Conference-Range Example 1
In this format, the top 8 teams from each Conference make the playoffs, with the top 2 teams in each Division earning the top 4 seeds by record, and the next 4 teams earn their seeds by record for the #5-8 seeds:
Each seed is eligible to play against their standard opponent in the Conference format, plus or minus one position:
To determine which of these teams are drawn as opponents, first all of the standard matchups that are already between teams from the same Division are set:
Next, amongst the remaining “unpaired” teams, if there are any eligible opponents that set up a Divisional matchup, this occurs, if not, they draw their standard opponent. In the East, #2 Tampa Bay and #4 Washington do not have any alternative opponents that are not already paired up, so they draw their standard opponents.
In the West, #4 Los Angeles has no alternative, so they draw #5 Colorado. However, since both #1 Anaheim and #2 Chicago don’t have Division opponents in the standard spot, they switch in order to get Division opponents.
Assume the faded out teams have lost their matchups, and the remaining 8 move on to the 2nd round:
For the second round, the process repeats, but the teams in each Conference are completely re-seeded based on their previous position 1-4, and their eligibility to play opponents is based on +/- 1 seed in a 1-4 arrangement.
Only one standard matchup is Divisional, but that sets the other in the Eastern Conference.
In the West, both alternative opponents create Divisional matchups, so #1 plays #3, and #2 plays #4.
Assume the faded out teams lost their matchups, and the 4 remaining teams move on to the 3rd round.
Remaining teams meet in the Stanley Cup Finals:
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