The 2021 NHL regular season is in the books, and 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs are here. 16 teams will enter the grueling four-round tournament, where all but one team will go home at the hands of defeat. Although every postseason game is fun to watch, this postseason will feature renewed rivalries that will keep fans glued to their seats.

The potential to see some of the greatest rivalries in hockey in a seven-game series is what makes playoff hockey so exciting. Some of the greatest rivalries in hockey have been built through the playoffs, including the Islanders and the Rangers, the Flyers and the Penguins, and the Blackhawks and the Blues. While we will not be getting any of these matchups in the 2021 postseason, there is the potential for other rivalries to take center stage. The playoffs are where the stars come out to play, and opposing superstars can steal the show as the postseason progresses. As the excitement toward the first round of the 2021 NHL Playoffs builds, let’s take a look at the most intriguing round-one matchups.

Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning:

The first matchup on this list is a historic first for Florida hockey. The state’s two teams, the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning, will meet up in the postseason for the first time ever. Obviously the intrigue of two in-state foes meeting for the first time is exciting enough. However, the talent on paper for both teams also makes the series exciting. For Florida, while Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau have continued to excel, their depth has been tremendous. Carter Verhaeghe has been a surprise breakout this season, Sam Bennet has impressed since his trade from Calgary and Patric Hornqvist, Alex Wennberg and Frank Vatrano have been valuable assets as well. Even though their defense is still reeling from the loss of Aaron Ekblad, Joel Quenneville’s system has kept it afloat even after the injury.

However, Florida will have to slay a giant in the reigning Stanley Cup champions. Despite facing a cap crunch in the offseason and seeing injuries to Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, the Lightning are once again a top contender in the NHL this season. Brayden Point was a top gun on the offense, Ross Colton has broken onto the scene as a young scoring option, and the depth has been as good as ever with a full year of Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow. The defense and goaltending have also thrived this season, with Andrei Vasilevskiy playing as a probable Vezina Trophy winner. Victor Hedman has been a bit sluggish this season, but the defense has played well with Mikhail Sergachev and Ryan McDonagh complementing the perennial Norris Trophy candidate.

Overall, the two teams both possess very well rounded lineups and will be making a historic matchup. With the rosters they have and the proximity they have to each other, Tampa Bay and Florida can put on an exciting show, showcasing their rivalry to a national audience.

Boston Bruins vs. Washington Capitals:

The next pairing is a group of teams inside the East Division. The Capitals and the Bruins look somewhat identical on paper, and there is more of a backstory to this matchup if you look deeper. For starters, this matchup features two of the most prolific goal-scorers in the NHL today: David Pastrnak and Alex Ovechkin. While the two are not from the same era, they will each be players to watch whenever they are on the ice. The cores also have some interesting matchups as well: Patrice Bergeron against Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie versus Brad Marchand and two deadline adds in Taylor Hall and Anthony Mantha. The defenses are a bit different in nature, with Boston being a more structure-based team headlined by Charlie McAvoy on the blue line. However, Washington’s defense is more offensively driven, with John Carlson’s leading the pack.

The goaltending is fairly opposite on either side as well, with a young star in Ilya Samsonov’s likely facing an elder statesman in Tuukka Rask between the pipes. However, the most intriguing part of this series is a former face of the Bruins’ franchise. After leaving Boston for the Capitals, Zdeno Chara will be facing his former squad for one last chance at a championship. Although the Bruins’ management may have singled him out of their plans, both teams will have something to prove in this dilemma. The Bruins will want to beat their former captain and send him home early, but Washington will want to stick up for their defenseman and knock off his former team. As a result, with this factor in play and the talent on the rosters, this could be one of the most emotional matchups of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens

The series to watch in the North is hockey’s oldest existing rivalry. The Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs will meet up in round one of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and, despite the standings, the intrigue is there for both sides. The Maple Leafs are arguably the most talented team in hockey, headlined by a 40 goal scorer in Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander. The veteran leadership they acquired this offseason has contributed as well, led by Joe Thornton, Jason Spezza, and Wayne Simmonds. The defense––primarily led by Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin––can be shaky, but it is still deep, with T.J. Brodie and Justin Holl as well.

However, despite a middling record, the talent of Montreal cannot be taken lightly either. Their offseason acquisitions have also contributed, with Tyler Toffoli carrying the load on offense. Tomas Tatar, Josh Anderson, and Nick Suzuki aren’t too far behind as the keystones on offense, and Brendan Gallagher will likely be back in the coming days. The defense isn’t the greatest in the world, but it is also sturdy with an underrated commodity in Jeff Petry, Joel Edmundson and Shea Weber.

However, the x-factor for the series will be in net. Frederik Andersen has dealt with a steady decline and injuries, but Jack Campbell has carried the load in his absence, and David Rittich has added to goaltending depth. For Montreal, Carey Price also hasn’t been the same over the past few years due to age, and Jake Allen can be very hot and cold at times. However, as last year’s qualifier against Pittsburgh can suggest, a hot goalie can go a long way in winning a series. As a result, despite the potent offenses, the series will come down to goaltending to determine the winner of this age-old rivalry matchup.

Minnesota Wild vs. Vegas Golden Knights

The final series to watch is a potential upset pick in the West Division. The upstart Minnesota Wild will be looking to knock off a heavyweight in the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round of the 2021 NHL Playoffs. On paper, the Knights are one of the most well-rounded teams in hockey, starting with a potent offense. Their new captain, Mark Stone, has enjoyed a phenomenal year with 61 points and elite defensive production, and Max Pacioretty and Jonathan Marchessault have also been offensive forces. The team also has quality depth at forward with Chandler Stephenson, William Karlsson and Alex Tuch as contributors when needed. Their defense is not necessarily the best in the world, but it is a very good unit, led by Shea Theodore, Alec Martinez and a newcomer in Alex Pietrangelo. The goaltending tandem, however, is an elite duo, with Robin Lehner and Marc-Andre Fleury having won the Jennings Trophy.

However, despite the odds, Minnesota has the team to potentially pull off the upset. The team finally has the superstar it has lacked for so long in the form of Kirill Kaprizov, and his emergence has added a much-needed jolt to the offense. Kevin Fiala and a breakout name in Joel Eriksson Ek have also made their marks on games throughout the year. Even though Zach Parise has struggled a bit, the depth has stepped up with Mats Zuccarello, Jordan Greenway, Marcus Foligno, and Nick Bonino contributing regularly. The defense, like Vegas, is an underrated unit. Jared Spuregon has developed into a captain for the Wild, and not too far behind are Matt Dumba, Brad Hunt, Jonas Brodin, and a longtime name in Ryan Suter. The goaltending, while not at the level of the Knights, is still a rock solid duo in Kaapo Kahkonen and Cam Talbot in net.

As a result, despite Vegas having the advantage in most areas, Minnesota has defied expectations all year long, and with their newfound success, it is possible that Minnesota can make a statement in this opening round.

Matthew Page

I am a first year student at Hofstra University and an avid Islanders fan. I have been writing for Drive4Five since March 2020. My family has been season ticket holders for the team since 2016, and hockey is my favorite sport. As I expand my knowledge in the field of Journalism, I am writing to express my love for the Islanders and the NHL.