How many teams can make the NHL playoffs? Everything you need to know about the knockout format

The NHL Stanley Cup playoffs feature a total of sixteen teams with top eight from both the Eastern and Western Conferences. The top three teams in each of the four divisions advance directly to the playoffs.

While the next two top finishing teams from both sides of the Conference will determine the final four teams. These four teams advance to the playoffs via the Wild Card and are determined by their regular-season record regardless of division. It is possible that one division in the playoffs will have five teams, while the other division will have three teams.

The road to the NHL Stanley Cup

Prior to the Stanley Cup Championship round, the teams in the playoffs will have to battle in three rounds. These rounds consist of best-of-seven series games, with the team that wins the first four games advancing to the next round.

In the first round, the Division winner with the best record in both Conferences faces Wild Card opponents with a lower record. The Conference's other two division winners will then face their Wild Card opponents with the best record. While the teams that finish second in each division face off against the teams that finish third in the same division.

In the second round, the winners of the first round in each bracket face off against one another. The outcome of the second round determines who the final four teams will face off against in the Conference Finals.

The third round determines one winner from each Conference to headline the NHL Stanley Cup Championship round, and the team to win four of the seven games will be crowned the Stanley Cup.

What is the home ice advantage in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs?

NHL Stanley Cup playoff games are played in a 2-2-2-1-1 format and each matchup features a best of seven series games. In the opening two rounds of the playoffs, the top seeding team gets home ice advantage. The playoffs team with the home ice advantage will host games one, two, five and seven.

However, the home ice advantage rule is completely different in the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Finals. The home ice advantage is completely different in the final two rounds of the playoffs and is determined with the team having the best regular-season record regardless of the seeding.

The Colorado Avalanche are the reigning champions of the Stanley Cup. It will be interesting to see which team will get their name on the name plate of the coveted Cup in 2023.