Hypothetical what if.... the NHL actually kept things like they normally do with the regular divisions.
Obviously the standings would look different since you'd be playing different teams - but let's assume for a second the points teams got aren't any different:
Atlantic:
1. Florida 79 pts
2. Toronto 77 pts
3. Tampa Bay 75 pts
4. Boston 73 pts (wildcard #1)
5. Montreal 59 pts
6. Ottawa 51 pts
7. Detroit 48 pts
8. Buffalo 37 pts
Metro:
1. Carolina 80 pts
2. Pittsburgh 77 pts (34 ROW)
3. Washington 77 pts (33 ROW)
4. Islanders 71 pts (wildcard #2)
5. Rangers 60 pts
6. Philadelphia 58 pts
7. Columbus 48 pts
8. New Jersey 45 pts
Central:
1. Colorado 82 pts
2. Minnesota 75 pts
3. Nashville 64 pts
4. Winnipeg 63 pts (30 ROW, wildcard #1)
5. St. Louis 63 pts (25 ROW, wildcard #2)
6. Dallas 60 pts
7. Chicago 55 pts
Pacific:
1. Vegas 82 pts
2. Edmonton 72 pts
3. Calgary 55 pts
4. Arizona 54 pts
5. Vancouver 50 pts
6. LA Kings 49 pts
7. San Jose 49 pts
8. Anaheim 43 pts
The first thing that stands out is - the Pacific stinks, plus Montreal wouldn't even be in the playoffs in this scenario (and Calgary would have made it).
From here on out it's a bunch of speculation but I feel like it ends with a Tampa Bay vs. Colorado/Vegas final - which would probably be a lot more interesting than the one we have.
I ran these match-ups through the simulator on whatifsports.com.... Here are the first round results
First Round - East
#1 Carolina v. WC2: NY Islanders
Game 1: NY Islanders 4 Carolina 1 (Islanders use a 4 goal 2nd period to open up the series on the road with a win)
Game 2: Carolina 3 NY Islanders 2 (Carolina Goal with 2:38 to play puts it away)
Game 3: NY Islanders 3 Carolina 1 (Islanders jump out to a 3-0 lead thanks to a home crowd advantage)
Game 4: NY Islanders 2 Carolina 1 (OT, Wahlstrom puts the Islanders up 3 games to 1 just 3:52 into overtime)
Game 5: NY Islanders 1 Carolina 0 (Offense continues to a problem as the Isles shutout Carolina to end the series)
New York wins series 4-1
#2 Pittsburgh vs. #3 Washington
Game 1: Pittsburgh 2 Washington 0 (I already don't believe this simulation since Pittsburgh shut someone out, 2 goals in the first 30 seconds of the 3rd gives the Pens the series lead)
Game 2: Pittsburgh 7 Washington 2 (Guentzel with a pair of goals gives the Pens a 2-0 series lead)
Game 3: Washington 3 Pittsburgh 2 (OT, Eller puts the Caps back in the series just 2:21 into the first OT period, Backstrom had the other 2).
Game 4: Pittsburgh 4 Washington 2 (A pair of 3rd period goals gives the Pens a stranglehold on the series)
Game 5: Pittsburgh 4 Washington 2 (Pens rally for the series clincher).
Pittsburgh wins series 4-1
#1 Florida vs. WC1: Boston
Game 1: Boston 4 Florida 3 (OT, another quick OT game as Florida continues to struggle for home playoff wins - Marchand scores 2:51 into OT)
Game 2: Florida 3 Boston 1 (Panthers even up the series behind 33 saves from Bobrovsky)
Game 3: Boston 4 Florida 3 (OT, Marchand again in OT - this time just 34 seconds in)
Game 4: Florida 3 Boston 0 (Panthers again rebound to even the series up. Bobrovsky with 31 saves).
