The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs begin tonight. We all know what the matchups are. We all hate the new format. But what if the format was a 1-8 seeded matchup like the old days? What would the bracket look like this year?
Let’s start with the Eastern Conference…
#8 Florida Panthers vs. #1 Boston Bruins: No changes here as these two teams meet. In fact they’re probably playing as you’re reading this. I think the Panthers get steamrolled.
#7 New York Islanders vs. #2 Carolina Hurricanes: This also could be happening right now as you’re reading this. The Islanders have potential to knock off the jerks.
#6 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. #3 New Jersey Devils: Now here’s where things get interesting. The last time the Devils made the playoffs they fell to the Lightning who went on to lose to the Capitals in the third round in the good year of 2018.
#5 New York Rangers vs. #4 Toronto Maple Leafs: This would be a fun series. Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane vs. Auston Matthews and Ilya Samsonov.
Now the Western Conference…
#8 Winnipeg Jets vs. #1 Vegas Golden Knighs: Again this is happening tomorrow night. The Golden Knights should win that one.
#7 Seattle Kraken vs. #2 Edmonton Oilers: This would’ve been a fun series. Connor McDavid vs. the high flying Kraken.
#6 Minnesota Wild vs. #3 Colorado Avalanche: Give props to the Avalanche, they made the playoffs despite all the injuries they dealt with unlike the Caps. The Wild are also a dark horse team.
#5 Los Angeles Kings vs. #4 Dallas Stars: Could be a wild western matchup. I think the Kings would edge out the Stars in seven but unlike the Cowboys the Dallas hockey team will make it interesting.
Those are what the matchups WOULD have been before the new format. Instead we got the following games tonight besides Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins and Islanders and Hurricanes. We got the Wild and the Stars and the Kings and the Oilers.