A lot has changed since the PWHL first dropped the puck. Now with 12 teams in the fold, this season may present the perfect opportunity for the league to revisit its playoff format and adjust accordingly.
The current PWHL playoff format
The current playoff format awards spots in the postseason to the top four teams in the league at the end of the regular season. The PWHL uses a 3-2-1-0 points system for regulation wins (3), overtime/shootout wins (2), overtime/shootout losses (1) and regulation losses (0).
Once the top four teams have been determined, the first-overall seed gets to choose its semifinal opponent from the teams ranked third and fourth. A pair of best-of-five semifinal series is followed by a best-of-five championship round.
Why revisit the PWHL playoff format?
When the PWHL began, there were only six teams. At that point, having the top four teams make the playoffs absolutely made sense. Last season, the league expanded to eight teams but maintained its playoff format – so only half of the teams made the playoffs.
At that point, you could argue that it still made sense to have four teams make the playoffs. (Not to compare too much to men’s hockey, but the NHL also has a system where half of its teams make the playoffs, and it’s certainly not unheard of.)
But once the PWHL expanded to 12 teams, it no longer made much sense. On one hand, it would make the regular season that much more competitive if teams know they have to truly fight for one of just four spots.
But on the other hand, from an economic standpoint, there’s a fair amount of potential revenue being lost. Playoff tickets, merchandise sales, TV deals would all increase with an increase in the number of teams making the playoffs. Many more fans could be engaged, for a longer period of time.
With expansion, now is the perfect logical time to revisit and adapt accordingly.
Could the PWHL follow the EWHL?
One example we can look towards is the European Women’s Hockey League (EWHL), which has 12 teams and a unique format. The top eight teams make the playoffs.
Quarterfinals consist of a two-game series (one home, one away). The team with the higher aggregate score advances. The winning teams face off in two-game semifinal series, with the higher aggregate score once again advancing. The same format continues into the final.
While I don’t think that would be the ideal option for the PWHL, it’s interesting to consider. The aggregate scoring (meaning, the total goals scored by a team across the two-game series) is very different than anything I’ve ever experienced as either a hockey fan or sportswriter. I can’t realistically see the PWHL going that route, but there is at least some precedent.
What else might a new format look like?
To maximize the economic impact, the PWHL could consider an eight-team playoff format. This ensures the regular season still stays competitive as teams fight for a spot, but allows more than half the league to reach the postseason.
With 1-8 seeds, the league could execute a basic format of:
- Quarterfinals (1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6 and 4 v 5)
- Semifinals (top remaining seed plays lowest remaining seed)
- Final (winners of semis play one another)
The PWHL could also play with giving the top team the option of choosing the seventh- or eighth-overall seeds, and go from there. Series could remain best-of-five, with perhaps the final as a best-of-seven to really up the ante.
Alternately, the PWHL could consider a six-team playoff format if the league isn’t quite ready to dive all the way in for an eight-team postseason. With 1-6 seeds, the league could go with a format like:
- Quarterfinals (1 & 2 get byes; 3 v 6, 4 v 5)
- Semifinals (1 plays lowest remaining seed)
- Final (winners of semis play one another)
This also keeps it competitive, while giving the top two teams a distinct advantage with a quarterfinal bye.
Alternately, the league could also introduce divisions and create a new playoff structure from there.
Final thoughts
Whatever the PWHL decides to do for the playoffs in 2027, the league must determine and announce the format before the regular season begins. It’s only fair to players and teams that they know exactly what the situation is going into the season, from day one.
With the schedule expected to be released in the coming weeks, that means any change in the playoff format – or a confirmation of the continued current format – should be announced shortly, too.
