The NHL regular season ends tonight for most teams, but the 16 teams heading to the postseason are already set.
In terms of matchups, Friday night will determine everything. The only first round series that are set are the Oilers-Kings and Wild-Blues. None of the four matchups have been determined for the Eastern Conference.
The action-packed postseason is sure to bring excitement, with playoff starting in just a short couple of days now.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the 2022 NHL playoffs.
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When are the 2022 NHL playoffs?
- Start date: May 2
The NHL regular season ends on Friday, April 29 and the playoffs will start three days after on Monday, May 2.
The finals are expected to take place at some point in June.
How can I watch the 2022 NHL playoffs?
The Stanley Cup playoffs have a new home this season, with the NHL signing new TV deals this past summer with Disney (ESPN, ABC) and Turner Sports (TNT, TBS).
As a result, in the first three rounds, half of the games will be on TNT and half will be on either ESPN or ABC. For the finals, they will be viewed on either ESPN or ABC.
For Canadian viewers, the playoffs can be viewed on Sportsnet.
What is the format of the NHL playoffs?
The NHL returns to its normal format for the playoffs after having the four different divisions last season with four teams from everyone making the postseason.
This season, it's still a 16-team field with eight per conference, but it's back to the top three teams in each division making the postseason, and then two Wild Card teams earning the final two spots in each conference.
The division winners will play the Wild Card teams while the No. 2 and No. 3 teams from each division go head-to-head in the first round.
Each round features a best-of-seven series. In total, there are four rounds in the postseason — first round, second round, conference finals and Stanley Cup finals.
What team is the favorite to win the Cup?
The Avalanche and Panthers are the two leading favorites to win the 2022 Stanley Cup, according to Sports Interaction.
Colorado and Florida have consistently been two of the best teams all season. The Panthers earned the President's Trophy as the team with the best finish in the regular season. The Avalanche have the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
Tampa Bay sits with the fifth-best odds in the league at +1100, with a possible three-peat ahead of them. It's looking like it's a real possibility that the Lightning might become the first team to get that third straight Cup since the Islanders in the early '80s.
| TEAM | ODDS TO WIN CUP |
|---|---|
| Colorado Avalanche | +376 |
| Florida Panthers | +516 |
| Calgary Flames | +664 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | +800 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | +1100 |
| Carolina Hurricanes | +1100 |
| Edmonton Oilers | +1200 |
| Minnesota Wild | +1700 |
| New York Rangers | +1800 |
| Boston Bruins | +1900 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +1900 |
| St. Louis Blues | +2000 |
| Washington Capitals | +3900 |
| Los Angeles Kings | +4300 |
| Nashville Predators | +4500 |
| Dallas Stars | +4800 |
What teams have won the Cup in the past?
The Stanley Cup has been around since 1915, so it's got quite a bit of mileage to it.
The Canadiens have won the most Cups with 24, however, they have not won a Cup since 1993. It's no surprise considering the club is the oldest operational professional hockey franchise.
After the Habs, it's the Maple Leafs with 15, but their last Cup win came in 1967 and the team has not been to the finals since then. In third behind the Maple Leafs is the Red Wings with 11, most recently winning in 2008.
There are 12 team franchises that have never lifted the Cup: Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets.
Here is a look at the last 10 Stanley Cup winners:
- 2021: Tampa Bay Lightning
- 2020: Tampa Bay Lightning
- 2019: St. Louis Blues
- 2018: Washington Capitals
- 2017: Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2016: Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2015: Chicago Blackhawks
- 2014: Los Angeles Kings
- 2013: Chicago Blackhawks
- 2012: Los Angeles Kings
