NEW YORK—Hockey rivalries are like snowflakes or fingerprints—no two are exactly alike, each possessing unique qualities that distinguish them from others.
What has developed between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers in recent years is no exception.
Some rivalries have bad blood that has manifested naturally over the course of decades. Some are a product of location, a territorial battle for bragging rights between teams and fans that share state or provincial borders. Some are born out of one particularly intense playoff series that fuels animosity in the years that follow.
In today’s NHL, there isn’t one particular rivalry that rises above the rest, which is a product of it being a niche league. While the battle of Alberta may reign supreme in Calgary and Edmonton, fans there aren’t all that interested in what happens between Chicago and Detroit.
The folks at NBC and the NHL will have you believe every game between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins is a matter of national importance. Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Cros ...
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Article written by Dave Lozo