# NHL 2015 Playoffs: The Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 12, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511 "2015-04-12T19:24:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bruce\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/41 "2015-04-17T11:12:54Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > New? Well it’s two years old, I was linking to it for **RickJay**. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/42 "2015-04-17T12:40:30Z")
It certainly threw me initially. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/43 "2015-04-17T12:44:09Z")
So they stopped reseeding the teams between rounds 1 and 2? When did they switch? Was it just so that they could facilitate bracket challenge contests like the NCAA has? ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/44 "2015-04-17T12:54:47Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > So they stopped reseeding the teams between rounds 1 and 2? When did they switch? Was it just so that they could facilitate bracket challenge contests like the NCAA has? I think they are hoping to force long term rivalries by ensmallening the first and second round match up set to inter-division as much as possible, and making teams hit each other year after year. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/45 "2015-04-17T13:10:41Z")
Isn’t it also to try to have more games between teams in the same time zones? Try to avoid the Chicago vs San Jose or Vancouver games in the first couple of rounds. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/46 "2015-04-17T18:49:36Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Isn’t it also to try to have more games between teams in the same time zones? Try to avoid the Chicago vs San Jose or Vancouver games in the first couple of rounds. Bummer. I LIKED that the N.H.L. re-seeded the teams after the first round. And now they’ve gone and _changed_ that? Shoot! ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bruce\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/47 "2015-04-18T00:59:56Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Isn’t it also to try to have more games between teams in the same time zones? Try to avoid the Chicago vs San Jose or Vancouver games in the first couple of rounds. Chicago is only two hours behind the west coast. Toronto and eventually Detroit moved to the East to beat the 3 hour difference. As a Wings fan I’m happy with the new arrangement as I don’t need to stay up late to see games, plus all new teams for the playoffs. The playoff format could eventually get boring like the old Smythe, Adams, Norris division stuff back in the day. The brackets are divisional, so if the same three teams in each division finish in the top 3 in the regular season nearly every year the first and second round match ups could get too predictable unless entertaining rivalries form(which could have been the point). The wild card positions are the only thing that stir the postseason up. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/48 "2015-04-18T02:10:16Z")
Oof. Hammond is looking like an AHLer again. 2 soft goals in each of his first two games. You can’t have that in the playoffs. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/49 "2015-04-18T02:16:07Z")
Rookie mistakes though. He needs some time to adapt to the skill level in the NHL. I think he’s a very serviceable goalie and belongs in the NHL, but the wrap-around last game, and the spin-o-rama this game caught him off guard. He’ll learn from these, hopefully. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/50 "2015-04-18T03:43:17Z")
Just got back from the Caps Vs Islanders. Great game for a Caps fan. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/51 "2015-04-18T03:49:22Z")
> [@tim-n-va](#): > > Just got back from the Caps Vs Islanders. Great game for a Caps fan. I picked the Caps in my pool, but who the heck is this Philipp Grubauer guy, and what’s up with Holtby? ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/52 "2015-04-18T03:52:13Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I picked the Caps in my pool, but who the heck is this Philipp Grubauer guy, and what’s up with Holtby? Holtby was ill. The Caps apparently decided to go the Hammond route to save their season and went with their AHL starter (their backup does seem to be pretty awful judging by his stats) ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/53 "2015-04-18T04:14:30Z")
Grubauer played several games last season. Probably was a safer bet than Peters ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/54 "2015-04-18T10:08:46Z")
Crawford has allowed 9 goals in 4 periods. Darling had a 42-save shut-out in game 1 (3+ periods), allowing the Hawks to overcome a 3-0 deficit. I’d at least give Crawford a rest and see how Darling does in game 3, especially at home. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/55 "2015-04-18T14:19:29Z")
This is a really rough one. Crawford is vastly overpaid for an average NHL goalie. If he gets the game 3 start, he knows he’s on a very short leash. Still, I hate playing goalie roulette. It rarely works well in the playoffs. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/56 "2015-04-18T19:36:11Z")
> **[Blackhawks will start Darling in goal for Game 3](https://www.espn.com/chicago/nhl/story/_/id/12715937/scott-darling-chicago-blackhawks-start-place-corey-crawford-game-3)** > > Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Scott Darling will start Game 3 of the Western Conference first-round series against the Nashville Predators, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said on Saturday. Tough call, but not a bad call. Crawford needs some motivation, and it ain’t like Darling dosen’t deserve another shot. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/57 "2015-04-18T22:53:45Z")
McDavid lottery tonight. (Please, please, please, please please…) ---
**Author:** ![Mithras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mithras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithras)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2015, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/58 "2015-04-19T00:13:30Z")
I’m watching the lottery on NBC because it’s on before the Penguins game. Is this how every other league does this or is this draft-as-reality-show thing just another example of how awful the NHL is at marketing its product? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2015, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/59 "2015-04-19T00:15:31Z")
You have to be fucking kidding me. Poor Connor McDavid, he goes to the hellish pit that is currently the Oilers. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2015, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511/60 "2015-04-19T00:16:39Z")
Fucking Edmonton. Again! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-2015-playoffs-the-thread/717511.md?page=4)