The NHL is in its home stretch and that means one very important thing; playoff hockey is around the corner.
It’s been a bizarre year in hockey when you consider the league’s current standings. A Canadian team was recently awarded the strongest odds of winning the cup, while last year’s contenders have found themselves in the bottom of the standings. As a result, the 2018 postseason should look relatively strange compared to years past.
With roughly 15 games left in the season, the playoff picture is starting to take form and it’s looking like hockey fans could be in for a some interesting puck. With that in mind, here are five dream potential first round playoff series that hockey fans should start thinking about.
5) Vegas vs. Los Angeles
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The NHL’s newest franchise could find itself in a battle with one of the past decade’s most successful. Vegas has shocked the hockey world this season, dominating the Pacific Division with 93 points heading into Sunday’s action. The Kings are currently on the outside of the playoff picture looking in, but just barely, as they sit one point behind the Colorado Avalanche for the final Wild-Card spot in the Western Conference. If they can squeak in, there’s every reason to believe veterans Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar and Jonathan Quick could knock out the rookie team. They won the Stanley Cup as an eighth seed once, so who says they can’t do some damage in the same position again?
4) Winnipeg vs. Minnesota
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The Jets and Wild have been members of the Central Division since the NHL implemented its new playoff format. Still, it feels as though the two clubs haven’t developed enough of a rivalry yet. What better way to heat things up than a first round meeting? Minnesota is just an eight hour drive from Winnipeg and should draw a large road crowd in each game. The Jets won both of the team’s meetings this season but both were decided by a single goal. A clash in April could help spark a hatred for years to come. As it stands, Winnipeg and Minnesota hold the second and third playoff positions in the Central Division respectfully.
3) San Jose vs. Anaheim
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The Sharks and Ducks haven’t met in the postseason since 2009, when Anaheim defeated San Jose 4-2 in the first round. Both teams have had their run-ins with the Kings, but a meeting between these two California cities could have the makings for a fantastic series. Both have a strikingly similar goals against and goals for this season, and have been particularly strong at home.
A veteran showdown between stars such as Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton (assuming he’s healthy), Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry would be a dream come true for hockey fans.
2) Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia
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Another in-state battle, the Flyers and Penguins aren’t exactly known to be best friends. The Metropolitan division rivals have not met in the postseason since 2012, when the Flyers defeated the Penguins 4-2 in the first round. Things have changed since, as the Pens have added two more Stanley Cups to their trophy case while the Flyers have missed out on the playoffs in three of the past five seasons. Pittsburgh leads Philadelphia by just one point in the division (82>81), and a first round meeting could be in play in a month’s time. The Pens won each of the team’s two games this year by a score of 5-1 and 5-2.
1) Boston vs. Toronto
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It seems like yesterday that Patrice Bergeron crushed the hearts of Leafs fans worldwide when he capped off a 4-1 comeback in 2013 with an overtime winner in Game 7. With the Tampa Bay Lightning taking care of business in the Atlantic Division, it’s looking like Boston and Toronto are going to square off in their first playoff meeting since. Boston’s roster is still made up of key figures from the 2013 series, but the Leafs have been given a steady injection of youth. Will the young guns be able to overpower Boston’s vets in a potential rematch?
Time will tell.
