LogFAQs > #985950182

"The pandemic resulted in the league suspending the regular season on March 12, 2020, and then scheduling a special 24-team playoff format to be held in two neutral "hub cities" (Edmonton and Toronto) that began on August 1.[1] Thus it became the first Stanley Cup Final to be played in the month of September."

I just pulled this from wikipedia I should have looked harder but iirc I think the "special 24 team play-off format" was unusual because it wasn't traditionally based off the two conferences. Yet it still ended with Dallas vs Tampa.

Ok this explains it better from CBS Sports:

"That is, of course, unless you're one of those people that insists this Cup win is, and always would be, stained by the mess that is 2020. Ever since the NHL announced its return to play plan over the summer, there have been questions as to how legitimate a Cup win would be: A four-month break between meaningful games? An expanded playoff format? A play-in qualifier and seeding based on a three-game round robin? No fans? No home ice?
All of it made for an unprecedented, slightly unfamiliar Stanley Cup Playoffs. But all 24 teams that entered the restart did so with an even playing field and the ones that made a deep run still had to navigate the brutal, grueling grind of postseason hockey."

Playoff qualifiers and seeding based off a round robin tournament. That was wild. So I did remember something strange about it.