Has anybody filled out a hockey playoff bracket?

[PatsFan1283]

slap don't you think the bracket instead of re-seedings hurts the higher seeded teams. On average, over a large sample, this will decrease the chances they can play lower seeded teams. While hockey is a little more about momentum and random, higher seeds are still usually better.

Feels like it screws the teams with the top record a little.

 

[slapshot]

slap don't you think the bracket instead of re-seedings hurts the higher seeded teams. On average, over a large sample, this will decrease the chances they can play lower seeded teams. While hockey is a little more about momentum and random, higher seeds are still usually better.

Feels like it screws the teams with the top record a little.

yeah not really sold on it at first as you look Boston as a 1 will play a 3-4 seed and Pitt as the 2 get a 5-6 seed

but with the the realignment of divisions and a more weighted schedule toward division play it makes more sense when you look at it as 4 conferences in stead of divisions

 

[JohnnyMac]

so this matchup lasts for one line change?

In hockey, you have free substitutions, of course. Teams can change players as soon as the puck drops, and many times they will take certain players off the ice after only a few seconds to avoid a bad match-up, or put players right back on the ice to get a favorable match-up. It is the game within the game.

 

[MikeB]

Home Ice is HUGE

every face off the visiting team puts 5 players on the ice first then the home team can see who is on the ice and put out the 5 he wants

This is very important. Of course a player can come right off the ice and change it around, but this is what makes it unique.