NHL Playoff Format 2023: A closer look at the Stanley Cup knockouts, qualifications, and more

With the NHL playoffs set to begin in less than three weeks, teams are either gearing up for a deep postseason run or simply attempting to qualify for the dance.

So far, only five teams have clinched a playoff spot, however, in the coming days, the postseason picture will become clearer.

"With a Win Tomorrow Night…The New Jersey Devils Clinch a Spot in the 2023 NHL Playoffs. It’s Real Jersey. #NJDevils" - @GianniNJD

While the ultimate prize is the Stanley Cup, not every fan knows exactly how the NHL playoffs work, and who qualifies. Here is a closer look at the postseason format.

Which teams qualify for the NHL playoffs?

The top eight teams from both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference will qualify for the postseason. The top three teams from each division are guaranteed a playoff spot, with the division champions securing the top two seeds.

With six of the eight spots given to the top three teams in each division, the final two spots go to the remaining teams with the most points, which could both come from the same division. These teams are known as the Wild Card teams, which will be squared up against the top two seeds.

"The Panthers can move into the second wild card in the East on Thursday. That and more in the Stanley Cup Playoffs buzz:" - NHL.com

How many rounds are there in the playoffs and how many games are in a series?

For a team to win the Stanley Cup, they will need to advance through all four rounds of the postseason. With each series being a best-of-seven, the Stanley Cup champion could potentially play 28 games before raising the trophy.

In each series, teams need to be the first to win four games in order to move on. In every series, the games are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format. The higher seed will open the round with two home games before moving to the other team's arena for games three and four.

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Last season, the Colorado Avalanche raised the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2001. En route to winning the championship, the Avalanche had to play 20 total NHL playoff games, sweeping both the Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers in the process.

Colorado defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games to win the Stanley Cup. The victory brought an end to the Lightning's title run after winning it all in back-to-back seasons.