Wild Card?

[CaptHowdy00]

I was listening to NHL radio to day and they mentioned that this year for the playoffs there are Wild Cards. According to what was said, each devision will the top 2 teams in and a Wild Card. If that is true, that would make for 5 teams out of each conference, which to me does not make sence.
Can anyone clarify this?

 

[Deader2818]

The top 3 in each division make the playoffs. The last 2 spots will go to which ever 2 teams left from the 2 divisions in conference has the highest points.

So 5 teams from one division can make it.

Example

LA, SJ and VAN are the 3 highest in the Pacific. CHI, STL, MIN are top 3 in the Central so they all make the playoffs.

Now, lets say PHX and ANA have more points then any of the teams left in the Central division. They would get the last 2 spots.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

The top 3 in each division make the playoffs. The last 2 spots will go to which ever 2 teams left from the 2 divisions in conference has the highest points.

So 5 teams from one division can make it.

Example

LA, SJ and VAN are the 3 highest in the Pacific. CHI, STL, MIN are top 3 in the Central so they all make the playoffs.

Now, lets say PHX and ANA have more points then any of the teams left in the Central division. They would get the last 2 spots.

Yea, this is how I understand it.

I do, however, have a lot of questions on matchups. Are the top 3 teams only playing teams in their own division? Same example as above:

Standings:
Pacific:
#1: LA #2 SJ #3 VAN
Central:
#1 Chicago #2 STL #3 MINN
Wild Cards:
#4(a) PHX, #4(b) ANA

#1 LA has the most points, so they play...the lowest seed of either division (Anaheim in this case)?
But then that means that Phoenix plays Chicago as the #4 vs the #1 in the Central (Is this the only matchup outside of the division for anyone?).

Do all other teams then just play within their division? #2SJ vs #3 VAN and #2 STL vs #3MINN. I personally hate this because I love the random matchups within the West. We are going to be seeing way too much Vancouver/San Jose/Anaheim/Phoenix for the foreseeable future.

*Sorry for the words questioning but I really don't totally understand the new system. The old system was fine (I don't think the new system even curtails the travel by very much).

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Then how does this affect rounds 2-3. Does Phoenix now just pretend like they are in the Central for the sake of Playoff continuity? I heard that you play within your division for the first two rounds (but the Wild Card makes this a moot point).