Half. 32 teams, two conferences, two x two = four divisions.
Top three teams from each division go, next best two per conference (wild cards) go.
The #1 in conference faces wild card #2, #1 in division that isn’t #1 in conference faces wild card #1, division #2 faces same division #3.
Games are best of seven, higher seed gets home ice in games 1, 2, 5, and 7.
Regular season does mean a lot.