Apr 19, 2017
Parise on playoff format: I liked the old way
The Minnesota Wild are down 3-0 in their series against the St. Louis Blues in a matchup between the second and third place teams in the Central Division. Wild forward Zach Parise told the Pioneer Press Tuesday he preferred the old playoff format, in which seeding was based on conference standings.
TSN.ca Staff
The Minnesota Wild are down 3-0 in their series against the St. Louis Blues in a matchup between the second and third place teams in the Central Division.
Wild forward Zach Parise said Tuesday he preferred the old playoff format, in which seeding was based on conference standings.
Parise admitted his comments may come off as bitter with the Wild on the verge of being swept, but said teams who do well in the regular season could suffer under the new format.
“It’s going to sound like I’m complaining now, but I do like the old way better, because one division could have a lot more points than the other division,” Parise told the Pioneer Press. “You might not get an advantage for finishing second or third, or you might lose your home ice.”
The Wild finished second in the Western Conference and, under the format, would have played the Calgary Flames in the first round.
Instead, under the wild-card format which debuted in 2014, the Wild hosted the Blues within the Central Division bracket. The Blues finished fifth in the West in the regular season and would have played the Edmonton Oilers under the old format.
The Wild will try to keep their season alive in Game 4 against the Blues on Wednesday night.