Binge Media Sports: Breaking Down the Stanley Cup Playoffs (sort of)

I am the first one to admit that hockey has never been the sport I’ve known the most about. Maybe it’s the fact that I didn’t play it much growing up and didn’t relate to it like I did with baseball or basketball. I could never skate well and will be the first to admit that I’d probably get my ass kicked in a hockey fight. But I’ve always enjoyed the game. I’ve got a minor league team in my town that sent many great players to the NHL, so I’d occasionally catch a game. Hockey is certainly a sport that is better live anyway. Over the past few years, however, I’ve gotten into it a little bit more to keep up with my buddies that live and die with the Blackhawks. I really dig the addition of the outdoor stadium games as well. So with all that being said, I’m jacked for the most exciting playoff system in professional sports: the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I’m sure there’s plenty of you out there that will disagree with that, and you’re entitled to your opinion, but if you don’t get pumped for a Game 7 in hockey, then check your fucking pulse.

For those who are not aware, the playoff format has been changed this year. No longer will there be just the typical #1-#8 seeds in each conference, but instead will be broken down into four brackets, NCAA tournament style, to determine this year’s champion. It may seem unfair to certain teams at certain points, as their road to the Stanley Cup Final might not be as easy, but to the fans it’s fantastic. We’re going to get so many more rivalry games than we’re used to. So let me give you a quick breakdown at how everything works. Try to keep up.

The brackets are broken up by divisions: Atlantic and Metropolitan in the East and Pacific and Central in the West. The top three teams with the highest point totals in each division are seeded as such, with the fourth team being the wild card, for a total of eight teams in each conference. The two wild card spots are won by the two teams that finish with the highest point total that are not in the top three of their division. For example, Boston has the best record, so the wild card team that finished with the lower point total would be placed into the Atlantic Divisional Bracket. That happens to be the Detroit Red Wings. And the wild card team with the higher point total would join the other bracket in the East, the Metropolitan, and that will be the Columbus Blue Jackets. HOWEVER, a wild card team sometimes may not be seeded in their regular bracket. For example, in the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars are in the Pacific bracket, even though they play in the Central Division. There will also be no reseeding after the first round anymore, meaning you know that there is only two teams that the winner of any given series can play in the second round. Got it? Fuck it. Nobody does. Just keep checking back each round and I’ll give you the matchups.

Now, I could go ahead and give you my predictions on every series, but you could find a breakdown anywhere, so here’s where I get you involved. You just tell me who’s going to win these series. I’ll give you the teams and you just pick the winner. If you feel like explaining your choice, hit up the comments section at the end of this article or follow me on Twitter @THElukenorris and tell me why. Go to it kids. I’ll check back in before the start of Round 2 to see how you did.

EASTERN CONFERENCE-ATLANTIC

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EASTERN CONFERENCE-METROPOLITAN

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WESTERN CONFERENCE-PACIFIC

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WESTERN CONFERENCE-CENTRAL

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