Avalanche fans stunned as Red Wings reignite rivalry by resurfacing a dark past
Photo credit: Robert Laberge / Octopus Thrower
Colorado Avalanche fans were caught off guard as the Detroit Red Wings reignited their long-standing rivalry by revisiting a controversial and painful chapter from the past in a newly released report.
The Red Wings and their fans endured over four decades of frustration following that fateful 1997 series, a turning point marked by the infamous Kris Draper incident that fuelled years of bitterness and setbacks.
Avalanche fans stunned as Red Wings reignite heated rivalry.
Todd Matthews from Octopus Thrower writes that this was the moment Red Wings' fans had been waiting for. It's important to remember that back in 1995, the Wings reached the Stanley Cup Final, only to be completely outclassed by the New Jersey Devils, looking more like a team just "happy to be there" than a true contender.
"It wasn't the ending the Red Wings wanted, but they were fortunate enough to get back to the Conference Final in 1996. Only, that didn't turn out they wanted it, and they ended up losing to the new Colorado Avalanche 4 games to 2." -Matthews
And while it was the Avalanche's inaugural season in the NHL, a fierce rivalry quickly took shape, fuelled by Claude Lemieux's brutal hit that shattered Kris Draper's jaw. The bad blood only intensified from there, and despite their efforts, the Red Wings just couldn't seem to get the upper hand on Colorado.
"Then came Fight Night at the Joe on March 26th and the Wings proved to the world that yes, they could go head-to-head with the Avs and beat them. Not only on the scoreboard, but they could also outmuscle them." -Matthews
The Avalanche were determined to defend their Clarence Campbell Bowl and punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year since relocating from Quebec City to Denver. Meanwhile, the Red Wings were simply chasing another shot at ending a championship drought that had dragged on far too long.
"And after Game 1, things weren't looking good, with the Avs taking it 2-1. Fast-forward to Game 2, and things still didn't look good for the Wings as they fell into a 2-0 deficit before Igor Larionov and Sergei Fedorov scored power play goals.
Then there was that legendary game-winner from Steve Yzerman off Patrick Roy's back that ultimately evened the series. The Wings then eked out a 2-1 win in Game 3, taking the series lead before crushing the Avs 6-0 in Game 4, giving them a two-game cushion as they looked to close out the series in Denver." -Matthews
Then there was that legendary game-winner from Steve Yzerman off Patrick Roy's back that ultimately evened the series. The Wings then eked out a 2-1 win in Game 3, taking the series lead before crushing the Avs 6-0 in Game 4, giving them a two-game cushion as they looked to close out the series in Denver." -Matthews
But it wasn't meant to be. The Avalanche responded with a dominant 6-0 win of their own, forcing the series back to The Joe for Game 6. This time, the Red Wings weren't going to let it slip away. They closed out the series on home ice, then went on to capture the Stanley Cup in a decisive sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers.
"This game was a deadlock until the second period, when Martin Lapointe scored to give the Wings a 1-0 lead. That would be it until the 6:11 mark of the third, when Sergei Fedorov scored to make it 2-0 Wings, and everything seemed to be going their way.
Fast-forward to the 14:48 mark, and Scott Young saved the Avalanche by making it a game when he got one in. The final five minutes of the game heated up, with neither team able to cash in, forcing the Avalanche to roll with a 6-on-5 in hopes of making something happen." -Matthews
Fast-forward to the 14:48 mark, and Scott Young saved the Avalanche by making it a game when he got one in. The final five minutes of the game heated up, with neither team able to cash in, forcing the Avalanche to roll with a 6-on-5 in hopes of making something happen." -Matthews
But Brendan Shanahan dashed any remaining hope, rifling the puck into the back of the net off a setup from Igor Larionov, sealing the win and securing the Red Wings a long-awaited shot at the Stanley Cup.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 4 | 36 ANSWERS Avalanche fans stunned as Red Wings reignite rivalry by resurfacing a dark past Were you a fan of Lemieux's infamous hit on Draper in the 1996 Stanley Cup Playoffs? | ||
| yes | 20 | 55.6 % |
| no | 16 | 44.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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