How Do NHL Teams Qualify For Playoffs?

How do NHL teams qualify for the playoffs? Find out here.

Introduction

The Stanley Cup is the most prestigious award in professional hockey, and teams are vying for the chance to hoist it each year. The National Hockey League (NHL) playoff system is a comprehensive and complicated process that determines which teams play for the Stanley Cup.

In order to even be eligible to participate in the playoffs, teams must first finish the regular season within the top sixteen spots of the NHL standings. To do this, each team plays a total of eighty-two games—forty-one at home and forty-one away. These games are played against every other team in the league, both in and out of their conference.

The league is divided into two conferences—the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference—and each conference has three divisions. There are a total of thirty-one NHL teams (as of 2019), so sixteen spots in the playoffs are reserved for conference winners and wild card teams.

The conference winners are determined by the team that finishes with the most points in their conference at the end of the regular season. The three divisional winners in each conference automatically clinch a spot in the playoffs, while the remaining two spots are given to wild card teams.

Wild card teams are determined by looking at the two non-divisional winners with the most points in each conference. These “wild card” spots add an extra layer of excitement to an already thrilling playoff race.

Once all sixteen playoff teams have been determined, it’s time for the postseason to begin!

How NHL Teams Qualify For Playoffs

In order to qualify for the playoffs, a team must first finish the regular season with a winning record. There are two ways to do this: by winning more games than any other team in their conference, or by amassing more points than any other team in their conference.

Regular Season

In order to make the playoffs, teams must first play a 82 game regular season. These games are used to determine both division and conference standings. At the end of the regular season, the top 3 teams in each division automatically qualify for the playoffs, as do the next 2 best teams in each conference (for a total of 8 playoff spots per conference). The remaining 4 spots are given to the 2 next best teams in each conference, regardless of division (these are called wild card playoff spots).

Stanley Cup Playoffs

In order to make the playoffs, a team must earn one of the top three spots in their division or be one of the two wild-card teams in their conference. The Stanley Cup Playoffs is an elimination tournament consisting of four rounds of best-of-seven series. The first three rounds determine which team from each conference will advance to the final round, dubbed the Stanley Cup Finals.

Stanley Cup Final

In order to make it to the Stanley Cup Final, teams must first go through a qualifying round. The qualifying round is a best-of-five series that is played between the two lowest-seeded teams in each conference. The winners of these series will then advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a best-of-seven tournament that is played between the eight teams in each conference. The four teams with the most points in each conference at the end of the regular season will earn a spot in the playoffs. These teams will be seeded first through fourth based on their regular season record. The first-seeded team will play the fourth-seeded team, and the second-seeded team will play the third-seeded team in each conference.

The winners of these series will advance to the Conference Finals, which is also a best-of-seven series. The winner of each Conference Final will then advance to the Stanley Cup Final, which is a best-of-seven series that is played between the two conference champions.

Conclusion

In order to make the playoffs, a team must first finish the regular season in one of the top three spots in their division. If a team finishes fourth or lower in their division, they will not make the playoffs. teams that finish in first or second place in their division are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. The third spot is given to the team with the next best record, regardless of division.