Could this be a preview of a first-round playoff matchup, like it has been for the past three post-seasons (with Edmonton taking all three series)? The Kings and Oilers are battling for home-ice advantage, and why not? Los Angeles has been outstanding this season playing in front of their home fans, though it should be noted the Oilers aren’t too shabby on the road.
The old North Stars are back home, but that’s not the storyline anymore. The resurgent Wild are looking to (finally) make some noise in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and this game is a good warm-up test. The Dallas Stars are one of the top teams in the entire league, and forward Jason Robertson has been outstanding over the past few weeks as he piles up the points. Both teams have excellent goaltending and will be tough outs in the post-season.
One of the hottest teams in the NHL (St. Louis) takes on one of the best teams in the NHL (Winnipeg). This would make for a great post-season matchup, and a scant two months ago, most people didn’t have the Blues on their playoff dance card. But here they are, and they’ll be a tough team to face for whoever draws that assignment. The Jets have gone back and forth with the Washington Capitals for the top spot in the entire league, and Winnipeg has a lot to prove to everybody (and themselves) when the playoffs get underway in a couple of weeks.
Talk about going back and forth all season; that also describes the season-long battle for first place in the Atlantic Division. The defending Stanley Cup Champion Panthers and the Maple Leafs are meeting for the third time in just over three weeks. This is fitting because these two teams stand an excellent chance of meeting again in the playoffs, though most likely in the second round. Toronto beat the Panthers 3-1 on April 2nd.
Speaking of the Lightning, they also have a chance of grabbing the Atlantic Division crown and home-ice advantage in the first round. They face a Toronto team coming off a game last night further down the coast.
The two top teams in the Metropolitan Division meet up in D.C., with something to be determined. Okay, it looks like the Caps will finish first in that division, and it’s looked that way since Christmas. It looks like the Canes will finish second in that division, and it’s looked that way since the middle of January. So, is this a preview of a second-round playoff matchup this spring? And the Chase for 894 (and beyond) for sniper Alexander Ovechkin is always an attraction.
Are these two Eastern Canadian teams bound for the playoffs this time around, with both squads occupying the two Eastern Conference wildcard spots? Still much to be determined before you can print tickets (or download them onto your phone), so this could be a key two points up for grabs this Friday night in the Ottawa Valley. Tell Delmer and Cecil to warm up the car, this should be a good one!
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