How Many Games Is A NHL Season?
The NHL season is 82 games long.
82 Regular Season Games
The regular season is 82 games long, with 41 home games and 41 away games. Each team plays every other team in their conference four times, and every team in the other conference at least once.
4 Pre-Season Games
The regular season is 82 games long, up from 80 in 2013. Teams will now play four games against divisional opponents, rather than the old six. The remaining games are played against non-divisional, conference opponents.
Playoffs
The NHL playoffs are a best-of-seven series played after the regular season by the top eight teams in each of the two conferences, with four rounds of play. The Stanley Cup Final is also a best-of-seven series.
In order for a team to even make it to the playoffs, they have to first qualify. The sixteen teams that make it to the playoffs are the top two teams in each of the four divisions in both conferences. The team with the most points in each conference is given home ice advantage and plays games one, two, five, and seven (if necessary) at their home arena.
Exhibition Games
Exhibition games are not counted in a team’s regular season record.
