They began on April 12, 2017, after the regular season, and they concluded on June 11, 2017, with the Pittsburgh Penguins defeating the Nashville Predators four games to two in the Finals.

The Washington Capitals qualified for the playoffs as the Presidents' Trophy winners for the second consecutive year with the most points (i.e. best record) during the regular season.

The San Antonio Spurs of the NBA now owned the longest playoffs streak at 20 years in Major North American Sports.

[11] Mika Zibanejad got the overtime-winner for the Rangers in game five after Chris Kreider deflected a pass off of Canadiens defenceman Alexei Emelin, landing towards the forward who put it past goaltender Carey Price in a 3–2 win.

[13] In game two, Ottawa came back from a two-goal deficit in the third period and won via Dion Phaneuf whose goal in overtime helped tie the series 1–1 after a 4–3 conquest.

In overtime, Bruins forward Riley Nash took a roughing penalty and on the ensuing power play, Bobby Ryan tipped in a pass from Kyle Turris ending the game 4–3 for the Senators.

[15] Bobby Ryan scored the only goal in game four, at the 5:49 mark of the third period, allowing the Senators to achieve a 3–1 series lead.

[17] In game six, Clarke MacArthur scored the series-winning goal on the power play in overtime for Ottawa to advance to the second round.

The Washington Capitals earned the Presidents' Trophy for the second consecutive year as the NHL's best regular season team this time with 118 points.

This became only the third playoff series in NHL history in which five games were decided in overtime (the first being the 1951 Stanley Cup Finals between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens and the second occurring in the 2012 Western Conference quarterfinals between the Phoenix Coyotes and the Chicago Blackhawks).

[26] In game three, Jake Guentzel scored a hat-trick, his third being the overtime-winner as the Penguins came back from a two-goal deficit and defeated the Blue Jackets 5–4 and take a 3–0 series lead.

[28] In game five, Bryan Rust scored twice, including the series-winner, and Fleury made 49 saves in a 5–2 win for the Penguins to advance to the second round.

The Predators defeated the Blackhawks in a four-game sweep; this was the first time since 1993 that an eighth-seeded team swept a playoff series against the top seed in their conference.

[31] The Blackhawks remained scoreless after game two, instead being outscored 5–0 with Pekka Rinne not only stopping all 30 shots he faced, but also providing two assists.

[33] In game four, Roman Josi scored twice in a 4–1 victory and Rinne made 30 saves for the Predators, who swept a playoff opponent for the first time in franchise history.

This was the second playoff meeting between these teams; their only previous series was the 2006 Western Conference semifinals, which Edmonton won in six games.

[45] The shutout streak continued in game three, as Zack Kassian scored the only goal for the Oilers and Cam Talbot stopped 23 shots.

[46] Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski scored two goals each and Martin Jones stopped all 23 shots as the Sharks blanked the Oilers 7–0 in game four to tie the series at two.

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams; their only previous series was in the 2012 Eastern Conference quarterfinals, which New York won in seven games.

[54] In game six, Erik Karlsson netted the series-winning goal and added an assist for the Senators who advanced to the conference finals for the first time in ten years after a 4–2 victory.

In overtime, Trevor Daley of the Penguins was penalized for holding and on the ensuing power play, Kevin Shattenkirk scored to give the Capitals a 3–2 victory.

[60] In game seven, Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all 29 shots and Bryan Rust scored the series-winning goal to defeat the Capitals 2–0 and advance to the conference finals for the second consecutive year.

[66] In game six, Ryan Johansen scored the series-winning goal in a 3–1 victory as the Predators moved onto the conference finals for the first time in franchise history after nineteen years in the league.

This was the second playoff meeting between these teams; their only previous series was in the 2006 Western Conference final, which Edmonton won in five games.

[68] Goalie Cam Talbot stopped 39 shots and former-Duck Patrick Maroon scored the game-winning goal in game two for the Oilers' 2–1 victory.

This was the second consecutive conference finals appearance for Pittsburgh who defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning the previous year in seven games.

[82] In game two, the Ducks rallied from an early-two-goal deficit to defeat the Predators 5–3 and Ryan Getzlaf assisted thrice in the victory.

[87] The Predators became the third eighth seeded team to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, joining the 2006 Edmonton Oilers and the 2012 Los Angeles Kings.

Pittsburgh made their second consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearance and their sixth overall; they won in the previous year defeating the San Jose Sharks in six games.

Rogers agreed not to schedule games on CBC for the first four Sunday nights of the playoffs, so that the network could broadcast Canada: The Story of Us, a documentary series it had commissioned as part of programming commemorating the 150th anniversary of Canadian confederation.