The NHL has been the home to some of the most intense sports rivalries of all-time. Let’s take a look at the five best rivalries to ever hit the ice.
Hockey is a sport known for its intensity. So it shouldn’t be surprising that some of the most intense rivalries of all-time have come from the NHL. Even to this day, there are teams that just flat out hate each other and aren’t ashamed to admit it.
Though there have been countless rivalries in the NHL, let’s take a look at the five best. There are several factors that we’ll consider, including how hot tensions got between the teams, the history of the rivalry, and how intense (and long) its peak was. Also, I tried not to include any team more than once, though one team is on the list twice.
First, let’s get started with some honorable mentions.
The Best Of The Rest
Montreal Canadiens Vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
This is one of the most storied rivalries in hockey. As recently as the late 1970s, the two teams faced each other in the postseason on a fairly regular basis, as they have squared off 13 times. However, 1979 was the last time they faced each other in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
While this rivalry is still relevant to this day, the Canadiens have a much greater rival that we’ll get to later on.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
I really wanted to include this rivalry on the list. However, much like the Maple Leafs, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a much greater rival who they’ve had many great battles against, both in the regular season and postseason.
New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders
What impresses me the most about this rivalry is it doesn’t matter how bad (or good) either team is. A game between the Rangers and Islanders will always be an outstanding spectacle. Whenever they play, you can expect the unexpected. The Rangers hate the Islanders so much, they chant “Potvin Sucks” even when they aren’t playing the Islanders.