Game 5: Florida 3 Boston 2 (2 OT, This game saw 4 penalties in the first 1:02 of the 2nd OT, Vatrano ended it 2:55 in - Rask had 48 saves)
Game 6: Boston 5 Florida 3 (Backs against the wall, Boston peppers 51 shots on goal - they need 2 3rd period markers to break a 3-3 tie)
Game 7: Florida 2 Boston 1 (Down 1-0 going into the 3rd, Ekblad & Barkov score 2:05 apart in the final 7 minutes to rally Florida to a series win)
Florida wins series 4-3
#2 Toronto v. #3 Tampa Bay
Game 1: Toronto 7 Tampa Bay 2 (The Leafs out-shoot Tampa 28-7 in the final period and tally 4 goals, Austin Matthews scores a hat trick)
Game 2: Tampa Bay 3 Toronto 1 (Was really hoping Toronto would blow a 2-0 series lead)
Game 3: Tampa Bay 3 Toronto 2 (OT, Darn, no 3-1 Leafs series lead. Point tallies a PP goal in OT about halfway through the period)
Game 4: Toronto 4 Tampa Bay 3 (Nylander tallies the winner with just under 8 minutes to go in regulation)
Game 5: Toronto 3 Tampa Bay 2 (Matthews carrying the Leafs! Another hat trick)
Game 6: Toronto 2 Tampa Bay 1 (No Northern heart break in this simulated world, the Leafs advance!)
Toronto wins series 4-2
First Round - West
#1 Colorado v. WC2 St. Louis
Game 1: Colorado 6 St. Louis 3 (Avs jump out to a 4-0 lead in the first period and never look back)
Game 2: Colorado 4 St. Louis 2 (Avs trying to make quick work of the series - this time a 2 goal second period is the difference)
Game 3: Colorado 5 St. Louis 1 (Much like real life, the Blues are offering little in the way of resistance, Avs out-shoot the Blues 52-24)
Game 4: Colorado 4 St. Louis 2 (Another dominating performance, shots were 34-21 Colorado)
Colorado wins series 4-0
#2 Minnesota v. #3 Nashville
Game 1: Nashville 4 Minnesota 2 (Preds use a 3 goal 2nd period to break open a scoreless game)
Game 2: Minnesota 4 Nashville 2 (Wild rally with 3 goal 3rd period to even the series)
Game 3: Minnesota 4 Nashville 2 (4-2 is a popular score, guessing this might go 6?)
Game 4: Nashville 3 Minnesota 2 (Arvidsson's goal proved to be the game winner, shots were 41-32 Minnesota)
Game 5: Nashville 6 Minnesota 4 (A wild game, Minnesota jumped out to a 3-1 lead, Nashville rallied to go up 5-3, but the empty netter put the game away at 6-4)
Game 6: Minnesota 2 Nashville 1 (The Wild jump out to a 2-1 lead after 1 and hold on)
Game 7: Minnesota 4 Nashville 1 (A 4 goal opening period and a 51-31 shot edge proves to the difference)
Minnesota wins series 4-3
#1 Vegas vs. WC1 Winnipeg
Game 1: Vegas 3 Winnipeg 1 (Hellebuyck's 43 saves aren't enough)
Game 2: Vegas 3 Winnipeg 1 (Fluery has now stopped 53 of 55 shots faced in the series)
Game 3: Vegas 4 Winnipeg 3 (OT, Martinez puts the Golden Knights up 3-0 in the series with a late first OT goal, Winnipeg had tied the game with 27 seconds to go - Hellebuyck made 56 saves)
Game 4: Vegas 7 Winnipeg 0 (That OT game proved to be the back breaker - Vegas dominates game 4 - 55-19 were the shots, D-man Theodore had 2 goals and an assist, Marchessault had a goal and 3 assists)
Vegas wins series 4-0
#2 Edmonton v. #3 Calgary
Game 1: Edmonton 4 Calgary 1 (Battle of Alberta begins - Draisaitl and McDavid both tally a goal)
Game 2: Calgary 4 Edmonton 1 (Flames rebound - PP went 2 for 4)
Game 3: Calgary 3 Edmonton 0 (Flames dominate the game - shots were 53-20)
Game 4: Edmonton 2 Calgary 1 (Oilers rebound - though McDavid & Draisaitl remain quiet after the first game)
Game 5: Calgary 3 Edmonton 2 (A 3rd period goal by Gaudreau has the Flames on the brink of the upset)
Game 6: Edmonton 7 Calgary 2 (McDavid woke up - 2 goals, 2 assists)
Game 7: Edmonton 8 Calgary 3 (Draisaitl came through with 2 goals, but Nugent-Hopkins had a night - 3 goals, 1 assist, McDavid tallied a goal as well - Edmonton avoids the upset.
Edmonton wins series 4-3
This sets us up with the second round of:
Pittsburgh vs. NY Islanders
Florida vs. Toronto
Colorado vs. Minnesota
Vegas vs. Edmonton
Coming later....
