Original: McCarthy , p. 249 1929 to 1931 : The league changed the playoff format : In the quarter-finals , both second place teams faced each other , as did the two third place teams in two-game , total-goals series .
Simplified: 1928 -- 29 to 1937 -- 38 : The league changed the playoff format : In the Stanley Cup Quarterfinals , both second place teams faced each other , as did the two third place teams .