Chicago Blackhawks: Top Three Rivalries of all-time
A rivalry only exists when both fanbases and teams (most importantly) hate each other. There needs to be a recent history of playoff matchups between both clubs. In other words, both teams need to be good, for a sustained period of time, at the same time -- with a majority of each team's main roster (or core) in tact.
Here's a breakdown of the top three rivals of the Hawks.
3) Minnesota Wild/North Stars
It was hard to come up with a third rival of the Blackhawks. Some possible choices were Nashville, LA or Vancouver, but the proximity and history between Chicago and Minnesota both with the Wild and North Stars, won out for me.
It was a battle every time the Hawks and North Stars met in the 1980s and early 1990s.
«You knew that you were going to a game where it was going to be a war. You hope you'd survive it at the end of the day," said Blackhawks legend Denis Savard. The North Stars and Hawks met in the postseason six times in 10 seasons, including four in a row from 1982-85 with Chicago winning three of those. Overall, the edge is 4-2 Hawks. The rivalry dissolved in 1993 when the North Stars moved to Dallas, but it will always be remembered by Hawks fans. The fight continues with the Minnesota Wild, but it's not as intense as it was with the North Stars.
The Wild hold a 47-29-5 overall mark over the Hawks, but the postseason has been a different story. The two teams met from 2013-15 and Chicago won all three in dominant fashion (4-1, 4-2, 4-0).
2) Detroit Red Wings
DETROIT SUCKS, DETROIT SUCKS
Chicago and Detroit represent the two largest metro areas in the Midwest and are only separated by a 280-mile stretch of road, mostly covered by I-94. The clubs began playing each other in 1926�27, during the inaugural season for both franchises. The Hawks and Red Wings have faced each other in more regular season games (749 total) than any other two teams in NHL history with Detroit holding an all-time record of 410�320�85�15.
Prior to the 2013�14 league-wide divisional realignment, it was the most intense rivalry in the Central Division. It really is a shame the two teams only play twice a year now. Chicago and Detroit met 16 times in the postseason with the Hawks winning nine of those, including the last one in 2013 when they overcame a 3-1 deficit.
1) St Louis Blues
Since 1970, the Hawks and Blues have been in the same division. It is the most intense rivalry in terms of penalty minutes and fighting, and at the height of the rivalry during the Norris Division days, it was common to go to a Chicago vs. St. Louis game and see a brawl break out. The two teams have met in the playoffs 12 times with the Hawks winning eight of those matchups. Chicago also leads the all-time series with a 188�152�35�11 record.
The most notable event that defines the Blackhawks-Blues rivalry was the St. Patricks Day Massacre in 1991, where the Hawks won 6-4 at the old Chicago Stadium. Chicago forward Jeremy Roenick instigated a fight with Blues defensemen Glen Featherstone beginning the brawl. 12 players, six on each team were ejected and 278 total penalty minutes were given. Several players from both teams were suspended and both teams were fined $10,000 for the brawl.
| POLL | ||
MAI 17 | 219 ANSWERS Chicago Blackhawks: Top Three Rivalries of all-time Who is the Hawks biggest rival? | ||
| St. Louis | 108 | 49.3 % |
| Detroit | 90 | 41.1 % |
| Minnesota | 21 | 9.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
