The Official NHL 2019-2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread

[Majingir]

Quote: Originally Posted by Smallville102001

So i have not followed that closely and so i just found out they are going to start playing again like 8/1 or something. Can any one give me a fast run down on how things are going to work? They are going straight to playoffs right? Is it just in one location like nba or are they still traveling all over? Is the playoff bracket the same has normal etc? I have been following nba a lot more close. NHL i normal watch sharks and that is it but man i miss sports much more of a nba and nfl guy.

NHLs is similar to NBA, except they're having 2 cities host. 1 for western conference, 1 for eastern conference.

Playoffs are altered.

Instead of usual 8 teams per conference we're getting 12. The top 2 per division (so 4 teams per conference) compete in their own mini tournament for 1-4 seeding.

The remaining 8 per conference compete in a best of 5 series. The winners of the 4 series will then be reseeded accordingly. So the best team in the top 4 team set of games gets to face the lowest seed of all teams who won their best of 5.

[Majingir]

I'll post first half of my imperfect predictions for this year. Because of how my picks lately, especially last year went, I'll just go with the "crazy picks" over who I think will win.

Jackets over Leafs
Habs over Pens
Canes over Rangers
Panthers over Islanders

Jets over Flames
Hawks over Oilers
Wild over Canucks
Coyotes over Preds

Pens win draft lottery

Cup finals probably ends up Panthers vs Coyotes

[DrJones]

East

1. Lightning
2. Flyers
3. Bruins
4. Capitals

Penguins over Canadiens in 4
Rangers over Hurricanes in 5
Islanders over Panthers in 3
Blue Jackets over Maple Leafs in 5

Lightning over Rangers in 7
Flyers over Blue Jackets in 7
Islanders over Bruins in 6
Capitals over Penguins in 7

Lightning over Islanders in 5
Capitals over Flyers in 6

Lightning over Capitals in 4

West

1. Golden Knights
2. Blues
3. Avalanche
4. Stars

Oilers over Blackhawks in 5
Predators over Coyotes in 3
Wild over Canucks in 5
Jets over Flames in 4

Golden Knights over Wild in 5
Blues over Jets in 5
Avalanche over Predators in 4
Oilers over Stars in 6

Oilers over Golden Knights in 7
Avalanche over Blues in 6

Avalanche over Oilers in 5

Stanley Cup Final

Lightning over Avalanche in 7

EDIT: Got the re-seeding wrong in the East

[Majingir]

NHLs plan working so far.

Hawks up 1-0 in series.

Apparently the tournament was designed to NOT give home ice advantage?

BOTH teams get their goal horns during games, and seems like no booing sound effect.

[Kobalt]

Good for Dumba

Oilers are getting Lafrenière

Jack Johnson doing Jack Johnson things

That's my early impression of the restart

[Majingir]

Whoever loses Oilers/Hawks series wins the lottery.

Crazy Habs/Pens game. First playoff game in almost 100 years with multiple penalty shots. And Habs win in OT!

Maybe Pens want Lafreniere

[Kobalt]

I missed Playoffs OT

[Majingir]

Leafs gameday!

Really hope they can finally win something. Major changes 100% need to happen if they lose to the Jackets or even the team in the following round.

First playoff series with this group without Babcock as coach. His track record isn't anything to question, but putting Hyman out with 1 leg to kill a penalty in the most important part of the series is something nobody will forget.