Stanley Cup Playoffs: Playoff Format Creates More of the Same

I really have had no qualms about the NHL’s new playoff system, which was implemented in the 2013-14 season. It has created balance by focusing more on divisions rather than the top eight teams in each conference and has led to a more competitive regular season, where divisional matchups are key.

But since the Washington Capitals beat the New York Islanders, I have changed my mind a bit. I don’t like that we are seeing more of the same. Washington and New York have met in the playoffs four times in five years and five times in seven years. I’m getting bored of this matchup.

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I’m not saying the physical games are boring; on the contrary, they are quite exciting. Both teams have great speed, power and ability and it makes for interesting games. But, the Caps-Rangers matchup is so played out. It’s not a rivalry that is too important to me. The rivalry is there, but it’s not like New York-Boston, New York-Philly or New York-New York. It’s just OK.

To be fair, I really can’t blame the system because the Capitals didn’t make the playoffs last year when it was first implemented. So really, the Rangers and Caps faced off using the old system. But I am looking toward the future, and how we may see a lot of repeat playoff matchups.

I get it. The League wants people to see emotional and intense series that may not end in just four games (more games, more money), which happens more in divisional games because the rivalries are stronger. It makes complete sense. It is also nice that all divisions are represented in the playoffs.

May 13, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild center Mikko Koivu (9) congratulates Chicago Blackhawks forward Peter Regin (12) on the win of game six of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. The Blackhawks clinch the second round with a 2-1 victory over the Wild in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports

But with the system the NHL runs the risk of the series getting stale. Who is Minnesota facing in the next round? Chicago. Well, that’s something new and different isn’t it? This is the third consecutive year that these two teams will meet in the postseason. Chicago beat Minnesota in five games in the first round in 2013 and in six games in the second round last year.  Wild fans must not being looking forward to this year. The past victories have nothing to do with the present as each team is different, but if I were a Wild fan, I would groan at the fact that once again the Chicago Blackhawks stand in the way of my team and the Stanley Cup. I’d be asking, why couldn’t it be some other team?

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The benefit of the old system was that you would get matchups between teams that didn’t know each other that well. They played each other because they were in the same conference, but maybe not as much if they were in different divisions. This added another level of excitement to the game. The not knowing made it harder for teams to establish the correct matchups and understand all of their opponent’s weapons. It was more edge-of-your-seat hockey and that is something I miss.

In the old system, every ranking mattered because it determined who would play whom. Now, if you place second and third in the division you know you’re playing each other. Those rankings just guarantee you a playoff spot and not much else. It would just be nice if the matchups changed up a bit, like the Anaheim-Calgary series. Hopefully moving forward, we’ll see more of that, but it all depends on how other NHL teams perform in the regular season.