The Stanley Cup playoffs are an elimination tournament in the National Hockey League (NHL). To win the Stanley Cup, a team must win 16 playoff games, 4 in each of the 4 rounds. The playoffs consist of 4 rounds, and each round is a best-of-seven series. This means up to seven games are played until one team wins 4 of the games. The breakdown is as follows:
First Round (Conference Quarterfinals): Up to 7 games.
Second Round: Up to 7 games.
Third Round (Conference Finals): Up to 7 games.
Stanley Cup Finals: Up to 7 games.
So, in total, if every series goes to the maximum number of games, there can be up to 28 games. However, to win the Stanley Cup, a team must win a minimum of 16 games.
Supporting facts about the Stanley Cup playoffs
Origin and History: The Stanley Cup playoffs have been held since the 1892–93 season, making it one of the oldest sports championships in North America. The trophy, the Stanley Cup, was originally donated by Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada, as an award for Canada’s top-ranking amateur ice hockey club.
Format: The playoffs consist of four rounds, with each round being a best-of-seven series. This means that the first team to win four games in each series advances to the next round.
Seeding and Home-Ice Advantage: For the first three rounds, the higher-seeded team has home-ice advantage. In the Stanley Cup Finals, home-ice advantage goes to the team with the better regular-season record. The team with home-ice advantage hosts games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the opponent hosts games 3, 4, and 6.
Overtime Rules: Unlike regular-season games, which have an altered format for overtime games (3 skaters and a goalie per side), playoff games have regular squads (5 skaters and a goalie per side) and are all played in a sudden-death format. This means that the first team to score in overtime wins the game.
Evolution of Format: Before the 1993–94 season, the playoff format was different. The league was split into four divisions, and the best four teams in each division went to the playoffs. The style of matchups was also different, with divisional matchups in the early rounds leading to divisional championships. This older style is still used in the American Hockey League.
FAQs about the Stanley Cup playoffs
How are teams seeded for the playoffs?
Teams are seeded based on their regular-season points. The top teams from each division, along with the highest point-earning teams that didn’t top their division (wild cards), make it to the playoffs.
What happens if a playoff game is tied at the end of the third period?
If a playoff game is tied at the end of the third period, the game goes into overtime. Unlike the regular season, playoff overtimes are played in full 20-minute periods with 5 skaters and a goalie per side. The game continues until one team scores, resulting in a sudden-death win.
How are wild card teams determined?
Wild card teams are the teams with the highest point totals that did not finish in one of the top spots in their respective divisions. The exact number of wild card teams can vary depending on the playoff format for that season.
Has any 8th seeded team ever won the Stanley Cup?
Yes, the Los Angeles Kings, an 8th seeded team, won the Stanley Cup in 2012. They defeated the New Jersey Devils in the finals.
How is the MVP of the playoffs determined?
The MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs is awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy. It’s given to the player judged most valuable to his team during the playoffs, regardless of whether his team wins the Cup or not.
Are there any differences in penalty rules during the playoffs compared to the regular season?
The rules for penalties remain consistent between the regular season and the playoffs. However, referees might be more conservative with their calls during the playoffs, given the high stakes of the games.
How do tiebreakers work if teams finish with the same number of points in the regular season?
If two or more teams are tied in points during the regular season, the first tiebreaker is the number of games won, excluding games won in the shootout. If teams are still tied, the next tiebreaker is the head-to-head record between the teams, followed by the goal differential for the season.
