Have you ever tried to follow the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and felt completely lost? Well, chances are, you’re not alone, and I’m here to hold your hand and tell you it’s a lot simpler than you think.
The playoffs start with 16 teams, eight from each of the two NHL conferences — the Western and Eastern — who each earn their spots through an 82-game regular-season grind.
Both conferences are split into two divisions. The Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions are in the East, while the Central and Pacific divisions are out West.
The top three teams in each division automatically punch their tickets to the postseason and make up 12 of the 16 spots.
The remaining four spots are where things get interesting; they go to wild cards — the next best teams in each conference, regardless of division.
This year’s wild cards include the Los Angeles Kings, Utah Mammoth, Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators.
From there, brackets are made. In the first round, division winners take on wild card teams while second and third place fishers battle it out within their divisions. The winners move on to the second round, and the losers wrap up the season with a few tears.
The second round keeps things interesting with the division bracket, followed by the Conference Finals, where the last two teams in each conference fight for a shot at the Stanley Cup.
Home-ice advantage plays a big role early in the first two rounds, favoring teams with stronger regular-season records. No matter the round, every matchup is a best-of-seven, with the first team to four wins advancing.
So far, the playoffs are already delivering. There’s been no shortage of action across the league.
The Colorado Avalanche wasted no time sweeping the Kings 4-0. Out East, the Carolina Hurricanes knocked out the Senators to lock their place in the second round.
For the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild, the intensity is only increasing after the Wild tied the series on April 28. The Edmonton Oilers are fighting tooth and nail to stay in the series after clawing their way back from falling behind 3-1 to the Anaheim Ducks.
And back in the East, the Boston Bruins secured a dramatic overtime win over the Buffalo Sabers to keep their hope alive for a few more days as the series stands at 3-2 in favor of Buffalo.
Looking at the bigger picture, it’s no surprise who’s leading the pack. The Avalanche entered the playoffs as clear favorites after dominating the regular season and finishing with a record of 55 wins and 16 losses.
Right behind them are the Hurricanes, who accomplished an impressive 53-22 season, while teams like the Sabers, who went 50-23, are proving they might stand a chance too.
But a team’s record can only get them so far once the playoffs begin.