Talk:Season structure of the NHL

Dates

This article doesn't mention when in the calendar year things happen. When does the season start, when do playoffs start, etc, and how has it evolved over the years (and why)? Bhudson (talk) 02:49, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

when does the season actually start and end?? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.101.160.159 (talk) 13:36, 20 October 2011 (UTC)

I've added a bit to the opening section that handles at least the beginning/end of the regular season. NDomer09 (talk) 18:37, 14 March 2013 (UTC)

Format of 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs

For some reason, the NHL has yet to publish a comprehensive explanation of the playoff format. We do not yet know a) the procedure for determining home-ice advantage, i.e., whether division rank or points take precedence; b) the procedure for determining second-round matchups; and c) the names of the rounds.

As currently written, the article suggests that 3rd-place teams are guaranteed home-ice advantage over 4th-place teams (within conference), but 2nd-place teams are not guaranteed home-ice over 3rd-place teams. I'm hoping the league will clarify this soon.

Non-league sources have announced that second-round matchups will involve the winner of A1-WC vs. the winner of A2-A3. I just would like the league to confirm this.

It's probably not advisable to call the second round "division championship" or refer to the conference finalists as "division champions," since the "division champions" are determined solely by the regular season standings. Division Finals would be a better name, as was the case prior to 1994. Joel225sp (talk) 06:46, 8 November 2013 (UTC)

I agree that the second round winning teams should not be called division champions. It is possible that the one or both wild card teams from each conference will cross over and play the first place team from the other division. What if a wild card team (that does cross over) defeats the first place team and then also defeats the 2 vs 3 winner? Would you call the Toronto Maple Leafs champions of the Metropolitan division? What if WC1 crosses over to play team A1 and beats them....and then is matched up against A3. If WC1 has more points than A3, who has home-ice advantage?Juve2000 (talk) 21:02, 5 March 2014 (UTC)

Regarding the tie-breaking procedure. It is very likely that teams tied, either within a division or within a conference will have played an odd number of games against each other. What if they are tied in ROW wins and we need to drop to the head-to-head tie-breaker? The article does not mention that if an odd number of games are played, the team with the extra home game drops the result of the first home-game result in the tie-breaking procedure. Has this been dropped for the 2013-14 season?Juve2000 (talk) 21:02, 5 March 2014 (UTC)

It's fair to deduce that second-round matchups are pre-determined, according to the bracketing on the StanleyCup.com webpage. Indeed it is winner of A1-WC vs. winner of A2-A3. But the home-ice advantage is still a mystery less than four weeks before the playoffs are to begin. My guess is that an announcement will be made at the last minute.

Regarding the head-to-head tie-breaker when home games are unequal: According to the NHL.com standings page, the points earned in the first game played in the city with the extra game will be disregarded, as in years past.Joel225sp (talk) 01:57, 19 March 2014 (UTC)

On March 24, with three weeks left in the regular season, the league finally clarified the home-ice issue. In the first two rounds, division rank will determine home ice. In the last two rounds, points will determine home ice. Joel225sp (talk) 21:47, 3 April 2014 (UTC)