Last Updated on May 9, 2023 by Amber Heard
NHL Playoffs
The NHL playoffs are the culmination of the regular season, which starts on October 1 and ends on April 8. These games determine the Stanley Cup winner and league champion. The best teams from each conference advance to the postseason. Throughout the history of the league, the format of the playoffs has changed quite a bit. Now, a best-of-seven series determines the winner of the Stanley Cup.
The Stanley Cup Final is now a best-of-seven series
The NHL is making changes to the playoffs this year. For example, the Stanley Cup Final will no longer be a best-of-five series, but instead will be a best-of-seven series, with home ice alternating between teams in each division. This is a more traditional playoff format, and it’s one that fans have grown accustomed to.
The Stanley Cup Final has undergone several changes over the years. Initially, it was a best-of-three series, with the two best teams meeting in the final. However, the format was changed to a best-of-seven series a decade later.
The NHL playoffs begin in early May, with the first round of games being played on May 2. The playoffs will feature the top three teams in each division, as well as two wild cards. The second and third-place teams will meet in the first round. The four survivors will then meet in the conference finals, and the Stanley Cup Final will follow. The higher seed will receive a home-ice advantage in the first round.
The format has changed over the course of the nhl’s history
The format of the playoffs has undergone several changes throughout the history of the NHL. The first playoff series was a best-of-three, with the top two teams advancing to the final. The second series was a best-of-five, with the champions facing the Western Hockey League champion for the Stanley Cup. After that, the playoff format changed and now only the top four teams advance to the final.
Originally, the playoffs were based on a points percentage, with the top two seeds playing the other team. However, this changed when the NHL realigned the divisions, resulting in four Original Six teams being moved to the Atlantic Division. This new format is a great way to create rivalries and division matchups. However, the point system can be confusing, and the tie-breakers are another story.
Before the playoff format changed, teams were seeded by division. In 1928, teams competed in the Adams Division, the Patrick Division, and the Smythe Division. Then, the two division winners met in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final. During the post-war period, the playoff format was changed again, with the best-of-seven series.
The 16 best teams from the regular season advance to the postseason
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a major event in the sport of hockey, with only the top 16 teams from each conference advancing. The playoff format is largely division-based, with a few wild cards added for good measure. The first twelve teams in the playoffs are the top three teams in each conference, while the other four spots are filled by the next two highest finishers in each conference. Because of the format, teams can have up to five teams in one division, which can produce some exciting hockey.
Vegas has a great roster, but their roster is riddled with injuries. I wouldn’t take a gamble on Vegas if I were betting on a deep playoff run. Other teams to consider are the Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets. Both teams have hot goaltending prospects and a great center in No. 1 center Jack Roslovic.
The playoffs will begin in 2022, with the first Stanley Cup Playoffs set for 2022. The first season of the playoffs has been a story of two conferences. Both the Eastern and Western Conferences have seen two teams hit 100 points. Only the Vegas Golden Knights have missed the postseason since they first joined the league in 2007.
The TV schedule for the nhl playoffs has changed since COVID-19
The NHL playoffs have changed a bit. While you can still see most games on COVID-19, the dates have been changed. The first round will begin on April 13 with 12 games between division rivals. Some of the most anticipated games include Toronto at the N.Y. Rangers, Toronto at Carolina, and New Jersey at Washington. Other games will feature the NHL MVP and runner-up.
The NHL will play a full 82-game season this season, despite a pause during the Winter Olympics. The last scheduled day of the regular season will be April 13, a day earlier than last year. COVID-19 also caused an increase in the number of cancelled and postponed games, with 104 games delayed or canceled last season.
The NHL playoffs will be broadcast on two networks. ABC will televise the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Game from FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, and ESPN will televise two games on Feb. 7 and 8. Following that, the NHL playoffs will be televised on ABC. The schedule of the games will be announced once the new schedule is available.
