NHL Ice Hockey

Founded in 1917 with only five teams, the NHL now has 30 clubs scattered across the United States and Canada. Twenty-four of the teams are located in the U.S. and six are based in Canada.

The only teams remaining from the original five are the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 1926 the league added the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks and the New York Rangers. Those teams are still in the league.

Teams are divided into the Eastern and Western conferences. Each conference has three divisions of five clubs.

Eastern Conference teams are: Atlantic – New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins; Northeast – Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs; Southeast – Atlanta Thrashers, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals.

Making up the Western Conference are: Central – Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues; Northwest – Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks; Pacific – Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, San Jose Sharks.

Teams play 82 games during the regular season – 32 games within their division, 40 games against non-divisional intra-conference opponents and 10 inter-conference games. The regular season starts in October and ends in April.

Following the regular season, a playoff is held in each conference with the three division champions along with five other teams with the next highest number of points. The teams play a best of seven series with the winner advancing to the next round and the loser being eliminated. The two conference champions meet in the finals with the coveted Stanley Cup being awarded to the winner.

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Edmonton Oilers, four games to three to win the 2006 Stanley Cup.

Other recent NHL champions include: Tampa Bay, 2004; New Jersey, 2003 and 2000; Detroit, 2002, 1998 and 1997; Colorado, 2001 and 1996; and Detroit, 1998 and 1997.

A labor dispute cancelled the complete 2004-2005 season.