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How does a team qualify for the NHL playoffs?

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2018 Stanley Cup finals
ice hockey Goalie Marc-André Fleury of the Vegas Golden Knights blocking a shot by Jakub Vrána of the Washington Capitals in game five of the 2018 Stanley Cup finals. The Capitals won the game and the series.

At the conclusion of the National Hockey League (NHL) regular season, 16 teams qualify for the playoffs—eight from each of the two conferences.12

Qualification is determined as follows:

  • Division Leaders: The top three teams in each of the four divisions automatically qualify for the playoffs.2
  • Wild-Card Teams: Two additional teams from each conference qualify as "wild-card" entries. These spots are awarded to the teams with the best remaining records in their respective conferences, regardless of their specific divisional affiliation.2

Once these 16 teams are determined, they compete in a series of rounds to determine the conference champions, who then face off in a best-of-seven series to compete for the Stanley Cup.12