Philadelphia Flyers vs. New York Rangers: A Rivalry Turned Ugly

The Philadelphia Flyers’ biggest rival might be the New York Rangers, not the Pittsburgh Penguins

I was recently told by a co-worker (I swear I do actually work at work) that I should hate the Pittsburgh Penguins more than any other team, because of Sidney Crosby. Now don’t get me wrong. As a Philadelphia Flyers fan, I can’t stand Sidney Crosby and his gang. However, that dislike doesn’t hold a candle to the disdain I hold for the New York Rangers.

Disdain doesn’t really even come close. To be honest, I hate the Rangers with the fire of a thousand suns. It is a hate that was born of a tragedy that broke not only my heart but the hearts of every Flyers fan and the team itself.

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Philly goaltender Pelle Lindbergh was killed in November of 1985 while driving his souped-up candy apple red Porsche. His loss destroyed the team, and they never recovered. The team that had made it to the Stanley Cup Finals the year before made a first-round exit at the hands of the Rangers.

Another Gift From The Hockey Gods

That loss was not where my hate of the Rangers began. The following year, the hockey gods saw fit to bestow the Flyers another brilliant goalie in Ron Hextall.

Hexy was in so many ways the polar opposite of Pelle. He was hot-tempered and was quick to use his stick to clear his own crease. Hextall would fight in defense of his teammates and was the first goaltender to score intentionally on the opposition net.

Behind him, the Flyers put up 100 points to win the Patrick Division during the 1986-87 season. Vengeance was to be theirs in the first round matchup with the Rangers, winning in six games. It was this series that was the birth of my passionate hate of the blue shirts.

Specifically, it was Game 3 of this series, that the Flyers lost by a score of 3-0. While the loss stung, especially a shutout loss, it was not the reason my dislike the Rangers blossomed into a full out hate.

A Rivalry Turned Unforgivable

As always, Rangers fans came prepared to taunt the Flyers. It was the playoffs, and a certain amount of disrespect is to be expected. The content of some of those signs, even all this time later, is unforgivable.

There were signs that read “Hextall, go Buy a Porsche”. There were mini Stanley Cups inside coffins marked with Pelle’s #31. When these signs were shown on the big screen at Madison Square Garden, the crowd roared.

The staff at MSG showed those signs over and over, and the crowd continued to cheer. There are no words to express how inherently wrong those signs, and the crowd reactions, truly were.

Rivalries are one thing, but there are some things that transcend sports. The death of Pelle Lindbergh was one of those moments. He was more than a goalie. He was a son. His parents flew from Sweden to say one last goodbye to their fair-haired son before they removed him from life support. He was a finance.

There was a young lady who was planning a wedding to the love of her life. He was a person, a human being, and Rangers fans mocked his death, crossing a line that should have been sacred.

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So I am so sorry Superman, I am not going to be a good Philadelphia fan and hate the Penguins more than the Rangers. I will despise the Rangers with all I am, with every fiber of my being, for as long as I live.

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