About NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2024-2025

The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are one of the most exciting events on the North American sporting calendar each year, being the culmination of the NHL (National Hockey League) season. In the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, the best 16 hockey teams over the course of the 2023-24 NHL regular season will do battle in game after game of nail-biting, nerve-shredding, heart-pounding action on the ice. Each best-of-seven series will determine the right to move on through the four rounds of the Playoffs with the ultimate goal of realizing the dream of every little boy who has ever laced up skates: the chance to lift (and kiss) the legendary Stanley Cup trophy as NHL champions. And you can be there to witness it all if you get straight onto TicketX, where we’ve got all the best Stanley Cup Playoffs tickets waiting for you!

How can I get the cheapest tickets to 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff hockey games?

With everything on the line for the teams involved, NHL Stanley Cup Playoff hockey games are always among the most popular sporting events of the year. NHL playoff games are generally sold out, with fans filling arenas across Canada and the US to try and inspire their team on to victory. However, with so much demand and season ticket holders having priority, tickets to NHL Stanley Cup Playoff hockey games often sell out quickly. For your best shot at the cheapest NHL Stanley Cup Playoff hockey tickets, trust TicketX! TicketX lists all tickets as soon as they hit the market and our handy seating chart is ideal for comparing prices and seat locations. Unlike other resale sites like StubHub, SeatGeek, and TicketMaster that vary fees by venue, ticket type, or ticket price, TicketX sticks with a fixed fee of 20%. Buy your NHL Stanley Cup Playoff hockey tickets with a single click, all with the lowest commission fees around! 

How much do tickets to NHL Stanley Cup Playoff hockey cost?

Tickets to NHL Stanley Cup Playoff hockey starting from are available from TicketX. Prices are subject to change due to demand and other factors, so get your stick on the ice and buy your tickets today!

When will the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs be taking place?

The Stanley Cup Playoffs generally start a few days after the end of the NHL Regular Season, which ends this year on April 18, 2024. Exact dates for the four series of the NHL Eastern Conference First Round and four series of the NHL Western Conference First Round will be announced after the end of the NHL Regular Season. Dates for the following three rounds (Second Round, Conference Finals, Stanley Cup Finals) will be announced after the preceding round concludes.

Check back on this TicketX page after April 18 for a full 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round schedule along with all available tickets. And please check back again at the conclusion of each round for each next round’s schedule and list of available tickets.

Where will the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs be taking place?

The 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs will be held at the home arenas of all 16 NHL teams that qualify for the postseason based on their ranking during the 2023-2024 NHL Regular Season. Because each matchup involves a best-of-seven series, the higher ranked team will host a maximum of 4 home games (if necessary), while the lower ranked team will host a maximum of 3 home games (if necessary). Both teams from each series will each host a minimum of 2 home games. Because the NHL is split into Eastern and Western Conferences (with 8 teams qualifying from each conference), venues will be somewhat spread out across the breadth of Canada and the United States. Note that out of the 32 teams in the NHL, 7 teams are from Canada while 25 teams are from the United States.

Which NHL teams will be playing in the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs? When will we know which teams will be playing in the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs? 

Because the 16 NHL teams that qualify for the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are chosen based on their overall results over the 82 games of the 2023-2024 NHL Regular Season, the playoff picture can change right up until April 18, when the final games of the Regular Season are played. Because the best 8 teams from each Conference (Eastern and Western) qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, some teams have already mathematically booked their place. Other teams are still in contention for one of the final spots (while some others are already booking their holidays on a beach or golf course somewhere…). 

NHL teams playing in the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

Eastern Conference

Qualified: New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders, Washington Capitals 

Western Conference

Qualified: Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets, Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights

How do the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs work? What is the format of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs?

The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs consist of 4 playoff rounds:

1. The First Round - NHL Eastern Conference First Round and NHL Western Conference First Round - 16 teams playing 8 best-of-seven series (the “Round of 16”)

2. The Second Round - NHL Eastern Conference Second Round and NHL Western Conference Second Round - 8 teams playing 4 best-of-seven series (the “Quarterfinals”)

3. The Conference Finals - NHL Eastern Conference Finals and NHL Western Conference Finals - 4 teams playing 2 best-of-seven series (the “Semifinals”)

4. The NHL Stanley Cup Finals - 2 teams playing 1 best-of-seven series (the “Final”)

In each best-of-seven series, a team requires 4 victories to move on to the next round (and send the other guys home!). This means that each series can last between 4 games (a sweep) to 7 games. There is no drama in the world like a Game Seven decider!

