When the ENTIRE sports world realized that hockey rivalries are the best

[@RobTalksHockey]

McDavid Collectors Box therthcompany.com/products/guaranteed-graded-card-box What is the best rivalry your team has had?

[@Lesevesel]

Red Wings vs. Avs. Go Wings!

[@john_michaelz1823]

2024 looks to be averaging same as past years fwiw. 234 fights in 984 games. 23%.

[@benshute9391]

Province Rivalries are the Absolute core of Canadian Hockey Nowadays. Can't get enough of it.

[@vannawallace7709]

fr the fights during the last battle of Alberta were actual fights, and the whole crowd i was watching it with were hyped as hell.

[@lunardestruction]

wow a comment about a fight!!

[@dixonhill1108]

They need to change the schedule, no one gives a shit when their team plays the opposite conference.

[@warmike]

8:58 the KHL actually has a system like that! Each team in the KHL plays 2 extra games against its supposed rival, one home and one away. Though the choice of the selected rivalries can be weird. For example, the club I support, SKA Saint-Petersburg, plays Dynamo Moscow, a legitimate rival, and, for some reason, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, which isn't really that important of a matchup for us (I guess the two of us are the strongest teams outside of Moscow in the West Conference). Yet out biggest rivalry, the Army Derby against CSKA Moscow isn't featured, to make way for CSKA's Moscow Derbies against Dynamo and Spartak.

[@tacsium]

this rivalry is more than what you explained it to be. they are located in the same province as each other, about 4 hours from one and other. the games are called "battle of Alberta". its been a rivalry since before i was even born and im 27

[@alyssinwilliams4570]

Erm.. the only time a Flames/Oilers game starts at 8pm mountain time is on saturdays. Most games by either team start at 7pm mountain when at home

[@carlsoto1747]

Unless its the playoffs, then they get the late slot and start at 8pm

[@JYD2020]

Any time the original 6 teams meet, you know its going to be a banger game and if its a playoff series... Incredible

[@keeeet_]

The quality of goaltending on each team has increased significantly in the past year.

[@steamer1112]

Way back in the "dark ages" of the 1970's, I had seasons tickets for the New Westminster Bruins Junior hockey team for 4 years from 1975 to 1978. During that run the Bruins won the league championships 4 straight years then went on to the Memorial Cup finals 4 straight years, losing the first 2 years but winning the next 2. We saw hundreds of 1 on 1 fights, dozens of line brawls and at least 5 full scale brawls with eveyone on the ice fighting instead of the usual brawls where there are a few fights and the rest of them hanging on and pushing and shoving. The "Billings Brawl" as I call it, was the most violent brawl I ever saw. The Bruins were a very tough team, their main goon was a fellow named Boris Fistric, whom we all called "Bobo" and Billings had a player named Brent Gogol who was extremely violent. In 77-78 Gogol had 465 minutes of penalties, while Fistric was slacking off having "only" 414 minutes. At one point during a bench clearing brawl, I saw that Fistric was kneeling on the ice with Gogol's head between his knees and was merrily bonking his head on the ice. Back in those days, it was insane how violent the games were. I remember getting to the arena before the game even started and hearing the crowd cheering because of the "pre-game" brawl that we missed.

[@lunardestruction]

wow a comment about a fight!!!

[@andrewpeterson3302]

Don't get me wrong, fighting is necessary , and the players need to fight for each other. But we ultimately want to see hockey played at it's highest level. The days of "brawls" are over and the sport is better for it. I still believe the spirit and hard ass attitude is alive and strong. Every team needs an enforcer or two that's going to pick a fight when the skill player gets done dirty. It would suck seeing all the star players in the NHL get hurt while fighting. But it's amazing that I get to show my sons that this is how you back up your buddy's, this is how you show people not to fuck with you and your boys. I think we are getting the best of both worlds.

[@cranehook4715]

I doubt there's any footage but the best rivalry I've witnessed is in the juniors, WHL. Prince George vs Kamloops in the late 90's to mid 2000's. A big hit, a taunt, a simple ice shower to the goalie, it'd be an instant line brawl. And not a single one was chucking just to be a part of it, it was old school rock em sock em, trying to end the opponents night. Then you add in a packed house that's riled up before the game starts, how I miss those days.

[@mdurham2137]

I’m completely distracted by the Oilers pants in that first clip. I guess it’s some kind of a throwback uniform but those are awful. Second, I’m a Detroiter who witnessed the entirety of the Red Wings and Avalanche rivalry up close and it was a blood feud. You think you’re over it and then they played an Alumni game prior to one of the outdoor games sometime in the last 10 years and Adam Foote was whining (or maybe just talking) about ending up with stitches at some point. I pretty much involuntarily yelled at my TV, “I’m sure Kris Draper and his rearranged face are really sorry about your stitches!”