Obviously the standings would look different since you'd be playing different teams - but let's assume for a second the points teams got aren't any different:
Atlantic:
1. Florida 79 pts
2. Toronto 77 pts
3. Tampa Bay 75 pts
4. Boston 73 pts (wildcard #1)
5. Montreal 59 pts
6. Ottawa 51 pts
7. Detroit 48 pts
8. Buffalo 37 pts
Metro:
1. Carolina 80 pts
2. Pittsburgh 77 pts (34 ROW)
3. Washington 77 pts (33 ROW)
4. Islanders 71 pts (wildcard #2)
5. Rangers 60 pts
6. Philadelphia 58 pts
7. Columbus 48 pts
8. New Jersey 45 pts
Central:
1. Colorado 82 pts
2. Minnesota 75 pts
3. Nashville 64 pts
4. Winnipeg 63 pts (30 ROW, wildcard #1)
5. St. Louis 63 pts (25 ROW, wildcard #2)
6. Dallas 60 pts
7. Chicago 55 pts
Pacific:
1. Vegas 82 pts
2. Edmonton 72 pts
3. Calgary 55 pts
4. Arizona 54 pts
5. Vancouver 50 pts
6. LA Kings 49 pts
7. San Jose 49 pts
8. Anaheim 43 pts
The first thing that stands out is - the Pacific stinks, plus Montreal wouldn't even be in the playoffs in this scenario (and Calgary would have made it).
From here on out it's a bunch of speculation but I feel like it ends with a Tampa Bay vs. Colorado/Vegas final - which would probably be a lot more interesting than the one we have.
I ran these match-ups through the simulator on whatifsports.com.... Here are the first round results
First Round - East
#1 Carolina v. WC2: NY Islanders
Game 1: NY Islanders 4 Carolina 1 (Islanders use a 4 goal 2nd period to open up the series on the road with a win)
Game 2: Carolina 3 NY Islanders 2 (Carolina Goal with 2:38 to play puts it away)
Game 3: NY Islanders 3 Carolina 1 (Islanders jump out to a 3-0 lead thanks to a home crowd advantage)
Game 4: NY Islanders 2 Carolina 1 (OT, Wahlstrom puts the Islanders up 3 games to 1 just 3:52 into overtime)
Game 5: NY Islanders 1 Carolina 0 (Offense continues to a problem as the Isles shutout Carolina to end the series)
New York wins series 4-1
#2 Pittsburgh vs. #3 Washington
Game 1: Pittsburgh 2 Washington 0 (I already don't believe this simulation since Pittsburgh shut someone out, 2 goals in the first 30 seconds of the 3rd gives the Pens the series lead)
Game 2: Pittsburgh 7 Washington 2 (Guentzel with a pair of goals gives the Pens a 2-0 series lead)
Game 3: Washington 3 Pittsburgh 2 (OT, Eller puts the Caps back in the series just 2:21 into the first OT period, Backstrom had the other 2).
Game 4: Pittsburgh 4 Washington 2 (A pair of 3rd period goals gives the Pens a stranglehold on the series)
Game 5: Pittsburgh 4 Washington 2 (Pens rally for the series clincher).
Pittsburgh wins series 4-1
#1 Florida vs. WC1: Boston
Game 1: Boston 4 Florida 3 (OT, another quick OT game as Florida continues to struggle for home playoff wins - Marchand scores 2:51 into OT)
Game 2: Florida 3 Boston 1 (Panthers even up the series behind 33 saves from Bobrovsky)
Game 3: Boston 4 Florida 3 (OT, Marchand again in OT - this time just 34 seconds in)
Game 4: Florida 3 Boston 0 (Panthers again rebound to even the series up. Bobrovsky with 31 saves).
