So currently, the way the playoffs are set up is that based on the amount of points each team gets the top 3 teams in points each division automatically make it, with the next 2 with the most points in the conference (2 divisions) making it in as wildcard teams- regardless of whether they’re in the same division or not. In this format, the top team in each division plays one of the wildcard teams, the team with most points playing the wildcard team with fewer points. Then the second and third teams in the same division play eachother. This creates a situation like in the Atlantic, where Boston, Toronto and Tampa are all within the top 6 in points in the league but Toronto and Tampa are going to have to play eachother because they’re going to finish 2nd and 3rd in the division.

The old way was that, regardless of division, the teams were ranked for 1st (most) to 8th points in the conference and 1 played 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5. It is more fair when one division is completely stacked.