We’re officially halfway through the NHL regular season schedule, and given each team plays every other team at least twice, that means you might expect to have seen every possible matchup at least once by now. Of course, that’s not how the schedule works — things aren’t spread out quite so evenly, with some matchups frontloaded into the first few months and others making us wait.
For example, you could probably stump your friends by asking them to name the only two teams that have already played each other four times this season. That would be the Ottawa Senators and the Boston Bruins, two divisional rivals who’d already finished their entire season series by the holiday break. (If you use that in a bar bet and win a free beer, you have to send me a sip in the mail. I don’t make the rules.)
For today’s post, we’re going to look at the other extreme: the teams that have yet to face each other even once so far this season. By my count, there are 70 such pairings still on the table out of a possible 496, the vast majority of which are interconference tilts. Not all of those are exactly marquee matchups; I’m guessing there aren’t too many fans out there begging to see the New Jersey Devils finally square off with the Seattle Kraken. But some of the pairings we haven’t seen yet are good ones, and today we’re going to rank them.
Here are my picks for the 10 best matchups that the schedule has yet to offer us as the season heads into its second half.
10. Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings
Why it should be good: We love playoff rematches, don’t we folks? OK, sure, there’s such a thing as too much familiarity, especially when you’re talking about a rivalry where the same team wins every time. Still, these two teams have been linked ever since the Smythe Division days and the Wayne Gretzky trade, and it’s kind of weird that they haven’t crossed paths yet this season.
(By the way, I was originally going to use this spot for Oilers vs. the Anaheim Ducks, but by the time they finally meet at the end of the month, the Ducks might have lost 16 straight and/or been relegated to the ECHL.)
When we’ll finally see it: Tomorrow, with the Kings in Edmonton for a classic Saturday night late game. The Oilers will visit Los Angeles in their first game back from the Olympic break, and then again in April in a meeting that could have serious playoff implications.
9. Buffalo Sabres vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Why it should be good: It’s the Jack Eichel revenge matchup. And although we’ve already seen that a few times over the last few years, this could be the first time where the Sabres are actually good — and at the rate things have been going, maybe even with a better record than Vegas. It’s like running into your ex after you finally got around to getting a decent haircut and a gym membership. Hey there, look who can get out of their own defensive zone without crying!
When we’ll finally see it: The Sabres will host the Knights on March 3 and visit them on March 17. I’m sure the St. Patrick’s Day crown in Las Vegas will be super chill.
8. New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers
Why it should be good: It’s a classic Patrick Division rivalry between two teams with plenty of history. And this year, the fact both teams are spiraling and should be desperate for every second-half win they can get adds a sense of urgency. OK, it’s not exactly going to be the 1994 conference final all over again, but bad teams can make for fun games when there are still stakes in play.
When we’ll finally see it: Not until March, when the teams will face off on the 7th, again on the 18th and then one more time on the 31st.
7. Philadelphia Flyers vs. Washington Capitals
Why it should be good: It’s another classic Patrick matchup, this one involving two teams that are in the thick of the playoff mix. The Flyers have shocked everyone by hanging around the Metro race and even making a push for home ice. The Capitals have been up and down, and will need to keep banking points to hold onto their spot. A first-round preview? It’s unlikely, but far from impossible.
When we’ll finally see it: They’ll face off on Feb. 3 in Philadelphia, the first of two February meetings that will be followed by two more in March.
6. Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Why it should be good: They’re two of the most star-studded teams in the West, and there should still be plenty of lingering bad blood from three playoff meetings since 2020. And if you’re getting pumped for the Olympics, could we interest you in 13 players between the two teams who’ll be heading to Milan?
When we’ll finally see it: At the end of the month, when they meet in Vegas on Jan. 29. The Stars will then host the Knights twice in March. And then … maybe again in late May?
5. Minnesota Wild vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Why it should be good: If you’re looking for a Stanley Cup final preview, this could be the one. The Lightning are arguably the best team in the East, while the Wild have leveled up since acquiring Quinn Hughes.
(Speaking of Hughes, and in case you’re wondering: The Wild had already made their trip to Vancouver before the trade and the only game left between the two teams is in Minnesota on April 2. And as far as his brothers go, the Wild are also done visiting New Jersey, but do host them on Monday.)
When we’ll finally see it: The Lighting and Wild won’t meet until March 3 in Minnesota, the first of two meetings that month.
Noah Dobson faces his former team — the Islanders — on Feb. 26 for the first time since the offseason trade that sent him to Montreal. (Justin Berl / Getty Images)
4. Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Islanders
Why it should be good: Both teams are good, maybe even surprisingly so. There’s the Patrick Roy factor, which is always fun. It will be a meeting between the two presumptive favorites for this year’s Calder Trophy, Matthew Schaefer and Ivan Demidov. And if all of that isn’t enough, don’t forget Noah Dobson, facing his former team for the first time since the offseason trade that sent him to Montreal for two first-round picks.
When we’ll finally see it: Not until Feb. 26, which is the first game back after the Olympic break for both teams. They also play in March and then again in April.
3. Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche
Why it should be good: There was a time when it was the greatest rivalry in the game for the better part of a decade. That was a while ago, and plenty has changed since — the physical side of the game has evolved and the two teams are now in different conferences. It’s hard to remember the last time a game between these teams meant all that much beyond nostalgia for us olds.
But! This year, the Avalanche are one of the league’s few must-watch teams, steamrolling everyone and setting a pace that could result in one of the greatest regular seasons we’ve ever seen. And while the Red Wings aren’t in that tier, they’ve been good enough to look like a playoff team for the first time since 2016, and were even briefly in first place in the East last week.
I won’t go overboard with any Stanley Cup Final preview talk (although, could you imagine?). But it’s not completely out of the question that when these two teams finally cross paths, they could be the top seeds in their respective conference.
When we’ll finally see it: In three weeks, when the Wings and Avs clash in an old-school home-and-home on Jan. 31 and Feb. 2.
2. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Why it should be good: One of the players on the Golden Knights used to play for the Maple Leafs. You may have heard about it.
Oh, also, both teams are supposed to be Cup contenders but are struggling through disappointing seasons, so every point matters. But yeah, mostly the Mitch Marner thing.
When we’ll finally see it: Next Thursday, when the Golden Knights host the Leafs. Then comes the big one: Marner heads to Toronto for the first time on Jan. 23. The fan response should be interesting, to say the least.
1. Chicago Blackhawks vs. San Jose Sharks
Why it should be good: These two teams have been following similar trajectories in recent years, going from aging contenders to tear-it-down rebuilds. Heading into this season, neither was expected to be any good. But they’ve both had better first halves than expected, and both were even hovering around the fringe of the playoff race.
But while there’s lots to like at the team level, that’s not what this is about. No, we’re talking about Macklin Celebrini vs. Connor Bedard, a battle of the league’s two brightest young stars. It won’t be their first head-to-head meeting, but it will be the first since they both went supernova. Imagine trying to tell somebody that before the season started.
When we’ll finally see it: On Feb. 2 in Chicago, which is just days before Celebrini is headed to the Olympics and Bedard probably should be. That will be it until a pair of games in April, which could have playoff implications for one or both teams.
Honorable mentions: The Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins have an underrated historical rivalry and meet for the first time on Sunday. The Rangers and Winnipeg Jets could chat about the Presidents’ Trophy curse when they meet on March 12. Leafs/Canucks is usually fun, and we get that for the first time tomorrow. Sabres/Lightning on Feb. 3 could be a first-round preview. And finally, the Avalanche and Penguins don’t play until after the trade deadline, which has some fun Sidney Crosby implications.
