2026 NHL Playoffs Guide: Start Date, Bracket, Format & FAQ
The Playoff Schedule page provides a status of each playoff series including past scores, future game dates, and probabilities of game and series outcomes.
As of January 5, 2026, the 2025-26 NHL regular season is ongoing and will conclude on Thursday, April 16, 2026. The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are expected to begin shortly after, on Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Note: Exact dates may be adjusted slightly by the NHL, but this follows the typical two-day gap after the regular season ends.)
NHL Playoffs FAQ
When do the 2026 NHL playoffs start?
The NHL regular season ends Thursday, April 16, 2026. The playoffs are expected to start Saturday, April 18, 2026. How many teams make the playoffs?
Sixteen of the 32 league teams make the playoffs, eight from each conference. Per conference, the top three finishers in both divisions and two wildcard teams qualify. This produces 8 first-round matchups. There are no first-round byes. What teams have clinched a playoff spot or have been eliminated from the playoffs?
As the regular season is still in progress, no teams have officially clinched or been eliminated yet. Check the official NHL standings for the latest updates: What is the format of the NHL Playoffs?
All four rounds (First Round, Second Round, Conference Finals, and Stanley Cup Final) are best-of-seven series played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format (higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7). When will the detailed playoff schedule and matchups be posted?
The full bracket and detailed game-by-game schedule (including times and TV broadcasts) will be released immediately after the regular season ends on April 16, 2026, once final standings and seeding are determined. Follow official NHL sources or sites like NHL.com/playoffs for updates during the postseason.The playoffs typically run through late May or early June, with the Stanley Cup Final potentially starting in early June and concluding by mid-to-late June if it goes to seven games. ______
The NHL regular season ends Thursday, April 16, 2026. The playoffs are expected to start Saturday, April 18, 2026. How many teams make the playoffs?
Sixteen of the 32 league teams make the playoffs, eight from each conference. Per conference, the top three finishers in both divisions and two wildcard teams qualify. This produces 8 first-round matchups. There are no first-round byes. What teams have clinched a playoff spot or have been eliminated from the playoffs?
As the regular season is still in progress, no teams have officially clinched or been eliminated yet. Check the official NHL standings for the latest updates: What is the format of the NHL Playoffs?
All four rounds (First Round, Second Round, Conference Finals, and Stanley Cup Final) are best-of-seven series played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format (higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7). When will the detailed playoff schedule and matchups be posted?
The full bracket and detailed game-by-game schedule (including times and TV broadcasts) will be released immediately after the regular season ends on April 16, 2026, once final standings and seeding are determined. Follow official NHL sources or sites like NHL.com/playoffs for updates during the postseason.The playoffs typically run through late May or early June, with the Stanley Cup Final potentially starting in early June and concluding by mid-to-late June if it goes to seven games. ______
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