<P> The Stanley Cup playoffs consists of four rounds of best - of - seven series . Each series is played in a 2--2--1--1--1 format, meaning the team with home - ice advantage hosts games one, two, five, and seven, while their opponent hosts games three, four, and six . Games five, six, and seven are only played if needed . </P> <P> Eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs . In the playoff series format instituted in 2014, the first, second, and third place team in each of the four divisions qualify for the playoffs automatically . Two additional teams from each conference, regardless of divisional alignment, also qualify for the playoffs by having the highest point totals out of the remaining teams in the conference . These teams are referred to as the Wild Cards . Since there is no attention paid to divisional alignment with the wild cards, it is possible for one division in each conference to have five teams in the postseason while the other has just three . </P> <P> In the First Round, the teams are split into two separate brackets by division . Each bracket consists of the top three divisional qualifiers and one of the wild cards . The lower seeded wild card plays against the division winner with the best record while the other wild card plays against the other division winner, and both wild cards are de facto #4 seeds . The other two series match the second and third place teams from the divisions . </P> <P> The winners of both First Round series advance to the Second Round . The reseeding in the previous format, which ensured the top seed would play the lowest remaining seed, was discarded . The winners of these series advance to the Conference Finals and the two Conference Final winners move on to the Stanley Cup Finals . </P>

Who has home ice advantage in the nhl playoffs