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Playoff Matchups Hockey
FILE - Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Scott Laughton, right, and Ottawa Senators center Ridly Greig fight during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP File)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
A month before NHL's playoff openers this weekend, Commissioner Gary Bettman was more than happy to defend the decision to not expand the bracket like other professional leagues around North America have done in recent years.
“If you look at the races that we’re having for the regular season, playoffs have started already,” Bettman said then.