Although all of the games for the series were scheduled to be played at The Arena in Ottawa, unseasonably warm weather and poor ice conditions forced the last two contests to be played on the artificial ice at Toronto's Arena Gardens.
The Senators captured the 1919–20 NHL title after they won both halves of the regular season, thus eliminating the need for a league championship playoff.
Meanwhile, Seattle finished the 1919–20 PCHA regular season in first place with a 12–10 record, but had to defeat the second place Vancouver Millionaires in a two-game total goals championship series, 7–3, to win the PCHA title.
While the dispute continued, the schedules for both leagues was allowed to drag out, leading to a late starting date for the Finals.
Jack Darragh scored the game-winning goal with four minutes to play on an assist from Eddie Gerard.
[4] Vancouver Mayor Robert Gale dropped the puck to start game two, played under seven-man PCHA rules.
Ottawa objected, but NHL president Frank Calder stood firm.
Gerard stick-handled through the Seattle team to put Ottawa ahead 3–1 three minutes later.
[8] Seattle forward Frank Foyston had high praise for the Ottawa team after the series had concluded, and gave credit to all of Frank Nighbor, Jack Darragh and Eddie Gerard on the Senators forward line: "It was something awful those fellows cut loose.
I thought we had them until Rowe was hurt, but the Ottawas had saved themselves and skated us off our feet in the third period.
Nighbor had our line demoralized with his speed and poke check and no one could stop Darragh and Gerard.
It was not until the trophy was redesigned in 1948 that the words "1920 Ottawa Senators" was put onto its then-new collar.
The following Senators players and staff were members of the Stanley Cup winning team.