The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs will start on April 19 and end by June 23, 2025. This postseason follows the 2024–25 NHL regular season. This will also be the first time in NHL history that all four U.S.-based Original Six teams miss the playoffs.
This is the tenth season using the playoff format, where the top three teams in each division qualify, along with two wild cards per conference. As of April 11, the Eastern Conference playoff teams are the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Washington Capitals. In the Western Conference, the playoff teams are the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights, and Winnipeg Jets.
Read More: How many NHL teams make the playoffs?
How many games are in the NHL playoffs?
The NHL playoffs consist of an annual elimination tournament to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, featuring 16 qualifying teams competing in four rounds of best-of-seven series, with the first team to win four games advancing to the next round.
To earn a spot in the NHL playoffs, teams must first excel during the regular season. The top three teams from each of the league's four divisions automatically qualify for the postseason, totaling 12 spots. Additionally, two wild-card teams from each conference secure playoff berths based on their regular-season performance, regardless of divisional alignment.
Once the 16 qualifying teams are determined, they are seeded into a bracket based on their regular-season standings. The division winners with the best records are matched up against the wild card teams with the lowest records, while the remaining matchups are determined by seeding.
NHL Playoffs Series Format
The NHL playoffs consist of four rounds, each played in a best-of-seven series format. The first round, second round, and all that follow this structure, with the first team winning four games and advancing to the next round. Finally, the Stanley Cup Finals pit the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion in another best-of-seven series to determine the ultimate winner.
Read More: NHL Playoff seeds
How to Qualify for the NHL Playoffs?
Sixteen teams qualify for the NHL playoffs, with the top three teams from each division and two wild-card teams from each conference earning spots based on regular-season standings. The wild card teams are determined by point totals, with tiebreakers used if necessary.
The 16 qualifying teams are divided into two brackets based on their seeding and divisional alignment. The division winners with the best records face the wild card teams with the lowest records, while the remaining matchups are determined by seeding.
The four rounds of NHL playoffs consist of the First Round, the Second Round, the Conference Finals, and the Stanley Cup Finals. Each round features a best-of-seven series, with the first team to win four games advancing to the next round.
Read More: Longest Playoff NHL Game
FAQ's On NHL playoffs
A. Sixteen teams compete in the NHL playoffs each year.
A. The Florida Panthers won their first Stanley Cup in the 2023–24 season.
A. The NHL playoffs consist of four rounds, with each round being a best-of-seven series format.
A. The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs began on April 19, 2025.
A. The first NHL season took place in 1917–18.
