How many games are there in an NHL season?

The NHL is a professional ice hockey competition in which 32 teams participate to make a run for the Stanley Cup.

In the regular season, all 32 NHL teams play a total of 82 games, which includes 41 at home and 41 away.

This means that there are a total of 1,312 games in the regular season. At the end of the regular campaign, the three best teams from every division qualify for the playoffs. There are four divisions in the NHL, split between two conferences. In the Eastern conference there are the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions, whereas the Central and Pacific divisions are in the Western conference.

Structure of the NHL season

A campaign goes through three notable phases - the preseason, regular season and the playoffs.

The preseason usually takes place in the last two weeks of September and this features exhibition games in preparation for the campaign. These matches don't count for anything, but are more to blood new talent and get players match fit for the regular season.

The regular season starts after the preseason and continues for several months, featuring 1,312 glorious games.

The All-Star event is held in February. This is basically an exhibition ice hockey tournament, featuring skill games and the best players from the league. It also serves as a convenient break for the players, who during an intense season need time to heal and rest. The All-Star break serves as a bye week for the teams. The All-Star MVP is also selected during this week, normally the most outstanding performer from the event.

At the end of the regular season, you have the playoffs, where teams that qualify for the postseason face off in a knockout competition. The final two teams remaining play for the Stanley Cup and a place in the history books.