The NHL, short for the National Hockey League, is the top professional ice hockey league in North America. It features 32 teams from the United States and Canada and attracts millions of hockey fans every season.
NHL games are known for their speed, physical play, skilled players, powerful shots, and dramatic finishes. Fans follow everything from daily NHL scores and standings to individual player statistics and the race for the Stanley Cup.
The 2026–27 NHL season is already underway. The regular season features 1,344 games, with every team scheduled to play 84 games. The season began on September 29, 2026, and the regular season is scheduled to end on April 10, 2027.
What Is the NHL?
The National Hockey League is the highest level of professional ice hockey in North America.
The league was founded in 1917 and has grown into a major professional sports organization with teams across the United States and Canada.
NHL teams compete during the regular season for standings points and playoff positions. The best teams eventually compete in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where they fight for the league championship.
The Stanley Cup is one of the most recognized trophies in professional sports.
How Many Teams Are in the NHL?
The NHL currently has 32 teams.
These teams are divided into two conferences:
- Eastern Conference
- Western Conference
Each conference contains two divisions, giving the NHL four divisions overall.
The structure helps organize the regular-season schedule and playoff qualification.
NHL Teams
Here are all 32 NHL teams:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
- Boston Bruins
- Buffalo Sabres
- Detroit Red Wings
- Florida Panthers
- Montreal Canadiens
- Ottawa Senators
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Toronto Maple Leafs
Metropolitan Division
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- New Jersey Devils
- New York Islanders
- New York Rangers
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Washington Capitals
Western Conference
Central Division
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Colorado Avalanche
- Dallas Stars
- Minnesota Wild
- Nashville Predators
- St. Louis Blues
- Utah Mammoth
- Winnipeg Jets
Pacific Division
- Anaheim Ducks
- Calgary Flames
- Edmonton Oilers
- Los Angeles Kings
- San Jose Sharks
- Seattle Kraken
- Vancouver Canucks
- Vegas Golden Knights
The NHL’s 2026–27 opening rosters were officially announced before the regular season began.
NHL Conferences and Divisions
The NHL’s conference and division system makes it easier to follow the league.
The Eastern Conference contains the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions.
The Western Conference contains the Central and Pacific divisions.
Teams play a mixture of divisional, conference, and interconference games throughout the season.
Division games can be particularly important because they can influence playoff positioning and tiebreakers.
NHL Schedule
The NHL schedule tells fans when and where games will take place.
The 2026–27 regular season contains 1,344 games. Each team will play 84 regular-season games, which is two more than in previous 82-game seasons.
The regular season began on September 29, 2026.
All 32 teams are scheduled to be in action on April 10, 2027, the final day of the regular season.
NHL Games Today
The NHL schedule changes every day, so fans can check the latest matchups before each game.
On October 8, 2026, the schedule includes games featuring teams such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, and several other NHL clubs.
The schedule includes 10 games on the day.
Game times vary throughout the evening, giving fans several opportunities to watch NHL hockey.
NHL Scores
NHL scores show the results of completed games and the current score of games in progress.
A typical NHL score may look like:
Team A 4, Team B 2
This means Team A scored four goals and Team B scored two.
Fans often search for:
- NHL scores today
- NHL scores tonight
- NHL live scores
- NHL results
- hockey scores
- NHL game results
- latest NHL scores
Scores are useful for checking how a favorite team performed and how the result affects the standings.
NHL Standings
NHL standings show how teams are performing during the regular season.
A standings table usually includes:
| Statistic | Meaning |
| GP | Games played |
| W | Wins |
| L | Regulation losses |
| OT | Overtime losses |
| PTS | Standings points |
| GF | Goals for |
| GA | Goals against |
| Diff | Goal differential |
The standings become increasingly important as the season moves toward the playoffs.
How NHL Points Work
NHL standings use a points system.
A team receives:
- 2 points for a win
- 1 point for an overtime or shootout loss
- 0 points for a regulation loss
This system means a team can collect a standings point even when it loses a game.
That is why fans should look at points rather than only counting wins when comparing teams.
How Does NHL Hockey Work?
An NHL game is played on an ice rink.
Two teams compete against each other, with each team trying to score more goals than its opponent.
Players use sticks to move and shoot a small rubber puck.
The basic objective is simple:
Score more goals than the other team.
NHL hockey is fast because players constantly move between offense and defense.
