Capitals vs. Rangers: This Matchup Would Create Playoff Interest

Hockey has become irrelevant not only in these parts, but the entire nation for most of this decade. Many factors played a role in the demise of the sport.

Coaches started copying what Jacques Lemaire did by focusing on defense first rather than getting the most out of a player's offensive talent.

The league does not feature much talent like it used to be in the '80s and '90s.

Then, the league and the players association decided to have a lockout for unknown reasons.

It's hard to get into hockey until playoff time. In the playoffs, teams can't decide to play defense all the time. They need to generate offense by sacrificing defense.

The sport needs to give a reason for folks to watch hockey in the regular season, especially in the months where there is nothing to watch with football season being over and spring training games taking place in March.

If only every hockey game would be like last night's game between the Rangers and the Capitals, then the league would prosper.

This game featured scoring. It could have been an 8-7 game based on what took place in the first two periods with both teams scoring many goals.

We saw power-play goals that would make Sam Rosen light up. The Rangers scored four of them last night. If they can execute in these types of situations, they would not be having the struggles they have sustained all season

Alexander Ovechkin may not light up the spirit of New Yorkers the way Kobe Bryant and LeBron James does, but he is the best player in hockey, and he showed why by scoring two goals along with making some key defensive plays down the stretch.

When great players come to our town, they need to perform at their best because this is where their value shines the most. Fans may want to see their own team win, but they also like to see the best players put on a good show too, so Ovechkin gave the fans their money's worth along with this viewer.

It was nice to see both teams go after it rather than skate around in circles. We even saw fights often by both clubs.

Both goaltenders actually worked for their saves. They faced many shots at a rapid pace, rather than seeing the defense do the dirty work for them by not forcing the puck to get at the direction of the goaltender.

Not sure what else anyone would want other than a Rangers victory, but that's asking too much.

The Rangers are terrible, so it's pointless to get worked up. It's only fitting they would lose on a night they actually score goals. Nothing can ever go right with that team.

The Blueshirts need to find a way to make the playoffs even if it's a lost cause. If they make it, hopefully they will face the Capitals in the first round.

It would be great if this materializes. This town could use some excitement, and it may just inspire others to learn about the sport.

Whenever these two teams face each other, it's always a great game with both teams playing well. They also know how to beat each other up, which is always the case when familiarity breeds contempt.

This started in the playoffs last year when the Rangers decided they were not going to back down to a team that was a favorite to win the series. John Tortorella's team made it interesting by taking a lead in the series several times until they choked in the last two games of the series.

Tortorella made this series matter when he went after the fans at the Verizon Center in Game Five, and it resulted in his suspension and the team's downfall.

A great playoff series like that can get New York City buzzing. Newspapers would be forced to talk about it along with sports radio. That can only get more causal fans to catch on.

This series would not bore anyone with the style both teams play. The Rangers seem to fare well against high scoring teams with them getting open opportunities to score.

It would be nice to get a hated rival that would put hockey back on the map.

Talk about the Islanders, Devils, Flyers, and the Bruins as natural rivals, but most of these teams are not the teams they used to be.

The Islanders made progress, but they are still not good.

The Devils bore everyone. Does anyone actually get excited when both teams face each other?

The Flyers don't inspire fear from anyone.

The Bruins are fading out of the playoff race altogether after a fluke season last year.

Maybe the Rangers don't have a chance to beat Washington, but in this market, it's about creating interest.

The Capitals would make the first round of the playoffs a lot more interesting than other teams.

Of course, the Rangers have to get there, and that's no lock.

Here's to hoping this matchup materializes after what we saw in this game.