Quote:
Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat
They haven't had that format since 2002-03.
In 2003-04, the top 5 in each division made it with 4 playing 5 in a best-of-three play-in.
Ever since, it's been top 4 in each division with the odd crossover. If one division had less teams than another and their 5th place team had more points than the other's 4th place, they would get in.
I believe 2007-08 was the last season where the crossover rule was implemented though right now Bridgeport might sneak in past Wilkes-Barre. Plus, if Bridgeport can also catch Norfolk they would draw Albany in round one instead of Hershey. Big motivator.
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Yeah, I can remember Portland getting into the playoffs in the "Northeast" division back when there was an all-Canadian division (Saint John, Quebec, St. John's, and Hamilton), and actually even before that.
The AHL was (is?) a great league for hockey, specifically for providing hockey of a high calibre to small-market locations. But some of the stuff they did was kinda out there, like the play-in, and all the constant reshuffling that goes on with regards to divisions. I guess that's all part of being a developmental league, though.
