NHL Record for Most Penalties, Both Teams, Playoff Series

New Jersey Devils vs Washington Capitals holds the NHL record with 218 penalties (1987-88).

Updated Oct 20, 6:01 PM ET after records.nhl.com

Top of the list

Most Penalties, Both Teams, Playoff Series: the leaders
Rank	Team	Penalties	Season	Goals	Assists
1	New Jersey Devils vs Washington Capitals	218	1987-88	48	68
2	Quebec Nordiques vs Hartford Whalers	199	1986-87	46	78
3	Boston Bruins vs New Jersey Devils	196	1987-88	49	81
4	Boston Bruins vs Buffalo Sabres	191	1987-88	50	78
5	New Jersey Devils vs New York Islanders	188	1987-88	41	66
6	Chicago Blackhawks vs Minnesota North Stars	187	1989-90	39	69
7	Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins	180	1988-89	55	96
8	Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers	175	1987-88	56	91
9	St. Louis Blues vs Detroit Red Wings	173	1990-91	44	66
10	Detroit Red Wings vs Toronto Maple Leafs	169	1987-88	52	86
11	Calgary Flames vs St. Louis Blues	166	1985-86	50	76
12	Minnesota North Stars vs Chicago Blackhawks	158	1990-91	39	70
12	Pittsburgh Penguins vs New Jersey Devils	158	1990-91	42	70
14	Philadelphia Flyers vs Toronto Maple Leafs	156	1975-76	56	89
14	Vancouver Canucks vs St. Louis Blues	156	1994-95	54	85
16	Calgary Flames vs Edmonton Oilers	154	1985-86	49	82
17	New York Islanders vs Washington Capitals	153	1986-87	38	60
18	Montréal Canadiens vs Quebec Nordiques	152	1986-87	47	79
19	Edmonton Oilers vs Winnipeg Jets (1979)	151	1987-88	42	78

The full top 19

Most Penalties, Both Teams, Playoff Series: NHL playoff team records
Rank	Team	Penalties	Season	Goals	Assists
1	New Jersey Devils vs Washington Capitals	218	1987-88	48	68
2	Quebec Nordiques vs Hartford Whalers	199	1986-87	46	78
3	Boston Bruins vs New Jersey Devils	196	1987-88	49	81
4	Boston Bruins vs Buffalo Sabres	191	1987-88	50	78
5	New Jersey Devils vs New York Islanders	188	1987-88	41	66
6	Chicago Blackhawks vs Minnesota North Stars	187	1989-90	39	69
7	Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins	180	1988-89	55	96
8	Washington Capitals vs Philadelphia Flyers	175	1987-88	56	91
9	St. Louis Blues vs Detroit Red Wings	173	1990-91	44	66
10	Detroit Red Wings vs Toronto Maple Leafs	169	1987-88	52	86
11	Calgary Flames vs St. Louis Blues	166	1985-86	50	76
12	Minnesota North Stars vs Chicago Blackhawks	158	1990-91	39	70
12	Pittsburgh Penguins vs New Jersey Devils	158	1990-91	42	70
14	Philadelphia Flyers vs Toronto Maple Leafs	156	1975-76	56	89
14	Vancouver Canucks vs St. Louis Blues	156	1994-95	54	85
16	Calgary Flames vs Edmonton Oilers	154	1985-86	49	82
17	New York Islanders vs Washington Capitals	153	1986-87	38	60
18	Montréal Canadiens vs Quebec Nordiques	152	1986-87	47	79
19	Edmonton Oilers vs Winnipeg Jets (1979)	151	1987-88	42	78

Note: 2019-20 includes results from the Stanley Cup Qualifiers; Suspended game in 1988 Stanley Cup Final does not impact this list Top 19 of 19 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.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the NHL record for most penalties, both teams, playoff series?

New Jersey Devils vs Washington Capitals holds the NHL record for most penalties, both teams, playoff series with 218 (1987-88).