Sean Pickett <[log in to unmask]> writes... >It would appear that the ECAC wants to minimize the chance >of having the two teams play three games in a row. Remember, >the ECAC is the 'academic' league (at least in their own eyes). ;-) Not to mention eliminating the possibility of having to play a triple OT game in games 1 or 2. I haven't seen mention of what seems to me to be the most obvious reason for the format. If Team A wins 9-1 the first night and loses 2-1 in double OT the second night they might think it a bit unfair to have to play a third game when under "normal" circumstances they would have had a blowout win and a tie. Recall that the format used to be two games, total goals in most conferences (except, I think, the ECAC which used the infamous "mini-game"). Under the old format, that 9-1 winner the first night went into game two with an 8 goal advantage. It seems to me that, rather than go to a three game, play 'til someone wins each night format, the ECAC opted to seek a middle ground. -Glenn