The 24-team NHL playoffs begin on Saturday. However, there could be questions about how the 2020 NHL playoffs will work. We’re here with answers, schedules, and more.
Qualification begins on August 1st. A full schedule can be found here and below.
Click here to learn more about how they agreed on everything, including the CBA and Return to Play agreement.
This is how the playoff format works with 24 teams
The NHL shared the “competitive format” for the playoff setup with 24 teams for the functioning of the 2020 NHL playoffs. The “Round Robin” refers to the sowing of the four best teams in each conference. The “qualifying round” was previously referred to as the “warm-up round”. Toronto will host the Eastern Conference teams at Scotiabank Arena, while Edmonton will host the Western Conference teams at Rogers Place.
Competitive format
In each conference, the teams were set according to percentage points.
• • Round robin: The top 4 teams play for the first round seeding (applicable rules for overtime in the regular season)
• • Qualifying round: The remaining 8 teams play best-of-5 series to advance to the first round (rules for overtime in the playoffs apply)
• • First and second round: Format (seeding vs. bracket) and series lengths are best-of-seven.
• • Conference finals and Stanley Cup finals: The Best of 7 series takes place at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
* The winners of the qualifying round play the top 4 of the first round. Individual matchups in the first round have yet to be determined.
CONNECTED:: Final score, draft lottery results
Stanley Cup playoff schedule
EAST CONFERENCE (Scotiabank Arena)
Round robin [Standings, scenarios]
Sunday, August 2nd: Flyer 4, Bruins 1 (recap)
Monday 3rd August:: Blitz 3, Capitals 2 (SO) (recapitulate)
Wednesday 5th August:: Blitz 3, Bruins 2 (recap)
Thursday 6th August:: Flyer 3, Capitals 1 (recap)
Saturday 8th August:: Flyer against lightning, TBD
Sunday 9th August:: Bruins vs. Capitals, TBD
(5) Pittsburgh Penguins versus (12) Montreal Canadiens (MTL leads series 2-1)
Saturday 1st August: Canadiens 3, Penguins 2 (recap)
Monday 3rd August: Penguins 3, Canadians 1 (recap)
Wednesday 5th August: Canadiens 4, Penguins 3 (recap)
Friday 7th August: Penguins vs Canadians, 4 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Saturday 8th August: Canadiens vs. Penguins *
(6) Carolina Hurricanes versus (11) New York Rangers (CAR won the series 3-0)
Saturday 1st August: Hurricanes 3, Rangers 2 (recap)
Monday 3rd August: Hurricanes 4, Rangers 1 (recap)
Tuesday, August 4: Hurricanes 4, Rangers 1 (recap)
(7) New York Islanders vs. (10) Florida Panthers (NYI Lead Series 2-1)
Saturday 1st August: Islanders 2, Panthers 1 (recap)
Tuesday, August 4: Islanders 4, Panthers 2 (recap)
Wednesday 5th August: Panthers 3, Islanders 2 (recap)
Friday 7th August: Islanders vs. Panthers, 12 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Sunday 9th August: Panthers vs. Islanders *
(8) Toronto Maple Leafs versus (9) Columbus Blue Jackets (CBJ leads series 2-1)
Sunday 2nd August: Blue Jackets 2, Maple Leafs 0 (recap)
Tuesday, August 4: Maple Leafs 3, Blue Jackets 0 (recap)
Thursday 6th August: Blue Jackets 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT) (recap)
Friday 7th August: Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets, 8 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Sunday 9th August: Blue jackets against Maple Leafs *, TBD
[NBC 2020 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF HUB]
WEST CONFERENCE (Rogers Place)
Round-Robin [Standings, scenarios]
Sunday 2nd August: Avalanche 2, Blues 1 (recap)
Monday 3rd August: Golden Knights 4, Stars 3 (recap)
Wednesday 5th August: Avalanche 4, star 0
Thursday 6th August: Golden Knights 6, Blues 4 (recap)
Saturday 8th August: Golden Knights vs. Avalanche, TBD
Sunday 9th August: Stars vs. Blues, TBD
(5) Edmonton Oilers versus (12) Chicago Blackhawks (CHI leads series 2-1)
Saturday 1st August: Blackhawks 6, Oilers 4 (recap)
Monday 3rd August: Oilers 6, Blackhawks 3 (recap)
Wednesday 5th August: Blackhawks 4, Oilers 3 (recap)
Friday 7th August: Oilers vs. Blackhawks, 6:45 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Saturday 8th August: Blackhawks vs. Oilers *, TBD
(6) Nashville Predators versus (11) Arizona Coyotes (ARZ leads series 2-1)
Sunday 2nd August: Coyotes 4, predators 3 (recap)
Tuesday, August 4: Predators 4, Coyotes 2 (recap)
Wednesday 5th August: Coyotes 4, predators 1 (recap)
Friday 7th August: Predators vs. Coyotes, 2:30 p.m. ET – (Live look-in coverage on NBCSN)
Sunday 9th August: Coyotes against predators *, TBD
(7) Vancouver Canucks versus (10) Minnesota Wild (FROM LEADS SERIES 2-1)
Sunday 2nd August: Wild 3, Canucks 0 (recap)
Tuesday, August 4: Canucks 4, Wild 3 (recap)
Thursday 6th August: Canucks 3, Wild 0 (recap)
Friday 7th August: Canucks vs. Wild, 10:45 p.m. ET – NBCSN
Sunday 9th August: Wild vs. Canucks *, TBD
(8) Calgary Flames versus (9) Winnipeg Jets (CGY won the series 3-1)
Saturday 1st August: Flames 4, Jets 1 (recap)
Monday 3rd August: Jets 3, Flames 2 (recap)
Tuesday, August 4: Flames 6, Jets 2 (recap)
Thursday 6th August: Flames 4, Jets 0 (recap)
* – If necessary
Key dates for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, NHL Free Agency, Draft
We just discussed how the 2020 NHL playoffs will work and where the NHL playoffs will return to award a 2020 Stanley Cup. Let’s cover the “when”.
August 10: Phase 2 of the NHL Draft Lottery to determine the # 1 overall selection
August 11: The first round begins
August 25: The second round begins
September 8th: Conference finals begin
September 22nd: The Stanley Cup Final begins
4th of October: Last possible date for the award of the Stanley Cup
October 9-10: 2020 NHL Draft (must take place after the end of the cup final and before the free agency)
Mid October: Free agent period opens
November 17th: Training camp open for the 2020-21 season
December 1: The 2020-21 NHL season begins
