from Dave Hodge of TSN,

Thumbs down to home-ice advantage, which is mentioned far too often as a meaningful factor in predicting the outcome of a seven-game series. The Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks joined the Islanders as road winners, and not to put words in the mouths of losing coaches Willie Desjardins, Peter Laviolette and Barry Trotz, but I can hear them thinking, if not saying, "If I had my choice, I'd really prefer starting on the road". Home-ice advantage brings with it immediate pressure to win the first game, or it's gone, and most coaches I've known, if they aren't downright bothered by that, are at least a bit uncomfortable with it. So I've made it a habit of asking NHL coaches, "What if you could play the first two games away from home and have home-ice advantage for four of the next five, including game seven?"

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