Posted 11 May 2012 - 02:51 PM
As for teams playing 13 games in the first 2 rounds, there are 16 of these teams since the playoffs expanded to 7 game first rounds, 2 of them ended up winning the Cup (2009 Penguins, 1992 Penguins). They went 6-10 in their next round, 41-46 overall. Twice, two sets of 13 game teams met in the Conference Finals (2011 Sharks-Canucks, 2001 Devils-Penguins).
Just interesting things to look at, I doubt it's predictive at all.
How many of those games went to OT would be interesting to look at as well. Rangers have been involved in four OT playoff games, including one that went to 3 OT. And the Caps have now gone to SIX OT playoff games, one of which went to 2 OT, and another that went to 3 OT. And at the rate they're going, yet another OT game in Game 7 wouldn't come as any great shock.
In the topsy-turvy world that is the NHL playoffs, I wouldn't dare say the Devils are locks to get to the SC Finals, but no matter what team they face, both the Caps and the Rangers have played A LOT of hockey in these playoffs so far...either one could simply run out of gas.
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