New seeding details could have the Flyers trying harder in their round-robin series.
The NHL announced the finer details of how the playoffs will run once the season resumes. While we are still a bit away from that happening, it gives us a good idea of what to expect. And with the new seeding details, the Flyers are likely to play even harder to get the top seed in the East.
The @NHL has announced more details of the playoff format for the Return to Play Plan following approval by the League’s Board of Governors and the @NHLPA.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 4, 2020
The agreement is subject to the NHL and NHLPA reaching an overall agreement on resuming play. https://t.co/KThKX88JBb pic.twitter.com/8GLKgYoYfN
The length of each series was to be expected. The qualifying round will be a best of five series. All of the remaining rounds will follow a normal seven game series.
Some new details have emerged, including how the league will decide which teams face off in each round. It turns out re-seeding will take place in every single round. Meaning, if the Flyers come out on top in the East, they would take on the lowest remaining seed from the qualifying round.
Second best takes on second lowest and so on and so forth. This change in seeding incentives teams to go for the top seed in their conferences.
In order of lowest seeding to highest, it would be the Canadiens, Rangers, Panthers, Blue Jackets, Leafs, Islanders, Hurricanes and Penguins. As the number one seed, the Flyers could possibly take on any of the first four teams mentioned.
As for home ice advantage, the top seed in each round with be given that. So no matter how the Flyers finish in round robin, they would be given home ice advantage in the first round. That would be for Games 1, 2, 5 and 7. The last two would be if necessary of course.
So once again, finishing as a high seed will be advantageous to the Flyers throughout the playoffs. It would guarantee them that advantage through every round.
There is a possibility teams could tie during the round-robin. If that is to happen, points percentage would determine the winner. That would be a disadvantage to the Flyers as they are the lowest ranked team in the conference among the four teams.
There isn’t work on how home ice would work for the teams participating in the round robin. It’s possible the top two seeds would get that. That would be Boston and Tampa. But with only three games, it may not matter.
The Flyers remain in a good spot no matter how they finish in the round-robin. They won’t have to fight for a spot in the first round. But optioning a higher seed would only benefit them down the round.
And if they can regain the chemistry they had before the season was paused, than the league better watch out.