NHL Record for Most Penalties, Both Teams, Playoff Period
New York Rangers at Los Angeles Kings holds the NHL record with 43 penalties (1980-81).
Top of the list
| Rank | Team | Penalties | Season | Date | Goals | Assists | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York Rangers at Los Angeles Kings | 43 | 1980-81 | Apr 9, 1981 | 3 | 4 | NYR 4 @ LAK 5 |
| 2 | Detroit Red Wings at St. Louis Blues | 42 | 1990-91 | Apr 12, 1991 | 1 | 2 | DET 1 @ STL 6 |
| 3 | Montréal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators | 40 | 2012-13 | May 5, 2013 | 4 | 7 | MTL 1 @ OTT 6 |
| 4 | Quebec Nordiques at Montréal Canadiens | 38 | 1983-84 | Apr 20, 1984 | 0 | 0 | QUE 3 @ MTL 5 |
| 4 | Minnesota North Stars at Chicago Blackhawks | 38 | 1989-90 | Apr 6, 1990 | 4 | 7 | MNS 3 @ CHI 5 |
| 6 | Toronto Maple Leafs at Atlanta Flames | 36 | 1978-79 | Apr 10, 1979 | 3 | 3 | TOR 2 @ AFM 1 |
The full top 12
| Rank | Team | Penalties | Season | Date | Goals | Assists | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York Rangers at Los Angeles Kings | 43 | 1980-81 | Apr 9, 1981 | 3 | 4 | NYR 4 @ LAK 5 |
| 2 | Detroit Red Wings at St. Louis Blues | 42 | 1990-91 | Apr 12, 1991 | 1 | 2 | DET 1 @ STL 6 |
| 3 | Montréal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators | 40 | 2012-13 | May 5, 2013 | 4 | 7 | MTL 1 @ OTT 6 |
| 4 | Quebec Nordiques at Montréal Canadiens | 38 | 1983-84 | Apr 20, 1984 | 0 | 0 | QUE 3 @ MTL 5 |
| 4 | Minnesota North Stars at Chicago Blackhawks | 38 | 1989-90 | Apr 6, 1990 | 4 | 7 | MNS 3 @ CHI 5 |
| 6 | Toronto Maple Leafs at Atlanta Flames | 36 | 1978-79 | Apr 10, 1979 | 3 | 3 | TOR 2 @ AFM 1 |
| 6 | New York Islanders at Boston Bruins | 36 | 1979-80 | Apr 17, 1980 | 1 | 2 | NYI 5 @ BOS 4 OT |
| 6 | Quebec Nordiques at Hartford Whalers | 36 | 1986-87 | Apr 8, 1987 | 1 | 2 | QUE 2 @ HFD 3 OT |
| 9 | St. Louis Blues at Detroit Red Wings | 35 | 1987-88 | Apr 21, 1988 | 2 | 3 | STL 0 @ DET 6 |
| 10 | Colorado Avalanche at Detroit Red Wings | 34 | 1996-97 | May 22, 1997 | 1 | 2 | COL 0 @ DET 6 |
| 11 | Detroit Red Wings at St. Louis Blues | 32 | 1996-97 | Apr 22, 1997 | 2 | 4 | DET 0 @ STL 4 |
| 12 | Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres | 31 | 1987-88 | Apr 9, 1988 | 2 | 3 | BOS 2 @ BUF 6 |
Note: 2019-20 includes results from the Stanley Cup Qualifiers; Suspended game in 1988 Stanley Cup Final does not impact this list Top 12 of 12 lines on the NHL's list, ties kept. Source: NHL Records.
About these records
Every record list comes from the NHL's official records database (records.nhl.com): 808 regular-season and playoff records for skaters, goalies and teams. We keep the top 50 of each list, with ties, and refresh lists with active players daily, so career climbs like Alex Ovechkin's goal total update the morning after a game.
Records cover the league's whole history, so eras matter: scoring was far higher in the 1980s, goalie stats like saves and save percentage start in 1955-56 or later, and time on ice, hits and blocks start in 2005-06. Each list notes its own limits.
Active players are flagged, so you can see who is climbing a list this season. For the milestones those players are chasing tonight, see the milestone watch.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the NHL record for most penalties, both teams, playoff period?
New York Rangers at Los Angeles Kings holds the NHL record for most penalties, both teams, playoff period with 43 (1980-81).