How many games are in the NHL playoffs?

The NHL, known as the National Hockey League, is a professional ice hockey league in North America, featuring teams from both the United States and Canada.

Established on November 26, 1917, in Montreal, the National Hockey League (NHL) emerged after the suspension of the National Hockey Association of Canada Limited (NHA). However, their founding members (the Montréal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, and Quebec Bulldogs) were transferred to the NHL. The league expanded into the United States in the 1920s, welcoming the Boston Bruins in 1925-26, followed by the Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Cougars (later Red Wings), and the New York Rangers. Other teams part of the “Original Six” were the Chicago Black Hawks and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Expansion in 1967-68 doubled the league's size, adding six teams including the California Seals and Philadelphia Flyers. Throughout the 1970s, the NHL experienced substantial growth, increasing from 12 to 21 teams by the decade's end. The 1990s witnessed further expansion across North America, culminating in 30 teams by 2000-01, coinciding with Gary Bettman's tenure as the league's first Commissioner. Recent years have seen continued growth, with the addition of the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017-18 and the Seattle Kraken in 2021-22, bringing the league's total to 32 teams.

NHL Playoffs

The NHL playoffs consist of an annual elimination tournament to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, featuring 16 qualifying teams competing in four rounds of best-of-seven series, with the first team to win four games advancing to the next round.

To earn a spot in the NHL playoffs, teams must first excel during the regular season. The top three teams from each of the league's four divisions automatically qualify for the postseason, totaling 12 spots. Additionally, two wild card teams from each conference secure playoff berths based on their regular season performance, regardless of divisional alignment.

Once the 16 qualifying teams are determined, they are seeded into a bracket based on their regular season standings. The division winners with the best records are matched up against the wild card teams with the lowest records, while the remaining matchups are determined by seeding. This creates an exciting mix of divisional rivalries and cross-conference showdowns throughout the playoffs.

NHL Playoffs Series Format

The NHL playoffs consist of four rounds, each played in a best-of-seven series format. The First Round, Second Round, and Conference Finals all follow this structure, with the first team to win four games advancing to the next round. Finally, the Stanley Cup Finals pit the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion in another best-of-seven series to determine the ultimate winner.

One of the most thrilling aspects of the NHL playoffs is the potential for overtime heroics. Unlike the regular season, where shootouts are used to determine winners in overtime, playoff games continue with sudden-death overtime periods until a team scores. This can lead to intense, marathon matchups where every shot and save is crucial in deciding the outcome.

Throughout the playoffs, home-ice advantage plays a significant role in shaping the competition. In the early rounds, seeding determines which team hosts more games in a series. However, once the playoffs reach the Conference Finals, home-ice advantage is awarded to the team with the superior regular season record, regardless of seeding.

Qualification Process for the NHL Playoffs

Sixteen teams qualify for the NHL playoffs, with the top three teams from each division and two wild card teams from each conference earning spots based on regular season standings. The wild card teams are determined by points totals, with tiebreakers used if necessary.

The 16 qualifying teams are divided into two brackets based on their seeding and divisional alignment. The division winners with the best records face the wild card teams with the lowest records, while the remaining matchups are determined by seeding.

When is the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs?

The 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs began on April 20, 2024, and are scheduled to conclude by June 24, 2024, with the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals. The playoffs feature 16 teams competing for the Stanley Cup championship. Moreover, the New York Rangers entered the playoffs as the Presidents' Trophy winners with the most points during the regular season.

In the Eastern Conference, the playoff teams are:

In the Western Conference, the playoff teams are:

The playoff format follows a best-of-seven series in each round, with the team holding home-ice advantage playing at home for games one and two and games five and seven if necessary. The top three teams from each division qualify for the playoffs, along with two wild cards from each conference.

In terms of media coverage, both Canada and the United States have extensive coverage arrangements, with games airing on various networks and streaming platforms, including Sportsnet and CBC in Canada, and ESPN, TNT, and TBS in the United States.