NHL Playoffs

The 2027 Stanley Cup Playoffs start in mid-April, after the regular season ends on April 10. Sixteen teams qualify: the top three in each division plus two wild cards per conference. Today the Boston Bruins lead the East and the Edmonton Oilers lead the West.

16teams8 per conference
3 + 2how teams qualifytop 3 per division + 2 wild cards
Apr 10regular season ends84 games per team
Mid-Aprilplayoffs startall rounds best of 7
JuneStanley Cup FinalTNT · Sportsnet
Countdown toNHL regular season final daySaturday, April 10, 2027
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NHL Playoff Race

East

Atlantic

  1. A1Bruins2-04
  2. A2Panthers1-0-13
  3. A3Canadiens1-02

Metropolitan

  1. M1Rangers2-14
  2. M2Penguins1-02
  3. M3Capitals1-02

Wild card

  1. WC1Blue Jackets1-02
  2. WC2Devils1-02
  1. =Maple Leafs1-12
  2. -1Hurricanes0-1-11
  3. -1Flyers0-1-11

West

Central

  1. C1Mammoth1-02
  2. C2Avalanche1-02
  3. C3Blues1-02

Pacific

  1. P1Oilers1-0-13
  2. P2Kraken1-02
  3. P3Sharks1-02

Wild card

  1. WC1Wild1-02
  2. WC2Ducks1-02
  1. =Golden Knights1-12
  2. =Canucks1-12
  3. -1Jets0-0-11

A/M/C/P = division place, WC = wild card, a minus figure = points behind the second wild card. Points: 2 per win, 1 per overtime or shootout loss; the last column is the 84-game points pace once a team has played 10 games. Full playoff picture →

Projected First-Round Matchups

EastBruinsAtlantic winnerDevilsWild card 2
EastPanthersAtlantic 2ndCanadiensAtlantic 3rd
EastRangersMetropolitan winnerBlue JacketsWild card 1
EastPenguinsMetropolitan 2ndCapitalsMetropolitan 3rd
WestOilersPacific winnerDucksWild card 2
WestKrakenPacific 2ndSharksPacific 3rd
WestMammothCentral winnerWildWild card 1
WestAvalancheCentral 2ndBluesCentral 3rd

If the season ended today. Home ice to the first team listed. Full bracket →

2027 Stanley Cup Playoffs Dates and TV

When Stage What happens TV
Sept 29 – Apr 10 Regular season 84 games per team ESPN/ABC, TNT, NHL Network; Sportsnet in Canada
Mid-April (TBA) First Round 2nd v 3rd in each division; division winners v wild cards ESPN/ABC, TNT/truTV/HBO Max; Sportsnet
Late April – May Second Round The two winners in each division meet ESPN/ABC, TNT/truTV/HBO Max; Sportsnet
May (TBA) Conference Finals East and West champions decided One on ESPN/ABC, one on TNT; Sportsnet
June (TBA) Stanley Cup Final East champion v West champion TNT/truTV/HBO Max (exclusive); Sportsnet

The NHL announces playoff dates in the spring; they update here automatically. Playoff schedule →

How the Stanley Cup Playoffs Work

  • Who qualifies: the top three in each division plus the next two teams in each conference by points (wild cards).
  • First round: 2nd hosts 3rd in each division; the division winner with more points plays the second wild card, the other winner the first wild card.
  • No reseeding: the bracket stays inside each division until the conference final; every round is best of seven.
  • Overtime: 20-minute sudden-death periods, no shootouts. Home ice goes to the higher seed, then to the team with more points in the last two rounds.

Format and tiebreakers →

Stanley Cup Champions

Year Champion Opponent Series Conn Smythe
2026 Carolina Hurricanes Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 Jordan Staal
2025 Florida Panthers Edmonton Oilers 4-2 Sam Bennett
2024 Florida Panthers Edmonton Oilers 4-3 Connor McDavid
2023 Vegas Golden Knights Florida Panthers 4-1 Jonathan Marchessault
2022 Colorado Avalanche Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2 Cale Makar
2021 Tampa Bay Lightning Montreal Canadiens 4-1 Andrei Vasilevskiy
2020 Tampa Bay Lightning Dallas Stars 4-2 Victor Hedman
2019 St. Louis Blues Boston Bruins 4-3 Ryan O'Reilly
2018 Washington Capitals Vegas Golden Knights 4-1 Alex Ovechkin
2017 Pittsburgh Penguins Nashville Predators 4-2 Sidney Crosby
2016 Pittsburgh Penguins San Jose Sharks 4-2 Sidney Crosby
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Frequently asked questions

When do the 2027 Stanley Cup Playoffs start?

In mid-April, after the regular season ends Apr 10, 2027; the NHL announces the exact dates in the spring. The Stanley Cup Final is in June.

How many points does it take to make the NHL playoffs?

It changes every year; the second wild card has usually needed between about 90 and 98 points in an 82-game season. The race table above shows each team’s points pace over 84 games.

How are ties in the NHL standings broken?

Points percentage first, then regulation wins, regulation plus overtime wins, total wins, points in head-to-head games, and goal differential.

What channels show the 2027 Stanley Cup Playoffs?

In the US the early rounds are split between ESPN/ABC and TNT/truTV/HBO Max, each network has one conference final, and the 2027 Stanley Cup Final is exclusively on TNT. In Canada every round is on Sportsnet.

Who won the last Stanley Cup?

The Carolina Hurricanes, beating the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in the 2026 Final; Jordan Staal won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Is there a shootout in the playoffs?

No. Tied playoff games go to 20-minute, five-on-five sudden-death overtime periods until someone scores.