the 2018–19 nhl season was the 102nd season of operation (101st season of play) of the national hockey league. 31 teams competed in an 82-game regular season. the regular season began on october 3, 2018, and ended on april 6, 2019. the 2019 stanley cup playoffs began on april 10, 2019, and the stanley cup finals concluded on june 12, 2019, with the st. louis blues winning their first stanley cup in the finals over the boston bruins in seven games.