Hear me out on this. Hockey has always played runner up in the city that never sleeps to a bunch of more popular teams. It’s no secret that hockey, even on the national level, isn’t as popular as its competitors in baseball, football, and basketball. This same microcosm is true in NY, always has been.
Now, why is this the perfect time for hockey to jump onto the mainstage of sports in NY? Look at what’s going on around in NY. THERE IS NOTHING GOOD TO WRITE ABOUT AS FAR AS NY SPORTS GOES. Nets and Knicks having lackluster seasons. NY Jets and Giants having laughably bad years. NYY and NYM not reaching the post season. Hmmmmm.
When someone says NY sports this year are horrible, you immediately reply with, "Have you checked out the hockey standings?”
I can already see this taking place. Cam Talbot just the other week was on the back cover of the NY Post. How often does that happen in NY? A back-up goaltender making the cover of one of the most widely read papers in the country. Kevin Klein continues to make headlines almost wherever you look in the media. The media is even so closely following Henrik Lundqvist’s injury that i’m getting updates on my phone when the guy rides a bike! Not to mention that two potential Hart trophy winners are playing down the road from each other in Nash and Johnny T.
On the Island, it’s the same team. With “old barn” closing down this year there was always going to be a little attention, but with the team playing so well it’s been even more than anyone would have thought.
I think last year the Rangers helped elevate hockey into the mainstream again in NY, because it’s no secret that when teams win, people care. However, this rivalry has been dead for some many years (the nineties, when both teams were so bad it was all we had to look forward to, don’t count), it’s so refreshing to have it back. Now, I don’t want the Isles to do too good, buttttttt for now I’ll take playoff style hockey in February over a dead rivalry any day.
All this being said, these two teams could meet in the playoffs, and a part of me does and part of me doesn’t. It’d raise hockey awareness in NY to levels rivaling the skyline in downtown Manhattan. A part of me says no because, the Isles are a good team, haha.
All I know is that these two teams playing like this, during this team of a NY Sports drought is nothing but good to raise the level of hockey in the Empire state and that whatever happens down the road, there’s gonna be some good hockey.
Game on.
--Dennis
https://twitter.com/DMalles98
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