NHL

NHL Playoffs 101

Cason Kurowski
Cason Kurowski

How it works, who's playing, and why you shouldn’t miss a second.

Slap shot power is turning up, hits are getting harder, and wins mean more. The National Hockey League's playoff season is right around the corner. The NHL postseason can be a little confusing if you’re not a die-hard hockey fan. But everyone can enjoy the madness.

Not sure what in the world “wild card” even means. Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Whether you’re watching for the first time or a Stanley Cup Final historian, let's break down exactly how the NHL Playoffs work. We will look at how teams make it, the NHL playoff probabilities, what home-ice advantage means, and when it all kicks off.

Who makes it

The NHL Playoffs feature 16 teams total—8 from the Eastern Conference and 8 from the Western Conference. The NHL splits each conference into two divisions; Atlantic, Metropolitan, Central, and Pacific division. The top three teams from each division qualify for the playoffs.

Two additional "wild card" teams from each conference earn a spot in the NHL playoffs, rounding out the bracket. Teams that earn the wild card spot have the most points from the season in their conference but didn't make the top 3 of their division.

NHL playoff matchups

Seed ranking determines the NHL playoff matchups. The highest-ranked conference winners face off against the wild card teams leaving the 2nd and 3rd place teams to battle it out.

Every round is a best-of-seven series, meaning the first team to win four games moves on. Home-ice advantage goes to the team with the better regular-season record. Home-ice advantage means hosting Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 offering a massive perk when crowds get loud and stakes are high.

When do NHL Playoffs start?

Mark your calendars: the 2025 NHL Playoffs officially drop the puck on Saturday, April 19. Stanley Cup playoffs start two days after the end of the regular season! No time to breathe for players or fans before the intensity ramps up.

The first round will be a chaotic two-week sprint. Expect nonstop action and overtime drama—and that’s just to kick things off. After round one, things only get more intense as teams push to climb the mountain and lift the Stanley Cup.

NHL Playoff Picture

Now, let’s talk contenders. The NHL playoff picture is building. Only 1 week remains in the regular season, and 13 out of 16 teams have established themselves in the playoffs. The league has determined three NHL playoff matchups.

First, let's take a moment to acknowledge those teams that, unfortunately, won't clinch a spot in the playoffs. A good ol-fashioned "good game" handshake to the San Jose Sharks, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, and all the others that just didn't quite make it... but back to the playoff contenders!

Below is where we stand if the playoffs started today:

 

NHL Western Conference: 

NHL Eastern Conference: 

The Ottawa Senators are the only wild-card team to clinch a spot in the playoffs. This last week of the regular season will bring playoff-like energy as wild-card teams battle for playoff standings. Now that you know how the bracket works, who’s playing, and what’s at stake, you’re ready to jump in and enjoy the madness. 

Grab your jersey and get ready for some heart-pounding hockey. The road to the NHL finals starts in less than a week! Are Stanley Cup tickets in your future? Be sure to lock in your NHL playoff tickets before it's too late.

 

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