NHL MEDIA DIRECTORY 2013-2014

NEW STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF FORMAT
Playoff qualification will be primarily division-based, with the top three finishers
in each division qualifying for the first 12 spots in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (and
the first three “seeds” in each division).
The two additional playoff spots in each conference, designated as “Wild
Cards,” will be awarded to the next two highest-placed finishers in each
conference, ranked on the basis of regular-season points and regardless of
division.
“Seeding” of the Wild Card teams within each divisional playoff will be
determined on the basis of regular-season points. The first-place finisher with
the highest number of regular-season points in the conference will be matched
against the Wild Card team with the lowest number of regular-season points,
and the first-place finisher with the second-highest number of regular-season
points in the conference will be matched against the Wild Card team with the
second-lowest number of regular-season points.
The playoffs will proceed as follows:
* #1 vs. #4 / #2 vs. #3 – Winners play each other for berth in Conference
Championship
* Conference Finals – Two advancing teams in the West and two advancing
teams in the East meet in Conference Championship
* Eastern and Western Conference champions meet in Stanley Cup Final
The National Hockey League Players’ Association has given its consent to play
under this new alignment and playoff system for a minimum of three seasons,
through the 2015-2016 NHL season.
Media Directory 2013-2014
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