<P> At the end of the regular season , 16 teams qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs , an elimination tournament consisting of three rounds of best - of - seven series to determine which team from each conference will advance to the final round , dubbed the Stanley Cup Final . The top three teams in each division earn automatic berths ( 6 teams per conference ) and the next two teams in the conference earn wild - card spots . The First Round pits the top ranked team in the conference against the lower ranked wild - card and the other division winner against the higher ranked wild - card . The second and third place teams in each division play each other . The top ranked team in a division , along with its wild card opponent and the second and third ranked teams of the same division comprise a group or bracket during the First Round , and the two winners will meet in the Second Round . The Western Conference ( Pacific vs. Central divisional bracket champions ) and Eastern Conference ( Atlantic vs. Metropolitan divisional bracket champions ) Finals will determine who faces off in the Stanley Cup Finals . </P>
<P> At the end of the regular season , 16 teams qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs , an elimination tournament consisting of three rounds of best - of - seven series to determine which team from each conference will advance to the final round , dubbed the Stanley Cup Final . The top three teams in each division earn automatic berths ( 6 teams per conference ) and the next two teams in the conference earn wild - card spots . The First Round pits the top ranked team in the conference against the lower ranked wild - card and the other division winner against the higher ranked wild - card . The second and third place teams in each division play each other . The top ranked team in a division , along with its wild card opponent and the second and third ranked teams of the same division comprise a group or bracket during the First Round , and the two winners will meet in the Second Round . The Western Conference ( Pacific vs. Central divisional bracket champions ) and Eastern Conference ( Atlantic vs. Metropolitan divisional bracket champions ) Finals will determine who faces off in the Stanley Cup Finals . </P>
how many games are in a series in hockey
how many games are in a series in hockey
seven
seven