NHL Misses Opportunity for Dream Stanley Cup Final, Will Have to ‘Settle’ for Kings-Devils

The NHL came this close to having two major American markets meet up in the Stanley Cup Final. The New Jersey Devils apparently do not care about what may be best for the league.

When the Devils knocked out the New York Rangers on Friday night, they erased any chance of having a Cup Final matchup between the Los Angeles Kings and the Rangers. That would not only given a chance to get both of those markets into the Final, but it would add an Original Six club to the Final for the fifth straight year.

Instead, the Stanley Cup Final opens Wednesday night in Newark, N.J.