Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Podcasts
    • Optimist Overtime
    • Top of the Key
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / Sports / Columnists / NHL playoffs serve as perfect postseason model

NHL playoffs serve as perfect postseason model

April 15, 2010 by Ryan Cantrell

The six to eight weeks after the Masters have always been my favorite time to be a sports fan. The NCAA tournament and the greatest golf tournament of the year have just ended, and baseball season is just beginning. But the greatest thing about this time is having the NBA and NHL playoffs on at the same time.

As an avid sports fan, nothing beats a competitive playoff series. Although the MLB and NBA playoffs are fun to watch, the NHL has the greatest playoff system.

There are a few problems with the MLB playoffs. The first and biggest problem is the league that wins the All-Star game gets home field advantage in the World Series. This makes absolutely no sense. The team with the better record of the two teams that reach the World Series should get home field advantage. The fact the majority of the players who helped win the All-Star game will not be in the World Series makes this a ridiculous way to decide home field advantage.

The second reason this is an inferior system is because the opening series is played as a best of five series instead of best of seven. Additional games would give the better team a greater chance to advance; having fewer games leaves more room for a fluke team to advance in the playoffs. Also, with fans, more playoff games are always better.

The NBA realized this and made the change to the best of seven series for all rounds in 2003. The problem with the NBA is the fact that, unlike the NHL, the NBA does not reseed after the first round. In the NHL, it benefits to earn the top seeds because it guarantees if there is an upset, you will be facing the lowest seed in the next round. In the NBA, the top seed will have to face whoever is in their bracket regardless of what the other seeds do.

The biggest reason the NHL playoffs is the perfect system is the fact it has a 2-2-1-1-1 series format for all rounds instead of a 2-3-2 – the higher seed gets home court advantage for games 1,2,5 and 7. The NBA uses this format until the finals, when it switches to the 2-3-2 format. The main problem with this is it gives the lower seed an unfair advantage. If the lower seed can split one of the first two games, they have a huge advantage getting three home games in a row. This gives the lower seed the opportunity to take control in a series they probably shouldn’t win.

I still blame the Mavericks’ downfall in the 2006 finals on this bad system. After going up 2-0, the series went back to Miami where the Heat won all three games and completely changed the momentum of the series.

Ultimately, the NHL playoff system is the perfect system because everything it does benefits the higher seed. This is the way it should be; otherwise, what is the point of the regular season?

Filed Under: Columnists Tagged With: NHL

Other Sports:

  • Patterson’s brand of ACU football: Character. Discipline. Toughness.

  • Seven new roster additions highlight eventful postseason for Tanner and Wildcats

  • Baseball drops falls short in regular season ending series in Huntsville

About Ryan Cantrell

You are here: Home / Sports / Columnists / NHL playoffs serve as perfect postseason model

Other Sports:

  • Patterson’s brand of ACU football: Character. Discipline. Toughness.

  • Seven new roster additions highlight eventful postseason for Tanner and Wildcats

  • Baseball drops falls short in regular season ending series in Huntsville

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
4 May

"Maybe we just don’t care enough. But if we do start caring, and if we become the loudest fans in the WAC, let’s stick to supportive cheering." Read more from Guest Columnist Londyn Gray:
https://acuoptimist.com/2022/04/not-so-friendly-competition/

Reply on Twitter 1521918832738144257 Retweet on Twitter 1521918832738144257 1 Like on Twitter 1521918832738144257 8 Twitter 1521918832738144257
acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
3 May

Royce Clough and Jael Morel have been named as Mr. and Miss ACU for the class of 2022, a traditional honor voted on by the student body and awarded to two members of each graduating class.

Reply on Twitter 1521607087553458178 Retweet on Twitter 1521607087553458178 Like on Twitter 1521607087553458178 18 Twitter 1521607087553458178

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

3 months ago

The Optimist
"Maybe we just don’t care enough. But if we do start caring, and if we become the loudest fans in the WAC, let’s stick to supportive cheering." Read more from Guest Columnist Londyn Gray: ... See MoreSee Less

Not-so-friendly competition - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

BY: LONDYN GRAY “Number 18, you look like you don’t shower!” I chuckled and shrugged it off. “Londyn!” They had looked up the roster. “Do you even brush your teeth?” I laughed again, rol...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

3 months ago

The Optimist
Cullen Auditorium is expected to be handed over to the university in June 2022, alongside a name change that coupled with the renovation will create new future for the Cornerstone class, Chapel and the Department of Theatre. ... See MoreSee Less

Cullen Auditorium still set for a name change alongside renovations - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

Cullen Auditorium is expected to be handed over to the university in June 2022, alongside a name change that coupled with the renovation will create new future for the Cornerstone class, Chapel and th...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Women’s tournament run ended by first-round exit against UTRGV

The Wildcats’ Western Athletic Conference tournament run and season came to a ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 22. 2022
  • Optimist Newscast 2.16.2022
  • Optimist Newscast 2.9.2022

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Weekly Ads
  • Classifieds

© 2022 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved