2013-14 FNHL Playoffs ROUND 1 (Mar 10-16)

[PigsRule]

Here we go, ROUND 1 of the 2013-14 Franchise NHL Play-offs.  :win:

WESTERN CONFERENCE
West Match 1. :STL-NHL:  #1 Central Div (16-5; Div.9-0)  VS  :CLG:  #2 Wildcard (PAC 8-13; Div.4-4)
West Match 2. :WIN:  #2 Central (15-6; Div.5-2)  VS  :CHI-NHL:  #3 Central (15-6; Div.3-5)

West Match 3. :LAK:  #2 Pacific (10-11; Div.5-3)  VS  :SJ:  #3 Pacific (9-12; Div.5-3)
West Match 4. :ANA:  #1 Pacific Div (12-9; Div.7-1)   VS  :MIN-NHL:  #1 Wildcard (CEN 14-7; Div.6-2)

EASTERN CONFERENCE
East Match 1. :OTT:  #1 Atlantic Div (17-3-1; Div.8-1-1)  VS  :TOR-NHL:  #2 Wildcard (13-8; Div.3-6)
East Match 2. :FLO:  #2 Atlantic (15-6; Div.7-2) VS  :DET-NHL:  #3 Atlantic (14-7; Div.6-3)

East Match 3. :NYI:  #2  Metropolitan (13-8; Div.6-2)  VS  :PHI-NHL:  #3 Metropolitan (12-9; Div.3-5)
East Match 4. :CLS:  #1 Metropolitan Div (14-7; Div.7-3)  VS  :BOS-NHL:  #1 Wildcard (14-7; Div.4-5)

Reference...

...
Starting 2013-14, Franchise NHL Play-off format will be revised to reflect the changes to the NHL Play-off format:

This is how the NHL sets up their new play-off format given 2013-14 re-alignment:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=685005

This is how Franchise NHL's new play-off format will work:

16 TEAMS QUALIFY
* 16-out-of-30 teams qualify for play-offs
* 8 teams from Western Conference (Pacific + Central Divisions)
* 8 teams from Eastern Conference (Atlantic + Metropolitan Divisions)
* Top 6 seeds per Conference come from Top 3 teams in each Division
* Remaining 2 seeds per Conference come from highest placing regular season finishers via points (2 from each West, 2 from East) regardless of Division

FNHL Standings Tie-breakers:
1. Best division record for entire season
2. Head-to-head record vs. team(s) tied with
3. Most fantasy points for entire season (skaters and goalie combined, not actual NHL points but fantasy points based on FNHL setup "Full Fantasy Team" stats)
...

[PigsRule]

Here we go, ROUND 1 of the 2013-14 Franchise NHL Play-offs.  :win:

WESTERN CONFERENCE
West Match 1. :STL-NHL:  #1 Central Div (16-5; Div.9-0)  VS  :CLG:  #2 Wildcard (PAC 8-13; Div.4-4)
West Match 2. :WIN:  #2 Central (15-6; Div.5-2)  VS  :CHI-NHL:  #3 Central (15-6; Div.3-5)

West Match 3. :LAK:  #2 Pacific (10-11; Div.5-3)  VS  :SJ:  #3 Pacific (9-12; Div.5-3)
West Match 4. :ANA:  #1 Pacific Div (12-9; Div.7-1)   VS  :MIN-NHL:  #1 Wildcard (CEN 14-7; Div.6-2)

EASTERN CONFERENCE
East Match 1. :OTT:  #1 Atlantic Div (17-3-1; Div.8-1-1)  VS  :TOR-NHL:  #2 Wildcard (13-8; Div.3-6)
East Match 2. :FLO:  #2 Atlantic (15-6; Div.7-2) VS  :DET-NHL:  #3 Atlantic (14-7; Div.6-3)

East Match 3. :NYI:  #2  Metropolitan (13-8; Div.6-2)  VS  :PHI-NHL:  #3 Metropolitan (12-9; Div.3-5)
East Match 4. :CLS:  #1 Metropolitan Div (14-7; Div.7-3)  VS  :BOS-NHL:  #1 Wildcard (14-7; Div.4-5)

Reference...

Fantrax Round 1 match-ups have been loaded! :thumbsup:
Also note, I've edited the date from "Mar 10-17" to "Mar 10-16" in the title.

[PigsRule]

Teams streaking as we begin the 2nd season:

:STL-NHL:  Blues are riding a 12 week winning streak... there are 21 wks to the Regular Season
:CLS:  Blue Jackets are on an 8 week win streak.
:OTT:  Franchise NHL President's Trophy winner Senators are on a 7 week Undefeated streak (6 wins plus a surprising tie)

[PigsRule]

:WIN:  Jets climb into 2nd place in the Central Division pushing former top seed in the Western Conference  :CHI-NHL: down to 3rd place.

Jets have been quietly moving up yhe standings all season.

[PigsRule]

:CLS:  Blue Jackets have overtaken the :NYI:  Islanders for 1st place in the Metropolitan Division. That's the good news. Now the Jackets get to face high scoring Eastern Wildcard #1 :BOS-NHL: Bruins from the tough Atlantic Division.

[PigsRule]

:CLG:  Flames edge out :DAL-NHL:  Stars for the final Western Wildcard spot with a better Division record (Flames 4-4 vs the Stars 0-7) but now have to figure a way to defeat the Western Conference leading :STL-NHL:  Blues who own the 2nd best record overall during Regular Season.

[PigsRule]

:LAK:  Kings have overtaken incumbant :SJ: for 2nd place in the Pacific Division. Sharks move down to 3rd after losing to LA in the final week of the Regular Season but get an immediate rematch in Round 1 of the Playoffs.

[PigsRule]

:ANA:  Ducks have held on to finish 1st in the Pacific Division. Anaheim ownership spent 2012-13 rebuilding and enduring numerous losing weeks especially without an active goalie on their roster. Now the have their hands full matched up against Western Wildcard #1 :MIN-NHL:  Wild who challenged for 1st in the West and in the Central Division all season.

[PigsRule]

FNHL President's Trophy winner :OTT:  Senators draw a tough Round 1 opponent in the 2012-13 FNHL Stanley Cup Finalist and Eastern Wildcard #2 :TOR-NHL:  Maple Leafs.

[PigsRule]

After leading the Metropolitan Division all season, :NYI:  Islanders drop to 2nd place on the final week of the Regular Season and now face off against 2012-13 Eastern Conference Finalist and 3rd place Metropolitan :PHI-NHL:  Flyers.