Which Playoff Format to Pick?

BKL · 11-02-2021, 07:23 PM

I have a custom league with two conferences. I would like to have the four best teams from each conference make the playoffs. The playoff tree should be such that only the four teams within the conference play each other (until the finals when the two conference champions meet). So, it would be 1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3, with highest seed always getting home ice through the playoffs. Best of 7.

Do I need to set this up with a custom format or is there already one available? If I use custom, what settings should I have?

In my FHM7 save, I had the pre-designated format "4 Teams Per Conference" and it did pick the best four teams, but there were inter-conference matchups before the finals, which I want to avoid.

Thank you.

servo75 · 11-06-2021, 03:51 PM

Yes I find it a bit confusing too. I did a similar setup as you, except 6 teams x 2 divisions instead of conferences. It seems as though 4 teams per division and 4 teams per division + reseeding do the same thing. But in two test leagues, I found I got the desired result you're seeking, but in both cases it was 1st vs. 3rd and 2nd vs. 4th. I wonder if there is a way to customize playoff matchups: Strictly by division (1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3), by conference seeding (as the NHL did before the current format) or the current NHL format with x teams per division and y wildcards.

11-02-2021, 07:23 PM	#1
BKL All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 929	Which Playoff Format to Pick? I have a custom league with two conferences. I would like to have the four best teams from each conference make the playoffs. The playoff tree should be such that only the four teams within the conference play each other (until the finals when the two conference champions meet). So, it would be 1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3, with highest seed always getting home ice through the playoffs. Best of 7. Do I need to set this up with a custom format or is there already one available? If I use custom, what settings should I have? In my FHM7 save, I had the pre-designated format "4 Teams Per Conference" and it did pick the best four teams, but there were inter-conference matchups before the finals, which I want to avoid. Thank you.

11-06-2021, 03:51 PM	#2
servo75 Bat Boy Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 18	Yes I find it a bit confusing too. I did a similar setup as you, except 6 teams x 2 divisions instead of conferences. It seems as though 4 teams per division and 4 teams per division + reseeding do the same thing. But in two test leagues, I found I got the desired result you're seeking, but in both cases it was 1st vs. 3rd and 2nd vs. 4th. I wonder if there is a way to customize playoff matchups: Strictly by division (1 vs. 4, 2 vs. 3), by conference seeding (as the NHL did before the current format) or the current NHL format with x teams per division and y wildcards.