Three periods
A game is three 20-minute periods of 5-on-5 hockey, with intermissions in between. The team that scores more goals wins.
Canada / United States · 2026–27
NHL, explained.
Thirty-two teams. Four rounds. One Stanley Cup. Here’s the quick guide.
The NHL is the top professional hockey league in North America: 32 clubs in two conferences, an 84-game regular season in 2026–27, and a four-round playoff that ends with the Stanley Cup.
A short history
The Stanley Cup is older than the league. Lord Stanley of Preston donated it in 1893 as a challenge trophy for amateur hockey in Canada. The National Hockey League was founded on November 26, 1917, in Montreal. By 1927 the Cup was awarded only to the NHL playoff champion.
From 1942 to 1967 the league was the Original Six: Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Montreal, the New York Rangers, and Toronto. Expansion began in 1967 and has continued to 32 teams.
The 2026–27 season opens September 29.
Current teams
Open a club for that desk’s news and scores.
Atlantic
Boston BruinsBOSOfficial siteSchedule
Buffalo SabresBUFOfficial siteSchedule
Detroit Red WingsDETOfficial siteSchedule
Florida PanthersFLAOfficial siteSchedule
Montreal CanadiensMTLOfficial siteSchedule
Ottawa SenatorsOTTOfficial siteSchedule
Tampa Bay LightningTBLOfficial siteSchedule
Toronto Maple LeafsTOROfficial siteSchedule
Metropolitan
Carolina HurricanesCAROfficial siteSchedule
Columbus Blue JacketsCBJOfficial siteSchedule
New Jersey DevilsNJDOfficial siteSchedule
New York IslandersNYIOfficial siteSchedule
New York RangersNYROfficial siteSchedule
Philadelphia FlyersPHIOfficial siteSchedule
Pittsburgh PenguinsPITOfficial siteSchedule
Washington CapitalsWSHOfficial siteSchedule
Central
Chicago BlackhawksCHIOfficial siteSchedule
Colorado AvalancheCOLOfficial siteSchedule
Dallas StarsDALOfficial siteSchedule
Minnesota WildMINOfficial siteSchedule
Nashville PredatorsNSHOfficial siteSchedule
St. Louis BluesSTLOfficial siteSchedule
Utah MammothUTAOfficial siteSchedule
Winnipeg JetsWPGOfficial siteSchedule
Pacific
Anaheim DucksANAOfficial siteSchedule
Calgary FlamesCGYOfficial siteSchedule
Edmonton OilersEDMOfficial siteSchedule
Los Angeles KingsLAKOfficial siteSchedule
San Jose SharksSJSOfficial siteSchedule
Seattle KrakenSEAOfficial siteSchedule
Vancouver CanucksVANOfficial siteSchedule
Vegas Golden KnightsVGKOfficial siteSchedule
How the league works
Five-on-five hockey, three periods, and a points race that feeds a 16-team playoff.
Standings points
A win is worth two points. A regulation loss is zero. If the game goes to overtime or a shootout, the loser still gets one point.
Overtime, two ways
In the regular season, a 5-minute 3-on-3 overtime is followed by a shootout if needed. In the playoffs there is no shootout — 20-minute 5-on-5 periods until someone scores.
Power play
A penalty puts the other team a skater up. That extra-man advantage is the power play; the shorthanded side is on the penalty kill.
Offside and icing
A player cannot enter the offensive zone ahead of the puck (offside). Icing is shooting the puck the length of the ice from behind centre; play stops and the faceoff comes back.
Conferences
The East is the Atlantic and Metropolitan. The West is the Central and Pacific. Each division has eight teams.
The season
Training camp in September, 84 regular-season games into April, then four playoff rounds for the Stanley Cup.
How the playoffs work
Sixteen teams. Four best-of-seven rounds. A set bracket — the NHL does not reseed after each round.
Who gets in
The top three finishers in each division (12 teams), plus two wild cards in each conference — the next-best records, regardless of division.
First-round bracket
In each conference, the division winner with the best record plays the weaker wild card. The other division winner plays the stronger wild card. Second plays third inside each division bracket.
Four rounds to the Cup
Winners stay in their bracket through the second round, then the conference finals. The two conference champions meet in the Stanley Cup Final. First to four wins in each series advances.
Home ice through the first two rounds goes to the higher regular-season finisher. In the conference finals and Stanley Cup Final it goes to the team with the better regular-season record.
Format notes checked against official league pages. Use those links if a date, field size, or playoff grid changes.