NHL Western Conference Top Seeded Calgary Eliminated in First Round By Colorado

Normally, it pays to be the #1 seed in the playoffs, but not in the NHL this season. On April 19th, the #8 Colorado Avalanche beat the Western Conference #1 Calgary Flames 5-1 in Game 5 of their Stanley Cup first round playoff series. After shutting our Colorado in Game 1, the Flames flamed out in the next four, and the Avalanche took the series in five games. Colorado advances to the second round for the first time in 11 years.

With the Flames out, the #1 seeds in both conferences have been eliminated in the first round for the first time ever. The Tampa Bay Lightning were eliminated in four games by the Columbus Blue Jackets after tying the NHL record for most wins (62) in the regular season. Calgary had the best record in the Western Conference, and had the second most wins (50) overall behind Tampa Bay. But none of that matters when the playoffs begin, as we have seen.

Colorado will play the winner of the San Jose Sharks-Vegas Golden Knights series in the second round.