3 periods of play+ Western Conference round robin review & Round One -Chicago vs. Vegas preview

3 Periods of Play+ [Winnipeg vs Calgary playin series results & analysis]

3 Periods of Play+ 

Nashville vs Arizona play-in series results & analysis

Results and analysis from the NHL Play-In Series between Minnesota and Vancouver

Results and analysis from the NHL Play-In Series between Chicago & Edmonton

Each team had three Periods of Play in one exhibition game before the games start counting for real. Let’s look at three points of praise and or pause for each team that we were shown during their respective exhibition games. A quick pod before puck drop - This is Central Division Hockey – the Podcast & Three Periods of Play.

Previews of two of the best 3 of 5 Play-In Series: 10 seed Minnesota vs 6 seed Vancouver and 12 seed Chicago vs 5 seed Edmonton.

In this episode: The surprising quitting of Arizona Coyotes General Manager and President of Hockey Operation John Chayka and team's handling of it.

Preview of one the best 3 of 5 Play-In Series (Begins at 7:27 mark)

5 Nashville Vs. 11 Arizona

Preview of one the best 3 of 5 Play-In Series (begins at 41:21 mark)

9 Winnipeg Vs. 8 Calgary

This podcast - Central Division Hockey - The Podcast; looks at the top 4 seeds in the round-robin – yes including Vegas – because let’s face it; how they do against St. Louis, Colorado & Dallas affects the seeding.

To get you up to speed, each Conference qualified 12 teams rather than 8 using a points percentage system when the regular season was postponed than cancelled so that if the tournament can be completed with awarding the Stanley Cup in this calendar year starting August 1st.

Based on the points the top 4 in each conference avoided a play in series, but instead will play a round-robin event to determine seeding for the next round. 3 Central Division teams qualified for the round-robin – St. Louis, Colorado, Dallas along with Vegas from the Pacific Division.

Projected rosters and analysis by position of the four round robin teams in the Western Conference NHL Playoffs.

Whether you are listening to the podcast for the first time or re-joining from when the season paused Mid-March - this episode is a nice introduction and refresher to what the podcast is about. NHL hockey, Western Conference hockey and specifically the Central Division. Both the podcast & hockey are back!

This episode talks about the NHL's return to play plan already is the training camp phase in the teams respectively club cities and the new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL & NHLPA.

For a first, and potentially lone time, all 7 Central Division teams as the Play-in Playoffs begin still have a shot at winning the Stanley Cup. That is something the traditional playoff structure would make impossible.

Topics covered in this edition of Central Division Hockey.

Details are provided on the round-robin and play-in, best 3 of 5 elimination series.

Details on how Central Division Hockey will have 3 preview shows coming up for the post season that begins August 2nd.

Details on this blog page, the twitter and the audio podcasts new home at https://centraldivisionhockeypod.sounder.fm/

Details on some coaching decisions with the Central Division teams.

Details on the NHL award nominees from the regular season.

Details on key off-season dates including the NHL draft and free agency as well as changes for the up-coming free agency and draft and how a Central Division team could still land the first overall pick this year.