Hockey playoff squares bring a unique twist to the format. Low scores mean every single goal shifts the grid. Our free platform handles live scoring and winner detection automatically from the first round through the Stanley Cup Finals.
Pick a game and create your squares grid in seconds.
NHL playoff squares adapt the classic football squares format for hockey. A 10x10 grid creates 100 squares, each representing a unique combination of score digits. Winners are determined by the last digit of each team's score at the end of each period. You do not need to know anything about hockey to play.
Hockey's low-scoring nature makes squares uniquely exciting. In a sport where a typical game might end 3-2 or 4-1, every single goal dramatically shifts the grid. A late third-period goal can completely change who wins, creating moments of pure excitement that higher-scoring sports cannot match.
With scores typically between 0 and 6 per team, the digits 0, 1, 2, and 3 dominate hockey squares. That means fewer winning combinations, but each goal carries far more weight on your grid. Compare that to football's number patterns or basketball's wider distribution.
Four rounds of best-of-7 series means two months of hockey squares.
Eight best-of-7 series running simultaneously. The most action-packed stretch of the entire playoffs.
The competition tightens. Four series with the best remaining teams fighting to advance.
Eastern and Western Conference finals. Two series determining who plays for the Cup.
The ultimate prize in hockey. Run a squares grid for every game of the championship series.
Playoff hockey overtime is sudden death. One goal ends it all, and your grid shifts instantly.
Winner-take-all hockey. The most intense experience in sports deserves its own squares grid.
We handle all the details so you can focus on the games.
Pick any NHL playoff matchup. All teams are available with accurate colors and abbreviations.
Send one link to your office, watch party, or group chat. Players claim squares by entering their name. Works for remote groups too.
Once your grid is full, randomize the numbers with one click. See what makes a good grid for tips.
Live scores update automatically. At the end of each period, the winning square is highlighted.
Our platform handles hockey's three-period format and the unique overtime rules of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Winners determined at the end of P1, P2, and P3. The scoreboard labels periods correctly for hockey.
NHL playoff overtime is sudden death with full 20-minute periods. Choose standard or with-overtime format. Our overtime guide explains both options.
Every team that makes the Stanley Cup Playoffs is available with accurate colors and abbreviations.
Scores update automatically during every playoff game. No refreshing or manual entry needed.
Hockey uses three periods instead of four quarters. Winners are determined at the end of P1, P2, and P3 using the last digit of each team's score. With scores typically low (0-5 per team), the digits 0, 1, 2, and 3 appear most often.
NHL playoff overtime is sudden death, meaning one goal ends the game. In standard mode, the final score determines the P3 winner. In with-overtime mode, end of regulation and the OT final are separate winners. Our overtime guide has full details.
The opposite. Low scores mean every single goal dramatically changes the grid. In basketball, one basket barely moves the needle. In hockey, one goal can flip the entire outcome.
Yes. Each game in a series needs its own squares grid. Create a new game before each puck drop and share it with your group.
Not at all. Squares are 100% luck. Read our guide on squares for non-sports fans to see why everyone enjoys it.
Yes, completely free. No premium tiers, no limits on games, no hidden fees.
Run squares for football and basketball too.
Tips, guides, and strategies from our blog.
Standard vs. With Overtime formats explained, including NHL sudden death scenarios.
How to run a squares game when your group is spread across different locations.
Why you do not need to know anything about hockey to enjoy a squares game.
The unwritten rules that keep your squares game running smoothly for everyone.
Create your playoff squares game in under a minute. Free, easy, and your group will love it.
Create Playoff Squares Game