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Bluelight Crew
^from the wiki on the NHL Playoffs:
Re-seeding ensures that the best matchup takes place in the conference finals.
The first round of the playoffs, or Conference Quarterfinals, consists of four match-ups in each conference, based on the seedings (No. 1 vs. No. 8, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5). In the second round, or Conference Semifinals, the top remaining conference seed plays against the lowest remaining seed, and the other two remaining conference teams pair off (unlike the NBA, for example, where the 1–8 winner always plays the 4–5 winner, regardless of who wins).
Re-seeding ensures that the best matchup takes place in the conference finals.