The following is the announced criteria for scheduling playoff dates
in the NHL post-season. It is a complete nightmare. I will
never again describe any situation arising in college hockey
logsitics as "complex."
NHL announces Stanley Cup playoff changes
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The quest for the 1996 Stanley Cup begins April 16 when 16 teams begin play
with the conference quarterfinals. The four rounds of playoffs will conclude
in June with the crowning of the Stanley Cup champion.
Beginning this season, each series is designed to follow either a "Schedule
A" or "Schedule B" format, subject to building availability. This is
different from past years when the Eastern Conference followed one set of
dates and the Western Conference followed another.
Changing the format for scheduling playoffs should reduce the possibility of
teams playing back-to-back games. The format also will enable doubleheaders
to be televised during the early rounds and it will provide fans the
opportunity to watch games involving their favorite team on one day and
teams in the same conference the next.
The determination of the schedule that a series will follow is based upon
the following criteria: the individual matchup, building availability,
travel issues, television commitments. Any team that plays its first-round
games on Schedule A could play its second-round games on Schedule B based on
the listed factors.
The final playoff schedules will be announced when the matchups are
determined.
Playoff format
All series will be played under a best four-of-seven format in a 2-2-1-1-1
basis with the higher-seeded team getting the first two games of the series
at home and the extra home game. The one exception is a series that would
involve a Central Division team versus a Pacific Division team. In such a
series, the higher-ranked team has the choice of playing a 2-2-1-1-1 or a
2-3-2 format. If the 2-3-2 format is selected, the higher-ranked team also
will have the choice of playing Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 at home or Games 3, 4,
and 5 at home. This option is in place for each of the first three rounds.
Conference quarterfinals (Series A-H)
The four regular season divisional champions are ranked in the first two
positions in their respective conferences, the teams with the greatest
number of points being ranked first in their respective conferences. The
remaining six playoff clubs in each conference will be ranked based on
regular-season points. The following are the matchups based on the rankings:
Series Eastern Conference Western Conference
A 1 (Div. Winner) vs. 8 E 1 (Div. winner) vs. 8
B 2 (Div. winner) vs. 7 F 2 (Div. winner) vs. 7
C 3 vs. 6 G 3 vs. 6
D 4 vs. 5 H 4 vs. 5
Conference semifinals (Series I-L)
For the conference semifinals, the teams will be reseeded based on the same
criteria used in the quarterfinals (division winners, followed by remaining
clubs based on regular-season points). The following are possible scenarios:
If one division winner is eliminated in the conference quarterfinals:
The remaining division winner would be seeded first, followed by the three
remaining teams in order of regular-season points. The No. 1 seed would face
the team with the fewest regular-season points, while the other two teams
would meet.
If both division winners are eliminated in the conference quarterfinals:
The remaining four teams would be ranked based on regular-season points. The
No. 1 seed would face the No. 4 seed, while the No. 2 and No. 3 teams would
meet.
If conference quarterfinal series end early:
The start dates for the conference semifinals may be moved up depending on a
number of factors, including building availability and travel schedules.
Conference finals (Series M and N)
The same criteria used in the selection of order for the conference
quarterfinals will again be in effect. The following are possible scenarios:
If a division winner meets a nondivision winner with more regular-season
points:
The division winner would have home-ice advantage.
If conference semifinal series end early:
The start dates for the conference finals may be moved up depending on a
number of factors, including building availability and travel schedules.
Stanley Cup championship (Series O)
The Eastern Conference champion and Western Conference champion will meet in
the Stanley Cup championship. Home ice will be determined solely by the
higher number of regular-season points. Games will be played on a 2-2-1-1-1
basis. The Stanley Cup championship is scheduled to begin June 4. However,
the series could be moved up to begin May 25, 28 or 30 if early-round
playoff series end quickly.
Tie-breaking procedures
In the event that two or more teams are tied in points at the conclusion of
the regular season, the standing of the teams in each conference will be
determined in the following order:
1. Greater number of games won by the club.
2. Higher number of points earned in games against each other. If two teams
are tied and have not played an equal number of home games against each
other, points earned in the first game played in the city that had the extra
home game shall not be included. If more than two teams are tied, the higher
percentage of available points earned in games among those teams shall be
used to determine the standing.
3. The greater differential between goals scored for and against for the
entire regular season.
The schedule of dates for the Stanley Cup playoffs is as follows:
Conference quarterfinals
Game Schedule A Schedule B
1 Wed., April 17 Tues., April 16
2 Fri., April 19 Thurs., April 18
3 Sun., April 21 Sat., April 20
4 Wed., April 24 Tues., April 23
5* Fri., April 26 Thurs., April 25
6* Sun., April 28 Sat., April 27
7* Tues., April 30 Mon., April 29
Conference semifinals
1 Fri., May 3 Thurs., May 2
2 Sun., May 5 Sat., May 4
3 Tues., May 7 Mon., May 6
4 Fri., May 10 Thurs., May 9
5* Sun., May 12 Sat., May 11
6* Tues., May 14 Mon., May 13
7* Thurs., May 16 Wed., May 15
Conference finals
1 Sun., May 19 Sat., May 18
2 Tues., May 21 Mon., May 20
3 Fri., May 24 Thurs., May 23
4 Sun., May 26 Sat., May 25
5* Tues., May 28 Mon., May 27
6* Thurs., May 30 Wed., May 29
7* Sat., June 1 Fri., May 31
Stanley Cup championship
1 Tues., June 4
2 Thurs., June 6
3 Sat., June 8
4 Mon., June 10
5* Thurs., June 13
6* Sat., June 15
7* Mon., June 17
* if necessary
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