How does the National Hockey League structure its season schedule?

The National Hockey League divides its season into parts, just like how you divide your day into morning, afternoon, and night.

The NHL season is split into two main parts called the regular season. This part usually lasts about 82 games for each team. Each game is played on a big icy surface called an rink, where players skate really fast and try to shoot a puck into the other team’s net.

Each team plays against other teams in their own group, which is like having your own class in school. They also play against teams from other groups, it's like visiting another classroom for fun games. This helps everyone get to know each other better and makes the season more exciting.

After the regular season ends, the best teams go into something called playoffs. It’s like having a special tournament where only the top players compete. They play in rounds until there's one champion, just like how you might have a race to see who can run the fastest around the playground.