23 teams qualify for the postseason in the American Hockey League.
The playoff field will include the top six finishers in the Atlantic Division, the top five finishers each in the North and Central Divisions, and the top seven teams in the Pacific Division.
Home-ice advantage in all series will be granted to the team with more points in the regular-season standings.
The first round will be best-of-three series. Division semifinals and division finals will be best-of-five series; conference finals and the Calder Cup Finals are in a best-of-seven format.
The playoff field will include the top six finishers in the Atlantic Division, the top five finishers each in the North and Central Divisions, and the top seven teams in the Pacific Division.
Home-ice advantage in all series will be granted to the team with more points in the regular-season standings.
The first round will be best-of-three series. Division semifinals and division finals will be best-of-five series; conference finals and the Calder Cup Finals are in a best-of-seven format.
Following are the tiebreaking procedures used in the event of a tie in the standings, regardless of division, following the completion of the regular season. When a tie among three or more teams is broken resulting in a two-team tie, the original tiebreaking method is used.
Between two teams:
a) games won in regulation (excluding overtime/shootouts)
b) games won in regulation or overtime (excluding shootouts)
c) games won in any manner
d) points in season series between teams
e) goal differential
f) goals scored in season series between teams
g) intra-conference points percentage
Among three or more teams:
a) games won in regulation (excluding overtime/shootouts)
b) games won in regulation or overtime (excluding shootouts)
c) games won in any manner
d) points percentage in combined season series
e) goal differential
f) goal differential in combined season series
g) intra-conference points percentage
Between two teams:
a) games won in regulation (excluding overtime/shootouts)
b) games won in regulation or overtime (excluding shootouts)
c) games won in any manner
d) points in season series between teams
e) goal differential
f) goals scored in season series between teams
g) intra-conference points percentage
Among three or more teams:
a) games won in regulation (excluding overtime/shootouts)
b) games won in regulation or overtime (excluding shootouts)
c) games won in any manner
d) points percentage in combined season series
e) goal differential
f) goal differential in combined season series
g) intra-conference points percentage
