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
The 2025 NHL playoff tickets are available for games at four main venues: Lenovo Center in Raleigh, NC; American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX; Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL; and Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB, Canada, as per Vivid Seats.
Early-round games (May 20–June 2) have ticket prices ranging roughly from $119 in Raleigh and Sunrise to over $300 in Edmonton and Dallas. As the series progresses, ticket prices reach over $1,000 at all venues, including up to $2,109 in Raleigh and $6,100 in Edmonton for potential Stanley Cup Finals games in June.
The first playoff games start on May 20 with the Panthers at the Hurricanes in Raleigh, followed by the Oilers at the Stars in Dallas on May 21. Games alternate between the teams' home arenas from late May into early June, with some games marked “if necessary” depending on series length.
Read More: NHL Playoff Rules
NHL Playoff Broadcasting
In the United States, national NHL playoff games air on ESPN, ABC, and TNT. 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, as per the official website of the NHL.
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, NHL Saturday and Sunday games are shown across Europe in prime time.
NHL Playoff Format
The NHL playoffs include 16 teams, as per the official website of the NHL. 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 eight 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.
