After examining some of the rosters and teams, I've realized that the NHL is in store for another outstanding season. I'm already thinking about the sexy playoff match-ups we could have this upcoming spring. So here is a list, in no real particular order of the most intriguing match-ups we could have this year in the playoffs in each conference.
East
First Round
Boston v.s. Tampa Bay
Last years Eastern Conference Finals was simply outstanding. I attended Game 7 in Boston and it was the best hockey game I have ever watched live. So how about right off the bat if these two teams met in the first round. I think the Bruins could be anywhere from the 2 to the 6 seed and the same with Tampa, so I think a 3 v.s. 6 matchup could be likely.
Boston v.s. Montreal
Let's stick with the Bruins here for a moment. Bruins/Canadiens is one of the best rivalries in sports, case closed. These two teams hate each other and the intensity in last years playoff series was off the charts. I would love to see these two teams meet in any round of any playoffs.
Pittsburgh v.s. Philadelphia
One thing that adds some more fuel to the already burning fire is the fact that two players betrayed Pittsburgh for the rival Flyers. Maxime Talbot left the Penguins for Philly and Jamorir Jagr looked poised to sign with the Penguins before bolting for Philadelphia. Not to mention hopefully Sidney Crosby will be back healthy to try to put some through against offseason acquisition Ilya Bryzgalov.
Pittsburgh v.s. New York
Put one of, if not the most marketable player in the NHL against the NHL's biggest market and you have one sexy matchup. The New York Rangers are vastly improved with the addition of Brad Richards and Pittsburgh, if Crosby is able to return, should be dynamite as well. I actually would hope for this matchup later in the playoffs, but if we saw this in any round, I would be more than happy.
Washington v.s. Any other team in the East
It's always an adventure for Washington to get out of the first round, so it is must see TV when the Capitals are in the first round because they are likely to get upset even as a one seed and even if they are winning, they are coming from 3 goals down in the third period like Game 4 last year at Madison Square Garden.
Second Round
Boston v.s. New York
Now what is better than this. An original six match-up, Boston v.s. New York, defending Stanley Cup champions v.s. the new and improved Rangers. This would be fantastic.
Washington v.s. Tampa Bay
Tampa slammed Washington in a sweep in last years second round so I think a rematch might be in order. The Capitals have so much to prove and with each passing year the pressure will mount. The Capitals will need to break through some time, and they will probably need to get past Steven Stamkos and the up and coming Lightning.
Boston v.s. Pittsburgh
Two gritty and hard working cities meeting in the second round. Boston could still be riding the red hot Tim Thomas and Pittsburgh probably will be hitting their stride with all of their players returning to full strength.
Philadelphia v.s. Buffalo
Many people might be saying why I think this is an intriguing match-up. But last years first round series was great but it came to a lack luster end in Game 7 with Philadelphia dominating. I thought for sure that Buffalo was going to win that series and they came so close. Now, Buffalo is a sleeper pick to come out of the East and Philadelphia, after shaking up their roster, looks to return back to the Cup Final. Both teams on paper have outstanding goal tenders and some electrifying player makers, so this would make a great second round matchup.
Conference Finals
Washington v.s. Pittsburgh
I think the one match-up everyone in the NHL wants to see is Washington and Pittsburgh. I would only really like to see them in the Conference Finals. Finally we can start talking about an actual rivalry between Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. Ovechkin is still looking to get over that hump and Crosby is looking to climb over a hump of his own with his latest spill of concussions. If you're a fan of the NHL, you can't complain about a boring Stanley Cup Final with whichever team wins this one.
As an average, die-hard NHL fan, here is a list of what teams would be the most intriguing in the Stanley Cup Finals coming out of the East
1 Washington Capitals
2 Pittsburgh Penguins
3 New York Rangers
4 Boston Bruins
5 Montreal Canadiens
West
First Round
Vancouver v.s. Chicago
Now, I project both of these teams to most likely finish in the top 5, but if they could replicate what they did in the first round of last years playoffs then I think everyone is all set.
Detroit v.s. San Jose
After losing Dany Heatley and Dennis Setoguchi this offseason, I think this might be the last hurrah for the Sharks. And who better for them to face off in the first round then Detroit, the team that they have knocked out each of the past two seasons.
Los Angeles v.s. Anaheim
Two of the most explosive teams in the West would make, well, an explosive first round matchup. You have Los Angeles, probably the sexiest and trendiest pick to come out of the West and Anaheim, who features the NHL's MVP in Corey Perry and another one of the NHL's young guns in Bobby Ryan.
Second Round
Detroit v.s. Chicago
The only two original six teams in the West always makes a great playoff series. The Blackhawks look to regain their Stanley Cup form as well as the Red Wings, who are only two years removed from their last Cup Final.
Detroit v.s. Los Angeles
Two of the NHL's bigger markets meeting in the playoffs would be great for ratings. Especially if there is no NBA, a deep playoff run by the Kings would bring the NHL to greater heights in the West.
Vancouver v.s. San Jose
I said earlier it might be San Jose's last hurrah, but Vancouver will have a lot of pressure on them in next years playoffs assuming they make it. Vancouver will have the pressure in every series they play in, which makes playing against one of their rivals even more intriguing.
Conference Finals
Vancouver v.s. Detroit
The west has been ruled by these two teams lately and with the loads of talent across the board, there is no way that this wouldn't make an unbelievable conference final.
Vancouver v.s. Los Angeles
A Vancouver/LA west final would also be great to watch because we know Vancouver has the star power, but finally Los Angeles's young stars will emerge in one of hockey's grandest stages in hopes of reaching the Stanley Cup Final.
As an average, die-hard NHL fan, here is a list of what teams would be the most intriguing in the Stanley Cup Finals coming out of the West
1 Los Angeles
2 Detroit
3 Vancouver
4 Chicago
5 San Jose
The 10 Most Intriguing Stanley Cup Finals Match-ups
10 Pittsburgh v.s. Chicago
9 Tampa Bay v.s. Los Angeles
8 Montreal v.s. Vancouver
7 Philadelphia v.s. Chicago
6 Boston v.s. Vancouver
5 New York v.s. Detroit
4 Washington v.s. Vancouver
3 Pittsburgh v.s. Detroit
2 New York v.s. Los Angeles
1 Washington v.s. Detroit
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