Year of the Underdogs

[ShawneePanthers]

What an amazing, entertaining year of playoffs! When was the last time this many lower seeds had the advantage?

[hockeyrobot]

We're at a point where ever "underdog" can win round 1. Crazy.

[Axeman33]

In my work playoff pool, we are allowed to select any 20 players we want, with a max of 4 from any one team. I usually take the idea of loading up 4 from who I think are going to be the final four teams and then four from various other teams. I went:

4 - TB
4 - Calgary
4 - Washington
4 - St Louis
4 - various individual players

Right now, my pool looks like I am screwed.

[niconasr]

In my work playoff pool, we are allowed to select any 20 players we want, with a max of 4 from any one team. I usually take the idea of loading up 4 from who I think are going to be the final four teams and then four from various other teams. I went:

4 - TB
4 - Calgary
4 - Washington
4 - St Louis
4 - various individual players

Right now, my pool looks like I am screwed.

Washington and St-Louis still have strong chances to go through. And so many people took TB players (though maybe not in your pool) that it kind of evens out for a lot of people.

[DusterDave]

Didn’t take any TB or CGY players in my playoff pool but loaded up on WSH & NSH. Could end up being screwed anyways.

[4T2]

The NHL.com bracket challenge is actually going to give people a second chance to pick their brackets due to over 50% of the entries having picked Tampa or Pittsburgh to win the cup. Second chance ballots won't be eligible for the grand prize though

[DusterDave]

The NHL.com bracket challenge is actually going to give people a second chance to pick their brackets due to over 50% of the entries having picked Tampa or Pittsburgh to win the cup. Second chance ballots won't be eligible for the grand prize though

That’s dumb. There aren’t any do-overs in real life. Just ask Tampa.

[Axeman33]

Washington and St-Louis still have strong chances to go through. And so many people took TB players (though maybe not in your pool) that it kind of evens out for a lot of people.

Ya, everyone took 4 TB players so that evens it out, but a few people loaded up on BOS guys too, which I only took Marchand and Pastrnak (as my 4 "other" players, the other two were Burns and Couture). Hopefully Washington can get by Carolina but I am starting to wonder about that. That being said, NO ONE took any Carolina players, nor did they take any CBJ players either. My 4 Calgary guys are keeping me down the list.

[The Comish]

The NHL.com bracket challenge is actually going to give people a second chance to pick their brackets due to over 50% of the entries having picked Tampa or Pittsburgh to win the cup. Second chance ballots won't be eligible for the grand prize though

That’s dumb. There aren’t any do-overs in real life. Just ask Tampa.

I'm with Dave, that's dumb.

[ericdaoust]

I agree it's lame but I understand why they're doing it.

[The Comish]

I agree it's lame but I understand why they're doing it.

Yes, capitalism. Keep more people in it with a chance and you get more traffic/hits, which helps your numbers, which advertisers like.

[ericdaoust]

Yes, capitalism. Keep more people in it with a chance and you get more traffic/hits, which helps your numbers, which advertisers like.

Much like how the media covers politics

(Am I going to regret this post?)

[ShawneePanthers]

This is the only year in NHL history in which both 1st ranked playoff teams in each conference have been eliminated in the first round

[GavinC]

This is the only year in NHL history in which both 1st ranked playoff teams in each conference have been eliminated in the first round

First time in NHL history the President's Trophy winner was swept. First time both top seeds are gone.

Someone said before the playoffs, and I think it might have been an Athletic writer (or commentor), but it could have been on these forums: "This year just feels like the year something crazy happens" <- paraphrasing.

Man was that person right.

[DusterDave]

First time in NHL history the President's Trophy winner was swept. First time both top seeds are gone.

Someone said before the playoffs, and I think it might have been an Athletic writer (or commentor), but it could have been on these forums: "This year just feels like the year something crazy happens" <- paraphrasing.

Man was that person right.

Like a team ending a 52 year Cup drought?