Is this the worst performance by the top seeds in both conferences in NHL history?

[HanSolo]

Yes

Even worse that both teams only had one win between them. This record is gonna be hard to top.

 

[Tage2Tuch]

All those people picking Tampa Calgary should know that top seeds almost never play each other in the final let alone even make the top four.

Also this is the first time in NHL history they’ve both lost.

has a 1-8 combined record for the top 2 seeds in a conference ever been matched or beaten? it.s usually 4-2 or 4-3 if the 1 seed goes down...

This is the first time in the NHLs hundred years where the top seed in both conferences have lost in the first round.

Not only lose but lose by a combined series score of 8-1.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I had my doubts about Calgary largely due to goaltending.

Who could have predicted that goaltending would arguably be their only redeeming quality this first round.

 

[MrPucky66]

I have a gut feeling that the Penguins may be the only lowered seeded team to NOT make it out of the first round.

 

[Lolonegoal]

First time they've both been knocked out together, so hard to argue otherwise.

 

[Paralyzer]

Unbelievable to me how bad the Lightning and Flames looked in the playoffs. Is this the worst you've ever seen?

This is the first time in NHL History both #1 seeds were kicked out by #8 seeds. We have seen it happen to 1 team but not both. This is an epic loss for both teams. Funny enough, both teams met in the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

 

[c9777666]

top seeds almost never play each other in the final let alone even make the top four.

Twice since 1988. TWICE!

 

[Canes]

This is why the Stanley Cup playoffs are the best thing in sports.

If they ever go to something like what European soccer leagues do (and I'm a soccer fan), I hope I'm long gone from this Earth.

 

[AzHawk]

I guess beating up on the Atlantic and Pacific divisions doesn't really prepare you for much

 

[super6646]

I guess beating up on the Atlantic and Pacific divisions doesn't really prepare you for much

Flames were 13-2-1 against the metro and swept the series against the avs. Regular season meant shit.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Washington won the Metro, currently 2-2 vs Carolina
Tampa won the Atlantic, eliminated by Columbus 4-0

Nashville won the Central, currently 2-2 vs Dallas
Calgary won the Pacific, eliminated by Colorado 4-1

Its possible that all of the division winners gets eliminated in the first round,
i reckon that's never happened before either.

 

[TomasHertlsRooster]

Unbelievable to me how bad the Lightning and Flames looked in the playoffs. Is this the worst you've ever seen?

Yes it is, and it's not even close.

This is the first time in NHL history that the top seeds have both lost in the first round. That automatically makes it the worst performance. But it gets worse.

Not only did both teams lose their series, and get dominated throughout pretty much all of their series; they combined for only 1 win.

Since no two top seeds have both lost in the first round, we know that the fewest combined victories by two top seeds is at least 4. We know that it is exactly 4 just by looking at 2017: Chicago was the top seed in the West with 0 playoff wins, and Washington was the top seed in the East, with 4 wins in the first round. A combined 4 wins. (Some people might mention years with a best of 5 series. If somebody can find me a year where one top seed won their series with 3 wins and the other top seed was swept, I can update this post with an asterisk.)

Not only did Tampa and Calgary come together to set the all-time record for fewest combined wins by the top seeds in each conference. Their record was one quarter of the previous record.

 

[Sega Dreamcast]

Yep. Neither team has ever at any point had their back against the wall, and it showed. They didn't know what it was like to play must win hockey.

I'd be curious to see how these teams reacted to a bad loss near the end of the season.

If they were down by 2 goals in a meaningless game, did they give up or still compete? Do they know how to knuckle down and outwork the other team, or do they solely rely on their skill?

For example, I just watched the condensed game for the Lighting losing 6-3 to the Capitals on 3/30. Down by 3 after the first period, and the Lightning just looked disinterested.

Playing like that on Fan Appreciation night is some hilarious foreshadowing.

 

[Mikeshane]

Not only did the 8th seed win, they were easily the better team in both series. This wasn't some miracle lucky win it was consistently outplaying the top seed over the course of the series.

 

[Alex K]

I am more surprised that Flames won the western conference than they are going out now.

The West was so bad, that anyone could win it.

 

[member 151739]

I blame the playoff format.

 

[seancolorado]

Going into the series I thought the Avs' only shot was potentially weak goaltending

Instead, Mike Smith stood on his head and played;

I know they say parity is real in the NHL but it still feels like a wacky start to the playoffs

 

[Razz]

The West was so bad, that anyone could win it.

I think the same goes for the east. Literally anyone can win the cup this year. This playoffs is shaping up to be one of my favourites. Reminds me of 1993.

 

[Sky04]

There's something about fighting for a playoff spot vs clinching one early on. Both Columbus and Colorado were playing must win games for over a month now, so they definitely had a mental edge on both teams, and clearly Calgary and Tampa were just not prepared for playoff hockey.

The opposite holds true more often than not, 8th seeds/WC1-2 are almost always playing must win games till the last day of the season and still usually sent home right away. Tampa and Calgary both didn't come prepared but Columbus and Colorado are much stronger than a typical 8th seed as well.

 

[c9777666]

BOS and CHI in '93 got swept, but that was #2 and #3 overall

 

[Sky04]

That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking too.

Didn’t Ottawa do the same thing a couple of years ago that had them a goal away from the SCF?

No, Ottawa was 2nd in the Atlantic.

 

[c9777666]

There's something about fighting for a playoff spot vs clinching one early on. Both Columbus and Colorado were playing must win games for over a month now, so they definitely had a mental edge on both teams, and clearly Calgary and Tampa were just not prepared for playoff hockey.

I get that Tampa Bay hadn't played meaningful games for a month, but Calgary.... they had to fight off SJ for their division.

It's one thing to essentially coast for a month. CGY actually played meaningful games late to edge out the Sharks, they did NOT coast late..... and they still suffered the same fate.

You can't say Calgary didn't play any meaningful games because they were trying to avoid Vegas. There's a difference between having a huge gap that TB had and CGY fending off SJ.

 

[Super Fadio Bro]

Flames were 13-2-1 against the metro and swept the series against the avs. Regular season meant ****.

So both the Lightning and Flames got bounced by the teams they swept in the regular season.

Wow....

 

[Aurinko]

If the SCF would become AV's-CBJ...

...that would be an amazing final for hockey fans and for the whole NHL system.

 

[c9777666]

I guess beating up on the Atlantic and Pacific divisions doesn't really prepare you for much

Like beating up on the Metro (NJD/NYR/PHI) is gonna prepare teams......