When you're an Original Six team in the NHL, the word "rival" is thrown around pretty loosely. Back in the day, when your opponents were so few, it was almost impossible to NOT have an intense game every night. Familiarity breeds hatred.
Now that the NHL has grown, and sports themselves have become less "personal", rivalries grow in other ways.
The Hawks will ALWAYS have a rival in the Detroit Red Wings. The combination of their Original Six ties, their close proximity, and the fact that historically, they have been two of the more successful teams in the conference makes that inevitable.
St. Louis has gained steam as a rival, but the Chicago / St. Louis rivalry, in my opinion, is more of a result of the long time Cubs / Cardinals rivalry, and a few punks who have donned the blue and yellow sweaters over the last decade plus.
A new NHL rivalry has emerged...and in a very short time. The Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks have a deep hatred for one another. Look no further than last night's 6-3 Hawks thrashing.
:37 seconds into the game, six penalties were handed out. The typically docile Andrew Ladd went right after Ryan Kesler, who called Ladd a "coward" after getting knocked out by the Hawks winger in their last contest. The next faceoff, Dustin Byfuglien squared off with more than one Canuck.
Roberto Luongo, who must see Byfuglien's ass in his nightmares, had another awful performance (5 goals allowed in the first period) against the Hawks, and was sarcastically mocked by Hawk fans. 'Llloooouuuu" was the chant that caused him to break his stick in anger as the first period ended. He wouldn't return.
On October 21st, Willie Mitchell destroyed and injured Jonathan Toews with a brutal (and legal) open ice check. Toews missed the next six games with a concussion.
So how did this sparkling new, intense NHL rivalry begin?
As the
2008-2009 season was beginning to wrap up (March 29th), the Hawks and
Canucks faced off at the United Center. The Hawks had one of their
worst games of the season in a game that mattered for final standings.
Shell shocked and embarrassed, the Hawks' tempers got the best of them. Byfuglien had a chance in front Luongo that he
couldn't calm down, but followed through his shot with a right hook to
Luongo's helmet. After that, all hell broke loose.
Eager
dropped Bieksa with a quick left, while elsewhere, Burrows was pulling
Keith's hair in desperation. Things went on for quite a while, but the
Hawks left with a 4-0 loss.
Fast forward to round two of the playoffs. The Hawks had just beaten
the Flames in round one, while the Canucks had just swept the Blues.
Roberto Luongo was fantastic in the St. Louis series, and the Canucks
were riding high.
Game one went to the Canucks 5-3, and Vancouver defenseman Willie
Mitchell ripped the team and Patrick Kane after the game. He said the
Hawks were "quiet" and that Kane was "...not a guy who is really going
to hurt us even strength." The next game Kane responded with a goal
and an assist, and the Hawks came away with the 6-3 win.
Four more games would be played, concluding with Patrick Kane's game six hat trick, and elimination of the Canucks.
In the era of free agency and expansion, sports rivalries haven't had
the magic they have in years past. Well, leave it to a couple intense
playoff games, some hair pulling, some name calling, and an opponent
made up almost exclusively of punks a d-bags (Kesler, Bieksa, Mitchell, the Sedins, Luongo, Burrows), and mister...you've got a
rivalry.
The next Hawks / Canucks game won't be until next season...unless they
meet in the playoffs. Start saving for those tickets now. It will be worth the price of admission.
Hawk fans, come out to St. Charlie's Pub (312 W. Main St, St. Charles, IL) this Tuesday for a Bud Light Blackhawks Chalk Talk with Hawk defenseman Brent Sopel and me. The event begins at 7pm, and will feature a 45 minute Q&A session, followed by 45 minutes of autographs. Come on out, meet Brent Sopel, and drink some ice cold Bud Lights.
Filed under: ben eager, Blackhawks, Chicago Sports, danny mac show, hockey, jonathan toews, NHL, vancouver canucks, Willie Mitchell, wscr
Tags: ben eager, blackhawks, chicago sports, danny mac show, hockey, jonathan toews, NHL, vancouver canucks, willie mitchell, wscr
Jay,
I thought coming into the game last night that Vancouver would be a tough draw come playoff time, but after watching the game, I am not so sure. Vancouver seems to lack the mental makeup to challenge the Hawks. Vancouver's good players, ie The Sedin Twins among others, were very mediocre last night.
Vancouver seems more interested in roughing it up with the Hawks rather then just playing the game. As far as Mitchell's comments on Kane last year, I have to say that though Kane ended up with that hat trick in last yr's game six, I am not such a huge fan of Kane's either. Something about him that does not ring true to me.
Wow!
No mention of the shitty goaltending by the Hawks?
Amazing!
The team gets all the credit for a win, but you only blame 1 guy in a loss.
You suck, and I question your loyalty to the team...