OTTAWA — Sometimes, waiting is more rewarding than getting things instantly.
After a 21-year break, hockey fans in Ontario are finally going to see another playoff Battle of Ontario in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“It’s going to be fun,” said Ottawa Senators coach Travis Green. “It’s going to be a tough series. There will be a lot of emotions for both cities. It`s really everything you could want in a playoff series. The players and the fans are going to love it.”
This series will pit the Senators, who are new to the playoffs and in the postseason for the first time in eight years, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have been in the playoffs for a long time but have only won one series during that time. The Maple Leafs have star players like Auston Mathews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander, who have experienced a lot of playoff disappointments. On the other hand, the Senators have young, energetic stars like Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, and Jake Sanderson who don`t have any bad playoff history.
This contrast should make for a very competitive playoff series.
Green played in this rivalry in the early 2000s when he was on the Toronto team that played against Ottawa in four playoff series within five years.
Green shared the fans` excitement when he found out that Ottawa would be playing Toronto after the Senators lost to the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in overtime.
Green said that calling it “exciting” might be understating it.
One person is confident in his team.
“I know we haven`t had much luck in the Battle of Ontario, but we have a new owner now,” said Senators owner Michael Andlauer on Tuesday.
His investment in the team has changed Ottawa from being a bottom-ranked team to a playoff contender. He allowed general manager Steve Staios to bring in experienced veterans like David Perron, Nick Cousins, Michael Amadio, and Linus Ullmark who have played in the playoffs before. These players will be important for Ottawa`s chances and will support the team`s young stars who don`t have much experience. This could be the start of a new chapter in the rivalry between these Ontario teams.
Since the last playoff series between the Senators and Maple Leafs in 2004, the two teams have only made the playoffs in the same season twice.
But there has still been tension between the teams. Last season, Ridly Greig scored a slapshot goal into an empty net, which upset Morgan Rielly. Rielly reacted by cross-checking Greig in the head, which led to him being suspended. This playoff series will have the same kind of emotion and anger, but even more intense.
Tristan Blackwood