[@giantfactory]

Those pants are great, a throwback to the shorts that were made out of duck canvas.

[@_Angry_Potato_]

They were for the heritage classic, but the oilers (and flames) are wearing them for every boa this season

[@mattyoung6474]

Salty detroit fan mad about something from 10 years ago go cheer your team on before they miss playoffs again

[@cheechdubinsky6709]

'50's Mercury Olympic Team

[@Nickh4929]

Yea my dad hated those pant shells and he isn't an oilers fan. They look super dumb

[@picklenik9658]

The goalie fight is still my favourite fight in Oilers history. Smith also smoked Talbot

[@lunardestruction]

WOW A COMMENT ABOUT A FIGHT!!!!!!!

[@troybaier5460]

Smith has some boxing experience

[@stuartzoo]

ESPN has always taken a steaming dump on hockey. They would rather run 12 hours of programming on football and betting and keep hockey buried in a subscription service.

[@shanewalton8888]

Back in the 80s the Oilers/FLames rivalry was so intense, even Sylvester Stallone came to the games.

[@king_fitz9931]

The 2010s Pens Caps rivalry was other worldly. They met 4 times in the second round, went 6 or 7 every time, and the winner of that series went on to win the Stanley Cup. In 2009, 2016, and 2017, the penguins beat the capitals on the way to winning the Cup, and in 2018, the Caps went through the Pens to win their first cup. Even going back to the 90s, each one of Pittsburgh's Stanley Cup championships went through Washington. Sid and Geno always up against Ovi and the Caps was must see TV every time. Truly a legendary rivalry.

[@rickseiden1]

Am I the only one who sees that play and thinks Draisaitl didn't take out the goalie, but was pushed into the goalie?

[@AI-Bundy]

Nope. He was pushed

[@rodhenson7657]

You vote liberal, right.

[@diegobordones2106]

@@rodhenson7657Oh my God, there’s always a doofus who makes everything about politics

[@equa4803]

i was thinking the same thing

[@runa_7022]

@@rodhenson7657 ur obsessedddd

[@Barkebain]

0:45 - "...questionable hit on McDavid..." - um, that was a not so subtle hold by McDavid, and Kadri extricated himself from the hold.

[@ben10nnery]

I was at that game when Tkachuk hit Kassian. That atmosphere was insane. So much fun

[@theo.ap22]

Congrats on the 100 k🎉

[@Troyjanwarrior1]

Dana white is on record saying nhl doesnt market their game as well as they could.You touched on a great point.

[@roneified4405]

Ahh the goldeneye watch pause music - what a sublime piece of music

[@LordBitememan]

I've been making the argument for years now the the NHL should realign into a four conference format with two divisions per conference. The brilliance of it is it would allow you to schedule 6 total games against your divisional opponents, fostering rivalries, 4 against non-division conference opponents, and a home and away against the other conferences. It adds up to 82 games and you can start rebuilding those intense rivalries. Heck, if you rebuild those pandemic divisions as conferences you can even restore some old rivalries like Wings-Blackhawks without forcing Eastern Timezone teams to constantly schlep out to the west coast.

[@chizorama]

Bring back the Adams/Patrick/Norris/Smyth divisions, that would be dope.

[@reallychillgoose]

Happy to see you talk about viewing restrictions. Most of us here in Jersey that live in the south/shore areas have to pirate streams of the game because Xfinity/Comcast have a contract dispute with MSG. Which means no Rangers, Devils, or Flyers. They are also the only cable provider in the area, We had optimum until we moved and it was great but its killing ratings for sure.

[@markkeller9378]

Fights are a part of the game. Diminishing them means the sport is dying. Bring back those passionate games, every single game!

[@SpooksDinat]

I mean if we're talking about rivalries overall, I'd say Les Canadiens and Bruins rivalry was down right burtal back in the day

[@john_michaelz1823]

So far in 2024, 234 fights in 984 games. 23%. Matt Rempe saw this stat coming into the league and decided to do something about it lol.

[@deanstevenson1649]

is that N64 Goldeneye Music !?!?!??!?!?!! thumbs up for ETERNITY if it is

[@jmarx3943]

It is

[@canvet]

Habs vs Nordiques, most headed rivalry ever.

[@cheechdubinsky6709]

Nah #2, didn't last long enough

[@jeanjacques9365]

​@@cheechdubinsky6709but you have to understand it ran so much deeper than juat hockey that it was the most heated rivalry and it didn't last long enough because the team got moved not because it ever got less heated which you cant say about any other rivalry.

