The Stanley Cup playoffs are the NHL’s annual elimination tournament to decide its league champion. It begins after the regular season and includes 16 teams—eight from each conference—competing in four best-of-seven rounds. The final round is called the Stanley Cup Finals, where the conference champions face off.
The trophy was donated in 1892 by Lord Stanley as a challenge cup for top amateur teams in Canada. By 1906, professionals could compete, and by 1926–27, it became the NHL's official championship trophy. The NHL has always used a playoff format to award the Cup, though the structure has changed over time.
NHL playoff tickets
NHL playoff ticket prices start as low as $42 in Dallas on April 22 and go over $1,000 for some games in June, as per Vivid Seats. Denver’s Ball Arena has tickets ranging from $93 on April 25 to over $1,000 on June 18.
The highest listed price is $4,991 for a game in Toronto on June 10. Major cities like Las Vegas, Columbus, and Raleigh also see prices rising sharply in late rounds. Ticket costs generally increase as the playoffs advance, especially in late May and June.
Read More: NHL Playoff Rules
NHL playoff broadcasting
In the United States, national NHL playoff games air on ESPN, ABC, and TNT, as per the official website of the NHL. They can be streamed through ESPN+, Hulu, the ESPN app, Watch TNT, and Max. Local market games may be shown on regional networks; fans should check the Local Broadcast Information by Team page. Out-of-market fans can use NHL Center Ice or ESPN+ to stream.
In Canada, national games are broadcast on Sportsnet, Prime Video, and TVA Sports, with streaming on Sportsnet+, Amazon’s Prime Video app, and the TVA app. Regional games depend on the fan’s location, with Sportsnet+ and NHL Centre Ice covering out-of-market streaming. Internationally, the NHL's Saturday and Sunday games are shown across Europe during prime time.
NHL playoff Format
The NHL playoffs include 16 teams. The top three teams from each division qualify, and the next two best teams in each conference (regardless of division) get wild-card spots. This makes 8 teams per conference. The division winner with the best record plays the lower wild card team, while the other division winner plays the higher wild card. Second- and third-place teams in each division play each other. The first and second rounds stay within divisions. Winners then move to the Conference Finals and then the Stanley Cup Final. Each series is best-of-7. Home-ice advantage is based on regular-season records.
Read More: NHL Playoff Bracket
FAQ's On NHL
A. The NHL was founded on November 26, 1917.
A. The NHL has 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada.
A. The Florida Panthers won their first Stanley Cup in the 2023–24 season.
A. The Montreal Canadiens hold the record with 25 championships.
A. The first NHL season took place in 1917–18.
