"The goal is to deliver more rivalries and repeat match-ups in the early stages, which is noble (unless you're a Kings fan). But it can look kind of ridiculous in a case like this year's Western Conference, where the Anaheim Ducks lead the Pacific Division but would sit a distant fourth if they were moved into the Central."
"In the three games that have involved these three teams this month-Stars-Avs, Avs-Wild, Stars-Avs again-fans have been exclusively treated to overtime stalemates that needed shootouts to determine a winner, and thus have no predictive relevance for the eternal OT of the postseason."
"On Wednesday, with the Stars traveling to Denver in a contest of teams trying to avoid third-place Minnesota in the opening round, it was second-place Dallas who gained a point on the Avs with a 2-1 win that, once again, required a post-OT tiebreak."
The NHL's current playoff format prioritizes divisional rivalries and repeat matchups in early rounds, but this approach can produce unfair outcomes. In the Western Conference, the Avalanche, Stars, and Wild—the three strongest teams—must compete against each other in the first two rounds, while the weaker Ducks advance as division leaders. Recent matchups between these three teams have been highly competitive, featuring multiple overtime games decided by shootouts. These regular-season contests showcase the intensity expected in playoff matchups, with strong goaltending and close scoring determining outcomes.
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