by Aleena Khan

With the last NHL regular season ending on Friday, Apr 14, playoff season is now upon us. For the first time since 2007, all three of the tri-state teams have made the playoffs in the same season. The NY Rangers are set to play the NJ Devils in the first round of the playoffs and the NY Islanders will face off against the Carolina Hurricanes.

For hockey fans in the tri-state area, the Devils-Rangers series is an intriguing and exciting way to begin the playoffs. With only one win against the Devils in the regular season, the Rangers are in for a tough first round matchup. Recent call-up Luke Hughes is going to be playing in his first NHL playoff series for the Devils alongside his brother (and star center), Jack Hughes. The Hughes brothers will provide a formidable test for the Rangers.

The NY Islanders also have a tough test against the Carolina Hurricanes. With only one win against Carolina this season, the Islanders will have a tough time trying to make it past the first round. Although the regular season has no true impact on the playoffs, the Islanders had an up and down season and just barely clawed their way into the playoffs. They’ll have their hands full against a very good Carolina squad.

If the Stanley Cup is going to make it’s way to the tri-state area, the three local teams will have to play to the best of their abilities. Best of luck to all of the local tri-state teams involved in the playoffs – it should be fun!