Time-Zone-Grouping Format Example 2
Here is another example playoff, to demonstrate some intricacies of the format. #16 Colorado misses the playoffs in favour of #17 Montreal because the combined Mountain/Central group cannot exceed 6 teams:
Since the Pacific and Eastern groups are the only odd numbered ones, there are three crossovers needed to avoid more than 1 time zone difference in the first round matchups. This also means that the only 2 Mountain teams (Edmonton and Calgary) are not eligible to play, since they have to be involved in crossovers:
Assume the greyed out teams have lost their first round series, so we now have the 8 teams moving on to the second:
Since the Pacific and Eastern groups are odd, there are again three crossovers necessary, and Edmonton and Calgary are ineligible to play each other again this round, in favour of crossovers:
The faded out teams have lost in the second round, so now the four remaining teams match up against each other:
Since there are no Mountain teams remaining, there needs to be a crossover between the Pacific and Central groups:
The remaining two teams meet in the Stanley Cup Finals:
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