For the first time since Sidney Crosby was a rookie, the Penguins won't be in the postseason.
Pittsburgh owned not only the longest active NHL playoff streak, but the longest playoff streak in North American sports before it was snapped this season. It's the first time since 2006 that the Penguins won't have a chance to win the Stanley Cup, as the club had strung together 16 consecutive seasons with postseason play.
The Pens' run isn't the only one to come to an end, as the Capitals and Predators also had lengthy playoff streaks that came to a close in 2023. Each organization was riding an eight-season playoff streak heading into this season, but failed to punch their postseason ticket in 2023.
NHL PLAYOFF PICTURE:Updated standings, bracket, matchups & key dates for 2022-23 season
So now who holds the mark for the longest active playoff streak? Here are the longest active and all-time NHL playoff streaks.
What are the longest active NHL playoff streaks?
The Penguins owned the longest active NHL playoff streak, making it to the playoffs for 16 seasons in a row. The Capitals and Predators were tied with eight.
All three of those are gone, resulting in other teams moving up. The Bruins and Maple Leafs now own the longest active playoff streaks, which counting this season, is up to seven
| Rank | Team | Consecutive playoff seasons |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Boston Bruins | 7 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 7 | |
| 3. | Tampa Bay Lightning | 6 |
| Colorado Avalanche | 6 | |
| 5. | Carolina Hurricanes | 5 |
What are the longest NHL playoff streaks of all time?
The Penguins' 16-game streak finishes 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.
| Rank | Team | Seasons | Consecutive playoff seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Boston Bruins | 1967-68 to 1995-96 | 29 |
| 2. | Chicago Blackhawks | 1969-70 to 1996-97 | 28 |
| 3. | Detroit Red Wings | 1990-91 to 2015-16 | 25 |
| St. Louis Blues | 1979-80 to 2003-04 | 25 | |
| 5. | Montreal Canadiens | 1970-71 to 1993-94 | 24 |
| 6. | Montreal Canadiens | 1948-49 to 1968-69 | 21 |
| 7. | Detroit Red Wings | 1938-39 to 1957-58 | 20 |
| 8. | Philadelphia Flyers | 1972-73 to 1988-89 | 17 |
| 9. | Calgary Flames | 1975-76 to 1990-91 | 16 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 2006-07 to2022-23 | 16 |