Also, unlike in the Regular Season where ties (draws) are decided with a 5-minute 3-on-3 overtime period followed by a shootout (if necessary), any NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs game that ends in a tie after three periods enters the dreaded (but amazingly intense!) world of sudden death overtime. This means that the teams play on until somebody scores a goal. Usually this occurs within the first overtime period, but previous NHL Playoffs have seen much longer sudden death overtime games (double overtime, triple, even more) upon occasion. 

Who will win the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs?

In the Eastern Conference, the teams to beat in 2024 seem to be the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, and Carolina Hurricanes, though the Florida Panthers may also have something to say about that. Torontonians (though no one else from Canada!) will be hoping that the Toronto Maple Leafs can surprise some teams and end the 31-year Stanley Cup Canadian team drought (and Leafs’ 57-years drought!). 

In the Western Conference, many experts have long tipped the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars to be the teams to watch, but the Vancouver Canucks have come out of nowhere this year to record their first 100 point season in a decade. The Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers may also bolster the Canadian contingent, while the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Vegas Golden Knights, still not yet qualified, will be hoping to repeat their 2023 success.

Who are the players to watch in the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs?

Obviously, every team that makes the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs will have exciting players to watch, but for a shortlist from around the league, here are a few to keep your eye on. For spectacular goals and crucial assists, look no further than top scorers like Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, Connor MacDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and David Pasternak of the Boston Bruins. For defensive stalwarts, Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks, Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, and Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers are all very hard to get past, as are top goalies Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers, Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins, and Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers. That said, the Playoffs have a way of creating legends of unsung and unknown heroes too!

What is the Stanley Cup? What is the history of the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

The Stanley Cup is one of the oldest, most iconic, and most beautiful trophies in all of professional sports. The Cup was donated by Lord Stanley, Governor General of Canada, in 1892 to be awarded to Canada’s annual ice hockey champions decided by a set of playoffs. Contested at first by amateur teams, the Stanley Cup Playoffs soon evolved into a professional competition that was essentially taken over fully by the NHL (including American teams) from 1926 onward. The Stanley Cup has the names of all of its winners engraved on its sides and is known for its many strange adventures over the years. Players also actually use it as a cup, drinking champagne from the top of it! To learn more about the Stanley Cup and its Playoffs, a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto is highly recommended.

Which teams have the best record in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs?

The Montreal Canadiens have won more Stanley Cups than any other team, with an astonishing 24 Cups to their name, with their Canadian archrivals the Toronto Maple Leafs on 13. With the Canadiens‘ last Cup coming in 1993, however, and the hapless Leafs most recent triumph coming way back in 1967, it has been a long time since either of these storied franchises have tasted silver. In fact, no team from Canada has won the Stanley Cup since the Canadiens in 1993, despite the Canucks, Flames, and Oilers all coming within a Game Seven of doing so. In recent decades, the increase in teams has inevitably led to the Stanley Cup being shared around a bit more, though the Detroit Red Wings, Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, and the Tampa Bay Lightning have figured prominently. Last year, the Vegas Golden Knights, the newest team in the NHL, took the Playoffs by storm as they claimed the 2023 Stanley Cup. Who will add their name to the Cup in 2024? Get your tickets now from TicketX and find out!

Are NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs games exciting?

There is nothing quite like the speed and intensity of an NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs game, where the hopes and dreams of generations of fans can hover on the edge of a skate blade in sudden death overtime. The hits get harder, the shots come faster, and the goals mean more in the Playoffs. Many teams ask fans to dress in a certain color (as in Winnipeg’s Whiteouts) or participate in a certain tradition (Vancouver’s waving of white towels) to spur on the home team. How can you get involved in such an exciting event? Get on TicketX right now and buy your NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs before it’s too late!

2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Schedule

We will post the full 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Schedule here as soon as it is announced.

