After signing his first NHL contract with the Blackhawks this week, Lukas Reichel spoke about his future with Chicago and his expectations for 2021-22.
Finally we got to see Stanley Cup Playoff action North of the border last night when the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers took the ice for Game One. While most other playoff matchups were entering Game Two or Three, the Oilers and Jets dropped the puck for Game One and tonight, we get the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens beginning their series as well.
• Watching the games on TV, changing from a game held in the U.S. with fans in the stands to a game in Canada with no fans in the arena was a trip. The artificial sounds in arenas were not that obvious when it was every area doing it earlier this season, but now after hearing fans cheer on the Playoffs again in person, the fake crowds in Canada are just not the same. The atmosphere is completely different and I hope that Montreal and Toronto can get to a Game Six, so fans can be in attendance at the Bell Centre when the time comes.
Without games being played by the Chicago Blackhawks, I’m starting to get itchy for hockey. Then I remember that the Stanley Cup Playoff are about to begin and the itchiness goes away. It’s been a while since I’ve paid most of my attention in the NHL away from the Blackhawks, but with the new playoff system this year, I’m very intrigued to see how these Stanley Cup Playoffs shake down. What’s craziest to me is that there is a very possible chance that we could see a Boston-Toronto or Montreal-Boston Stanley Cup Final this year. Talk about throwback.