The Stanley Cup Playoffs are one of the most thrilling and intense postseason tournaments in professional sports. For hockey fans, the NHL’s playoff format is a perfect blend of tradition, rivalry, and high-stakes competition. But for newer fans—or even long-time fans who could use a refresher—the structure can feel confusing. Divisions, wild cards, seeding, brackets…there’s a lot going on.
This NHL Playoff Format Guide breaks down everything you need to know: how teams qualify, how the bracket is built, how matchups are determined, how overtime works, and why the NHL’s system is unique compared to other major leagues.
How Many Teams Make the NHL Playoffs?
The NHL postseason features 16 teams:
8 from the Eastern Conference
8 from the Western Conference
This group is made up of:
6 teams that finish top-3 in each division (Metro, Atlantic, Central, Pacific)
2 wild card teams in each conference, regardless of division
The NHL uses a division-based playoff format—a structure designed to create rivalries and maintain competitive balance.
Division-Based Seeding Explained
Each conference has two divisions, and each division sends three automatic qualifiers:
Division Qualifiers (1st–3rd)
The 1st place team in each division receives the top seed within that division’s playoff side.
The 2nd place team gets the second seed.
The 3rd place team gets the third seed.
These seeds determine the core of the bracket.
How Wild Cards Work
After the top three teams from each division qualify, the next two best teams in the conference—based on overall points, not division standings—earn the:
Wild Card 1 (best wild card)
Wild Card 2 (second wild card)
These teams are then placed into the bracket of the division whose top-seeded team has the better regular-season record.
This setup often leads to cross-division matchups, especially in the first round.
A Simple Example
Let’s say in the Western Conference:
The Central division winner has 110 points
The Pacific division winner has 98 points
In this case:
Central winner gets Wild Card 2
Pacific winner gets Wild Card 1
Because the Central winner is the stronger team, they face the weaker wild card.
The First Round Structure
Once teams qualify, the NHL creates two mini-brackets within the conference:
Matchup #1: Division Winner vs. Wild Card
Division’s 1st seed vs. the lower wild card that is assigned to that bracket
Matchup #2: 2nd vs. 3rd Place in the Division
This is where division rivalries heat up
These matchups are often extremely competitive (e.g., Bruins vs. Leafs, Kings vs. Oilers)
Each of these is a best-of-seven series, with the first team to win four games advancing.
Second Round: Divisional Finals
The winners of the two first-round series in each division face each other to determine the Division Champion.
There is no reseeding—the bracket is locked once the playoffs begin.
The higher-seeded team retains home-ice advantage.
Conference Finals
The Eastern Conference Division Champions face off, and the Western Conference Division Champions do the same.
These series determine:
Eastern Conference Champion
Western Conference Champion
Both advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Stanley Cup Final
The two conference champions meet in a best-of-seven series to crown the Stanley Cup Champion.
Home-ice advantage goes to:
The team with the better regular-season record
If tied, the league uses tiebreakers (regulation wins, etc.)
Series Format: 2-2-1-1-1
Every playoff round uses the same home/road game schedule:
Game 1 — Home (higher seed)
Game 2 — Home
Game 3 — Road
Game 4 — Road
Game 5 — Home
Game 6 — Road
Game 7 — Home
This format ensures fairness while still rewarding regular-season performance.
NHL Playoff Overtime Rules
Playoff overtime is one of the NHL’s most dramatic features. Unlike the regular season:
There is no 3-on-3 overtime
There is no shootout
Instead, the format is:
20-minute periods, 5-on-5, sudden death
Unlimited overtime periods until someone scores
Intermissions between OT periods are the same as regulation
Some games have gone four or five extra periods, creating instant playoff classics.
Why the NHL Uses a Division-Based Format
The NHL originally shifted to this system in the 2013-14 season. The goals were:
1. Increase Rivalries
Teams like Boston/Toronto or LA/Edmonton meeting frequently builds identity and history.
2. Reduce Travel
Teams stay within divisions early, cutting down long flights.
3. Keep Regular-Season Divisional Battles Meaningful
Finishing top-3 in your division or winning it dramatically affects playoff matchups.
The format has critics, but most fans agree it brings intensity to both the season and the playoffs.
Common Criticisms of the Current Format
While the system works, many fans have voiced concerns:
1. Elite teams meet too early
Examples include:
Bruins vs. Maple Leafs every other year
Lightning vs. Panthers
Oilers vs. Kings
Some argue the two best teams in the conference should not meet in Round 1 or 2.
