[getbak]

The SPHL has used this format for two years now. There have been 8 first-round series in those two years. 2 of the 8 first round series were won by the lower-ranked team.

What's interesting is that both of the series won by the lower-ranked team were won by a "chosen" opponent rather than the opponent the higher-ranked team would have played in the traditional seeding order.

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Of the 6 series in which a higher-seed had their choice of opponent, the higher-seed chose an alternate opponent 3 times. The other 3 times, the higher-seed played the lowest-ranked available opponent.

A team that has chosen a different opponent than the one they would have faced in the traditional seeding has won 1 of 3 series. A team that has chosen the lowest-ranked available team has won 3 of 3 series.


Being able to choose your first-round opponent hasn't really worked out for the higher-seeds so far.