|
Coaching InformationNational Hockey League And The Stanley Cup
by:
Sintilia Miecevole
Each team in the NHL plays 82 regular season games, 41 games at house and 41 on the road. Teams used to play all another teams in the league at least once, but this wish no longer be the case following implementation of post-lockout changes. Teams wish now play 10 interconference (that is, not in their own conference) games throughout the entire season, 1 game against each team in two of the three divisions in the opposite conference. Teams wish besides play 40 games against non-divisional, conference opponents (4 games against each), and 32 games inside
their division (8 games against each). Two points are awarded for wins, one point for losing in overtime or a shootout, and zero points for a loss in regulation time. At the end of the regular season, the team that finishes with the most points in each division is crowned the division champion. Each Conference consists of three divisions, so these three division champions and five more teams fill out each Conference's playoff field. In total, 16 teams (3 division champions and 5 additional teams, for a total of 8 from each Conference) qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs is an elimination tournament, wherever
two teams battle to win a best-of-seven series in order to advance to the next round. If the score is tied at the end of the third period an overtime period is played. If the score is tied at the end of an overtime period, additional overtime periods are compete until a winner is determined. Overtimes are besides full periods of twenty minutes (of five-on-five hockey), rather than the five minutes (of four-on-four hockey, followed by a shootout,) in the regular season. The overtime is compete with golden goal rule (sudden death) so the game ends as shortly as either team scores a goal. The higher-ranked team is aforesaid to be the team with the home-ice advantage. Four of the seven games are compete at this team's house venue - the 1st and second, and, wherever
necessary, the fifth and seventh, with the another games compete at the lower-ranked team's house venue.
One playoff that was oppose
in the NHL used the following format: the division winners were seeded one through three, and then the next five teams with the better records in the conference were seeded four through eight. However, the league has yet to announce the playoff format for the 2005-06 season, and with the new programming format that emphasises division play, the league is reportedly exploring placing greater emphasis on division standings by taking the top 2 teams in each division, on
with the teams with the next two better records for each Conference's playoff field. In the event of a tie in points in the standings, ties are broken 1st by figure of wins, then by record against the team that is tied (disregarding the 1st game compete at the arena of the team that hosted more games than the another during the season series, if applicable). Next, the tied team with the better positive differential between goals scored for and against is given preference, and in the rare circumstance these tiebreakers are insufficient, the Commissioner has the authority to devise several another means of breaking the tie. The 1st round of the playoffs, or Conference Quarterfinals, consists of the 1st seed playing the eighth seed, the second playing the seventh, third playing the sixth, and the fourth playing the fifth. In the Conference Semifinals, the top remaining Conference seed plays against the fourth remaining seed, and the second remaining seed plays the third remaining seed. In the next round, the Conference Finals, the two remaining teams in each conference play each other, with the Conference champions legal proceeding to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Just about the author:
Sintilia Miecevole, Host of http://www.hockeyfa.comloves hockey on
with all of the fans! Check out this great site that has everything from the Hall of Fame, jerseys, memorabilia, news and games to gear, photos, skates, tournaments and more more. Click on to http://www.hockeyfa.comand enjoy.
Circulated by Article Emporium
| |
