Each team plays 84 regular season games across a demanding schedule that balances home fixtures and road trips. The league expanded this total from 82 games, setting up a balanced format where every club plays 42 games at home and 42 on the road. Across the entire 32-team league, this structure accounts for 1,344 total matchups designed to test depth, stamina, and roster durability from late September through early April.
Understanding this schedule requires looking past the raw game count and examining how the league distributes those matchups against division rivals, conference opponents, and teams from across the opposite conference.
Breaking Down the Matchup Math
The 84-game slate isn't random. The National Hockey League uses a precise formula so that every franchise faces a balanced mix of local rivals and distant opponents.
- Division opponents: Each team plays its seven division rivals four times each, totaling 28 games. This includes two games at home and two on the road.
- Conference opponents: Teams face the eight other clubs in their conference three times each, making for 24 games.
- Inter-conference opponents: Every club plays the 16 teams from the opposing conference twice, once at home and once away, accounting for 32 games.
This distribution places heavier emphasis on divisional play. Because you meet local rivals four times a year, points earned or lost in these games carry massive weight when fighting for playoff positioning in the spring.
The Evolution of the Schedule Length
Hockey hasn't always featured an 84-game grind. For decades, the league experimented with different formats as franchises joined and left.
For a long stretch, teams played an 82-game schedule that kept travel manageable while maximizing gate revenue. Prior to that, formats fluctuated wildly throughout the mid-20th century when the Original Six teams played 50 or 70 games a year. Expansion eras brought further adjustments, leading up to the modern shift to 84 games to increase rivalries and provide more marquee matchups for fans.
Shortened seasons also occurred due to labor disputes or global disruptions. For example, lockout-shortened campaigns slashed schedules down to 48 games, while the 2012-13 and 1994-95 seasons required compressed calendars.
How the Points System Works
Winning games is only part of the equation. The standings rely on a points system that rewards perseverance past regulation time.
- Regulation or Overtime Win: Worth 2 points.
- Overtime or Shootout Loss: Worth 1 point.
- Regulation Loss: Worth 0 points.
When a game is tied after three 20-minute periods, teams play a 5-minute 3-on-3 overtime. If nobody scores, a shootout decides the extra point. This system ensures that close, hard-fought losses still yield a point, keeping the playoff race tight until the final week of the season.
Managing the Grind: Travel and Back-to-Backs
Playing 84 games over roughly six months means teams frequently face brutal travel schedules. Coast-to-coast flights, time zone changes, and back-to-back fixtures test the physical limits of every skater on the roster.
Coaches must manage player workloads carefully. Relying too heavily on a star goaltender during a stretch of three games in four nights leads to fatigue and injuries. Backup goalies play a vital role here, absorbing starts to keep the primary netminder fresh for crucial divisional showdowns.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many home games does each team play?
Every team plays 42 home games and 42 away games to maintain a fair balance across the 84-game schedule.
Do all teams finish their 84 games on the same day?
No. While the regular season ends on a coordinated closing date, individual teams often experience rain delays, weather postponements, or arena conflicts that cause their games played counters to drift out of sync during the final month.
What happens if teams finish with the same number of points?
When two teams tie in points, the first tiebreaker is regulation wins, followed by regulation plus overtime wins, and then head-to-head records. Points percentage is also used if teams have played an unequal number of games.
How many teams qualify for the postseason?
Sixteen teams make the playoffs. The top three teams from each of the four divisions qualify automatically, alongside two wild card teams from each conference.
