Time-Zone-Grouping Format Example 1
16 teams make the playoffs in this format, selected based on the range of teams allowed to clinch a playoff spot in each time zone, and the range of each combined group of adjacent time zones (Pacific-Mountain, Mountain-Central, Central-Eastern). Clinched spots in this schema are indicated through different font colours, while ordinary playoff spots are in black font:
Teams draw matchups against each other within their own time zone groups by default, or in crossovers with other groups, depending on what crossover scenario is necessary. The chart on the right shows the scenarios, and the chart at the bottom shows which one must be used in this scenario:
Matchups are determined by pairing the top remaining team with the lowest team they are eligible to play:
Crossover matchup occurs between Chicago and Detroit because the Central and Eastern teams are eligible to play each other:
The final matchup ends up being the necessary Mountain-Central crossover, showing how this format prioritizes fair matchups with low time zone travel, since alternative formats like the current one would force the crossovers to be between Division winners and Wild Card teams, rather than teams in the middle of the standings.
With the 1st Round series now set, let us assume that the faded teams have lost their series, and the others have moved on to the 2nd Round:
Now, the same process repeats: the number of teams remaining from each time zone in the 2nd Round determines the crossover scenario:
Like the 1st Round, the top remaining team faces the lowest remaining that they are eligible to play against:
This 2nd Round matchup shows that less fair matchups can still occur in this format when a time zone group has an even number of teams, and does not participate in any crossovers:
Chicago is only eligible to face Mountain and Eastern teams, despite one team from their group remaining (Dallas), because for these 2 to match up, Colorado and Washington would have to play, who are 2 time zones apart. It is because there are 2 crossovers involving Central teams, and only 2 Central teams to be in them, so they are not eligible to play each other.
The final matchup, like the 1st Round, ends up being the final crossover:
With the 2nd Round matchups decided, assume the teams with faded logos have lost their series, and the others have moved on to the 3rd Round:
Now, 3rd Round matchups are decided through the same process:
After the 3rd Round, the remaining 2 teams will play in the Stanley Cup Finals, regardless of their time zones:
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