Some first round historical trivia

[Larry N]

The 2010 playoffs mark the eleventh year since the 1998-99 season, when the league went to three divisions and the division winners were given the top three seeds (No playoffs in 2005). In that time, there has been one occasion in each conference where the three division winners were dumped in the first round.

In the East, it occurred in the very first year, 1999:

(8) Pittsburgh 4 (1) New Jersey 3
(7) Buffalo 4 (2) Ottawa 0
(6) Boston 4 (3) Carolina 2

In the West, it occured in 2006:
(8) Edmonton 4 (1) Detroit 2
(7) Colorado 4 (2) Dallas 1
(6) Anaheim 4 (3) Calgary 3

Naturally enough, one of the top two seeds from the opposing conference won the Cup each time this occured: Dallas in '99 and Carolina in '06.

 

[PGH11286]

Edmonton over Detroit in '06 has to be the biggest first round upset ever.

 

[Destroydacre]

Bodes well for the Sharks and Blackhawks eh?

 

[Larry N]

Edmonton over Detroit in '06 has to be the biggest first round upset ever.

Actually, '06 was the second time Detroit lost as a #1 seed against #8. They turned the trick in '94 when San Jose knocked them out in seven. Not sure which was the bigger upset. But I'm thinking Wings fans weren't feeling so hot about either.

 

[Burns80y]

Bodes well for the Sharks and Blackhawks eh?

Blackhawks maybe. The Sharks have a history of their own to deal with.

 

[Pandolph20]

Edmonton over Detroit in '06 has to be the biggest first round upset ever.

Maybe not ever, but that was insane

 

[Larry N]

Bodes well for the Sharks and Blackhawks eh?

Well, it looks like it makes things easier, for sure. It doesn't bode well for the Pens that in both cases it was a #7 (Buffalo in '99) and a #8 (Edmonton in 2006) that made it to the finals from the upset conference.

Edit: Hawks/Flyers: Who you got?!

 

[quoipourquoi]

Edmonton over Detroit in '06 has to be the biggest first round upset ever.

I still don't know why people think that, based upon the teams Detroit lost to in 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2004. They all hovered around 92-96 points. Before the Anaheim Ducks in 2007, Detroit hadn't lost to a 100 point team since 1996.

 

[PGH11286]

I still don't know why people think that, based upon the teams Detroit lost to in 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2004. They all hovered around 92-96 points. Before the Anaheim Ducks in 2007, Detroit hadn't lost to a 100 point team since 1996.

Yeah but the Red Wings had 124 points that season. I know the Central was bad but they had the second most goals scored and fewest allowed.

 

[The Q stache]

Well, it looks like it makes things easier, for sure. It doesn't bode well for the Pens that in both cases it was a #7 (Buffalo in '99) and a #8 (Edmonton in 2006) that made it to the finals from the upset conference.

Edit: Hawks/Flyers: Who you got?!

If it ends up being Hawks Flyers that means Melrose's preseason pics were correct. Is that really something we want?

 

[elocomotive]

Bodes well for the Sharks and Blackhawks eh?

Woah, woah, woah... the #1 seed is still in it last I checked. : )

 

[Destroydacre]

Woah, woah, woah... the #1 seed is still in it last I checked. : )

Heh, bad wording on my part.

 

[Larry N]

If it ends up being Hawks Flyers that means Melrose's preseason pics were correct. Is that really something we want?

Well, I definitely want the Flyers end of it. But if Melrose made that call, then it looks like a Sharks/Habs final coming up.

 

[PGH11286]

Well, I definitely want the Flyers end of it. But if Melrose made that call, then it looks like a Sharks/Habs final coming up.

The refs won't allow the Sharks to make it. Just ask TrueNiners.

 

[The Q stache]

The refs won't allow the Sharks to make it. Just ask TrueNiners.

If you ask him he'll say they will win against the refs.