How Do the NHL Playoffs Work?
The NHL playoff format sends 16 teams into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Eight teams come from the Eastern Conference and eight from the Western Conference.
1. How teams qualify
In each conference, the top three teams from each division qualify automatically. That accounts for six teams. Then the next two best teams in the conference, regardless of division, take the wild-card spots.
2. How the first round is seeded
The division winner with the better record plays the lower wild card. The other division winner plays the remaining wild card. The second- and third-place teams in each division face each other.
3. Every round is best-of-seven
The first round, second round, conference final, and Stanley Cup Final are all best-of-seven series. That is why goalie form, special teams, and depth scoring often matter more over time than a single hot game.
4. Why this format creates so much playoff-race search interest
Wild-card movement changes first-round matchups quickly. Fans are not only searching whether a team gets in. They also want to know who that team would face, which is why bracket, race, and format pages work well together.
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