[Geechee843]

most of yall know im new to hockey so i gotta ask how the playoffs work in the nhl. are they seede like the nba or mlb or nfl or wat? is teh stanley cup a one game deal or a best of _____ series? and how are the conference playoffs arranged?

[Lefty Noob]

I *believe* it's done exactly like the NBA, so yeah, there are seeds.

Blueandwhite's our resident puckyball expert, though. Perhaps when she gets online she can give you more details.

[blueandwhite]

what will happen is, the top 8 from the west will play each other and the top 8 from the east will play each other.
so in each division:
the team ranked #1 will play the team ranked number #8, # 2 will play #7 and so on.
that's why teams have been fighting for that number one spot in each division - Montreal and Pittsburgh and jersey in the east, and not so much the Sharks and the Red Wings in the west (Red Wings pretty much have it sewn up) - because the number one team gets to play the worst team - the 8th place team.
The upper teams 1 through 4 also start with home ice advantage.
It's best of seven and we have real OT not a shootout.
When we have a winner from the east division and a winner from the west, they meet in a smackdown, no-holds barred, shirts off playoff series. Sort of.
the best thing is, most teams like say Detroit think Cool we get to play say vancouver who is in 8th and they will be easy - but it's not usually easy, as everyone starts playing for their lives. Playoff hockey is a whole other game compared to regular season.

[blueandwhite]

and if that's exactly like basketball, sorry if I went on - I don't know how basketball finals work.
I'm also talking too much - excited about the post season and all, you know.

[Seahawker 562]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

what will happen is, the top 8 from the west will play each other and the top 8 from the east will play each other.
so in each division:
the team ranked #1 will play the team ranked number #8, # 2 will play #7 and so on.
that's why teams have been fighting for that number one spot in each division - Montreal and Pittsburgh and jersey in the east, and not so much the Sharks and the Red Wings in the west (Red Wings pretty much have it sewn up) - because the number one team gets to play the worst team - the 8th place team.
The upper teams 1 through 4 also start with home ice advantage.
It's best of seven and we have real OT not a shootout.
When we have a winner from the east division and a winner from the west, they meet in a smackdown, no-holds barred, shirts off playoff series. Sort of.
the best thing is, most teams like say Detroit think Cool we get to play say vancouver who is in 8th and they will be easy - but it's not usually easy, as everyone starts playing for their lives. Playoff hockey is a whole other game compared to regular season.

Now im just dying for the playoff's.

[blueandwhite]

i got you all caught up in the excitement, eh?

[Geechee843]

yea thats EXACTLY how basketball playoffs work

[bears9]

I'm going to watch the NHL Playoffs, I'm going to try and get in to the NHL, I've watched a couple games on HDNet and if the game is in HD it's not that bad.

[Geechee843]

haha yea the first game i watched was washington at pittsburgh like a month ago and the only reason i watched it was cuz it was in HD. but i was pretty good. now im kinda hooked-mainly on the penguins since thats the first team i saw

[blueandwhite]

hey then welcome to the world of ice hockey, you guys.
Playoffs are a blast. It's good to pick a team too, get right into it. Since my leafs are gone, I've had to switch (for now) allegiances, take up my back-up teams, one in each conference.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

hey then welcome to the world of ice hockey, you guys.
Playoffs are a blast. It's good to pick a team too, get right into it. Since my leafs are gone, I've had to switch (for now) allegiances, take up my back-up teams, one in each conference.

Okay, pick a team you say? I guess most the time I'll root for the Blackhawks since they're a Chicago team, but I think for the playoffs I'll root for Sid the Kid and the Penguins.

[blueandwhite]

are you sure you're not just trying to get on lefty's good side?

[bears9]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

are you sure you're not just trying to get on lefty's good side?

Naw, me never

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

are you sure you're not just trying to get on lefty's good side?

Who cares? The world needs more Pens fans!

[Seahawker 562]

Originally Posted by Geechee843

haha yea the first game i watched was washington at pittsburgh like a month ago and the only reason i watched it was cuz it was in HD. but i was pretty good. now im kinda hooked-mainly on the penguins since thats the first team i saw

I dont think there's a better game to see than Wash vs Pitt. Good choice for you first game