[@flasklion]

0:45 what is the song you used for this

[@ThEMarD]

I'm an Oilers fan, so the Battle of Alberta is super important to me. The one we had a few nights ago? Fantastic. That was some good hockey! Without McDavid the Oilers were still able to shine, so that shows some good depth in the team. The Flames did make a comeback but luckily we were able to hang on for the lead. You could hear in the crowd though lots of cheering no matter which team scored, so even though it was the Saddledome in Calgary? There was definitely a lot of Oilers in the house 👍

[@OwenTalkslotsofhockey]

Congrats on 100k!

[@ConReese]

The fact that not a single team in the entire league hasnt had a jersey style in plaid with jean pants is absolutely beyond me

[@dixonhill1108]

I'm calling out nashville on that.

[@chizorama]

One of the best rivalries used to be Flyers/Devils featuring Lindros vs Stevens, but they weren't the only ones going at it. Maybe not Wings/Aves brutal, but damn close. Didn't mention the best historic rivalry between Boston & Montreal.

[@jeanjacques9365]

Québec Montréal was even more historic because it ran deeper than just hockey (a lot of Québec's fans turned to bwcome Boston fans to keep hating the habs after the team was moved)

[@Gmanxxx1214]

Bruins and Canadiens used to have a great rivalry but now Montreal's biggest rival is themselves.

[@Iccube-xz5cc]

As a Flames fan I think the BOA is the best rivalry in all of sports, really wish it happened more than 3/4 times a year though.

[@mattnoone7385]

I personally think its bruins habs. Too much history

[@matthewmiller6987]

Could you imagine how good a 6-8 game regular season series of the BOA would be

[@AbolishedEmu]

​@mattnoone7385 history maybe. But competitive intensity BOA takes it.

[@antichristian74]

calgary had nick fotiu, who was a boxer before getting into hockey, and tim hunter. edmonton had marty mcsorley and dave semenko. they were all there to fight each other basically, lol.

[@runa_7022]

i worked that night, it was so hard saying "have a good night!" to the fans 😭😭😭😭😭 had to break up so many fights too- especially after janmark fired everyone up😭😭😭 rivalries are both amazing and painful as hell

[@Nathan_Whaley-g8m]

Is that a remixed 007 golden eye song I'm hearing the background?

[@christophermerlot3366]

No matter where they are in the standings, Toronto vs Montreal is always going to be fun.

[@coltoncarson_UKR-RUS]

Pens-Rangers or Caps, Philly has kind of been renewed as of recently.

[@adampastor210]

I also think in terms of the change in fighting, it's important to consider the roster overhauls and changes during the pandemic season. Teams lost many players to the COVID protocol for extended periods of time, resulting in rosters becoming very thin and teams having to recall minor league players whose roles were usually either grinders or enforcers. Look at the rosters of Chicago, Nashville, Florida, Minnesota, and Vancouver that year vs their rosters the year prior, and I think you'll see what I mean. These roster changes could have allowed physicality and fighting to become a more prevalent factor in the game as other teams did the same.

[@DAMNDANNY88]

Day 1 of asking for a vid on rookies in the cup finals. (Example: Caufields amazing performance, Braden pachal etched in, etc)

[@sincerewyd2285]

The NHL signed a whole new contract with TNT sports for the next NHL seasons coming forth. So the league will see more viewers than ever before..

[@carlsoto1747]

Start the BoA playoff games at 5pm eastern? You do realize that mountain time is 2hrs ahead and games would start at 3pm when everyone is working or at school

[@ryans3795]

Carolina is not a very physical team most games, but against their rivals the panthers, they were very physical. The only reason we didn't see more fighting was likely the want to be ahead on the scoreboard first, where the game only had its first goal in under a minute remaining in the third.

[@IusedtohaveausernameIliked]

The amazing chaotic game of NHL refereeing.

