2012 Stanley Cup playoffs

The 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League (NHL) will begin on April 11, 2012, after the conclusion of the 2011–12 NHL regular season.

As part of the NHL's new American TV contract with NBC, this will be the first time that all playoff games will air nationally in the United States on NBC, NBC Sports Network, or another NBC-owned cable network such as CNBC or MSNBC. American regional sports networks may still carry their teams' first round games, but any games from the second round onward will be exclusive to one of NBC's networks.

Playoff seeds

After the regular season, the standard 16 teams will qualify for the playoffs. The New York Rangers were the Eastern Conference regular season champions, and will finish the season with 109 or 111 points. The St. Louis Blues or the Vancouver Canucks will earn the top seed in the Western Conference. As of April 5, 2012, the conference standings are as noted below, with each team listed having clinched a playoff spot.

Eastern Conference

1. New York Rangers – Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference regular season champions
2. Boston Bruins – Northeast Division champions
3. Florida Panthers – currently leading the Southeast Division
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
5. Philadelphia Flyers
6. New Jersey Devils
7. Ottawa Senators
8. Washington Capitals

Western Conference

1. Vancouver Canucks – Northwest Division champions
2. St. Louis Blues – Central Division champions
3. Los Angeles Kings – currently leading the Pacific Division
4. Nashville Predators
5. Detroit Red Wings
6. Chicago Blackhawks
7. San Jose Sharks
8. Phoenix Coyotes

Playoff bracket

In each round, the highest remaining seed in each conference is matched against the lowest remaining seed. The higher-seeded team is awarded home ice advantage. In the Stanley Cup Finals, home ice is determined based on regular season points. Each best-of-seven series follows a 2–2–1–1–1 format: the higher-seeded team plays at home for games one and two (and games five and seven, if necessary), and the lower-seeded team is at home for games three and four (and game six, if necessary).