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

[Erik Alfredsson]

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?

Not so much, Ottawa was the higher seed in both round 1 and 2. Ottawa was just more motivated to win because Clarke MacArthur unexpectedly came back from injury after missing a year of hockey, and you could tell the team was pumped up.

 

[c9777666]

Not so much, Ottawa was the higher seed in both round 1 and 2. Ottawa was just more motivated to win because Clarke MacArthur unexpectedly came back from injury after missing a year of hockey, and you could tell the team was pumped up.

I don't think OTT was ever in danger of missing the playoffs, but they finished only 3 points ahead of 2nd WC Toronto

 

[Varan]

the bolts at times dominated play.

i can honestly not remember any time other then game 1 where that happened for the flames.

oh you mean period 1 of game 1 and period 3 of game 4? the flames at least won a game

 

[behemolari]

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

Being top doesn't mean a thing.

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.

This.

 

[Hasbro]

The question should be expanded to other sports.

 

[KingPuckChoo]

to be fair, the top seed in the west is pretty avg

western teams were all avg

the top 5 teams were in the East this year: TB BOS WSH NYI TO

 

[Viqsi]

Slightly misleading as nearly half that list wasn't in it to begin with, in no small part because Edmonton.

 

[SI90]

Slightly misleading as nearly half that list wasn't in it to begin with, in no small part because Edmonton.

That’s the point.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Seeing as both #1 seeds have never gone down in round 1 before yes.

 

[Ghost of Ethan Hunt]

was about to start a thread about this, til I saw this one...This is year of the Underdog

 

[flying squirrel]

Crazy playoffs....

I think #1 & #2 from all NHL divsions are losing or lost series. Only Metro division has chance for their top 2 point leaders (Isles & Caps) to go on....

Has top 2 teams from 3 divsion lost in 1st round before?

 

[c9777666]

Crazy playoffs....

I think #1 & #2 from all NHL divsions are losing or lost series. Only Metro division has chance for their top 2 point leaders (Isles & Caps) to go on....

Has top 2 teams from 3 divsion lost in 1st round before?

Almost happened in 1993 (1-2 in Norris/Adams lost early)

 

[crab]

yes bad year

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Definitely wouldn't have expected Tampa and Calgary out in round one. Looks like Winnipeg might be done too. I had Tampa and Winnipeg in the finals.

 

[4chandler]

Seeing as both #1 seeds have never gone down in round 1 before yes.

92-93
Boston 1 seed, swept, Chicago 1 seed swept

 

[c9777666]

92-93
Boston 1 seed, swept, Chicago 1 seed swept

Boston was a 1 seed in their own division, not their conference (Pittsburgh finished 9 points ahead)

 

[4chandler]

Boston was a 1 seed in their own division, not their conference (Pittsburgh finished 9 points ahead)

Conference didn't matter, 1 seeds played 4 seeds in division

 

[CraigsList]

Not so much, Ottawa was the higher seed in both round 1 and 2. Ottawa was just more motivated to win because Clarke MacArthur unexpectedly came back from injury after missing a year of hockey, and you could tell the team was pumped up.

Im either thinking of a different year or Ottawa went on a hell of a streak that year... which one is it?

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Im either thinking of a different year or Ottawa went on a hell of a streak that year... which one is it?

It may have been that year, the East was pretty close all around that year so it's not like they were comfortably 2nd in the Atlantic.