The NHL playoffs have four rounds and the NHL Draft has seven. A shootout has three before sudden death.
These counts and dates come from the NHL and PWHL, as of October 29, 2026. The NHL has not listed round dates for the 2027 playoffs.
How many rounds are in hockey? Pick your meaning
This table sorts the six answers to how many rounds are in hockey.
| You mean | How many rounds | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| NHL playoffs | 4, each a best of seven series | Below |
| NHL Draft | 7, with 32 picks in each | Below |
| Shootout | 3, then sudden death | Below |
| PWHL playoffs | 3 from 2026 to 27 | Below |
| One game | 0, it has 3 periods | The questions below |
| A fight | 0, one five minute major | Below |
How many NHL playoff rounds are there?
The NHL playoffs have four rounds. Every one of the NHL playoff rounds is a best of seven series. The first team to win four games moves on.
The NHL playoff format page lists the rules.
This table lists the four NHL playoff rounds and what each holds.
| Round | Series | Teams playing |
|---|---|---|
| First Round | 8 | 16 |
| Second Round | 4 | 8 |
| Conference Finals | 2 | 4 |
| Stanley Cup Final | 1 | 2 |
How many wins does it take to win the Cup?
A champion needs 16 wins, and the math takes three steps:
- Each round needs 4 wins.
- The Cup takes 4 NHL playoff rounds.
- Four wins in each of 4 rounds add up to 16 wins.
Four sweeps give a champion 16 games, and four seven game series give 28 games.
The league plays 15 series in all: 8, then 4, then 2, then 1.
Home ice in the NHL playoff rounds
In the first two rounds, the team that finished higher gets home ice. In the Conference Finals and the Final, the better regular season record decides it.
For the 16 teams, see how many NHL teams there are. For who plays whom in each round, see how the NHL playoffs work.
NHL playoff rounds in 2026: when each one started
This table shows the first game of each round last season, from the NHL’s schedules.
| Round | First game | Note |
|---|---|---|
| First Round | Saturday, April 18 | The playoffs began this day |
| Second Round | Saturday, May 2 | Latest possible Game 7 was May 18 |
| Conference Finals | Wednesday, May 20 in the West | Thursday, May 21 in the East |
| Stanley Cup Final | Tuesday, June 2 | Carolina won Game 6 on June 14 |
How long the 2026 playoffs lasted
The playoffs ran from April 18 to June 14. That is 58 days.
The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4 games to 2. They won Game 6 by 3 to 0 in Vegas.
When the 2027 NHL playoff rounds start
The 2027 playoffs begin Tuesday, April 13. The Final can run through Saturday, June 19.
The NHL has not listed the date of each round.
Last season, the NHL set the Round 1 dates on April 16. That was the last regular season day. See the NHL season end date guide for the full list.
Which round is it?
Pick what you mean by how many rounds are in hockey, then pick a round. See the facts for that round.
How many rounds are in the NHL Draft?
The NHL Draft has seven rounds. The answer to how many rounds are in hockey changes here.
The 2026 order listed 224 pick numbers, with 32 picks in each round.
The NHL.com order of picks gives the schedule. Round 1 was Friday, June 26, at 7 p.m. ET in Buffalo.
Rounds 2 to 7 were Saturday, June 27, from 11 a.m. ET.
A lost pick in round two
Pick 63, in the second round, was forfeited by Vegas. The NHL says the Golden Knights broke the 2026 playoff media rules.
The 2027 Draft
The 2027 Draft is Friday and Saturday, June 25 and 26. The NHL’s key dates list does not give the number of rounds yet.
How many rounds are in a shootout?
A regular season shootout has three rounds for each team. If the score is still tied after three rounds, it moves to sudden death rounds.
A team that leads 2 to 0 after two rounds has already won.
Playoff games have no shootout. The NHL playoff rounds use 20 minute overtime periods until a team scores. See the full NHL overtime rules.
How many rounds are in the PWHL playoffs?
The PWHL playoffs have three rounds from the 2026 to 27 season. The NHL playoff rounds number four.
Eight teams qualify for the PWHL, the top four in each conference.
This table sets the new format beside the old one.
| Playoffs | Teams | Rounds | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 2 | Best of five, then best of five |
| 2026 to 27 | 8 | 3 | Best of three, then best of five, then best of five |
When the PWHL season runs
The PWHL announced the format on October 2, 2026. The 2026 to 27 regular season runs from Saturday, December 5 to Sunday, April 18.
The PWHL has not listed playoff dates.
Next round questions
How many rounds are in hockey overall?
The count depends on the event. The NHL playoffs have four and the NHL Draft has seven. A shootout and the PWHL playoffs each have three.
How many teams make the NHL playoffs?
Sixteen teams make it. The top three teams in each division qualify, plus two wild cards in each conference.
How many games can an NHL playoff series last?
A series in the NHL playoff rounds lasts from four to seven games. It ends when one team wins four.
Are there shootouts in the NHL playoffs?
No. A tied playoff game gets 20 minute overtime periods until a team scores.
When do the NHL playoffs start?
The first of the 2027 NHL playoff rounds begins Tuesday, April 13. The NHL has not listed the date of each round.
How many picks are in each round of the NHL Draft?
Each round has 32 picks. Seven rounds add up to 224 pick numbers.
Do fights have rounds?
No. A fight earns a five minute major penalty under the NHL fighting rules. The player serves it in the penalty box and then returns.
How many series are in the NHL playoffs?
The league plays 15 series. The first round has eight, then four, then two, then one.
How many wins does a team need to win the Stanley Cup?
A team needs 16 wins. That is four wins in each of the four NHL playoff rounds.
How many periods are in a hockey game?
A game has three periods of 20 minutes each. See how many periods are in hockey.
Take your shot
Your team wins the Stanley Cup. How many series did it win?
Pick one to take your shot.
Checked against NHL playoff format and 2026 schedules
NHL playoff format
NHL.com, 2026 Draft order of picks
PWHL 2026 to 27 schedule release
Checked October 2026
