The Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers quietly disposed of one another in forgettable five-game first-round series victories in the Stanley Cup Playoffs over the last two seasons.
These dispirited matchups have helped lend support to the factions opposed to the NHL's current postseason format, which covets engineered rivalry over outcome.
But after the Rangers and Penguins exchanged 14 goals and lopsided wins in a contentious early season home-and-home this week - remaining sardined at the apex of the Metropolitan Division standings - there's reason to wish for this previously ill-fated first-round matchup for a third straight season.
We know about the Penguins. It's the championship iteration from last season - all season. Leading a championship roster brought back in full, Sidney Crosby has been at the very height of his game since returning from a concussion suffered prior to the season.
He leads the NHL with 14 goals, performing at an 82-goal pace through his first 14 games.
The Penguins are skilled, fast, and deep. They're the model for most teams to build around - the Rangers included.
Working wonderfully at the margins, the Rangers changed their identity over the summer without implementing widespread changes to the roster. They've trampled teams with their emphasis on speed, and with scorers on all four lines, have emerged as the most dominant offense in the league thus far.
With Rick Nash healthy and once again producing at a high rate, and Michael Grabner delivering a season's worth of offense in six weeks, the Rangers lead the league with 82 goals, and were averaging over four per game before their 6-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.
It's early, but if the Penguins and Rangers stay on their current trajectories, and remain two of the most appetizing teams in the league, they appear primed to deliver on the playoff matchup that hasn't lived up to the billing over the last two seasons.
That, however, doesn't mean the Washington Capitals won't interject.
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