The NHL's playoff format has aggravated some fans this season, mostly because of the unbalance in the Eastern Conference.
The Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, who are battling one another for the top spot in the Atlantic Division, rank behind the Metropolitan Division's top four teams in points.
But because of the current divisional/wild-card set-up, the Atlantic Division winner -- i.e. either Montreal, Ottawa or perhaps the surging Boston Bruins -- will get to host a Metropolitan Division team. If the season ended today, that Metro team would be the New York Rangers, and the Atlantic winner would have home-ice advantage despite finishing with fewer points than the Blueshirts.