Untold truth behind Avalanche and Red Wings rivalry finally comes to light
Photo credit: Nevin Reid / Grunge.com
A new report has finally shed light on the untold truth behind the fierce rivalry between the Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings, revealing details that had remained hidden for decades.
Whenever the Red Wings and Avalanche faced off, it was nothing short of a brutal war on ice.
Untold story behind Avalanche and Red Wings rivalry.
Jake Tye from Yahoo Sports writes hockey has its classic rivalries, like the Boston Bruins versus the Montreal Canadiens, the Florida Panthers against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and even the Toronto Maple Leafs facing the Detroit Red Wings. However, during the late 1990's and early 2000's, one unexpected rivalry emerged that came out of nowhere and ended up defining the entire league.
"The 1996 Western Conference Finals had left a bitter taste in Detroit's mouth as the newly competitive Colorado Avalanche eliminated the Red Wings in six games." -Tye
The most memorable moment of the rivalry came in the final game of the series, when Red Wings forward Kris Draper was blindsided by a brutal hit from Colorado's Claude Lemieux.
Draper suffered severe facial injuries that required reconstructive surgery, and with Lemieux offering no apology and receiving only a two-game suspension, Detroit realized they would have to seek their own form of justice when the teams met again.
"On March 26, 1997, it was clear the Red Wings had a score to settle as the brawls ensued halfway through the first period with Red Wings forward Darren McCarty finding Lemieux and pummeling him near the boards while Lemieux turtled, unable to respond." -Tye
The violence spilled over to the goalies, with Detroit's Chris Osgood and Colorado's Patrick Roy engaging in a fierce fight at center ice. Brendan Shanahan delivered a soaring check that levelled Roy, while Igor Larionov and Peter Forsberg clashed as well. The scene was absolute chaos, with the crowd at Joe Louis Arena roaring wildly.
"More than 18 fighting majors were handed out with the Red Wings happy that they got to exact their revenge. Detroit would go on to win the game 6-5 with McCarty scoring the game winner in dramatic fashion. From there, the rivalry only escalated." -Tye
Between 1996 and 2002, the two teams faced off in the playoffs five times, including the 2002 Western Conference Final. In a decisive Game 7, Detroit dominated Colorado with a 7-0 victory.
One unforgettable moment saw Patrick Roy embarrassed after a glove save, he initially celebrated thinking he had caught the puck, only to realize it had slipped into the back of the net.
"During their years of hatred from 1996 and 2002, either the Red Wings or Avalanche won the Cup five times with both side elevating their play solely to beat the other." -Tye
Boasting star-studded rosters filled with several Hall of Fame players, this rivalry stands as one of the greatest in hockey and will always be remembered whenever the Red Wings and Avalanche meet on the ice.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 21 | 27 ANSWERS Untold truth behind Avalanche and Red Wings rivalry finally comes to light Do you believe the rivalry between Colorado and Detroit could ever be reignited? | ||
| yes | 8 | 29.6 % |
| no | 19 | 70.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
