Wouldn't you rather start on the road?

[calfan 0]

So the road warriors won 3 of 4 games last night, a fairly common occurence. You have to wonder why the GM's haven't petitioned for the higher seeded team to choose whether they start at home and play 2-2-1-1-1 or start on the road and play 2-3-1-1.

Due to a scheduling conflict, the WHL Calgary Hitmen began the second round of the playoffs on the road. They split the away games and have come back to Calgary and taken two in a row with an opportunity to win at home on Friday night.

In 2004, the Flames opened on the road in every series and except for the first round, won every game.

I think for some teams opening on the road is easier. Sure you have to contend with the crowd, but you have to sooner or later anyway. But you can get away from the distractions in your home city (family, fans, etc.) and get focused on the task at hand. There's also less pressure starting in front of the other team's fans. Lastly, a split away is vastly better than a split at home.

[mtuhockey7 23]

I wouldn't want to start on the road if I worked hard during the regular season to earn home ice. You want to start out in your home barn, hopefully go up 2-0 going into the road games so that way if you lose there then at the worst the series is tied and comes down to a best of 3 scenario

[Opie 308]

The only way I can think that I would want to start on the road would be in 2-3-2 format, that stretch of 3 home games in the middle would be kick ass, on the road would suck ass!!

[Shaman 713]

The reason home ice is sooo important is one reason: INCOME, you are 8th seed thats 28 possible games only 12 max at home, whereas the #1 seed gets 16 at home, thats 4 more games of seat sales, food, beer, etc.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

The team that wins the President's Trophy each year should get 5 home games per series. There has to be some reward for finishing first overall, right?

As for starting on the road, it wouldn't be fair to give the team with the worst record the upperhand on going up 2-0 in the series. It's difficult to come back from deficits like that, so you'd be punishing the team with the better record.

[calfan 0]

The reason home ice is sooo important is one reason: INCOME, you are 8th seed thats 28 possible games only 12 max at home, whereas the #1 seed gets 16 at home, thats 4 more games of seat sales, food, beer, etc.

This isn't relevant. You get the same number of home games regardless because its a best of 7 series. 4 game series - 2 on the road, 2 at home is not different than 2 at home and 2 on the road. 5 games - game 5 is still on home ice. 6 games - 5 is still at home 6 is on the road and 7 is at home. There is absolutely no difference in the number of home games played.

[calfan 0]

The team that wins the President's Trophy each year should get 5 home games per series. There has to be some reward for finishing first overall, right?

As for starting on the road, it wouldn't be fair to give the team with the worst record the upperhand on going up 2-0 in the series. It's difficult to come back from deficits like that, so you'd be punishing the team with the better record.

Sure 3-2-1-1. Might put a little more interest into the regular season for some teams. I won't advocate that though - my team isn't likely to be President's Trophy winners any time soon.

I'm not saying mandating the 2-3-1-1, I'm saying that the top seeded team in a series gets the choice. You would have to weigh all the factors in making your decision and of course accept the criticism of making the wrong choice if it doesn't pan out.

Suppose the team you're playing, for whatever reason has owned you in your own arena all year, but couldn't beat you in theirs. Do you start on the road? Maybe not because it might be motivation for them - they're scared of us. On the other hand, you might play better at home if you come in with a 2-0 series lead.

[Greatness=PavelDatsyuk 65]

A choice for the teams would be cool, but more than likely never happen, teams sell tickets before the games, and if what happened this year is going to keep on happening, the opponents wont be decided until the last few games, so too late to make the decision

Good idea-yes

Likely to happen-No

[Firehawk 305]

I like the idea of getting the choice, but yeah, then you are affecting possible home game sales and that is probably a no no, especially in the current state the NHL is in.