[@Lionlover666]

Damn. Even at 38. Corey Perry is still starting fights. Love that man. I still think he deserves to retire a duck

[@topsu9998]

Great vid rob!! Keep up the grind you have come so far whit this channel you are an inspiration🔥

[@colesandulak9847]

i feel like adding about an extra 8 games a season you could easily play each team in your own div 1 extra time each that could make it way more interesting and if they really wannted to make it 9 so that the biggest rivals get 1 more game over everyone else

[@Panman9698]

You are so right, sigh, as long as Bettman still in charge, it's just going to be darkness for true hockey fans

[@sean-e-boy]

i grew up on hockey, but in my teens got more and more interested into the worlds game football (soccer as we call it here in canada, USA, Australia and few other places) and the rivalries in football are way more fierce than in any sort of North American sports league rivalry. People die representing their clubs. Celtic and Rangers in Scotland isn't just about football or the clubs its about Irish and Scottish Catholics ( celtic) and British loyalist protestants (rangers) and people literally get into huge brawls and pitch invasions hurting players, stabbing fans, firing off flares at each other. In turkey you have clubs like fenerbache and galatasary same situation. if you go into the wrong neighborhood wearing the wrong colours you'll be robbed, beaten, stabbed, killed, humiliated, or interrogated. Even for tourists imagine going to Spain and you wear a Real Madrid shirt in Barcelona, some of the locals could take that the wrong way and even though they may know your a tourist theyll literally rip the shirt off your back and burn it in front of you and you may or may not get beat. International football can be just as bad. England fans are known for their hooliganism culture, and after losing the EURO 2021 finals against Italy the fans destroyed their own national team football ground, wembley stadium. Not just that but fans were attacking Italy fans and it even went as far as targeting Black people due to the fact 3 black players on England missed penalties in the shootout.

[@shawnwharry952]

My proposed NHL schedule: 5 games vs. your 7 divisional opponents (35 games). 2 games each against everyone else (48 games). for an 83 game schedule. No wild card, top 4 in each division make the playoffs for an 80's style playoff bracket.

[@MovieLife_YT]

Winnipeg vs Minnesota isn’t a crazy rivalry (compared to Edmonton and Calgary), but is one of the most entertaining rivalry to watch in my opinion.

[@StarSlayer02]

9:12 dude trust me I wish that too but at the same time if that were the case altitude would he more of a hog about avalanche games and especially games vs Detroit

[@IRONgamer0154]

Make a video about the B's vs. Habs rivalry

[@stevepuglia8299]

love the 007 music!

[@SeanofAllTrades]

Fav personal rivalry was Devils v Rangers in the 90s.

[@shanegrogan6834]

East coast be damned, I'd like to be able to get to the games on time after work, and that's only possible if they start after 7 Pacific

[@sst6601]

0:57 shows a goal and then says "this pissed off MaDavid" while showing a clip from a completely different game🤣1:00

[@entheogenocide]

God dammit I wish the penguins would get someone who can fight. It makes the game so much more exciting.

[@DBCNF]

0:55 me and my friend called that shot by Kadri a cheap shot

[@dancharles4890]

So glad to have had an on the glass to the Avalanche-Dead Wings rivalry. It was epic.

[@Lanwarder]

I don't know if it's the case for all teams, but as a Montreal Canadiens fan, I have the feeling that the calendar makes zero sense and isn't encouraging rivalries. Maybe it seems worse than it actually is because we are rebuilding and games aren't as significant as they could be, but it really feels as if there's something wrong with the calendar.

[@trapjohnson]

Man... why's Fanatics gotta guarantee that the Battle of Alberta Unis will not be back for a long time?

[@burgers_88]

Congrats on the 100k subs!

[@Kyle-jk3xj]

Hockey really is a manly sport

[@Orangeboyhd]

As a Washington fan it has to be Pittsburgh, sadly as both of us get worse and Ovi and Crosby get older it has died down, I wonder who the new rivals will be once Ovi goes and we enter into a rebuild (Maybe Columbus or Philly?)

[@rawnchydeard4669]

I live in Denver and can’t watch the Avs because Kroenke won’t play nice with TV providers. I’d watch every single game if I could, but I pretty much have to wait for them to be on a national broadcast or the second round of the playoffs to watch. A team that won a Cup 2 years ago and is a contender with a Norris and Hart Tropy finalist won’t even put the games on in their own market and blacks them out on ESPN + It’s lunacy.

[@Troyjanwarrior1]

Having to deal with a turtle boy? Seems like there are bigger challenges out there.

[@Crimsn519]

they should do a season where east teams only play east teams and west plays west. for 82 games and playoffs til the final playoff match to see best east and west.

[@Bolansss]

I would hate to be a ref for a rivalry game

[@JeffreyFournier]

This right here

[@ryansteenhard101]

I'm a Vegas fan rivals with the sharks but that has become a less competitive rivalry

[@Snezit]

I don't think there is a greater team rivalry than Pittsburgh and Philadelphia for Metro

[@DBCNF]

those who watched this game live: | | v

[@lennyshow5146]

montreal boston 2008-2016 is the greatest rivalry ever registered

[@matthewsecord7641]

Now rivalries are what makes hockey special. Listen, NBA players are athletes and absolutely can kick your ASS, but take any NBA player and put them in a fist fight with an NHL player. NBA guy might win the fight, they are beasts, but the NHL guy is the athlete that wants to go again 5 minutes later, and the NBA guy will not be happy win or lose to ever want to do it again, because they are going to get hurt bad. NHL athletes are a different breed.

