How to Understand NHL Conference Seedings

The NHL or national hockey league has one of the most competitive leagues in professional sports. The NHL also does arguably the best job at maintaining an equitable and fair playoff tournament that decides that league's champion. Part of the reason the NHL playoffs are so equitable is their conference seeding process. This process can be a bit confusing but once explained is not hard to understand.

Instructions

1. Understand that the top eight teams from each conference make the playoffs. In the event of a tie for a playoff spot, the ties are broken by the following means in this order: superior point percentage, most games won, greater number of points won in games between the tied teams and goal differential.

2. Know that the champions of each division are awarded the top three seeds in each conference. These seeds are awarded based on the points won by each of the division winners. The division winner with the highest overall point total is the top overall seed. The tie-breakers for these seeds are the same as the ones mentioned in step one.

3. Realize that next five seeds in each conference are based on overall points total for the season. In the event of a tie, the tie-breakers are the same as those stated in Step 1.

4. Recognize that in each successive round of the playoffs the NHL reseeds their team. For example, if the number one overall seed loses in the first round then the next highest-seeded team is given top spot in the next round. That way the remaining team with best record is certain to play the lowest-seeded team remaining.