Rivalry edition: Avalanche VS Wild

The NHL season is winding down. It's getting close to playoff time and a few teams are going to be restructuring things over the off season. While we still do have time to think about those options, the most likely final meeting will occur between the Avalanche and the Wild.

I like Minnesota. I'm an Av's fan. I don't like Minnesota because they make smart decisions or because they have a good team. I like Minnesota because they are my Avalanches' rival.


Wait what? How the hell do you like your rival?

Let's back up to discover this. The Detroit vs Colorado rivalry was great because it involved two teams that overspent their earnings each year. During the mid 90's both Colorado and Detroit were always operating from the red while fielding some of the best rosters to ever play the game. Not only did Colorado and Detroit spend, they fought. For me, I'll never forget Chris Osgood and Patrick Roy. But I think most people will remember this rivalry for how it really started: Claude Lemieux. This rivalry was not just an administrative rivalry, it was also an on ice rivalry. You could bet that their would be at least 3 fights in every game. The scoring would be high and the losing team would be run out of town in the media.

Then things changed. The salary cap was slowly put into place. Now neither Colorado or Detroit were ownership rivals. They were both about making smart decisions to gain ground for a playoff spot. This is where Colorado lost. In doing so, Colorado because "just another team" to Detroit. After all, people almost forgot that Detroit is an original 6 team behind all the chaos going on between the two teams. But soon after the salary cap, people remembered. You can't wash away an original six team. It just can't be done. So once the Red Wings moved to the Eastern conference, that rivalry officially ended. It was a good one, but not one meant to last.

Minnesota vs Colorado, that's a whole different monster entirely. The Wild sit atop one of the best hockey hub's in the U.S. while Denver is one of the few teams between Minneapolis and the West Coast.

This doesn't mean much in the whole rivalry. What does mean something is their records against each other. They both have been moderates against each other for most of each others existence. Since the Wild's inception, most pundits put the Wild as an immediate rival of Chicago. The Blackhawks have the history and Minnesota has the players. But that didn't materialize into everything people thought it would be.

Then came the hit. Just like when Claude Lemiuex hit his Detroit counterpart, Matt Cooke took out Tyson Barrie. As an Avalanche fan I was pissed. The roll Colorado was on seemed to end that day. Minnesota won the series and nobody seemed to receive payment from the Avs. It almost seemed to be swept under the rug.

Then Minnesota beat the Avs in game 7 to advance. More salt in the wound. Ideally, Minnesota wouldn't and shouldn't think of Colorado as a rival. Rivals have the ability to beat each other. Lately that hasn't been the identifier of the Avs. They couldn't beat a rug if it was hung in their face.

However this rivalry is only starting. When I say that, I mean look at the two teams. The folks in the stands hate each other. If an Avalanche player somehow found himself in broken glass situation lying on a wild fans lap, it might be best for the Wild to pull that player out. Just to keep him safe.

It's also worth pointing out that the Wild fans are vicious. I've seen them dance to a losing avalanche team. I've seen them fight in the stands. It goes both ways.

So while this rivalry is only beginning to brew, it's time for the NHL execs to take their head out of their asses and realize that something is brewing in Denver. It's not weed. It's a rivalry.