Great Teams, Bad Brackets: What’s Wrong With the NHL Playoff Setup

The point system

I have heard nothing but complaints about the NHL point system. I’ve witnessed it too many times: When the game is tied late in the third period and neither team is willing to take a chance, I’m waiting for the game to go to overtime. The NHL will never change because they want as many teams in the playoff hunt at the end of the season as possible. Fans will continue to walk through the gate as long as their teams remain in the playoff hunt.  

The system of three points for a win, two for an overtime win, and one for an overtime loss has some merit. It separates the haves from the have-nots. It motivates teams to win in regulation. I’m okay with it, but to be honest, I like having a sense of meaning at the end of the season.

What is the biggest challenge going into the playoffs?

The biggest complaint is that the Avalanche, Wild, and Stars are in the same division. As a result, two of them will be out in the first two rounds. This has to be fixed; the league must consider 1-8. There’s a better chance we would have had a better final.

I understand the NHL’s decision. They do not want to remove rivalries from the playoffs. Clearly, Colorado, Minnesota, and Dallas are the three best teams in the West. Losing two of those three teams in the early round is clearly an error in judgment.

Final

The playoffs have been fun to watch this year, especially in the East. It is wide open with no clear favorite. I know most people favor the Tampa Bay Lightning. I think the Buffalo Sabres could beat Tampa in a seven-game series. In the Metro, obviously, Carolina is the team to beat. They will have an easier route to the final than Tampa or Buffalo. And in any case, it will be fun for the fans to watch.

In the West, you can pick any one of Minnesota, Colorado, or Dallas. You have to be happy for Utah fans, because it will be easier for them to reach the final than for the other three teams, because Utah will be the top wild-card team and play the Pacific Division, which is clearly the weaker division.

As for the Pacific division, it looks like the Anaheim Ducks are in first place, followed by the Oilers and the Knights, who are falling all over each other not to win, although the Oilers had a huge win over Utah on the road.