How Long Is an NHL Game?
An NHL regulation game has three periods.
Each period lasts 20 minutes of playing time.
There are breaks between periods.
The actual time required to complete a game is longer than 60 minutes because the clock stops during certain situations, including whistles, goals, and penalties.
Overtime can make a game even longer.
What Happens When an NHL Game Is Tied?
If a regular-season NHL game is tied after regulation, the teams play overtime.
If the game remains tied after overtime, a shootout is used to determine the winner.
This creates a final result for every regular-season game.
Playoff games use a different overtime format because playoff games must continue until a winner is determined.
NHL Players and Positions
NHL teams use players in different positions.
The main positions are:
- Center
- Left wing
- Right wing
- Defenseman
- Goaltender
Center
Centers usually play an important role in both offense and defense.
They take faceoffs and help create scoring opportunities.
Wingers
Left and right wingers usually operate along the sides of the offensive zone.
They can score goals, create assists, and support defensive play.
Defensemen
Defensemen protect their own goal while also helping create offensive opportunities.
Goaltender
The goaltender, commonly called the goalie, protects the net.
Goalies can have a major impact on the final NHL score.
NHL Goalies
Goaltending is one of the most important parts of hockey.
A goalie tries to stop shots from entering the net.
Common goalie statistics include:
- Saves
- Goals-against average
- Save percentage
- Shutouts
- Wins
A strong goalie can keep a team in a game even when the opponent creates many scoring chances.
NHL Power Play
A power play occurs when one team has more players on the ice because an opponent has received a penalty.
The team with the extra player has an advantage.
Power plays are important because they can create high-quality scoring opportunities.
Teams with strong power-play units can turn penalties into goals.
NHL Penalty Kill
The penalty kill is the opposite situation.
A team is shorthanded and must defend against an opponent’s power play.
Penalty killing requires strong positioning, communication, and defensive awareness.
A successful penalty kill can change the momentum of a game.
NHL Faceoffs
A faceoff is used to restart play.
Two players compete for the puck after it is dropped by an official.
Faceoff percentage can be an important statistic because winning faceoffs can give teams possession.
However, faceoffs are only one part of the overall game.
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NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are the biggest part of the NHL season.
Teams spend the regular season trying to qualify for the postseason and earn favorable playoff positions.
The playoff field features teams from both conferences.
Unlike the regular season, playoff games cannot simply end in a tie.
If necessary, teams continue playing overtime periods until one team scores the winning goal.
What Is the Stanley Cup?
The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy awarded to the NHL playoff champion.
Winning the Stanley Cup is the ultimate goal for NHL teams.
The trophy has a long history and is one of the most famous championship trophies in sports.
Players, coaches, and team staff all work toward the opportunity to lift it at the end of the postseason.
NHL Rivalries
Rivalries are a major part of NHL culture.
Some of the league’s most famous rivalries involve teams that have competed against each other for decades.
Examples include:
- Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
- Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens
- Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers
- New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders
- Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames
- Colorado Avalanche vs. Detroit Red Wings
Rivalry games often attract extra attention because of the history between the teams.
NHL 2026–27 Season
The 2026–27 season includes several major events.
The regular season began September 29, 2026, and includes 84 games per team.
The schedule also includes international games and outdoor events.
The NHL will hold Global Series games in Finland and Germany during the season.
There will also be multiple outdoor games and the return of the NHL All-Star Game.
NHL Heritage Classic 2026
One of the major outdoor games is the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic.
The Winnipeg Jets will host the Montreal Canadiens at Princess Auto Stadium on October 25, 2026.
The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Outdoor NHL games are popular because they combine traditional hockey atmosphere with large stadium settings.
NHL Winter Classic 2026–27
The 2026–27 season also includes the Discover NHL Winter Classic.
The Utah Mammoth will host the Colorado Avalanche at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on December 31, 2026.
The Winter Classic has become one of the NHL’s most recognizable annual events.
NHL Stadium Series 2027
The Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights are scheduled to meet in the 2027 NHL Stadium Series.
The game will be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on February 20, 2027.
The event gives NHL fans an opportunity to watch professional hockey in a large outdoor football stadium.
NHL All-Star Game 2027
The NHL All-Star Game returns during the 2026–27 season.
The event will take place at UBS Arena on Long Island.
