What Rivalry? || Why Blackhawks vs Canucks is the Best Rivalry in the NHL

Most teams in the NHL have their rivalries.  In some cases, it's because of proximity, like the Battle of Alberta with Calgary and Edmonton.  Other cases involve years of historic battles like Boston and Montreal, or any of the original six teams, really.  So how come fans get so amped up when the Canucks play the Blackhawks?

It's becoming 'can't miss hockey', because you know there is deep-rooted bad blood between these two teams. But why?

It all started back in 2008-09.  Vancouver rolled over the Blues in the first round, winning the first four games.  While the Flames took Chicago to 6 games before the Blackhawks finally put them away.  Then it began.  The date: April, 30th, 2009.  It was a day like every other day, but what people didn't realize, was this was the day one of the most hatred-fueled rivalries was spawned.

The Blackhawks eliminated the Canucks from the playoffs in 6 games.  The following year, almost like de-ja-vu, Chicago beat Vancouver in 6 games in the second round.  The only thing that helped with the sting of the loss was that Chicago ended up winning the Stanley Cup that year, so nobody was better than the Blackhawks.

Just last season, the Canucks come off of a franchise year.  Setting records in almost every statistical category imaginable.  The goalies were tops in the league, special teams were pretty well unstoppable/impenetrable.  Finished the season with a franchise record 54 wins and 117 points.  Things were going well, to say the least. Meanwhile, Chicago barely scraped into the playoffs.  The only reason they even made it in was because Dallas couldn't win when it mattered most.  If Dallas won their final game, they would have been in, stealing the final playoff spot from Chicago.  Regardless though, it worked out for the better.

Again, the Canucks were meeting Chicago in the playoffs.  Only this time, Vancouver was expected to just flatten the Blackhawks.  Boy, were we wrong.  Canucks win the first three, Blackhawks win the next three (in very convincing fashion), then it all lead up to Burrows becoming the home-town hero with his phenominal overtime, game 7 goal.  That series almost numbed everybody for the rest of the playoffs, because nothing, NOTHING, is more exciting than that playoff series.  Everything that led up to it, the roller coaster of emotions, the controversial hits, the scrums after the whistle...literally, everything.  That was the last time I remember hugging another man that wasn't my father.  Just watch, if this doesn't give you chills, then you're dead inside.



Which leads us to now, Vancouver and Chicago.  Kesler vs Toews.  Kane vs cab drivers.  After three meetings in the amplified playoff atmosphere, these teams have gotten to know one another quite well.  Which brings me back to the original point, why is it the best rivalry in the league?

Not only do these two teams legitimately hate each other, but both of them are consistently great teams.  They are both near the top of the conference, if not the league.  They are both cup contenders, and will be for the next few years.  With both teams locking up a lot of their players long term, it compounds the animosity when the same players are facing each other all the time.

Vancouver fans have the pleasure of making the signs with the exhausted looking Vince Vaughn, while Chicago fans can try to drown out a 747 jet in the "Madhouse".  Either way, it's a great rivalry, but more importantly, it's even better hockey.

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My prediction for tonight:  Vancouver kicked Chicago's ass last game, but I can't see that happening two times in a row.  I still think the Canucks will win, but Chicago will put up a fight.  Schneider is in net for the Nucks, but there is no reason to believe that he is going to get shelled.  Final score:  Vancouver 4, Chicago 3.

Post your predictions in the comment section!

Chicago Blackhawks vs Canucks || November, 6, 2011

This makes me happy

In what is turning into one of the better rivalries, if not the best, in today's NHL, Chicago and Vancouver failed to disappoint.  Tonight's game was fast paced, hard fought and didn't lack the scoring, as usual. The game had pretty well everything you could ask for: fighting, goals, big hits, hatred (lots of hatred).  The look on Bolland's face after he gets into scrums makes me smile.  He has this cranky scowl on his ugly mug, only matched by Brent Sopel's regular face.

The big story in this game, the deciding factor, was Vancouver's power play.  Wow.  The Canucks go 5-for-6, Booth gets his first goal of the season on it (you could see the relief on his face after he scored).  Rome gets one, everybody basically pitched in on the man advantage.  The Sedin's were working their twin-magic like they usually do, while Hodgson had a decent night as well.  One thing I noticed was that it wasn't our third and fourth lines doing all the heavy lifting.  They contributed, but they weren't forced to carry the team across the finish line. Volpatti sparked the team when he tango'd with Dan Carcillo, while the entire fourth line just fore checked the hell out of Chicago.

Now, Luongo did let in that stinker of a goal from Frolik.  I mean, that was a terrible, terrible goal to let in.  Micheal Frolik came over the blue line along the boards and just kind of flicked it on net, and it somehow found its way through Lou's pads. The first thing I thought was that he was going to be rattled, but I guess it no longer being October actually means something.  Luongo was good, he was very good actually.  Especially at the end of the second, where he made a splendiferous glove save as the clock was winding down.  The refs actually decided to put 1.3 seconds up on the clock after that save forced the puck over the glass.  Usually, that's a waste of time, but in this case, nuh uh.  Bieksa and Jamal Mayers decided to go at it with the extra time added.  It wasn't a pre-planned fight either, it was a hate fueled bout, with Bieksa coming out with the win (according to hockeyfights.com).



All in all, this was a game that needed to happen.  Vancouver played to their potential.  They looked like themselves of yesteryear, with the power play going almost 100%, and everybody did their part to a T.  Except, Luongo did let in that stinker, but he is semi-forgiven for it because he stood on his head after that.

My favorite part, how quiet it got in the "Madhouse" after the Canucks scored a few.  I love hearing crickets in that place.