First Round

Eastern Conference

• Florida Panthers vs Tampa Bay Lightning

  • Game 1 - April 21 @ Amerant Bank Arena

  • Game 2 - April 23 @ Amerant Bank Arena

  • Game 3 - April 25 @ Amalie Arena

  • Game 4 - April 27 @ Amalie Arena

  • Game 5 (if necessary) April 29 @ Amerant Bank Arena

  • Game 6 (if necessary) - May 1 @ Amalie Arena

  • Game 7 (if necessary) - May 4 @ Amerant Bank Arena

• Toronto Maple Leafs vs Boston Bruins

  • Game 1 - April 20 @ TD Garden

  • Game 2 - April 22 @ TD Garden

  • Game 3 - April 24 @ Scotiabank Arena

  • Game 4 - April 27 @ Scotiabank Arena

  • Game 5 (if necessary) April 30 @ TD Garden

  • Game 6 (if necessary) - May 2 @ Scotiabank Arena

  • Game 7 (if necessary) - May 4 @ TD Garden

• Washington Capitals vs New York Rangers

  • Game 1 - April 21 @ Madison Square Garden

  • Game 2 - April 23 @ Madison Square Garden

  • Game 3 - April 26 @ Capital One Arena

  • Game 4 - April 28 @ Capital One Arena

  • Game 5 (if necessary) May 1 @ Madison Square Garden

  • Game 6 (if necessary) - May 3 @ Capital One Arena

  • Game 7 (if necessary) - May 5 @ Madison Square Garden

• Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders

  • Game 1 - April 20 @ PNC Arena

  • Game 2 - April 22 @ PNC Arena

  • Game 3 - April 25 @ UBS Arena

  • Game 4 - April 27 @ UBS Arena

  • Game 5 (if necessary) April 30 @ PNC Arena

  • Game 6 (if necessary) - May 2 @ UBS Arena

  • Game 7 (if necessary) - May 4 @ PNC Arena

Western Conference

• Vegas Golden Knights vs Dallas Stars

  • Game 1 - April 21 @ American Airlines Center

  • Game 2 - April 23 @ American Airlines Center

  • Game 3 - April 25 @ T-Mobile Arena

  • Game 4 - April 27 @ T-Mobile Arena

  • Game 5 (if necessary) April 29 @ American Airlines Center

  • Game 6 (if necessary) - May 1 @ T-Mobile Arena

  • Game 7 (if necessary) - May 4 @ American Airlines Center

• Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado Avalanche

  • Game 1 - April 20 @ Canada Life Centre

  • Game 2 - April 22 @ Canada Life Centre

  • Game 3 - April 24 @ Ball Arena

  • Game 4 - April 27 @ Ball Arena

  • Game 5 (if necessary) April 30 @ Canada Life Centre

  • Game 6 (if necessary) - May 2 @ Ball Arena

  • Game 7 (if necessary) - May 4 @ Canada Life Centre

• Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators

  • Game 1 - April 21 @ Rogers Arena

  • Game 2 - April 23 @ Rogers Arena

  • Game 3 - April 26 @ Bridgestone Arena

  • Game 4 - April 28 @ Bridgestone Arena

  • Game 5 (if necessary) May 1 @ Rogers Arena

  • Game 6 (if necessary) - May 3 @ Bridgestone Arena

  • Game 7 (if necessary) - May 5 @ Rogers Arena

• Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings

  • Game 1 - April 20 @ Rogers Place

  • Game 2 - April 22 @ Rogers Place

  • Game 3 - April 25 @ Crypto.com Arena

  • Game 4 - April 27 @ Crypto.com Arena

  • Game 5 (if necessary) April 30 @ Rogers Place

  • Game 6 (if necessary) - May 2 @ Crypto.com Arena

  • Game 7 (if necessary) - May 4 @ Rogers Place

Second Round

Eastern Conference

• Florida Panthers vs Boston Bruins

  • Game 1 - May 6 @ Amerant Bank Arena

  • Game 2 - May 8  @ Amerant Bank Arena

  • Game 3 - May 10 @ TD Garden

  • Game 4 - May 12 @ TD Garden

  • Game 5 (if necessary) May 14 @ Amerant Bank Arena

  • Game 6 (if necessary) - May 17 @ TD Garden

  • Game 7 (if necessary) - May 19 @ Amerant Bank Arena

• New York Rangers vs. Carolina Hurricanes

  • Game 1 - May 5 @ Madison Square Garden

  • Game 2 - May 7 @ Madison Square Garden

  • Game 3 - May 9 @ PNC Arena

  • Game 4 - May 11 @ PNC Arena

  • Game 5 (if necessary) May 13 @ Madison Square Garden

  • Game 6 (if necessary) - May 16 @ PNC Arena

  • Game 7 (if necessary) - May 18 @ Madison Square Garden

Western Conference

• Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche

  • Game 1 - May 7 @ American Airlines Center

  • Game 2 - May 9 @ American Airlines Center

  • Game 3 - May 11 @ Ball Arena

  • Game 4 - May 13 @ Ball Arena

  • Game 5 (if necessary) - May 15 @ American Airlines Center

  • Game 6 (if necessary) - May 17 @ Ball Arena

  • Game 7 (if necessary) - May 19 @ American Airlines Center

• Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers

  • Game 1 - May 8 @ Rogers Arena

  • Game 2 - May 10 @ Rogers Arena

  • Game 3 - May 12 @ Rogers Place

  • Game 4 - May 14 @ Rogers Place

  • Game 5 (if necessary) May 16 @ Rogers Arena

  • Game 6 (if necessary) - May 18 @ Rogers Place

  • Game 7 (if necessary) - May 20 @ Rogers Arena