Playoff format adjusted again

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League unveiled its latest playoff format on Friday.

Many of the league's Quebec-based clubs were scheduled to begin playoffs this week but COVID-19 had other plans, putting five teams into isolation.

The latest format has no byes as originally planned. Instead, all 12 teams will play first-round series beginning on Friday, April 23. Here's what the league has come up:

• The round of eight (best-of-five series) will take place from April 23 to May 1. The playoff matchups will be based on the regular season’s final standings, with teams ranked from positions one through twelve, based on points percentage:
• Baie-Comeau vs Val-d’Or
• Sherbrooke vs Chicoutimi
• Rimouski vs Shawinigan
• Rouyn-Noranda vs Victoriaville
• Gatineau vs Blainville-Boisbriand
• Drummondville vs Quebec
• The quarterfinals will oppose the round of eight winners either in a best-of-five or a best-of-seven series. The length of the quarterfinals will depend on the evolution of the pandemic and the duration of the previous round.
• The three winners of the quarterfinal round will advance to the four-team semifinals.

No changes were made to the Maritimes Division playoff format, which will begin with its first single-elimination game on May 4. One winner will come out of the Maritimes and advance to the league semifinal series.

With three teams now advancing from the Quebec side of the playoffs, the league semifinal format has been adjusted to a more traditional setup. From the league:

• The semifinals will group three teams from Quebec and one team from the Maritimes in a single protected environment event. Teams will be seeded based on the 2020-21 overall standings.
• The length of the semifinals (best-of-five or best-of-seven) will depend on the evolution of the pandemic and the duration of the previous round.
• The President Cup final will oppose both winners of the semifinals in a best-of-seven series and will conclude on June 20 at the latest.

The QMJHL previously said its playoffs would run no later than June 15.

The league also said in a press release that "host cities for the Quebec-based protected environments and the Maritimes knockout round will be determined at a later date." And because nothing can be simple in this 2020-21 season, the league will also have to potentially work around the ECMA Awards in Sydney and the IIHF Women's World Championship in Halifax.

The league has had bad luck throughout the season when announcing dates this far in advance. But, in fairness, they've also been very nimble and quick to react to the always changing circumstances surrounding this, the Strangest Season Ever.

Things are not good on the pandemic front across the country right now. The league has faced some major challenges this season and its biggest may still be in front of them.