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 Carolina Hurricanes lead the East and the Minnesota Wild 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. A1Bruins13-4-127126
  2. A2Canadiens11-3-325124
  3. A3Lightning11-5-123114

Metropolitan

  1. M1Hurricanes14-4-129128
  2. M2Devils13-526121
  3. M3Rangers10-8-12193

Wild card

  1. WC1Senators11-6-123107
  2. WC2Panthers9-7-22093
  1. -2Capitals9-618101
  2. -2Sabres8-7-21889
  3. -3Maple Leafs8-10-11775

West

Central

  1. C1Wild12-3-428124
  2. C2Avalanche10-7-12198
  3. C3Mammoth10-7-12198

Pacific

  1. P1Oilers13-5-127119
  2. P2Golden Knights12-6-125111
  3. P3Ducks10-7-12198

Wild card

  1. WC1Stars10-72099
  2. WC2Kraken9-6-119100
  1. -1Predators8-7-21889
  2. -2Flames8-9-11779
  3. -2Jets7-8-31779

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

EastHurricanesMetropolitan winnerPanthersWild card 2
EastDevilsMetropolitan 2ndRangersMetropolitan 3rd
EastBruinsAtlantic winnerSenatorsWild card 1
EastCanadiensAtlantic 2ndLightningAtlantic 3rd
WestWildCentral winnerKrakenWild card 2
WestAvalancheCentral 2ndMammothCentral 3rd
WestOilersPacific winnerStarsWild card 1
WestGolden KnightsPacific 2ndDucksPacific 3rd

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

2027 Stanley Cup Playoffs Dates and TV

WhenStageWhat happensTV
Sept 29 – Apr 10Regular season84 games per teamESPN/ABC, TNT, NHL Network; Sportsnet in Canada
Mid-April (TBA)First Round2nd v 3rd in each division; division winners v wild cardsESPN/ABC, TNT/truTV/HBO Max; Sportsnet
Late April – MaySecond RoundThe two winners in each division meetESPN/ABC, TNT/truTV/HBO Max; Sportsnet
May (TBA)Conference FinalsEast and West champions decidedOne on ESPN/ABC, one on TNT; Sportsnet
June (TBA)Stanley Cup FinalEast champion v West championTNT/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

YearChampionOpponentSeriesConn Smythe
2026Carolina HurricanesVegas Golden Knights4-2Jordan Staal
2025Florida PanthersEdmonton Oilers4-2Sam Bennett
2024Florida PanthersEdmonton Oilers4-3Connor McDavid
2023Vegas Golden KnightsFlorida Panthers4-1Jonathan Marchessault
2022Colorado AvalancheTampa Bay Lightning4-2Cale Makar
2021Tampa Bay LightningMontreal Canadiens4-1Andrei Vasilevskiy
2020Tampa Bay LightningDallas Stars4-2Victor Hedman
2019St. Louis BluesBoston Bruins4-3Ryan O'Reilly
2018Washington CapitalsVegas Golden Knights4-1Alex Ovechkin
2017Pittsburgh PenguinsNashville Predators4-2Sidney Crosby
2016Pittsburgh PenguinsSan Jose Sharks4-2Sidney 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.