How the NHL works: divisions, wild cards and the Stanley Cup
Sep 8, 2026 · 07:30
82 games, a points system that rewards overtime defeats, then four best-of-seven rounds for the Cup.
The NHL season is long, and its postseason is one of the toughest series of matches in sport.
Regular season and the points system
The thirty-two teams play 82 games. A win is worth two points, a defeat in overtime or a shootout one, and a loss in regulation none. That is why two teams with the same number of wins can have different points totals.
Who reaches the playoffs?
Eight teams per conference: the top three from each division plus two wild cards, taken from the conference's best remaining records regardless of division. The system also gives divisional matches extra weight.
The Stanley Cup
The playoffs consist of four rounds, each played to four wins. A team must therefore win sixteen games, which can mean up to twenty-eight matches - and overtime here is sudden death, five on five, with no time limit. Hence the legendary marathon games.
Why is the trophy special?
Because the same cup is handed over year after year, and the names of every winning team's players are engraved on it. The Stanley Cup is the oldest continuously awarded professional trophy in sport.