Hockey Sticks Crossed: The Top 10 NHL Rivalries
Contents
- The top 10 NHL rivalries of all time
- The top 5 NHL rivalries of the modern era
- The top 3 NHL rivalries of the last decade
- The top 2 NHL rivalries of the current season
- The top NHL rivalry of all time: Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs
- The top NHL rivalry of the modern era: Blackhawks vs. Red Wings
- The top NHL rivalry of the last decade: Bruins vs. Canadiens
- The top NHL rivalry of the current season: Penguins vs. Capitals
- The top 10 NHL players of all time
- The top 5 NHL players of the modern era
From the Flyers-Penguins to the Canadiens-Bruins, we list the top 10 NHL rivalries. See where your favorite team falls on the list.
The top 10 NHL rivalries of all time
The top 10 NHL rivalries of all time are:
1. Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche
2. Philadelphia Flyers vs. New York Rangers
3. Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings
4. Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins
5. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers
6. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens
7 Los Angeles Kings vs Anaheim Ducks
8 Vancouver Canucks vs Calgary Flames
9 St Louis Blues vs Chicago Blackhawks
10 New Jersey Devils vs New York Rangers
The top 5 NHL rivalries of the modern era
NHL rivalries are born out of many things – regionalism, history, bad blood between players and coaches and even simple disagreements between fans. Whatever the reason, when two teams meet on the ice, there is always a lot at stake.
In the modern ERA of the NHL, there have been many great rivalries. Here are the top 5:
1. Boston Bruins vs Montreal Canadiens
This is perhaps the oldest and most storied rivalry in all of professional sports The Bruins and Canadiens have been battling it out on the ice since the early days of the NHL, and there is no love lost between these two Original Six teams. The hatred between these two clubs was only exacerbated by their epic battles in the playoffs; most notably in 1977, 1979, and 2008.
2. Detroit Red Wings vs Colorado Avalanche
While this rivalry might not have the same level of history as some of the others on this list, it was certainly one of the most intense of the modern era. The Red Wings and Avalanche met in the playoffs four times between 1996 and 2002, with Colorado emerging victorious on three occasions. However, it was the infamous brawl known as “Fight Night” in 1997 that really stokedthe flames of this rivalry. That night saw nine players – including Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy – get ejected from a game that featured 168 Penalty minutes
3. Philadelphia Flyers vs New York Rangers
These two teams may be divisional rivals now, but their hatred for each other dates back to 1974 when they first met in the playoffs. Since then, they have met 11 times in the postseason with the Flyers holding a slim 6-5 advantage. These two teams also engaged in one of the most infamous brawls in NHL history – known simply as “The Punch-Up in Piestany” – at 1987 World Junior Championship That fight saw both teams being disqualified from medal contention as a result of their role in a bench-clearing brawl.
4. Vancouver Canucks vs Calgary Flames
This is one of Canada’s best rivalries, pitting two teams from neighboring provinces against each other. The Flames and Canucks have been playing each other since 1970 when Vancouver joined the NHL as an expansion team. While neither team has enjoyed much success lately, they have still managed to produce some heated battles on the ice; most notably during their playoff meetings in 1989 and 2004.
5 Edmonton Oilers vs Calgary Flames
This is another Alberta rivalry that dates back to Edmonton’s days as an NHL Expansion team in 1972. These two clubs have met each other six times in the playoffs with Calgary winning four of those series; including their most recent meeting in 2015 which saw Calgary upsetting Edmonton en route to winning their first Stanley Cup championship since 1989.
The top 3 NHL rivalries of the last decade
In no particular order, here are the top 3 NHL rivalries of the past decade.
The first is between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings These two teams have been division rivals for years and the competition between them has only intensified in recent years There is a great deal of history between these two teams, which only adds to the intensity of the rivalry.
The second is between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. These two teams have been division rivals for years and the competition between them has only intensified in recent years There is a great deal of history between these two teams, which only adds to the intensity of the rivalry.
Finally, we have a rivalry that is relatively new but has quickly become one of the most intense in the NHL: The Toronto Maple Leafs and The Boston Bruins These two teams have developed a strong dislike for each other in recent years and there is no sign that this rivalry will be cooling off any time soon.
The top 2 NHL rivalries of the current season
The top 2 NHL rivalries of the current season are:
1. Winnipeg Jets vs. Nashville Predators
2. Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
The top NHL rivalry of all time: Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs
There is no doubt that the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs have had the biggest rivalry in NHL history The two teams have been battling it out for over 100 years and the bad blood between them is still strong today.
The rivalry started back in 1917 when the Canadiens and Maple Leafs met in the NHL’s first-ever game. Since then, the two teams have played each other hundreds of times, with the Canadiens winning more than their fair share of matchups.
The rivalry really heated up in the 1970s when the two teams met in the playoffs four times in six years. The Maple Leafs won three of those series, but the most memorable moment came in 1976 when Montreal’s Guy Lafleur scored an overtime goal to eliminate Toronto.
The rivalry took a hiatus in the 1980s as both teams struggled, but it was resurrected in the early 1990s when they met in the playoffs three times in four years. The most recent chapter of this great rivalry was written in 2013 when the Canadiens and Maple Leafs met in an epic seven-game playoff series that saw Montreal come out on top.
There is no doubt that the Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs rivalry is the greatest in NHL history These two teams have been battling it out for over 100 years and there is no endin sight.
The top NHL rivalry of the modern era: Blackhawks vs. Red Wings
The top NHL rivalry of the modern era is between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings These two teams have been battling it out for the top spot in the Central Division for years, and the intensity level only seems to be ramping up.
The Red Wings have had the upper hand in recent years, but the Blackhawks are poised to make a run at them this season. These two teams meet again on February 26th, and it is sure to be an epic battle.
The top NHL rivalry of the last decade: Bruins vs. Canadiens
The top NHL rivalry of the last decade has been the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens These two teams have been battling it out for the top spot in the Eastern Conference for years, and the level of hate between them is evident on the ice every time they meet.
The Bruins and Canadiens have met in the playoffs 11 times in the last 10 years, with the Bruins winning seven of those series. The most recent meeting was in 2014, when the Bruins swept the Canadiens in the second round.
The rivalry between these two teams is so intense that it has even spilled over into other sports. When the Boston Red Sox and Montreal Expos met in the 2004 World Series fans of both teams were seen wearing Bruins and Canadiens jerseys to support their respective team.
This rivalry is one of the most intense in all of sports, and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
The top NHL rivalry of the current season: Penguins vs. Capitals
Despite being in different conferences, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals have developed a heated rivalry over the years. This season, the two teams are once again at the top of their respective divisions and are among the favorites to win the Stanley Cup
The rivalry reached a new level last year when the Penguins and Capitals met in the playoffs for the first time since 2009. The series was highly competitive and went to six games, with the Penguins ultimately coming out on top.
This season, the two teams have met four times so far, with each team winning two games. The most recent meeting was on February 2nd, when the Capitals won 4-3 in overtime.
The next meeting between these two rivals will be on March 1st in Pittsburgh. This promises to be an exciting game, as both teams are currently fighting for first place in their division.
The top 10 NHL players of all time
There are many great NHL players but only a select few can be considered the best of all time. In this article, we will countdown the top 10 NHL Players of all time.
The top 5 NHL players of the modern era
In the National Hockey League there are a few players who undeniably made their mark and left their indelible stamp on the game. These are players who changed how the game is played, soldiers of the sport who, through both their actions on and off the ice, have written themselves into the history books as some of the greatest to ever play the game