With the NHL announcing that games have been cancelled through Nov. 1, here’s a look at five of the best games you won’t get to see over the next two weeks:
Thursday, Oct. 25: NY Rangers at Pittsburgh
Why it would’ve been good:
An opportunity for John Tortorella to get re-acquainted with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin after blasting them following a 5-2 loss in April (which was also the last time the Pens and Rangers met):
Lest we forget Brooks Orpik possibly facing the consequences for going knee-on-knee with Derek Stepan.
Tuesday, Oct. 30: Buffalo at Boston
Why it would’ve been good:
Don’t think the Milan Lucic-Ryan Miller incident still haunts the Sabres?
Consider this -- within the first 48 hours of free agency, Buffalo signed 6-foot-8 leviathan John Scott (who promised “a different outcome” if anybody ran Miller this season), then traded playmaking center Derek Roy for agitator extraordinaire Steve Ott and 6-foot-4, 220-pound defenseman Adam Pardy.
Buffalo also re-upped with another known pest, Patrick Kaleta, and inked Nick Tarnasky -- who once fought 20 times in a single AHL season (in which he only played 66 games.)
Saturday, Oct. 27: Phoenix at Los Angeles
Why it would’ve been good:
Remember this?
Yeah. Haven’t played each other since.
Sunday, Oct. 28: NY Rangers at Ottawa
Why it would’ve been good:
Following up on last year’s great first-round playoff series that included...
-- Brian Boyle becoming Ottawa’s public enemy No. 1 (roughed up Erik Karlsson, scored a bunch of big goals, got jumped by Matt Carkner, then concussed by Chris Neil.)
-- Neil threatening to catch Michael Del Zotto “with his head down” in response to getting crushed by a Del Zotto check.
-- Carl Hagelin getting suspended three games for elbowing (and concussing) Daniel Alfredsson.
-- Milan Michalek kicking Dan Girardi.
-- Henrik Lundqvist alleging a disputed Sens goal was allowed because “someone wants them back in the game, obviously.”
Some pretty good subplots there.
Wednesday, Oct. 31: Pittsburgh at Washington
Why it would’ve been good:
Even though some of the luster’s been taken away from Sid vs. Ovi...it’s still Sid vs. Ovi.
Yep, sure would’ve been fun to watch.