NHL second round playoff format is a best of seven series. Eight winners matchup against each other before the conference finals.
The NHL playoffs involve 16 teams, with eight teams from each Eastern and Western conference. These teams participate in four rounds of playoffs: the first round, the second round, the conference finals, and the Stanley Cup Finals.
During the first round, three teams from each division in each conference qualify, along with two wildcard teams from each conference, bringing the total number of teams per conference to eight. These eight teams then play a best-of-seven series, and the winners advance to the second round.
After the first round, the remaining eight teams are re-seeded based on regular-season point totals, with the winners moving on to the conference finals. The two conference champions compete in the Stanley Cup Finals, also a best-of-seven series.
NHL Second Round Best Of 5 Or 7
NHL second round playoffs are the best of 7 series. The team to win four games advances to the next round.
Well, the NHL playoffs inhere four rounds of best-of-seven series, with the first two rounds played within the same division and the third and fourth rounds pitting the winners of each conference against each other.
The team with home-ice benefit plays the first two games at home, followed by two games on the road, and then alternates home and away games until the series is decided.
The NHL determines the format for the second round before the playoffs start, and it can vary from year to year but typically follows the pattern described above.
Moreover, the NHL second-round bracket 2023 has not been released since the first-round series is only halfway done, and no team has yet secured a spot in the second round.
During the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the second round consisted of four best-of-7 series matchups.
These included the Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, the Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference, the Colorado Avalanche vs. St. Louis Blues, and the Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference.
NHL Second Round Playoff Dates And Schedule
The second round of the NHL Playoffs starts in the second week of May 2023. The match of game 7 between Oilers and LA Kings is scheduled to be on 1st May 2023.
The dates for the second round of the NHL playoffs have not been announced yet. However, traditionally, the second round of the playoffs begins about a week after the conclusion of the first round.
The first round of the playoffs is scheduled to end on May 1, 2023, so the second round will likely begin in the second week of May 2023.
Once the schedule for the second round is announced, it will be available on the NHL's official website, as well as on various sports news and media outlets.
Nevertheless, the NHL second-round playoff schedule is subject to change based on factors such as arena availability and potential scheduling conflicts with other events.
However, as of now, it seems that the NHL second-round playoff dates will be released soon after the conclusion of the first round.
As of April 28, 2023, several first-round matchups have not been decided, including Islanders vs. Hurricanes, Panthers vs. Bruins, Wild vs. Stars, and Kraken vs. Avalanche.
Game 6 of the Kraken vs. Avalanche series is scheduled for April 29, 2023, with a potential Game 7 slated for April 30 to May 1, 2023.
Nonetheless, the NHL Stanley Cup is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League's (NHL) playoffs winner. It is deemed one of the most prestigious trophies in professional sports and has a rich history dating back to 1893.
The playoffs consist of 16 teams, eight from each of the NHL's Eastern and Western Conferences, competing in a best-of-seven series format.
The playoffs began in April and culminates in June with the Stanley Cup Final, a best-of-seven series between the Eastern and Western Conference champions.
Teams In Second Round NHL Playoff
The second round hockey playoff is scheduled after the end of first round in 1st of May.
However, based on recent trends, some teams that have consistently performed well in the playoffs and may have a good chance of advancing to the second round include the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Vegas Golden Knights, and the Boston Bruins.
The 2023 NHL playoff first-round matches have been highly competitive and unpredictable. In each series, both teams have shown the ability to win games, and there have been several instances where the losing team in one match has returned to winning the next.
For example, in the Colorado Avalanche vs. Seattle Kraken series, the Kraken won the first game by a score of 3-1, and the Avalanche bounced back to win the second game 3-2.
This evinces that both teams are evenly matched and capable of winning games, and the series could easily go either way.
Similarly, in the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Tampa Bay Lightning series, both teams won one game, with the Lightning defeating the first game 7-3 and the Maple Leafs winning the second game 7-2.
The Rangers have been dominant in other series, such as the New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers, winning both games by a 5-1.
On the other hand, in the 2022 NHL Playoffs, the Lightning and Panthers met for the second consecutive year, with Tampa Bay winning the previous year's series in six games. They split their four-game regular season series, but the Lightning swept the Panthers in the playoffs.
The Rangers and Hurricanes also met in the playoffs, with Carolina winning their previous meeting in the 2020 Eastern Conference Qualifying Round. The Rangers won three of the four regular-season games, but the Hurricanes forced a Game 7, which the Rangers won.
The Lightning defeated the Rangers in six games, with Ondrej Palat playing a key role in several games. Steven Stamkos scored twice in Game 6 to secure the Lightning's third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Some FAQs
Who will the bruins play in the second round?
The Boston Bruins will likely face the Toronto Maple Leafs or Florida Panthers in the second round. It depends on the results, which will be out after game 7 ends on May 1st.
Who will the leafs play in the second round?
The Toronto Maple Leafs' second-round playoff opponent will either be the Boston Bruins or the Florida Panthers, depending on the results of the first-round games, which will be determined after Game 7.
When does the second round of the nhl playoffs start?
The second round of the NHL Playoffs starts in the second week of May 2023. The first round of the playoffs is scheduled to end on May 1, 2023, so the second round will likely begin in the second week of May 2023.
