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After a great opening day of the second round, it’s time for the real spicy stuff.
It’s time to start the first Battle of Alberta in the lifetime of many of the players involved, and you know all too well what type of game we’re going to get. It’s going to get intense, and both teams are worthy of moving on to the next round.
But before that, we’ve got the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes — two teams that had a bit more difficulty than likely expected in the first round, but still capable of going on long runs.
It’s a great day for hockey, so let’s get you set for Wednesday’s slate:
New York Rangers vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Will Tony DeAngelo be a factor?
Easily the most controversial player in the post-season, Tony DeAngelo’s signing by Carolina raised a ton of eyebrows due to his off-ice conduct. On the ice, DeAngelo had a great season with Carolina and he was impactful against Boston, but don’t expect him to receive much love when he heads to New York for this series.
DeAngelo was released by the Rangers last year after a reported altercation with a teammate — on top of numerous other issues over the years. Bruins fans let him know how little he was appreciated throughout the first-round series, and you can expect his former team to take that to the extreme.
The drama surrounding DeAngelo will be talked about all series long, and if the Hurricanes are to succeed, they need to rope him in, not let him get tangled in any drama and ignore everything thrown at him the entire way.
Easier said than done, but DeAngelo’s on-ice effort has been valuable for Carolina and they need him focused on him bringing a positive impact and not getting involved in the stupid stuff.
Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers
Will the nastiness begin immediately?
Has there been a more highly anticipated second-round playoff matchup in the past 30 years? Not a chance.
Everyone is excited to see the potential line brawls and nastiness we’ve been accustomed to when the Battle of Alberta takes place. As a playoff matchup, we haven’t seen it since 1991. So when Calgary won in overtime of Game 7 to advance, the internet went ablaze with excitement. Finally, we were getting what we all wanted.
Both teams went the distance, so getting the extra day of rest was key. Will that downtime allow the teams to recharge and get to the aggressive stuff right away?
Over the years, we’ve seen line brawls, overtime insanity and countless incredible moments. Heck, with Mike Smith and Jacob Markstrom between the pipes, we could easily see a goalie fight along the way.
The team that avoids getting into the ugly, dirty aspects of this rivalry the most will likely win the series. But with big-time agitators on both sides, don’t expect that to happen easily. It’ll be up to the coaches to get the players to calm down and relax, and it’s up to the players to play smart.
But let’s be real. There are three other playoff series’ with the potential for great action. We’re all here for the bloodbath.
