The Stanley Cup Playoffs Of The National Hockey League
The Stanley Cup Playoffs of the National Hockey League (NHL) is a yearly tournament where the best teams from the NHL's two conferences, the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference, compete to win the coveted Stanley Cup. The Stanley Cup is the oldest trophy in North American professional sports and has been awarded every year since 1893.
Format
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a best-of-seven elimination tournament consisting of four rounds. The top three teams from each division in each conference, as well as two wild-card teams, qualify for the playoffs. The teams are then seeded based on their regular-season point totals, with the division winners seeded 1-4 in each conference and the wild-card teams seeded 5-8.
The first round of the playoffs sees the top-seeded team in each conference face off against the lowest-seeded wild-card team, while the other two division winners face off against the two remaining wild-card teams. The remaining two series see the second- and third-seeded teams from each division face off against one another.
The winners of the first round face off in the second round, with the highest remaining seed facing the lowest remaining seed and the other two teams facing off against one another. The winners of the second round then face off in the conference finals, with the winners of each conference facing off in the Stanley Cup Finals.
History
The Stanley Cup was first awarded to the top Canadian amateur hockey team in 1893. In 1915, the NHL was founded, and the Stanley Cup became its championship trophy. The first NHL playoffs were held in 1917, and the Montreal Canadiens were crowned the first Stanley Cup champions.
Over the years, the playoffs have seen many memorable moments, including some of the greatest players in NHL history showcasing their talents. Bobby Orr's winning goal in overtime of the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals against the St. Louis Blues, Wayne Gretzky leading the Edmonton Oilers to four Stanley Cup victories in five years in the 1980s, and Sidney Crosby's overtime goal in Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals are just a few examples of the incredible moments that have taken place in the playoffs.
Championship Teams
Since the NHL began awarding the Stanley Cup to its champions in 1915, there have been 31 different teams to win the championship. The Montreal Canadiens hold the record for the most championships won, with 24. The Toronto Maple Leafs have won the second-most championships with 13, and the Detroit Red Wings are third with 11.
Many other teams have also won the Stanley Cup, including the Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, and Boston Bruins, to name just a few.
Current Season
The 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs began on May 15, 2021, and will conclude with the Stanley Cup Finals in late July or early August. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the playoffs are being held in a bubble format in two host cities, Edmonton and Toronto.
The playoffs have already seen some exciting moments, including Montreal Canadiens rookie Cole Caufield's overtime goal in Game 3 of their first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Colorado Avalanche's dominant performance in their first two games against the St. Louis Blues.
Conclusion
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are one of the most exciting events in all of sports, featuring the best teams in the NHL competing for the chance to win the Stanley Cup. With the tournament's rich history and the many memorable moments that have taken place over the years, the playoffs are a can't-miss event for any hockey fan.
