Every so often the NBC Sports Network actually nails the “Rivalry Night” with an actual rivalry. It really isn’t their fault since the NHL schedule is assembled many months before the television programming is set up.
This Wednesday the wheel of good fortune stopped on a gem, which happens to be a potential playoff matchup. The geographic rivalry between the cities of New York and Philadelphia goes well beyond the hockey rink, but there is absolutely no love lost between the glamour boy Rangers of Broadway and the blue collar Flyers from Broad Street.
The NHL restructuring of the playoff format emphasizes divisional rivalries. The reshuffling and subsequent renaming of the divisions was designed with the intensity of playoff hockey in mind. Enough hatred is generated throughout the season with the simmering vitriol turned up to a full boil by April.
Here’s a sneak peek at the matchups involving the Metropolitan Division.
*Records through Wednesday March 26, 2014
(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (7 and #1 Wild Card) Columbus Blue Jackets
On paper this series looks like a mismatch, but the Blue Jackets look an awful lot like the 2013 New York Islanders team that gave Pittsburgh fits in the first round last season. The biggest difference is that Columbus has a difference maker in goal with Sergei Bobrovsky. The brash, young Russian was yanked in his lone appearance against the Pens earlier this season but would relish the chance to bounce Sidney Crosby and company out of the playoffs.
At the other end of the ice Marc-Andre Fleury is also looking for some redemption. The embattled Pens net minder has always been strong in the regular season, but the playoffs have been the stage of some spectacular implosions over the last two seasons. Pittsburgh can score in bunches and the key to the series is the matchup between the Penguin offense and Columbus’ defensive corps.
(5) New York Rangers vs. (6) Philadelphia Flyers
These two rivals were expected to reach the playoffs in the preseason, but each stumbled badly out of the gate. The Flyers ended up replacing their coach, Peter Laviolette with assistant Craig Berube. Since December, Philadelphia has gone 26-14-5 and gotten themselves back into the thick of the playoff race. Led by captain Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds the Flyers are a tough matchup for the Rangers.
New York started the season equally poor with nine consecutive road games due to renovations at Madison Square Garden. The blue shirts have also had an impressive run since the beginning of December, posting a 26-16-4 record. The addition of Martin St. Louis was designed to bring offense to the Big Apple, but the winger has been goalless since arriving in New York. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will be the featured attraction in this series as the best player in a Rangers’ sweater. If New York can hold on to home ice they will have a significant advantage. They have won the last eight contests against Philadelphia on home ice.