▁each ▁other , ▁the ▁second ▁place ▁teams ▁play ▁each ▁other , ▁and ▁like wise ▁for ▁the ▁third ▁place ▁teams ). ▁The ▁winner ▁of ▁the ▁first ▁place ▁series ▁would ▁automatically ▁advance ▁to ▁the ▁final ▁round . ▁The ▁winner ▁of ▁the ▁second ▁and ▁third ▁place ▁series ▁would ▁then ▁play ▁each ▁other , ▁with ▁the ▁winner ▁of ▁that ▁series ▁ear ning ▁the ▁other ▁ber th ▁to ▁the ▁championship ▁round . ▁ ▁During ▁the ▁Original ▁Six ▁era , ▁the ▁top ▁four ▁teams ▁made ▁the ▁play offs , ▁with ▁the ▁first ▁and ▁third ▁place ▁teams ▁batt ling ▁in ▁one ▁semif inal ▁series , ▁while ▁the ▁second ▁and ▁fourth ▁place ▁teams ▁batt led ▁in ▁the ▁other . ▁And ▁from ▁ 1 9 7 5 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 1 , ▁all ▁the ▁play off ▁teams ▁were ▁seed ed ▁regardless ▁of ▁division ▁or ▁conference . ▁Since ▁ 1 9 8 2 , ▁the ▁N HL ' s ▁final ▁round ▁has ▁p itted ▁the ▁league ' s ▁two ▁conference ▁play off ▁champions . ▁ ▁Champions ▁ ▁Notes ▁ 1 . ▁The ▁N HL ▁includes ▁the ▁Toronto ▁Hockey ▁Club ▁( T or onto ▁Ar enas ) ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁win ▁and ▁the ▁ 1 9 2 2 ▁Toronto ▁St . ▁Pat r icks ▁win ▁in ▁the ▁Toronto ▁Map le ▁Le af s ▁total . ▁ 2 . ▁The ▁Chicago ▁Black h aw ks ▁were ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁Chicago ▁Black ▁Haw ks ▁prior ▁to ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 6 – 8 7 ▁season . ▁ 3 . ▁The ▁Montreal