How Does Explaining how the NHL playoffs work Work?

There are 16 teams in the playoffs, and they fight to be the best team in hockey, like a big tournament at a playground.

Only the top 8 teams from each of two groups, called conferences, get into the playoffs. Think of it like being invited to the final round of a race: if you're one of the fastest runners, you get to run in the big race at the end.

Once they’re in, the teams play in rounds, just like in a game of tag. First, there are four matches, called series, where two teams face off. The winner of each match moves on to the next round, and eventually, only one team is left: the champion.

Each series goes up to 7 games, which means if a team wins 4 games before that, they win the series. It’s like playing a game with your friend, whoever gets to 10 points first wins, but you can keep playing until someone reaches 10.

The final match is called the Stanley Cup Final, and it's where the best teams meet for one last big game!