Taking a look at the league standings and what the playoffs currently look like. Sunday seems like a good day for this, so… here we go.
* * *
IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED ON JANUARY 1st, the current matchups would look like this (home vs visitors):
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Rangers (1) vs Ottawa (8)
Bruins (2) vs Jets (7)
Panthers (3) vs Devils (6)
Flyers (4) vs Penguins (5)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Blackhawks (1*) vs Avalanche (8)
Canucks (2) vs Predators (7)
Stars (3) vs Blues (6)
Red Wings (4) vs Wild (5)
Wow. Quite the shakeup since the last time we looked at this, and the first round would have less awesome matchups (at least on paper).
Chicago would have the President’s Trophy and home ice advantage for as long as they kept in. Four EC and four WC teams who didn’t make the playoffs last year would make an appearance this year - and of those, two (Panthers, Stars) would have home ice.
What a year this has been so far!
Sky & Em's dad. Kim's husband. Tom & Linda's son. I work in radio, at WAOR in South Bend, IN. I write fiction. I also play catch with a demanding Yorkie.
