Season structure of the NHL Season structure of the NHL The season structure of the National Hockey League (NHL) is divided into the regular season and the Stanley Cup playoffs. In the regular season, which generally runs from early October through early April, teams play 82 games which determine their standings. The three highest-placed teams in each division and two wild card teams per conference enter the playoff elimination tournament to determine the Stanley Cup champion. Since the 1995–96 season, each team in the NHL plays 82 regular season games, 41 each of home and road. In all, 1,271 games are scheduled (480 of them
Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy Kristian Kuusela (Tappara) 2016-17: Henrik Haapala (Tappara) 2017-18: Antti Suomela (JYP) Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy The Veli-Pekka Ketola trophy is an ice hockey trophy awarded by the Finnish Liiga to the player who scores the most points during regular season play. To date, Steve Kariya and Martin Kariya are the only two brothers to win the title. Trophy winners: 1977-78: Henry Saleva (Kärpät) 1978-79: Veli-Pekka Ketola (Ässät) 1979-80: Matti Hagman (HIFK) 1980-81: Reijo Leppänen (TPS) 1981-82: Reijo Leppänen (TPS) 1982-83: Matti Hagman (HIFK) 1983-84: Matti Hagman (HIFK) 1984-85: Matti Hagman (HIFK) 1985-86: Arto Javanainen (Ässät) 1986-87: Kari Jalonen (Kärpät) 1987-88: Esa