The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are one of the most exciting events in sports, but how do they work?
Curious about how the NHL playoffs work? This article guides you through all the basics: the number of participating teams, number of rounds, total number of games played and more. Additionally, we'll explain the details of each playoff round and how the Stanley Cup playoffs impact fantasy hockey.
How Do the NHL Playoffs Work: The Ultimate Guide
The NHL playoffs are an important and exciting event for ice hockey fans across the globe. These series of games over the course of two months determine which team will be left standing to lift the Stanley Cup trophy.
Hockey Playoffs Explained: Everything You Need to Know
How many teams make the NHL playoffs?
There are 16 NHL teams that make the Stanley Cup playoffs each year. Both the Western Conference and Eastern Conference send eight teams to the playoffs to determine who will face off in the Stanley Cup Final.
How many rounds are in the NHL playoffs?
The NHL Stanley Cup playoffs consist of four rounds. The 16 teams are matched up to play each other with four stages of elimination to leave the Stanley Cup champion as the only team standing.
How Many Games Are Played in the NHL Playoffs Series?
Each NHL Playoffs series is a best-of-seven series. The first team to win four games advances to the next round — unless, of course, they’re in the Stanley Cup Final in which the first team to four victories wins the Stanley Cup.
How Are The Teams in the NHL Playoffs Determined?
The top eight teams in the standings of each conference make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Each conference is made up of two divisions for a total of four divisions. The top three teams in each division are guaranteed a spot in the NHL playoffs and then the two next-best teams in each conference earn a Wild Card spot in the playoffs.
Note: Standings in the NHL are determined by points, where a win gives a team 2 points and a loss awards 0 points unless it comes in overtime, in which case the team gets one point.
Playoff Rounds
The First Round
The first round of the NHL playoffs is arguably the best time of the year for hockey fans. There are eight best-of-seven series being played at the same time with several games televised each night.
The opening round sees the higher seeds face off against the lower seeds. The top team in each division plays a wild card team while the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in each division play each other.
The Second Round
The second round is where some of the most competitive hockey occurs. Teams are still relatively fresh after just one round of action and it is usually the best teams in each division facing off.
The second round is when teams’ depth and fitness are tested. Playing a lot of hockey in such a short amount of time can make or break some teams in their march to the Stanley Cup.
Conference Finals
The Eastern Conference Final and Western Conference Final pit the two remaining teams in each conference against each other with a trip to the Stanley Cup Final on the line. While making the Conference Final is an achievement in itself, losing at this stage of the NHL playoffs can be heartbreaking after two victorious rounds.
Stanley Cup Final
This is it, the final round. The Stanley Cup Final is where heroes and legends are made. On the flip side, a team losing in the Stanley Cup Final can still be deemed a successful season for certain teams depending on their trajectory and who they ultimately lost to.
However, that’s not always the case as some teams come up short time and time again with the Stanley Cup Final being their ultimate downfall.
NHL Playoffs: The Impact on Fantasy Hockey
The NHL playoffs can have a huge impact on a fantasy hockey player’s strategies. Teams can either be jockeying for position in the final weeks or they can have their fates already sealed. In some cases, teams may rest players or give their younger players a chance if things are already decided in terms of the standings.
Frequently Asked questions
Are the NHL Playoffs best of 5 or 7?
The NHL playoffs are a best-of-seven series. While other sports may have shorter series in earlier rounds, all four rounds of the NHL playoffs are best of seven.
How does home-ice advantage work in the NHL Playoffs?
The higher-seeded team is given home-ice advantage in the NHL Playoffs. This means they will be the home team for up to four games and on the road for a maximum of three.
Are there byes in the NHL Playoffs?
Some sports leagues have instituted more and more bye weeks or series in the playoffs, but there are no freebies in the NHL Playoffs. Teams have to earn their way to the next round.
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You should now know all about the NHL Playoffs and how teams work their way to lift the Stanley Cup.
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