How many teams make the nhl playoffs

The remaining four spots will be filled by the next two highest-placed finishers in each conference, based on regular-season record and regardless of division. It is possible for one division in each conference to send five teams to the postseason while the other sends just three. In the First Round, the division winner with the best record in each conference will be matched against the wild card with the lesser record; the wild card with the better record will play the other division winner.

The teams finishing second and third in each division will meet in the First Round within the bracket headed by their respective division winner. First-round winners within each bracket play one another in the Second Round to determine the four participants in the Conference Finals.

Home-ice advantage through the first two rounds goes to the team that placed higher in the regular-season standings. Things are a little different this year — if you didn't already notice from the Capitals and the Bruins matching up in the first round. There will not be a Western Conference or Eastern Conference champion and the playoffs are structured differently, which we'll delve into in a bit.

The one familiar thing this year is that the road to lifting Lord Stanley's Cup will be a long and winding one but the end will taste oh, so sweet. Who will be the ones to drink from sports' greatest trophy? Only time will tell. Until then, below you'll find everything to know about watching the NHL playoffs, including series-by-series TV schedules and live streaming information. David Amber and Ron McLean will be the studio anchors and will be joined by a rotating crew of analysts and insiders.

Here's a quick overview of how the postseason will work, with every series being a best of seven:. Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens. New York Islanders. Semifinals breakdowns, predictions, odds: TBL vs. What could be most interesting about the NHL postseason, though, is the matchups.

In non-COVID-affected years, eight teams from each conference would qualify for the playoffs, with the seventh- and eighth-ranked teams designated as wild cards. With the realignment of the divisions, the Stanley Cup Finals could see some whacky matchups. The top four teams in each division will make the playoffs, the No. No wild cards. After these series, one team will be crowned the winner of their division.