NHL schedule release 2018: 5 matchups we’re looking forward to most

5. Capitals vs. Penguins

The NHL’s premier rivalry got a needed revitalization in the playoffs last season with the Capitals finally being able to best the Penguins in the postseason and finally going on to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. It had gotten old over the last few years to see the rivalry forced on everybody with how much the Penguins dominated in the post season, but now that the Capitals have turned the tables, it should a lot of fun to see how they up the ante this time.

The Capitals and Penguins has always been an amazing rivalry, and the Crosby vs. Ovechkin era made it the best rivalry in the league for a long time now. For years now it’s felt as though the regular season match-ups didn’t matter with Pittsburgh’s post season domination, but now that the Capitals are the ones riding high with the Stanley Cup for once, these regular season games will get the added fire to make them that much better.

There’s plenty to carry over from last season as well. I’m sure nobody on Pittsburgh has forgotten about Tom Wilson, and nobody in Washington is very happy about the liberties players like Hornqvist took on their players. Not to mention the style matchup between these two makes for just amazing hockey every single time. The fans are even always at each others throats like no other rivalry in the league. Everything about this rivalry is nasty, and there will never be a civil game between these two as long as they exist.

The Capitals and Penguins will renew their rivalry once again first on October 4 in Pittsburgh for the Penguins home opener, November 7 for the first visit in Washington, December 19 again in Washington, and finally on March 12 in Pittsburgh for the rivalry finale.

Next: Every current NHL franchise’s most beloved head coach

The Capitals are on top of the world, and the Penguins will do everything in their power to knock them down a notch. This famous rivalry just got a whole lot more fun.