No Canadian teams, no problem for puck fans
None of the seven Canadian NHL teams is likely to make the post-season. And that raises an important question: whom will Canadian fans cheer for? The answer is anybody and everybody. They simply want to see good hockey. The first round is usually the best place for that, and this year promises
to have some very intriguing matchups. Here are five potential first-round series Postmedia’s Michael Traikos would like to see.
WASHINGTON VS. PITTSBURGH
The first and last time Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin faced each other in the playoffs was in the 2009 conference semifinal. It was a back-and-forth battle that lived up to the hype. Each player recorded a hat trick in Game 2 and Ovechkin finished the series with eight goals and 14 points, while Crosby had eight goals and 13 points as the Penguins prevailed in seven games en route to winning the Stanley Cup. With both players once again at the top of their game — Crosby is third in NHL scoring and Ovechkin leads in goals — a rematch would be must-watch TV.
How likely is this: The Capitals have the top seed in the East locked up, so the only way the two teams would play is if the Penguins end up with the second wild card spot. This looked possible a couple of weeks ago, but Pittsburgh has won six straight since then.
LOS ANGELES VS. CHICAGO
Yes, a first-round series between the two teams that have claimed five of the past six Stanley Cups would be a great way to kick off the playoffs. But it would be terrible for one of the teams to get eliminated so soon, because part of us wants to save this matchup for the West final. After all, Los Angeles and Chicago met in the 2013 and 2014 conference final and both times the winner went on to hoist the Stanley Cup.
How likely is this: The Blackhawks would have to fall back into one of the wild card spots for this matchup to occur. That could happen if the Hawks fall below the Predators.
N.Y. RANGERS VS. N.Y. ISLANDERS
Go to any Rangers home game at Madison Square Garden and you’ll hear a rhythmic whistle coming from the crowd followed by the chant “Potvin sucks!” It’s a tradition that goes back to a 1979 regular season game when then-Islanders defenceman Denis Potvin injured Rangers forward Ulf Nilsson with a hit. The Rangers beat the Islanders in the playoffs that year, but lost in the Stanley Cup Final to the Montreal Canadiens. With the Islanders in Brooklyn, that hatred has been ramped up.
How likely is this: Heading into Tuesday night’s play, the Islanders were the first wild card team and would play the Panthers if the season ended now. But that could change if the Islanders, which are three points back of the Penguins with a game in hand, can move into third place in the Metropolitan Division.
ANAHEIM VS. SAN JOSE
The Battle of California does not have quite the same level of hate and history as the Battle of Ontario or even Battle of New York. The only time these two teams played each other in the playoffs was in a first-round series in 2009, which Anaheim won 4-2. But what has us even more excited is that both teams play a skilled-based game.
How likely is this: If the season ended now, Anaheim would play San Jose in the first round. The only way that changes is if one of them passes Los Angeles for the top seed in the Pacific Division. But even if that happens, fans would still get an all-California first round.
FLORIDA VS. BOSTON
Roberto Luongo is playing for a new team, but memories don’t always fade. Boston was the team that beat Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, so a rematch would be an interesting, especially since Shawn Thornton and Jaromir Jagr are both former Bruins. These teams like to play a game predicated on big hits.
How likely is this: Heading into Tuesday’s games, Boston was the third seed in the Atlantic Division and would play second-seeded Tampa Bay if the season ended now. But that could change if the Lightning move past the Panthers for first place in the division.