[@tarunramanathan9340]

Yo congrats on 100k subs

[@JoeBlow-wx7ug]

The channels MSG1 and MSG 2 have blackouts on Rangers home games more times than not.

[@DAMNDANNY88]

100K 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

[@mad-bloodypearls]

GG on 100k

[@DonMontreal]

Nice vidéo. Make me think of Montréal vs Québec,,, Bring back the Nordiques!! Go Habs Go!

[@ReTuRneD1]

looks like a normal hockey game

[@stephenkayes8981]

Buffalo Toronto is always entertaining.

[@nvck-]

Idk about anyone else but I can clearly see Kylington shove draisaitl from behind as he’s making his drive to the top of the crease so.. definitely not questionable.

[@ROKgod510]

Btw, dont be fooled by the graph. On the y axis it starts at 10%. Nice video tho

[@dsc4178]

Blackouts drive away fans, which is why fooyball has no blackouts. Push the games. Make all accessible.

[@BramStoked-uq4hp]

Haha. Today’s basketball is like soccer. Soft. Best NHL team ever was the Flyer cup teams. Best scorers. Best fighters. Best nicknames. Best fans. Best Stanley Cup parade. Unbelievably entertaining. There’s nothing like the momentum change after a good fight. The best power forwards do this. They intimidate other players.

[@joestrunk9663]

I like the late game .i live on the east coast so i can watch a game here and tune in to the west coast later. I did watch this game but have been skipping the battle of Alberta because it's all the refs protecting Mcdavid and looking away as oilers do whatever they want. there is no battle the game is decided before it started. Someone actually threw a heavy clean hit on Conner and there was no call . could not believe it. Blue jackets are my team but Edmonton is my most despised team

[@alisonabell7257]

Avs and Vancouver best Rivalry ever because the avalanche was based in Canada

[@natedicksonmedia]

Vancouver has a better rivalry with Chicago or Boston IMO, the playoff drama in the early 10's was peak

[@Eugenevonfinglebottom]

Good video

[@sigep145]

Fighting will come back without diminishing skill. Guys who lack elite-level skill who are looking for a way to catch scout's attention will develop an edge to their game. (We won't see a return of guys putting up 4 points a season with over 200 PIM.) Any time there's a skill that falls out of favor, teams are going to notice & add it to their lineup to give them something other teams don't have. Once the league catches notice, the rest of the teams follow suit. It's all cyclical.

[@Combatant5]

The NHL has the same problem that the MLB has: bad blackouts and bad TV rights agreements. Take the Kansas City Royals (my team); I can't watch any of the games unless they play a nationally televised team like the Phillies. The NHL is even worse with there not being a nationally televised game that isn't paywalled, or locked to streaming platforms that aren't worth the price of admission. At least the MLB has their own streaming service that lets you watch *ALL* of the games. Both sports viewership figures are in decline, and it's no wonder why.

[@VexOW1]

American rivalries will never make the world realise anything.

[@shawnwharry952]

Draisaitl was so obviously pushed into Vladar. If the NHL was serious about protecting goalies they would call a penalty on the defender who pushed him into the goalie.

[@joeshmow1583]

Exactly when they showed the opposite angle Kylington had his stick against dri's lower back and last second when dri tries to turn he gives him a little shove. At those speeds there was nothing he could do. Dmen need to stop shoving guys into their goalies hoping for a penalty at the risk of injuring your goalie.

[@shawnwharry952]

I can't believe it took me a month to notice that i finally found someone who agrees with me!@@joeshmow1583

[@OilMax]

I love the Oilers, sometimes it’s tough, (decade of darkness) but i’ll never quit on them. Sending the fLames packing in their own barn in game 5 was the best Oilers moment in my lifetime at least! Hopefully a cup comes soon!

[@stormcloudfilms]

I’m convinced the NHL has no clue how to schedule games

[@snake9549]

Mcdavid and every star player is getting older and Nhl still isnt using them properly

[@philip1065]

Still mind blowing there wasn’t a penalty on draisaitl for hitting Vladar in the head

[@maqywhaq]

NHL's booking teams are not very good at growing the game... Look at the outdoor classics too... Sure, a US market game works better for trying to grow their market share, but don't just throw 2 teams together with no history/rivalry... They tend to just miss so many opportunities and focus on inconsistent targets/protecting officials/executives rather than actually looking at making the product better.