When Does the NHL Regular Season End?

The NHL regular season is coming to a close, but when does it actually end? We break down the schedule so you know when to catch all the action.

When does the NHL regular season end?

The NHL regular season usually ends in early April. The Stanley Cup playoffs begin a few weeks later and can last until late June.

What is the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

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. The first three rounds determine which team from each division and two wild card teams will advance to the final round, and the final round is contested by the remaining two divisional champions and the two wild card teams. The Stanley Cup Final is traditionally played in May or June.

The Stanley Cup playoffs are a best-of-seven tournament held after the regular season ends. The playoff format has changed several times since the Stanley Cup was first awarded in 1893. The current format, implemented in 2014, consists of four rounds of best-of-seven series. The first two rounds are contested by the four divisional winners and the two wild card teams, who are seeded fifth and sixth respectively. The winners of those series advance to the conference finals, where they compete for a berth in the Stanley Cup Final.

How many teams make the playoffs?

16 teams make the Stanley Cup Playoffs: the top three teams in each division and two wild card teams in each conference, with the wild card teams being the two next-best records regardless of division.

What is the format of the playoffs?

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a best-of-seven elimination tournament among the 16 teams that qualified for the playoffs. The three divisional champions in each conference (the team with the best regular season record in each division) receive automatic byes to the conference semifinals, while the remaining six teams in each conference compete in best-of-five elimination games in the opening round, to determine which teams advance to the conference semifinals.

How long does the Stanley Cup Finals last?

The Stanley Cup Finals is the NHL’s championship series to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America. The Stanley Cup Finals generally last between four and seven games, with each team playing two games at home. However, if one team wins the first four games, the series will end and that team will be crowned Stanley Cup champions.