THE GAME'S GREAT RIVALS

Nick De Cicco

With the NHL regular season schedule in full swing and hard-hitting matchups at every corner, hockey fans are drooling over all this action. A typical NHL season starts with a heated and extremely competitive game that sets the tone for the remaining fixtures. With this in mind, we are going to take a look at the best of the best in Canadian hockey rivalries in the National Hockey League.

The first clash on Canadian soil in this young season didn’t disappoint with an original six classic between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. This matchup was the 105th season-opener for both the Leafs and Habs. One of the most historic battles in the league’s history occurred between the battle of blue and red jerseys.

Despite the social tension between the English and French speaking Canadians during the 1920-1930s, the tense rivalry got hotter on the ice. The early beginnings of the league saw frequent matchups during the regular season and playoffs. With these common encounters, the rough and tough aspects of the game heightened with every drop of the gloves.

That rock’em, sock’em era of hockey saw epic line brawls and devastating hits that continue to circulate Leaf and Canadien fans forever. The 12 playoff series confrontations between the two teams makes every future contest a must-watch for their respective fanbases.

Another massive rivalry in the battle of Ontario is a constant debate between Leafs and Sens fans. These two teams might not have the history as the Canadiens, but the heat is always turned to eleven when they meet. The close geographical distance between the fanbases create easy access for the opposition to invade the hometown arena at Scotiabank or Canadian Tire Centre.

Any Leafs fan will always display some animosity towards the Senators first before any other rival. Currently, these two teams are in kahoots because the Leafs beat the Senators in a playoff round almost 19 years ago and haven't gotten out of the first round since.

The next greatest Canadian rivalry in the NHL is the infamous battle of Alberta between the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers. From the Gretzky and Messier eras of Oil Country to the Matthew Tkachuk rumblings of previous years, there is quite a history between these two teams.

Hard hitting and line brawls with the goalies throwing hands is the expectation when the Saddledome or Rogers Place erupts for this matchup. Iconic playoff games in the early Stanley Cup runs to the latest regular season schedule, these games are always circled on people’s calendars.

This last feud among Canadian teams isn’t as well known or discussed in hockey conversations. This rivalry involves the Winnipeg Jets and the Vancouver Canucks. These two teams battle constantly despite being in different divisions in the Western Conference.

Dropping the mitts is a common occurrence in a rivalry and these western combatants have the most fighting majors against each other. Big heavyweights such as Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers were laying the body throughout their encounters for their respective teams.

Hockey rivalries are amazingly intense in these franchises from coast to coast to coast. These encounters bring the fans together in competition and excites every generation of hockey fanatics. Rivalries are essential aspects to league matchups that bring extra anticipation to a booming atmosphere. Despite retirements and new generations of players, rivalries will always exist to entertain the masses for years to come.