As the NHL regular season comes to an end, anticipation builds for the exciting start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Hockey fans worldwide eagerly await the chance to watch their favorite teams battle to win the Stanley Cup, and this playoff month will definitely be one of excitement, surprises and intensity.
For some fans, this postseason cuts deep, as many teams fail to make the postseason. Yes, it can be challenging to watch teams flourish in the excitement of it all with your team out, but no matter whom you root for, this month is one that brings the best out of the league. And in all the unpredictability, this is not one to miss out on.
If you are having a hard time understanding how exactly the playoffs work, here is a beginner’s guide to understanding the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs:
The NHL features 32 teams, 16 of which make the playoffs, giving each team a 50% chance of qualifying for the postseason. The league consists of two conferences, each with two divisions. The top three teams with the highest points in each division make up the first 12 teams. The remaining four spots are filled by the next two highest-placed winners in each conference; this is known as a wild-card position, allowing four teams to compete.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are made up of four rounds: the First Round, the Second Round, the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Final. For the first two rounds, teams compete against others in their division. Each round is a best-of-seven series, meaning that the first team to win four games advances to the next round.
Here are some interesting facts about this year’s playoffs:
This year was full of surprises, with teams like the New York Rangers missing the playoffs. After many teams faced similar disappointments, there have also been teams that have had incredible luck this season. For one, the Washington Capitals have had a season of complete excitement, as they hold one of the best records in the league. Some exciting contenders include last year’s cup winners, the Florida Panthers, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, with star player Auston Matthews.
The two most exciting playoff contenders:
The Washington Capitals:
Earlier in the year, an article from The Athletic gave the Capitals an 18% chance of making the playoffs and a less than 1% likelihood of having 110 or more points. To the surprise of many, however, the Capitals have had an incredibly successful season with the best record in the Eastern Conference. This turnaround is due to a combination of many factors, including their coaching, goaltending and their star Alex Ovechkin, who recently broke Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record. Fans have seen it all come together for the Capitals.
Winnipeg Jets:
Since their return to Winnipeg in 2011, the Winnipeg Jets have not won a Stanley Cup. However, this year they hold the best record in the NHL, and fans are filled with much hope of seeing them win their first Stanley Cup. Many factors come into play as we see their success this season, and one of these major factors is their goaltending. Jets’ goaltender Connor Hellebuyck leads the NHL in wins and save percentage, as the Jets have the fewest goals allowed all season.
Montreal Canadians:
In a fight for the last wildcard spot, the Montreal Canadiens secured a playoff position, as they had only been a few points away from elimination. For their first round of the playoffs, the Canadians are matched up against the Washington Capitals, one of the highest scoring teams in the league this year. To advance to the second round, the Canadians will need to play exemplary goaltending and maintain stable lines on both offense and defense.
Fieldston Student Picks:
We were curious to know what team Fieldston students predicted would win the Stanley Cup so we decided to go around campus asking students who they believe is the most likely to win this year’s Stanley Cup. With a total of twelve students asked, here are Fieldston’s top picks. Four students voted for the New Jersey Devils, who had only recently secured a spot in the playoffs, after losing one of their strongest players, Jack Hughes. Three students voted for the Winnipeg Jets, who, as stated, are the leading point holders in the NHL. Three other students voted for the Florida Panthers, last year’s winners. One student voted for the Edmonton Oilers, who have one of the best players in the league in Connor McDavid, who became the youngest NHL captain ever at the age of 19. And the remaining student voted for the Ottawa Senators, who have never won a Stanley Cup.
