<P> The 2017 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League 's ( NHL ) 2016 -- 17 season , and the culmination of the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs . The Eastern Conference champion and defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Western Conference champion Nashville Predators , four games to two . Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the playoffs for the second consecutive year . The Penguins won the Stanley Cup in their opponent 's rink , just like they did the previous four times </P>
who played in the stanley cup finals last year
The Eastern Conference champion and defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins the Western Conference champion Nashville Predators