[BeadCounter]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Stanley_Cup_playoffs

I’d read their take on it, it does seem a bit complex.

[KarlInOhio]

Thanks. That pointed to another article which said " The winners of both First Round series advance to the Second Round.[1] The reseeding in the previous format, which ensured the top seed would play the lowest remaining seed, was discarded."

I had remembered the reseeding which made it difficult to do an NHL pool, but they dumped it and just do a straight bracket. I guess that makes sense because now they initially set the bracket by division (plus conference wild card) rather than by conference. The second round is still primarily by division.

[BeadCounter]

The Blackhawks have defeated the Predators at least in one playoff series in the past 5 years, I remember that, I think it might even be 2 playoff series. I’d hate to lose to the same team every few years. Maybe Nashville can get it back up; I know they were about the best team for a lot or some of the season but slumped a bit late in the year. So much is about when a team peaks.