What Is 2013 National Hockey League playoffs

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2013 National Hockey League playoffs began on April 30, 2013, after a shortened 48-game regular season due to a lockout. The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins in six games to win the Stanley Cup.

Key Facts

The 2013 NHL playoffs started on April 30, 2013, following a lockout-shortened regular season.
The Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup by defeating the Boston Bruins in six games.
The Stanley Cup Final concluded on June 24, 2013, with Chicago winning Game 6 in Boston.
Brent Seabrook scored the series-winning goal in double overtime of Game 5 of the Western Conference Final.
Patrick Kane led all playoff scorers with 19 points (8 goals, 11 assists) in 23 games.

Overview

The 2013 National Hockey League playoffs marked the postseason tournament to determine the champion of the 2012–13 NHL season. Due to a labor dispute, the regular season was shortened to 48 games, beginning on January 19, 2013, and ending on April 27, 2013.

Despite the compressed schedule, the playoffs followed the traditional 16-team, best-of-seven, four-round format. The tournament culminated in the Chicago Blackhawks capturing their fifth Stanley Cup in franchise history by defeating the Boston Bruins in six games.

Start date: The 2013 NHL playoffs officially began on April 30, 2013, with eight first-round series starting within a 48-hour window.
Stanley Cup winner: The Chicago Blackhawks claimed their third Stanley Cup in five years by defeating the Boston Bruins in six games.
Final game: Game 6 ended on June 24, 2013, when the Blackhawks scored two goals in just 17 seconds during the third period to secure a 3–2 victory.
Regular season: The shortened 2012–13 season was reduced to 48 games per team due to a lockout that delayed the start until January.
Playoff format: The top three teams from each division qualified, plus two wild-card teams per conference, maintaining the traditional 16-team bracket.

How the 2013 NHL Playoffs Worked

The 2013 NHL playoffs followed the standard postseason structure but operated under unique circumstances due to the lockout-delayed season. All series were best-of-seven, with home-ice advantage determined by regular-season points.

Seeding: The top three teams in each division qualified, plus two wild-card entries from the remaining teams in each conference, creating a balanced bracket.
First Round: The division winner with the most points played the wild-card team with fewer points, adding strategic depth to the matchups.
Home-ice advantage: Awarded to the team with more regular-season points in each series, a rule that benefited the Chicago Blackhawks throughout their run.
Overtime rules: Regular-season overtime was five minutes of 3-on-3 play, but playoff overtime reverted to 20-minute periods of 5-on-5 until a goal was scored.
Player performance:Patrick Kane led all scorers with 19 points (8 goals, 11 assists), while Duncan Keith logged over 28 minutes per game on defense.
Championship celebration: The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in Boston on June 24, 2013, marking the first time since 1971 that a team clinched on the road in Game 6.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2013 NHL playoffs compare to previous postseasons in key structural and performance metrics:

Category	2013 Playoffs	2012 Playoffs	2011 Playoffs
Regular season length	48 games	82 games	82 games
Playoff start date	April 30	April 7	April 9
Stanley Cup winner	Chicago Blackhawks	Los Angeles Kings	Boston Bruins
Final series length	6 games	6 games	7 games
Top playoff scorer	Patrick Kane (19 points)	Jonathan Quick (G, not a scorer)	Daniel Brière (12 points)

The 2013 playoffs were unique due to the shortened season, but the intensity and drama matched previous years. The table shows that despite fewer games, offensive production remained high, and the Blackhawks’ late-season momentum carried into the postseason.

Why the 2013 NHL Playoffs Mattered

The 2013 NHL playoffs had significant implications for league parity, team legacies, and fan engagement after a disruptive lockout season. Chicago’s victory solidified their status as a modern dynasty, while Boston’s loss fueled a determined rematch in future seasons.

Historic comeback: The Blackhawks became the first team since 1971 to win the Stanley Cup clinching game on the road in Boston.
Dynasty validation: Chicago’s third Cup in five years confirmed their place among the NHL’s elite franchises of the 2010s.
Lockout recovery: The successful playoffs helped the NHL rebuild fan trust after the 113-day labor dispute that delayed the season.
Player legacy:Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane cemented their reputations as clutch performers in high-pressure games.
Rule testing: The compressed schedule tested player endurance, with some teams playing four games in six nights during the first round.
TV ratings: Game 6 drew over 8.3 million viewers on NBC, making it one of the most-watched NHL games in U.S. history.

The 2013 playoffs not only delivered thrilling hockey but also demonstrated the resilience of the league and its stars under unusual circumstances. It remains a benchmark for competitive balance and dramatic finishes in modern NHL history.