NHL on TNT hosts make NY Islanders versus Maple Leafs bet that will leave a mark
If there wasn't already enough motivation to advance deep into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, New York Islanders fans will get to enjoy more than just playoff series wins if their team advances further than former captain John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs this post-season.
Earlier this week, NHL on TNT hosts Liam McHugh, who is a die-hard Islanders fan and Paul Bissonnette who roots for his hometown Leafs agreed to make a wager on which team would go further in this year's playoffs, with the specifics announced before the games get underway.
The terms of the bet were announced before the start of Game 1 of the Islanders' best-of-sevens series with the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. It's a gutsy bet by both McHugh and Bissonnette and one that will leave a lasting impression on the loser.
If the Maple Leafs defeat the Boston Bruins and end up going further than the Islanders, McHugh has agreed to get a "small" Maple Leafs tattoo and has to wear a "Canadian Tuxedo." For those of us who haven't spent our lives north of the border, a Canadian Tuxedo is an outfit pairing jeans with a denim jacket. A potential reason for McHugh's optimism is that the Leafs have not defeated the Boston Bruins in a best-of-seven playoff series since 1959.
Meanwhile, if the Islanders pull off the major upset and knock out the Stanley Cup-favored Hurricanes, "Biz" will need to get an Islanders tattoo. The former NHL enforcer has had a war of words with Isles fans for more than two seasons and has had a sometimes clearly joking, sometimes maybe serious feud with Islanders legend Butch Goring. In addition to the tattoo, Biz will get a pie in the face and McHugh said he will call on Goring to do the honors if he is the winner of the friendly wager.
If neither team advances beyond the first round, there will be no winners, only losers as the neither fanbase will enjoy a playoff series win or get to see the bet paid out.