The Montreal Canadiens-Ottawa Senators rivalry has been hot enough over the past few seasons. It started as a battle between two rebuilding teams, with their fanbases arguing over who was in better shape to reach contender status. The teams' other rivals had passed them by and were battling for the Atlantic Division crowns, so it led to a natural succession of the Canadiens and Senators as rivals.
Neither team had much of a chance at the playoffs over the past few seasons. However, in an ironic twist of fate from the hockey higher powers, the Canadiens and Senators are now both looking to secure a playoff spot in the same season.
Both teams' respective fanbases have been itching for their team to emerge from their rebuilds first to get the upper-hand in the rivalry. However, it looks like it's full-steam ahead for both teams and the journey to contending status is on the horizon. We can only hope that we will see a playoff showdown at some point in the future, but it's unlikely it'll happen this season unless both make the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Senators have a nice hold on the first wild card position, earning 77 points in 66 games. The Canadiens are six points behind, the first wild card but are just one point behind the New York Rangers for the second wild card with two games in hand. A win over the Senators on Tuesday night would vault them into the driver's seat and put them just four points behind Ottawa.
Media asked Arber Xhekaj about the Canadiens-Senators rivalry, and he didn't back down from the gravity of the situation as other players may have done. "Yeah, big time!" Xhekaj said. "[They're] probably our least favorite team, I would say for sure."
The Canadiens have won both games against the Senators this season. Their matchup on Tuesday night will have a playoff-like intensity, but it's hard not to look ahead to their final game of the season on April 11. If the playoff situation remains the same, there's a great chance the April matchup will have massive playoff implications.
It's the first of many playoff implication matchups in this budding rivalry. The Bell Centre will likely be rocking on Tuesday night, and it's also the first matchup since Xhekaj's previous comments about Brady Tkachuk. Expect some fireworks and playoff hockey vibes on Tuesday night.