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tie-breaker is implemented, then the next variable is the head-to-head season series between the two teams. If the teams are in the same division, they will have played eight games against one another; otherwise, conference foes play four games against each other during the season. So if Team A won two games in the season series, lost once and lost a shootout, while Team B won two games (one being the shootout) and lost the other two in regulation, then Team A would be ranked higher...

But say one of Team A's victories was also in a shootout or in overtime? Each team would then have gained five points against the other. The final tiebreaker is goal differential. This is calculated by subtracting the goals scored against a team during the season from the goals scored by that team:

Team A: 221 goals for, 187 goals against = +34 goal differential
Team B: 235 goals for, 212 goals against = +23 goal differential

In this instance it is not how many goals have been scored, but the gap between how many a team nets and how many a team allows which determines ranking. Here in this example, Team A would be placed higher in the standings.

HOW ARE PLAYOFF SEEDS DETERMINED?

The rankings work the same way at the end of the regular season as they do during the season. The top three seeds in each conference are reserved for division winners. The team with the highest point total among these division champs is given the first seed, the next highest gets the second seed, and the lowest point total among the division champs gets the third seed. Then the same formula is applied for seeds four through eight, with the established tiebreakers being used to differentiate teams with equal point totals.

Honestly, it is this simple. Next time you look at a hockey standings column in the newspaper, it won't appear as just a jumble of disparate numbers...

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