Three Conference Playoff Format Example 2
In this second example, we do have a crossover series in the first round, due to the Central and Eastern Conferences sending 5 teams each to the playoffs:
In the second round, the Western and Eastern Conferences have 3 teams, and the Central has 2. This leads to the scenario where 2 crossovers occur (since the Central is even), a rule meant to reduce time zone travel by not allowing the Western and Eastern Conferences to cross over directly, always using the Central as a buffer:
Since 1 of the remaining Central teams is from the Eastern time zone and the other is from the Central, the former crosses over to the Eastern, and the latter to the Western:
In the 3rd round, the same crossover scenario occurs because both Central teams win their series. Once again, St. Louis automatically meets the Western team, since they are in the Central time zone, and Columbus automatically meets the Eastern team since they are in the Eastern time zone:
Both Central teams win their series in the 3rd Round, so this example has 2 Conference rivals meet in the Stanley Cup Finals:
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