2. No reseeding
The bracket is locked even if one side becomes dramatically weaker due to upsets.
3. Wild card alignment can feel awkward
Wild card teams sometimes enter a division they didn’t play much against.
Despite this, the NHL has not signaled any major changes.
Potential Future Playoff Format Changes
There are several ideas the league has floated:
Full re-seeding
Top seed always plays the weakest remaining opponent.
1 through 8 conference seeding
More like the NBA system.
Play-in tournament
A mini group of bubble teams battling for final playoff spots—similar to the NBA or MLB Wild Card system.
These ideas are discussed regularly but nothing is imminent.
Why NHL Playoffs Are So Unpredictable
Compared to other major sports leagues, hockey playoffs are far more volatile. Reasons include:
Hot goaltenders can steal series
Puck bounce randomness
Physicality and possible injuries
Low-scoring games where one mistake is huge
Depth matters more than having one superstar
This is why 8-seeds and wild cards often go on deep runs (e.g., 2023 Florida Panthers, 2012 LA Kings).
Key Takeaways
Here’s the entire playoff structure summarized:
Qualification
Top 3 teams per division = 12 teams
Next 2 best teams per conference = 4 wild cards
Total = 16 teams
Matchups
Division winner vs. wild card
2nd vs. 3rd in each division
Two rounds determine division champions
Division champions meet in Conference Finals
Conference champions meet in Stanley Cup Final
Series Structure
Best of seven
2-2-1-1-1 home/road format
Unlimited 5-on-5 overtime in playoffs.
The NHL’s playoff format blends tradition, competition, and chaos in a way few leagues can match. The divisional structure fuels rivalries, the wild card adds unpredictability, and the series format rewards depth and resilience. Whether you’re a casual fan or a seasoned hockey die-hard, understanding the playoff system adds even more excitement as teams battle for the ultimate prize: the Stanley Cup.
How the Seeding Process Shapes the Playoffs
Making it to the NHL playoffs is all about skill and a little bit of strategy. It starts with how the teams are seeded. Teams fight for top spots in their respective divisions during the regular season and the best part is, it keeps everyone on their toes right up until the last game.
The league is divided into Eastern and Western Conferences, each with its own three divisions. The top three teams from each division, plus two wildcard teams with the next best records in each conference, make up the 16 teams contending in the playoffs.
Seedings determine who plays who, and it’s not just about being the best player on ice. Home-ice advantage is at stake, meaning getting to play in front of your home crowd, which can be a huge mental boost.
Qualifying for different seeds involves not just winning games, but using strategy during the regular season. Teams are always calculating points to avoid tougher matchups and go for those top spots. Understanding the seeding process gives the games that extra layer of strategy, making them even more exciting for fans and nerve-wracking for players.
Round-by-Round Breakdown of NHL Playoffs
Each playoff round is like a mini-tournament of its own, starting with the Conference Quarterfinals and progressing to the Semifinals and then the Finals for each conference. It’s a series of best-of-seven matchups, where teams must win four games to advance. Every game counts, and teams bring their A-game, with strategies shifting as series unfold.
In the opening round, rivalries often reignite because teams frequently face familiar opponents from the regular season. It’s where surprises can happen, with lower-seeded teams sometimes knocking out favorites. This round sets the tempo and can shake things up big time.
As teams move into the Conference Semifinals, the competition gets fiercer. Coaches often tweak lineups game-to-game, adapting to opponents’ play styles. At this point, endurance and depth become critical because injuries pile up, and fresh legs often decide outcomes.
Reaching the Conference Finals means you’re just one step away from the Stanley Cup Finals. With only four teams left, the battles are intense, where calm and focus often separate champions from the rest. The stakes feel even higher because of how close teams have come to the ultimate prize.
Home-ice advantage steps up significantly in this round-by-round sprint. Playing at home, teams harness energy from their fans and capitalize on last changes. Plus, the extra comfort of familiar ice can give players that slight edge needed in closely-fought games.
NHL playoffs are about more than just winning the Stanley Cup. They’re about the relentless pursuit of dreams, community solidarity, and the powerful emotions that bind players to fans. It’s this intense commitment that turns a sport into a shared journey and memories that linger long after the final whistle.