The tie-breakers are published on the NHL standings page. I don't think anyone needs to give them any more thought. The NHL playoffs could conceivably start as late as the middle of May. Make the first two rounds best of 5 with consecutive home games (i.e. May 15th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 21st). The first two rounds would be over before the end of May then the final two rounds could be best of 7's with the typical rest schedule. Everything would be done before the contracts are scheduled to expire/rollover at the end of June.