The NHL playoffs are set to start Saturday, with three Canadian teams hoping to finish the country’s 33-year Stanley Cup drought.
The Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers are all within the post-season, with fans across the country searching for a long-awaited championship run.
In Ottawa, excitement is constructing because the Senators prepare for the primary round.
“I’m really excited. I feel Sens fans show up each time they’re within the playoffs, but I’m a lifelong Sens guy,” one fan told Global. “I hope we do higher than last 12 months, obviously, however it must be fun to observe.”
The Senators face a difficult opening matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes, one in all the highest teams within the Eastern Conference.
Montreal can also be generating optimism amongst fans, with some suggesting the Canadiens could offer Canada its best likelihood at ending the drought. The last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup was Montreal in 1993.
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“They’ve great elements throughout the team, great goaltending these days,” said one fan. “They’re a fun team to observe.”
In Edmonton, the Oilers are once more in contention after coming near winning the Stanley Cup lately. The team, led by captain Connor McDavid, is aiming to construct on those deep playoff runs.
“I can’t fathom the quantity of heartbreak that that poor guy has felt prior to now two years — two Stanley Cup final losses,” said Quinn Phillips, co-host of The Bits Podcast.
Beyond the teams themselves, the playoffs are expected to bring a lift to bars and restaurants, particularly if a Canadian team advances to the later rounds.
“Second, third round… that’s when things get really great,” said Ernie Tsu of the Alberta Hospitality Association.
With only three Canadian teams within the playoffs, fans in other cities can be watching closely and sure cheering for a team outside their home market.
For a lot of, the hope stays the identical — that this 12 months, a Canadian team will finally bring the Stanley Cup back north of the border.