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.