How Do The NHL Playoffs Work?

The NHL playoffs are a best-of-seven elimination tournament among 16 teams that qualify for the playoffs. The Stanley Cup Finals is the championship series of the NHL playoffs.

Introduction

The Stanley Cup playoffs (French: Les séries éliminatoires de la Coupe Stanley) is an elimination tournament in the National Hockey League (NHL) consisting of four rounds of best-of-seven series to determine the league champion and the winner of the Stanley Cup. Eight teams from each of the two conferences qualify for the playoffs based on regular season points totals.

How the NHL Playoffs Work

The Stanley Cup playoffs (French: Les séries éliminatoires de la Coupe Stanley) is an elimination tournament in the National Hockey League (NHL) consisting of four rounds of best-of-seven series to determine the Stanley Cup champion. The playoff format changed in 2014, divisional playoffs were introduced. The new format increased the number of playoff teams from 8 to 16.

The Regular Season

In order to make the playoffs, a team must first have a successful regular season. The 82 game regular season is used to determine both the Stanley Cup Champion and the teams that will participate in the playoffs.

At the end of the regular season, the team with the most points in each conference is awarded the Presidents’ Trophy. In addition, the top three teams in each division make the playoffs, for a total of eight teams from each conference. The next two best teams in each conference (determined by points) also make the playoffs, for a wild card spot, making it so that 10 teams from each conference make it to the NHL playoffs.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stanley Cup Playoffs ( French: Les séries éliminatoires de la Coupe Stanley) are an elimination tournament in the National Hockey League (NHL) consisting of four rounds of best-of-seven series to determine the league champion and the winner of the Stanley Cup. Each year, 16 teams qualify for the playoffs based on their regular season records: eight teams from each of the league’s two conferences. The Final Round, commonly referred to as the Stanley Cup Finals, is played in June and the winning team receives the Stanley Cup.

Playoff seeds
After the regular season ends, 16 teams qualify for the playoffs, seeded 1–16 by their conference standings:

The top three teams in each division make up the first 12 teams in each conference. The remaining four spots are filled by the conference’s two wild-card teams, which are determined by points (fewer games played), regardless of divisional or conference alignment. If two or more clubs finish tied in points during the regular season, the ranking of said clubs is determined by a set of tiebreakers with a separate set used for those involving only wild card teams. Regardless of seedings, all 16 clubs face off against each other in the first round A best-of-seven series to determine who moves on to round two.

Rounds two and three
The second round of playoffs is also a best-of-seven series between conference rivals that did not meet in round one, with home ice again determined by regular season record. The winners of these series move on to round three, traditionally known as the Conference Finals.

Round four – The Stanley Cup Finals
The Conference Finals are another best-of-seven playoff with home ice again determined by regular season record (updated to include games played during rounds one and two). These winners move on to play in what is most commonly referred to as simply “the Finals”, but officially titled “theStanley Cup Final”. It too is a best-of seven tournament between conference rivals with home ice determined by regular season record (updated once more so it includes games played during all three previous rounds).

Playoffs bracket
In each playoff year since 1979–80 (when seeding was implemented), there has been at least one trophy awarded to a team seeded below fourth overall;

since 1995–96, there have been at least four such trophies awarded every playoff year;

and every year since 2013 has seen at least five trophies given out to lower seeds as opposed to only three for higher seeds that year.

The Stanley Cup Final

The Stanley Cup Final is the championship series of the National Hockey League (NHL). The annual event pits the playoff winner of the Eastern Conference against the playoff winner of the Western Conference. The series consists of a best-of-seven game format, and it is played entirely in June.

The Stanley Cup Final has been held every year since 1894, making it one of the oldest championship series in all of professional sports. It is also one of the most coveted titles in hockey, as winning the Stanley Cup is considered to be a huge honor.

In order to make it to the Stanley Cup Final, teams must first make it past the first two rounds of the playoffs. The first round is a best-of-seven series, while the second round is a best-of-seven series. The conference finals are also best-of-seven games.

Once a team from each conference has made it to the final, they will face off against each other in a best-of-seven game series. The team that wins four games first will be crowned as the Stanley Cup champion.

The Stanley Cup Final is one of the most exciting events in all of professional sports, and it always draws in large crowds both inside and outside of arenas. If you’re lucky enough to catch a game or two, you’re sure to have an enjoyable experience.

Conclusion

The NHL playoffs are a best-of-seven eliminations tournament among the 16 teams that qualify for the playoffs. The Stanley Cup Finals is the best-of-seven series to determine the champion of the National Hockey League (NHL).