In Gary Bettman’s perfect NHL world, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers would meet in the playoffs every year for eternity. The bracketed playoff system is designed to build rivalries by guaranteeing that division rivals will meet frequently in the playoffs. So what if it also means that a 100-point team (or 98-point team) gets bounced in the first round? For the second year in a row, the Florida-based teams are set to meet in the first round, so Uncle Gary’s plan is coming together nicely. Before we look ahead to this year’s match-up, let’s go back and take a look at last year’s to see if we can glean any relevant information from the Panther’s 4-1 series win.
A look back before we move forward
