Seattle Kraken forward Oliver Bjorkstrand celebrating during an NHL pre-season game
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How the NHL Season and Stanley Cup Playoffs Work: 84 Games, Wild Cards and the Final

ByMedia Pavilion

The NHL regular season runs from early October to mid-April, with each of the 32 teams playing 82 games, rising to 84 games in 2026-27 for the first time since 1993-94. Sixteen teams then qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs: the top three in each of the four divisions plus two wild cards per conference. They play four rounds of best-of-seven series, and the last team standing lifts the Stanley Cup. The 2026-27 season began on 29 September 2026, with the Carolina Hurricanes defending the title they won in June. This guide explains how the season, standings, overtime and playoffs work, with the key dates for this season.

How Is the NHL Structured?

The National Hockey League has 32 teams, 25 in the US and seven in Canada, split into two conferences of 16 teams and four divisions of eight:

  • Eastern Conference, Atlantic Division: Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Toronto
  • Eastern Conference, Metropolitan Division: Carolina, Columbus, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington
  • Western Conference, Central Division: Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Utah, Winnipeg
  • Western Conference, Pacific Division: Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton, Los Angeles, San Jose, Seattle, Vancouver, Vegas

How Long Is the NHL Season in 2026-27?

The regular season has grown from 82 to 84 games per team, with each club playing two extra divisional games, for a total of 1,344 games. According to the NHL’s schedule information, each team plays:

  • 28 games against division rivals
  • 24 games against the rest of its conference
  • 32 games against teams in the other conference, so every team visits every arena at least once
  • 42 home and 42 away games

The regular season runs from 29 September 2026 to 10 April 2027, and the playoffs begin around 13 April 2027.

How Do NHL Standings and Points Work?

Teams are ranked by points, not win percentage:

  • Win (in regulation, overtime or a shootout): 2 points
  • Overtime or shootout loss: 1 point
  • Regulation loss: 0 points

If two teams are level on points, the first tiebreaker is the number of regulation wins, followed by wins excluding shootouts, total wins, and then head-to-head results. The team with the most points over the season wins the Presidents’ Trophy.

How Does Overtime Work in the NHL?

Regular-season overtime is different from the playoffs. If a regular-season game is tied after 60 minutes, the teams play five minutes of three-on-three sudden-death overtime. If no one scores, the game goes to a shootout, with three shooters per side, followed by sudden-death rounds if needed.

In the playoffs there are no shootouts. Tied games continue with full 20-minute periods of five-on-five sudden-death hockey until someone scores, which can produce epic multiple-overtime games.

How Do Teams Qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

Sixteen teams qualify, eight from each conference:

  • The top three teams in each division qualify automatically (12 teams)
  • Two wild cards per conference go to the next two best teams by points, regardless of division (four teams)

In the first round, each division winner plays a wild card: the conference’s top seed by points faces the lower-ranked wild card, and the other division winner faces the higher-ranked wild card. The second- and third-placed teams in each division play each other. The bracket is fixed, with no reseeding after each round, so the first two rounds are mostly played within divisions, which fuels intense rivalries.

How Do the Playoff Rounds Work?

All four rounds are best-of-seven series, so the first team to win four games advances. Home advantage goes to the team with more regular-season points, using a 2-2-1-1-1 format: games 1, 2, 5 and 7 are at the higher seed’s arena.

  • First round: 16 teams
  • Second round (division finals): 8 teams
  • Conference finals: 4 teams
  • Stanley Cup Final: the Eastern and Western champions

A champion must win 16 games, and the playoffs typically last about two months, ending in mid-June. The most valuable player of the playoffs receives the Conn Smythe Trophy. This is the same “16 teams, four rounds of seven” format used by the NBA, as our explainer on how the NBA season works shows, while the NFL uses single-elimination games, as set out in our guide to how the NFL playoffs work.

What Is the Stanley Cup?

The Stanley Cup is the oldest trophy competed for by professional athletes in North America. It was donated in 1892 by Lord Stanley of Preston, then Governor General of Canada, and first awarded in 1893. Unlike most trophies, a new one is not made each year: the names of the winning players, coaches and staff are engraved on its bands, and each member of the winning team traditionally gets to spend a day with the Cup.

The Carolina Hurricanes won the 2026 Stanley Cup, beating the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in the Final for the franchise’s second title after 2006. The Montreal Canadiens hold the record with 24 Stanley Cups, the last in 1993, which is also the last time a Canadian team won it.

What Are the Key Dates in the 2026-27 NHL Season?

  • Global Series in Helsinki, Finland: 12-14 November 2026
  • Global Series in Düsseldorf, Germany: 18-20 December 2026
  • Winter Classic: 31 December 2026, Colorado Avalanche at the Utah Mammoth at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City
  • All-Star Weekend: 5-6 February 2027 at UBS Arena, home of the New York Islanders
  • Stadium Series: 20 February 2027 in Arlington, Texas
  • Regular season ends: 10 April 2027
  • Playoffs begin: about 13 April 2027

The 2026 NHL Draft’s first overall pick, forward Gavin McKenna, was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs and is one of the most closely watched rookies this season.

Who Are the NHL’s Biggest Stars?

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, a multiple Hart Trophy winner as league MVP, is widely considered the best player in the world; our Connor McDavid career profile covers his record. Other leading names include Nathan MacKinnon of Colorado, Auston Matthews of Toronto, Nikita Kucherov of Tampa Bay, Leon Draisaitl of Edmonton, Cale Makar of Colorado and Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, who became the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer in April 2025, overtaking Wayne Gretzky.

How Can You Watch the NHL?

In the US, national games are shown by ESPN, ABC and TNT Sports, with streaming on ESPN+ and HBO Max, while regional sports networks carry local teams. In Canada, Rogers’ Sportsnet holds national rights. Outside North America, NHL.tv and international broadcast partners show games live; check the NHL website for your country, as rights vary.

NHL Season and Playoffs at a Glance

  • Teams: 32, in two conferences and four divisions
  • Regular season 2026-27: 84 games per team, 29 September to 10 April
  • Points: 2 for a win, 1 for an overtime or shootout loss
  • Playoffs: 16 teams, top three per division plus two wild cards per conference
  • Format: four best-of-seven rounds; 16 wins needed for the Cup
  • Defending champions: Carolina Hurricanes

Featured image: Bjorkstrand during Vancouver Canucks vs. Seattle Kraken pre-season game on September 28, 2023 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle (53223158748), by Jenn G from Seattle, WA / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped, colour-graded and combined with MediaPavilion branding.

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