Start date, format, teams, predictions – NBC4 Washington

2022 NHL Playoffs: Understanding the Stanley Cup Road originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

The National Hockey League is wrapping up its regular season and preparing for the excitement of the playoffs. While some NHL teams have already clinched a spot in the 2022 playoffs, others are still battling for a spot to compete.

Last season, the sports world saw the Tampa Bay Lightning win their second straight Stanley Cup and third overall. This year, the Florida Panthers (52-15) lead in the Eastern Conference while the Colorado Avalanche (53-14) lead in the Western Conference, but the cup is up for grabs.

Here’s everything you need to know about the highly anticipated 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs:

When does the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs start?

The 2022 NHL playoffs begin Monday, May 2, three days after the regular season ended.

How many rounds are there in the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs?

The 2022 NHL Playoffs consist of four rounds in a best-of-seven series.

The first round consists of the top two seeds from each division taking on the Wild Card teams. The other No. 2 and No. 3 seeds from each division will face off in the first round.

The average post-season is made up of 86 games over a period of 57 days.

How many teams will make it to the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs?

The league is made up of four divisions: Atlantic, Metropolitan, Central and Pacific. The Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions make up the Eastern Conference, and the Central and Pacific divisions make up the Western Conference, which consists of 32 teams in total.

A total of 16 league teams make it to the playoffs with eight from each conference.

Which teams have clinched berths in the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs?

The are teams that have already secured a spot in the 2022 NHL Playoffs even though there are still a few days left in the season.

These teams include: Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild, Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Which teams were eliminated from the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs?

So far, a few teams have been knocked out of the playoffs before the end of the season.

These teams include: Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, Seattle Kraken and Arizona Coyotes.

What are the matchups scheduled for the first round of the 2022 NHL playoffs?

Eastern Conference

A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC2 Washington Capitals

A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning

M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Boston Bruins

M2 New York Rangers vs. M3 Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference

C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Dallas Stars

C2 Minnesota Wild vs. C3 St. Louis Blues

P1 Calgary Flames vs. WC1 Nashville Predators

P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings