- The puck drops for the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs on Saturday, April 20.
- 16 teams are set to battle it out for hockey glory.
- The NHL playoffs are a best-of-seven series, with four rounds leading to the Stanley Cup Final.
The NHL regular season is winding down, and the roar of the crowd is about to get even louder. With April showers about to turn to May flowers, the Stanley Cup playoffs are just around the corner.
Let’s dive into when the 2024 NHL playoffs start and take a look at the teams involved in this year’s quest for Lord Stanley’s Cup.
When Do the NHL Playoffs Start?
Mark your calendars, hockey fans. The grueling, exhilarating journey to lift Lord Stanley’s mug is about to begin. The puck drops for the Stanley Cup playoffs on Saturday, April 20.
How Many Teams Make the Stanley Cup Playoffs?
Out of the 32 teams that compete in the NHL’s regular season, only the top 16 teams earn the right to chase the Stanley Cup. Eight teams each from the Eastern and Western Conference will vie for playoff glory.
The latest Stanley Cup odds have the Carolina Hurricanes as slight favourites, but hockey odds can change on a dime in the postseason.
What Teams Are in the NHL Playoffs in 2024?
Eastern Conference Playoff Teams
- Boston Bruins
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Florida Panthers
- New York Rangers
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins remain in contention for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Western Conference Playoff Teams
- Dallas Stars
- Vancouver Canucks
- Winnipeg Jets
- Colorado Avalanche
- Edmonton Oilers
- Los Angeles Kings
- Nashville Predators
- Vegas Golden Knights
How Many Rounds Are in NHL Playoffs?
There are four rounds in the NHL playoffs in 2024, culminating in the Stanley Cup Final. Each round features a best-of-seven series, with the team that wins four games advancing to the next round. Each round gets progressively more intense as only the most dominant teams remain in the hunt for hockey’s Holy Grail.
What Is the Tie Breaker for the NHL Playoffs?
If two or more teams finish the regular season with the same number of points a playoff tie-breaking procedure will be put in place to determine the standing of the club.
Regulation wins are the first tiebreaker, followed by the greater number of games won, excluding shootouts. If the teams are still tied, the total wins column becomes the deciding factor.
From there, the total number of points earned in head-to-head games among two or more tied clubs determines which team will make the playoffs. The tiebreaker then goes to goal differential and finally to the greater number of goals scored.