Game 5: Florida 3 Boston 2 (2 OT, This game saw 4 penalties in the first 1:02 of the 2nd OT, Vatrano ended it 2:55 in - Rask had 48 saves)
Game 6: Boston 5 Florida 3 (Backs against the wall, Boston peppers 51 shots on goal - they need 2 3rd period markers to break a 3-3 tie)
Game 7: Florida 2 Boston 1 (Down 1-0 going into the 3rd, Ekblad & Barkov score 2:05 apart in the final 7 minutes to rally Florida to a series win)
Florida wins series 4-3
#2 Toronto v. #3 Tampa Bay
Game 1: Toronto 7 Tampa Bay 2 (The Leafs out-shoot Tampa 28-7 in the final period and tally 4 goals, Austin Matthews scores a hat trick)
Game 2: Tampa Bay 3 Toronto 1 (Was really hoping Toronto would blow a 2-0 series lead)
Game 3: Tampa Bay 3 Toronto 2 (OT, Darn, no 3-1 Leafs series lead. Point tallies a PP goal in OT about halfway through the period)
Game 4: Toronto 4 Tampa Bay 3 (Nylander tallies the winner with just under 8 minutes to go in regulation)
Game 5: Toronto 3 Tampa Bay 2 (Matthews carrying the Leafs! Another hat trick)
Game 6: Toronto 2 Tampa Bay 1 (No Northern heart break in this simulated world, the Leafs advance!)
Toronto wins series 4-2
First Round - West
#1 Colorado v. WC2 St. Louis
Game 1: Colorado 6 St. Louis 3 (Avs jump out to a 4-0 lead in the first period and never look back)
Game 2: Colorado 4 St. Louis 2 (Avs trying to make quick work of the series - this time a 2 goal second period is the difference)
Game 3: Colorado 5 St. Louis 1 (Much like real life, the Blues are offering little in the way of resistance, Avs out-shoot the Blues 52-24)
Game 4: Colorado 4 St. Louis 2 (Another dominating performance, shots were 34-21 Colorado)
Colorado wins series 4-0
#2 Minnesota v. #3 Nashville
Game 1: Nashville 4 Minnesota 2 (Preds use a 3 goal 2nd period to break open a scoreless game)
Game 2: Minnesota 4 Nashville 2 (Wild rally with 3 goal 3rd period to even the series)
Game 3: Minnesota 4 Nashville 2 (4-2 is a popular score, guessing this might go 6?)
Game 4: Nashville 3 Minnesota 2 (Arvidsson's goal proved to be the game winner, shots were 41-32 Minnesota)
Game 5: Nashville 6 Minnesota 4 (A wild game, Minnesota jumped out to a 3-1 lead, Nashville rallied to go up 5-3, but the empty netter put the game away at 6-4)
Game 6: Minnesota 2 Nashville 1 (The Wild jump out to a 2-1 lead after 1 and hold on)
Game 7: Minnesota 4 Nashville 1 (A 4 goal opening period and a 51-31 shot edge proves to the difference)
Minnesota wins series 4-3
#1 Vegas vs. WC1 Winnipeg
Game 1: Vegas 3 Winnipeg 1 (Hellebuyck's 43 saves aren't enough)
Game 2: Vegas 3 Winnipeg 1 (Fluery has now stopped 53 of 55 shots faced in the series)
Game 3: Vegas 4 Winnipeg 3 (OT, Martinez puts the Golden Knights up 3-0 in the series with a late first OT goal, Winnipeg had tied the game with 27 seconds to go - Hellebuyck made 56 saves)
Game 4: Vegas 7 Winnipeg 0 (That OT game proved to be the back breaker - Vegas dominates game 4 - 55-19 were the shots, D-man Theodore had 2 goals and an assist, Marchessault had a goal and 3 assists)
Vegas wins series 4-0
#2 Edmonton v. #3 Calgary
Game 1: Edmonton 4 Calgary 1 (Battle of Alberta begins - Draisaitl and McDavid both tally a goal)
Game 2: Calgary 4 Edmonton 1 (Flames rebound - PP went 2 for 4)
Game 3: Calgary 3 Edmonton 0 (Flames dominate the game - shots were 53-20)
Game 4: Edmonton 2 Calgary 1 (Oilers rebound - though McDavid & Draisaitl remain quiet after the first game)
Game 5: Calgary 3 Edmonton 2 (A 3rd period goal by Gaudreau has the Flames on the brink of the upset)
Game 6: Edmonton 7 Calgary 2 (McDavid woke up - 2 goals, 2 assists)
Game 7: Edmonton 8 Calgary 3 (Draisaitl came through with 2 goals, but Nugent-Hopkins had a night - 3 goals, 1 assist, McDavid tallied a goal as well - Edmonton avoids the upset.
Edmonton wins series 4-3
This sets us up with the second round of:
Pittsburgh vs. NY Islanders
Florida vs. Toronto
Colorado vs. Minnesota
Vegas vs. Edmonton
Coming later....
