Moving further down the list, teams like the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens suffered worse fates, each finishing with an -11 differential during tumultuous playoff runs.
However, the absolute worst postseason in NHL history belongs to the San Jose Sharks, who, in 1995, finished with a staggering -27 goal differential despite advancing past the first round. Their playoff journey included an upset in the opening round only to be brutally swept by the Detroit Red Wings, who outscored them 24-6 in just four games.
This analysis highlights the moments of despair for various franchises, illustrating that sometimes, even amidst a playoff victory, the path can lead to significant adversity—a narrative that resonates with hockey fans across the league.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
