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NHL dumps the remainder of the 2019-20 regular season

The National Hockey League (NHL) has decided to abandon the 2019-20 regular season and jump straight to the postseason. The decision to call off the remaining of the regular season ends the season for San Jose, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Buffalo, New Jersey, Ottawa, and Detroit.

If the season resumes, we will have a total of 24 teams in the playoffs instead of 16. The league has also announced the playoff format for the conclusion of the season. Below, the “round-robin” pertains to the seeding for the top four teams in each conference. The “qualifying round” has previously been referred to as a “play-in” round.” The winners from the qualifying round play the top four seeds in the first round. However, individual first-round matchups have yet been decided on.

Round Robin: The top four teams play for first-round seeding (regular-season overtime rules in effect)

Qualifying Round: The remaining teams play best-of-5 series to advance to the First Round (playoff overtime rules in effect)

First Round and Second Round: Format (seeding vs. bracket) and series lengths to be determined

Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final: Best-of-7 series

Round-Robin Seeding for First Round: (Eastern Conference)
1. Boston Bruins
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
3. Washington Capitals
4. Philadelphia Flyers

Round-Robin Seeding for First Round: (Western Conference)
1. St. Louis Blues
2. Colorado Avalanche
3. Vegas Golden Knights
4. Dallas Stars

Best-of-Five Qualifying Round: (Eastern Conference)
(8) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (9) Columbus Blue Jackets
(7) New York Islanders vs. (10) Florida Panthers
(6) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (11) New York Rangers
(5) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (12) Montreal Canadians

Best-of-Five Qualifying Round: (Western Conference)
(8) Calgary Flames vs. (9) Winnipeg Jets
(7) Vancouver Canucks vs. (10) Minnesota Wild
(6) Nashville Predators vs. (11) Arizona Coyotes
(5) Edmonton Oilers vs. (12) Chicago Blackhawks