The Skills competition is scheduled for February 5, 2027, followed by the All-Star Game on February 6.
The new format will feature five teams representing Canada, Finland, Sweden, the United States, and a World team.
NHL Broadcast and Streaming Options
NHL games are available through different broadcast and streaming partners depending on the game and location.
For the 2026–27 season, the league’s major national broadcast partners include:
- ESPN
- ABC
- ESPN+
- TNT Sports
- HBO Max
- Sportsnet
The exact availability of a game can depend on location and broadcast rights.
NHL Fantasy Hockey
Fantasy hockey is another popular way to follow the NHL.
Fantasy managers select players and receive points based on their real-world performances.
Important fantasy statistics can include:
- Goals
- Assists
- Points
- Shots
- Power-play points
- Saves
- Wins
- Shutouts
Goalie performance can be especially important in fantasy hockey.
The NHL also publishes fantasy rankings and analysis throughout the season.
NHL Records and Milestones
NHL history is filled with major player and team milestones.
The 2026–27 season is expected to feature several notable milestones.
Sidney Crosby is approaching 700 career goals, while Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy is nearing 400 career wins.
These milestones give fans another reason to follow individual games throughout the season.
Why Is the NHL So Popular?
The NHL combines speed, skill, physical play, strategy, and scoring.
A game can change quickly.
One power play can produce a goal.
One save can prevent a game-winning shot.
One mistake can completely change momentum.
This unpredictability is a major reason fans enjoy watching NHL hockey.
NHL for New Fans
If you are new to hockey, you do not need to understand every rule immediately.
Start with the basics:
- Learn the six positions on the ice.
- Understand what a goal means.
- Learn about penalties.
- Understand power plays.
- Watch how teams transition between offense and defense.
- Follow the standings.
- Learn about the playoff format.
After watching a few games, the rules and strategy become easier to understand.
Best Way to Follow the NHL
A simple way to follow the league is to check four things regularly:
Scores: Find out which teams won.
Schedule: See which games are coming next.
Standings: Understand the playoff race.
Player statistics: Follow the league’s top scorers and goalies.
Together, these four areas give you a strong overview of the NHL season.
NHL vs. Other Major Sports
The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in North America.
| League | Sport | Main Championship |
| NHL | Ice Hockey | Stanley Cup |
| NFL | American Football | Super Bowl |
| NBA | Basketball | NBA Championship |
| MLB | Baseball | World Series |
| MLS | Soccer | MLS Cup |
The NHL is unique because it is played on ice and combines skating, stick handling, shooting, physical contact, and team strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions About NHL
What does NHL stand for?
NHL stands for National Hockey League.
How many teams are in the NHL?
The NHL has 32 teams.
How many games does each NHL team play?
During the 2026–27 season, each team is scheduled to play 84 regular-season games.
How many games are in the NHL regular season?
The 2026–27 NHL regular season contains 1,344 games.
When did the 2026–27 NHL season start?
The regular season began on September 29, 2026.
What is the NHL championship called?
The NHL championship is the Stanley Cup.
How many periods are in hockey?
An NHL regulation game has three 20-minute periods.
What happens if an NHL game is tied?
A regular-season game goes to overtime and, if necessary, a shootout.
How many points does an NHL team get for a win?
A team receives two standings points for a win.
What is a power play in the NHL?
A power play occurs when one team has a player advantage because an opponent has been penalized.
What is a penalty kill?
A penalty kill is when a team plays shorthanded while defending against an opponent’s power play.
Who are some famous NHL players?
The NHL has featured many legendary players, including Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe, Sidney Crosby, and Alex Ovechkin.
Can NHL games go into overtime?
Yes. Regular-season games can go to overtime if the score is tied after regulation.
When does the 2026–27 NHL regular season end?
The regular season is scheduled to end on April 10, 2027, with all 32 teams in action that day.
What is the NHL All-Star Game?
The NHL All-Star Game is a showcase event featuring some of the league’s top players. The 2027 event is scheduled for February 6 at UBS Arena.
Conclusion
The NHL is the premier professional ice hockey league in North America and one of the most exciting sports leagues to follow.
From daily NHL scores and standings to team rivalries, star players, fantasy hockey, outdoor games, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there is always something happening during the season.
The 2026–27 season is especially notable because every team is scheduled to play 84 games, the NHL All-Star Game has returned, and the league has several major outdoor and international events planned.