WCR1: Colorado Avalanche (C3) vs Dallas Stars (C2) - STARS WIN 4-3

[Toonage]

I hate that this series is in the first round. Should be awesome though. I'll say Avs in 7 but it should be very close.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Not in the first round. The Stars and the Avs are legit cup contenders and one of these teams is guaranteed not to make it to the 2nd round. Meanwhile we have a Kings vs Oilers 1st round matchup for the fourth year in a row. I fail to see what is good about this playoff format.

Dallas is 3rd, 3 points ahead of LA who have two games left.

It’s totally conceivable they could drop to 4th and in a 1v8 playoff seeding scenario would face the Avs anyway.

As of right now, Carolina and Florida would be the matchup in the East as well.

Contenders face each other in the first round regardless.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Not in the first round. The Stars and the Avs are legit cup contenders and one of these teams is guaranteed not to make it to the 2nd round. Meanwhile we have a Kings vs Oilers 1st round matchup for the fourth year in a row. I fail to see what is good about this playoff format.

This sort of thing has happened every year, regardless of playoff format.

The teams don't line up neatly from 1 to 8, based on records, it just doesn't work that way. That's why the NHL went back to a divisional structure, at least this way there are rivalries.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

This sort of thing has happened every year, regardless of playoff format.

The teams don't line up neatly from 1 to 8, based on records, it just doesn't work that way. That's why the NHL went back to a divisional structure, at least this way there are rivalries.

Except they do as your record is what the team was in the regular season. This format rewards the 2nd and 3rd teams in the weaker of the two divisions while penalizing the 2nd and 3rd place teams in the better of the two divisions. As someone said in another thread.

It builds rivalry apparently.. lol moreso it just makes the NHL more boring.

There's a reason the NHL is always questioned about possible playoff changes as fans in general don't like this format.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Except they do as your record is what the team was in the regular season. This format rewards the 2nd and 3rd teams in the weaker of the two divisions while penalizing the 2nd and 3rd place teams in the better of the two divisions. As someone said in another thread.



There's a reason the NHL is always questioned about possible playoff changes as fans in general don't like this format.

The NHL doesn't give 2 ####s about the fans or the players, this dumb format has been talked about for a while now.

Not only does it not create rivalries you see what happens with the Oilers/Kings last night with a B squad of goons trying to injure players.

You already see the same teams play enough during the regular season, if a natural playoff matchup happens so be it, but this Vine McMahon style of rivalries needs to stop.

[Tiger]

It doesn't actually change much and is not worth the complaining people put in. Like oh no Dallas plays Colorado which is a pretty good team and it is unfair they should be playing. They should be playing LA/EDM which has shown to be pretty much an equally good team.

In a week anyways everyone will be saying the first round of the playoffs is the best in any sport. So...

[Sylvanfan]

There used to be some 4 vs 5 series where you could get two top 5 teams in the league fighting in the first round. So someone's always going to complain about the format.

In this case both teams have been coasting a bit for the last 10 days knowing what their fate is playoff wise. So I don't put too much stock in Dallas recent slump. I think its a 7 game series, and if Nichuskin plays the entire series the Avalanche win, hell even if its an injury that takes him out they still could. If his past playoff demons haunt him, than Dallas wins. When he went out for game 3 last year the entire team played games 3 and 4 like a group that had collectively taken a kick to the nuts. They tried to regroup in game 5 and 6 but to no avail. Nichuskin is a really key piece for the Avs as he seems to hold the balance of that team together. After the two Mak's he's their next most important piece.

I have no skin in this game so I'm looking forward to watching what I hope is some excellent hockey.

[dammage79]

Best series in round 1. It's going to be a slobberknocker

[OILFAN #81]

Heiskanen is not playing in game 1 and I don’t think he will be back until late in the series if that.

Avs in 7.

[FanIn80]

Pos Stone made sure Dallas would be screwed for Round One. Even with Heiskanen though, they're just no match for Colorado. Avs have their Captain back. Mountain men in 5.

[Erick Estrada]

Momentum certainly seems on the side of the Avalanche so I will take them in 7 games.

[topfiverecords]

Big hit for the Stars. Robertson left the game tonight after playing 6 mins and was seen wearing a knee brace.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Let's go Avs. That is all

[CroFlames]

Mouthwatering series. I predict Avs overpower the Stars, but Oettinger stands on his head and this goes 7.

Avs win, go to Cup final.

[Mathgod]

OP updated with full series links.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Best series and imo is the likely SC finalist for the West.

Avs in 7, only because I think the Stars get screwed by not having Robertson and/or Heiskanen for as long as they are out. Even one game being out can be a massive difference maker in a series like this.

[midniteowl]

Go Makar Go

[Canada 02]

No Landeskog. Save him for game 3 in Denver, and get a big emotional boost from the home fans perhaps

[Saqe]

Bad start from the refs.

[Enoch Root]

'my cup size is Stanley' LOL