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For the first time since [[1972–73 NHL season|1973]], only one Canadian team qualified for the playoffs: the [[Montreal Canadiens]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/10767832/canada-home-fewest-playoff-teams-1973 |title=Wanted: Playoff teams in Canada |date=April 11, 2014 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |accessdate=April 14, 2014}}</ref> Detroit increased its consecutive playoff appearance streak to 23 seasons, the longest current streak.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://wnax.com/news/030030-detroit-makes-playoffs-for-23rd-straight-season/ |title=Detroit Makes Playoffs for 23rd Straight Season |date=[April 10, 2014] |agency=[[Reuters]] |publisher=[[WNAX (AM)|Radio 570 WNAX]] |accessdate=April 14, 2014}}</ref> Only the [[Boston Bruins]] (29, 1968–1996), [[Chicago Blackhawks]] (28, 1970–1997), [[St. Louis Blues]] (25, 1980–2004), and Montreal Canadiens (24, 1971–1994) have achieved longer streaks. Furthermore, of the other major North American sports ([[baseball]], [[American football|football]], and [[basketball]]) only the [[Philadelphia 76ers|Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers]] have come close to this feat, with 22 consecutive playoff berths.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehockeyguys.net/detroit-red-wings-streaking-professional-sports-history/ |title=Detroit Red Wings: Streaking into Professional Sports History |first=Rhys |last=Richards |publisher=The Hockey Guys |date=April 11, 2014 |accessdate=April 14, 2014}}</ref> The [[Dallas Stars]] ended the league's third longest playoff appearance drought, qualifying for the postseason for the first time in six years.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/daley-stars-beat-blues-end-playoff-drought-23299531 |title=Daley, Stars Beat Blues 3-0, End Playoff Drought |last1=Dixon |first1=Schuyler |date=April 12, 2014 |publisher=[[ABC News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |accessdate=April 14, 2014}}</ref> The Columbus Blue Jackets won their first franchise playoff game on April 19, 2014.
The 2013–14 playoffs opening round featured leads changing hands more so than any other year. After the [[Anaheim Ducks]] rallied from a 4–2 deficit to defeat the [[Dallas Stars]] in game 6 of their opening round series on April 27, 2014, an NHL record was broken for most multi-goal comebacks by all teams in the opening round, with 10. In all four rounds combined in the previous year's playoffs, there were only 8 such victories.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=716874 |title=Anaheim Ducks' rally sets new record for multigoal comebacks in first round of Stanley Cup Playoffs - Ducks vs Stars - 2014 SCP First Round |publisher=Nhl.com |date= |accessdate=May 1, 2014}}</ref>
==Playoff seeds==
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