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Hockey's Greatest Rivalries

Hockey's Greatest Rivalries

The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. The Hockey News themed issues include our wildly popular Yearbook, Future Watch, Draft Preview, Collector’s Edition, Money & Power, Fantasy Pool Guide and much more!

IN THIS ISSUE

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS VS. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

IT’S RIGHT OUT OF THE WILD, WILD West, this four-decade rivalry between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. So it was fitting when late Penguins coach Herb Brooks invoked legendary outlaw Jesse James during a playoff series in 2000. It happened after a late-game cheap shot, when Flyers defenseman Luke Richardson shot a puck from short range at Penguins defenseman Bob Boughner, who was wrestling with Keith Jones at center ice. The puck hit Boughner in the chest. Brooks didn’t mince words when asked about Richardson. “I’d go back in his family tree,” Brooks said. “Maybe he’s a direct descendant of the guy that shot Jesse James in the back. You know, the coward that shot Jesse James in the back. It must be in his family tree. There’s a code for tough…

IN THIS ISSUE

HAROLD BALLARD VS TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

THOUGH HIS NAME IS INFAMOUS IN Toronto, Harold Ballard is often referred to with bemusement by former employees, even those he mercilessly trashed to get headlines. Owner of the Maple Leafs from 1972 until his death in 1990, Ballard had first bought into the operation as a part-owner in 1962, along with Stafford Smythe and John Bassett Sr. But once Ballard and his idiosyncratic ways took hold full time, the Maple Leafs fell into a state of ruin until he passed away. Under his reign, the ‘Buds’ never won a division title, never appeared in the Stanley Cup final and rarely had any semblance of continuity. Ballard went through 11 coaching changes in 18 years, once firing the legendary Roger Neilson and then offering him his job back if he wore a paper…

IN THIS ISSUE

DRIVEN TO HATE

ALTHOUGH THE MONTREAL Canadiens are closer in proximity to the Senators, Ottawa’s biggest rivalry takes place within the provincial borders of Ontario – with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Since the NHL returned to Ottawa in 1992, the Sens have had more than enough nasty history with the Leafs, including losing to them in the playoffs four times in five years from 2000 to 2004; then-captain Daniel Alfredsson’s hit from behind on Toronto’s Darcy Tucker in 2002; and Alfredsson’s mocking of Mats Sundin throwing a stick into the crowd in 2004. The rivalry persists to this day and will continue to remain strong because (a) they’re divisional rivals who will play each other five times in 2014-15, (b) it’s an easy and relatively short drive along Ontario’s Highway 401 and (c) neither…

IN THIS ISSUE

MATT COOKE VS THE NHL

FOR YEARS, MATT COOKE HAD been considered a dirty, reckless player, but the reputation really took off March 7, 2010, on a hit that didn’t even earn Cooke one of his six career NHL suspensions. The Boston Bruins were attacking in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ zone when Milan Lucic dished off a pass to center Marc Savard, who attempted a quick shot. But Savard didn’t see Cooke, who swooped in from the blind spot and caught Savard with a direct hit to the head that would have serious ramifications for Savard and the league. It wasn’t the first dangerous, careless check thrown by Cooke, but this one was different. This one ended Savard’s career, but it didn’t lead to any on- or off-ice punishment because the legality of the hit was defensible…