2018-2019 NHL Regular Season Thread: Not Suck Back 2 Back

[bluefan]

If a Shrak shrak's before shraking season starts does a shrak really shrak?

The shrakaning, Pre-sequel.

[Judai]

Carolina clinches a playoff spot

First playoffs since 08-09

Hurricanes players decided to wear their All Black Alts for the playoffs.

[Wulfgang]

Perds win tomorrow night and we win the division. Would not be shocked for the Hawks to come out on fire to play spoiler.

[DFJS]

Taking a friend to his 2nd hockey game and its Ducks vs Kings. Gonna be a fun night for him. Glad this season is finally over tonight.

[Cail]

Blue Jackets win. They're in. Montreal is out

[Vaspinne]

It kind of baffles me that the WC in the East were set before the final divisional spot in one of the conferences.

That being said, I personally am still a big fan of the current playoff format. I think the divisional rivalries for the first 2 rounds are fun.

[Cail]

WC in the east still aren't set. Could be CBJ and Carolina or Pittsburgh

[NynJa]

It kind of baffles me that the WC in the East were set before the final divisional spot in one of the conferences.

That being said, I personally am still a big fan of the current playoff format. I think the divisional rivalries for the first 2 rounds are fun.

A lot of top players disagree
They seem to dislike a top 5 team facing another top 5 team in the 2nd round

[Obsidian]

Or the first round.

[Mythe_Seraph]

I don’t think many people I’ve heard from or talk to like the playoff format at all. The major motivating point was to create divisional rivalries through the playoffs but everyone I’ve heard from pretty much says the same thing, in that, you can’t force and organic rivalry. This year’s match ups look good though. I’m excited to see what happens. Also ive Got a crystal ball post to look for here...

[Vaspinne]

Or the first round.

When has this ever happened since the format changed?

I do get those arguments though, especially when you have years where 1 division is particularly stronger then the other 3. This year is pretty balanced though. In the West, the formatting wouldn't change too much, SJ would be facing WC2 and Nashville would be facing Vegas if it was the old 1-8 format (Unless Nashville wins and SJ lose tomorrow which would result in the current and old format having the same matchups). The East would have a similar situation where Boston would take WC 2 and Washington would be up against Toronto instead.

But then the 2nd round would boggle that all up and I don't have the time or the effort to get into all the what-if scenarios. I do like the regional rivalries though. Felt fucking awesome beating Vancouver a few years back. And felt god-fucking-awful losing to Anaheim 2 playoffs in a row.

[Vaspinne]

WC in the east still aren't set. Could be CBJ and Carolina or Pittsburgh

My mistake. I mis-read the standings as the 2 EWC spots were determined (but not set in stone positionally) and Montreal still had a chance at a divisional spot, but I was totally wrong.

[NynJa]

Or the first round.

My dude thinks the Laffs gonna win tomorrow.

[Judai]

When has this ever happened since the format changed?

Every year multiple top teams play in the first or second round now, three years ago it was PITvCBJ as the #2 and #4 teams in the entire league (2016/17) playing in the first round. (WSH was #1 and CHI #3)

It's pretty awful imo, you still had great match-ups, without fake rivalries, in the 1-8 seedings.

[NynJa]

[Cail]

This playoff format blows chunks

[Wulfgang]

I just miss beating up on the Ducks in the early rounds

[Cail]

Tampa matched the all-time season Wins mark

[bluefan]

Yep, with the Blues going to OT, there's a very, very, very strong possibility Jets are finishing third in the division after holding first for a chunk of the season and pissing it away. Off season is going to be so much more interesting than these playoffs it looks like.

[Cail]

St. Louis wins. They're now 1st in the division (for now)