The 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 15, 2009, after the 2008–09 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference (the winner of each of the three divisions plus the 5 teams with highest point totals from the teams remaining), play a best-of-seven series for the conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions will play a best-of-seven series for the Stanley Cup. The Columbus Blue Jackets made their first appearance in the playoffs in their nine year history. Previously they had been the only franchise to have not made the playoffs. Also, home teams set a record by going 13-2 in the openers of all the series combined.