2006-07 Playoff Format

[nivek_wahs]

http://whl.ca/news/?id=5879

Calgary, AB -- The WHL Playoff Format for the 2006 - 07 season will consist of a total of four playoff rounds with all playoff series being best-of-seven affairs.

The first round of the WHL Playoffs will feature the first place team versus the fourth place team and the second place team versus the third place team in each Division, with home ice advantage based on Division regular season standings.

The second round will feature the first place team versus the fourth place team and the second place team versus the third place team in each Conference, with home ice advantage based on Conference regular season standings.

The third round will be the WHL Eastern and Western Conference Championships and will feature the first place team versus the second place team in each Conference, with home ice advantage based on Conference regular season standings.

The fourth round will be the WHL Championship between the Conference Champions with home ice advantage based on overall League regular season standings.


WILDCARD FORMAT (Eastern Conference Only)

In the WHL’s Eastern Conference, (where the East Division has six Clubs and the Central Division has five Clubs), should a wildcard format apply, the format will be as follows:


-Should the fifth place Club in the East Division conclude the regular season with more points than the third place Club in the Central Division, they will be slotted into the third place position in the Central Division for the first round of playoffs. The third place Club in the Central Division will take the fourth place position and the fourth place Club in the Central Division will be eliminated.

-Should the fifth place Club in the East Division conclude the regular season with more points than the fourth place Club in the Central Division, they will be slotted into the fourth place position in the Central Division for the first round of playoffs. The fourth place Club in the Central Division will be eliminated.

-The fifth place Club in the East Division cannot be seeded higher than third place in the Central Division.

-Should the fifth place Club in the East Division finish with the same number of points as the fourth place Club in the Central Division, a one game sudden-death tiebreaker game will be played as per WHL regulations.

-Should the wildcard format apply, and the fifth place Club from the East Division wins their first round playoff series, the second round will feature the first place team versus the fourth place team and the second place team versus the third place team in the Conference, with home ice advantage based on Conference regular season standings.

[grainbear]

For a number of years now we are seeing based on performance a weaker team getting into the playoffs. Would much prefer to see it set up on a conference basis . Where team 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6 ,and 4 vs 5. Yes , this will involve more expense due to travel, and perhaps eliminate some divisional battles but at least then a team is rewarded for their seasonal play.

[neutral]

For a number of years now we are seeing based on performance a weaker team getting into the playoffs. Would much prefer to see it set up on a conference basis . Where team 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6 ,and 4 vs 5. Yes , this will involve more expense due to travel, and perhaps eliminate some divisional battles but at least then a team is rewarded for their seasonal play.

Due to the unbalanced schedules, the current format should work. If the schedule was balanced, a divisional format would make more sense. However, to support your arguement, look no further than Lethbridge. 5'th place in the central and second place in the east. That puts them in 6'th in the division and would mean the elimination of 3 teams from the east in a divisional format.

[loudi94]

So, let me get this straight. If the season were to end today, Lethbridge would officially be in the playoffs? Hard to believe the Eastern teams voted to approve this.
Edit: No it doesn't. It only works one way. The East can take a Central spot but not vise-versa. Makes no sense to me.

[Toswammi]

So, let me get this straight. If the season were to end today, Lethbridge would officially be in the playoffs? Hard to believe the Eastern teams voted to approve this.
Edit: No it doesn't. It only works one way. The East can take a Central spot but not vise-versa. Makes no sense to me.
Basically due to the fact that there are more teams in the east

[dondo]

The wild card (in this case) is really the only fair way to do this and since they introduced it in the CFL its been a very good thing. It balances out unevenly distributed divisions.

the tie-breaker game would be a barn-burner though -- game 7 to get into the playoffs -- it could either rev a team up or tire them out.