NEW YORK — The National Hockey League’s Board of Governors has approved realignment and a division-based format for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, effective for the 2013-14 season, according to a press release.

The realignment plan creates two eight-team divisions in the Eastern Conference and two seven-team divisions in the Western Conference. The names of the divisions will be formalized at a later date.

The new alignment will place several clubs in more geographically appropriate groupings and will intensify already-fierce rivalries throughout the League.

Minnesota will be in Division “B” of the Western Conference along with Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg and Toronto.