The Stanley Cup Playoffs playoff race is heating up and the standings are constantly changing. Here are three first-round matchups that would be awesome to watch.
Rivalries drive up viewership every time. The NHL is full of fascinating ones that capture so much attention. What better place to display the hatred than in the Stanley Cup Playoffs?
This year’s postseason is shaping up to be fireworks and with the standings changing every single day, no one is certain of how the cookie will crumble. Here are three first-round matchups that we should all be cheering for.
1. Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers
A historic rivalry with a modern-day twist. These two teams have hated each other for decades and they even have an iconic name every time they meet.
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The Battle of Alberta hit its peak in the 1980s but since the changes in the NHL’s format, they saw a reduction in the number of times they played each other. The Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers have not met in the playoffs since 1991 and if they do, it will be a bloody battle.
Geography and history have lots to do with the rivalry, but the relationship the two teams have with each other makes for a fascinating storyline. In the summer, the teams saw a goalie swap with Cam Talbot signing with the Flames and Mike Smith signing with the Oilers.
James Neal and Milan Lucic swapped teams in a trade as well so both teams know each other very well which will only add to the tension. There’s already been a goalie fight this year, you can only imagine what kind of fights we will see in a playoff round.
2. Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Another iconic rivalry could happen with the Philadelphia Flyers taking the league by storm and the Pittsburgh Penguins remaining one of the league’s better teams. The Battle of Pennsylvania is historic and full of memorable moments. This year marks the eight-year anniversary of the crazy 2012 playoff match-up between the two teams and many key players are still there, most notably Sidney Crosby and Claude Giroux.
Game 3 of that series became a war zone on ice, including a fight between Crosby and Giroux. Both teams racked up a combined 158 penalty minutes in a single game and the final score was 8-4 Flyers victory. There is no love between the two teams and it would be quite the show to see a rematch of 2012.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
While the two teams don’t have a historic rivalry the way Alberta and Pennsylvania do, this will be a very fun playoff match-up to watch. Both teams are built in such a similar way and are desperate to avenge their performances from last year’s playoffs.
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs are known for the offensive juggernauts and undeniable speed, but both teams have also added some muscle to help balance everything out. Patrick Maroon with Tampa vs. Kyle Clifford with Toronto would be quite the sight to see, especially as the series goes on.
While both teams are criticized for being too small, whenever they meet in the regular season, the games are a very physical affair. The speed the two teams have actually make the hits much harder and make the games even more intense. This playoff match-up could be a preview of what hockey will look like in the near future.