Flames and Oilers have already completed their season rivalry before the the NHL has even hit the start of the second half of the seasonSergei Belski/USA TODAY Sports
The Flames-Oilers rivalry is one of the best in the NHL, but all three regular-season matchups have already taken place before the start of the new year, providing "quite a change considering we typically see divisional opponents play each other four times a year with some games in the second half of the season," according to Julian Mackenzie of THE ATHLETIC. The Rangers and Islanders "have also exhausted" the three games in their season series. Even if it is a "quirk in the schedule, the fact that the games are done before the season hits the halfway mark is an issue." The job of NHL schedule makers is "hard enough as it is," and it is "impossible for them to look into a crystal ball to see how teams will play each other." However, the "odd scheduling of this year’s games signifies a missed opportunity" for more fans to tune in. The NHL ideally would "find a way to emulate" the NFL schedule, which "ensures rivalries are played out throughout the season" (THE ATHLETIC, 12/28).
EXPANSION THE ANSWER? On Long Island, Neil Best writes that the NHL is "considering expanding its regular season" from 82 to 84 games to "create more regional matchups." The idea "would be to add two intra-division games, for four games every season between rivals" such as the Rangers and Islanders. Currently, that number "can be three or four." The change would "help address the limited meetings between intra-division opponents in a given season, but not necessarily the timing of those games." Best acknowledges that "assembling any professional sports schedule is a jigsaw puzzle that requires juggling arena availability, travel logistics, holidays and a hundred other factors." However, making sure the Rangers and Islanders play one another "after Jan. 1 should be a priority regardless of what it takes" (NEWSDAY, 12/28).
