“It’s the most wonderful time of the year…..”, if you’re a hockey fan that is. Actually the NBA playoffs are kicking into full swing, the NFL draft is this week and baseball is entering its second full month.
Let’s be honest though, there isn’t anything quite as awesome as the NHL playoffs. Playoff beards, triple overtimes, players diving in front of galvanized rubber bullets being launched at over 100-mph. Yeah, that’s called playoff hockey folks. There is no substitute for the intensity of the annual quest for hockey’s holy grail.
The playoffs start this coming Tuesday April 30th. Fourteen of the 16 seats are currently taken. There will be some shuffling in the next 24 hours (48 potentially for Boston and Montreal), but three teams are fighting for the last two slots in the Western Conference.
The Minnesota Wild played like they were more interested in the Minnesota Vikings third round selection in the draft Friday night, getting humbled 6-1 at home by the Edmonton Oilers. Minnesota, Detroit and Columbus will all be in action Saturday night. We’ll have to wait and see how it will all shake out, but here is how the playoff picture looks right now.
Eastern Conference
1)Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 8) New York Rangers
2) Boston Bruins vs. 7)Ottawa Senators
3) Washington Capitals vs. 6) New York Islanders
4) Montreal Canadiens vs. 5) Toronto Maple Leafs
As I mentioned earlier, there will be some potential shuffling in the bottom three seeds, and possibly between Montreal and Boston as they battle for the division crown. There is not a single matchup to dislike regardless of where the teams finally fall to. With four of the eight teams wearing the “Original Six” distinction, the Eastern Conference battles will be absolutely delicious.
Western Conference
1)Chicago Blackhawks vs. 8) Minnesota Wild
2) Anaheim Ducks vs. 7) Detroit Red Wings
3) Vancouver Canucks vs. 6) St. Louis Blues
4) Los Angeles Kings vs. 5) San Jose Sharks
The “Original Six” are all in the postseason (Detroit pending) for the first time in a while. Columbus is trying to sneak past either Detroit or Minnesota for the final spot on Saturday. Though there isn’t as much historical hatred in the Western Conference rivalries, don’t underestimate the intensity of each series. I used the word “delicious” to describe the Eastern Conference playoffs, so I hope that you saved some room for the west, because it will be equally delectable. Enjoy now, because like the great Bart Scott once said,
“CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!”