NJDF Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 Why does ESPN keep trying to shove Aves v. Wings as the premiere rivalry in the NHL?? Has anyone seen any of these games lately. There is no fire/hate in this rivalry. This was always a Claude Lemeiux v. Red Wings rivaly...when Claude left the rivalry was dead; and it was obvious when you watched any game between them. However, ESPN, which needs a hockey game to either have 10+ goals or a bench clearing brawl to take any notice is STILL trying to sell this rivalry using clips that are mostly from two or three years ago. Best rivalries in the NHL, right now, are Islanders v. Leafs and NJ v. Leafs. GO DEVILS!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devilsrule33 Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 I even think the Devils-Leafs games are getting old. I think last year there were great games. Good old Wings vs Avs. McCarty would go after Lemieux and he would turtle and then the goalies come out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Sports Bureau Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 I saw the last game between these two and it was a good one. It was like playoff hockey. I don't appreciate the way ESPN shoves stuff down our throats, but I can't argue that it's a fun game to watch. Even for a fan who finds herself less interested than she was last year in what non-Devils are doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarbingerOfSorrow Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 Perhaps I will tune in to ESPN Thursday Night Hockey tonight. Yes, I think I shall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nieuwy25 Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 Thought you might. I think I shall, also. After all, it is hockey. And it's a chance to see & hear John Buccigross during intermissions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devilsrule33 Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 On Saturday its the rematch on ABC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek21 Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 It's a good rivalry but cmon! I agree with the few who have posted here. ESPN overkills everything. Nobody wants to see the same old teams. I am sick of it. I really hope hockey leaves them when the contract is up. Does anyone know when that is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueNJ97 Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 It's just not the same as in the Claude days. Then it was: Avs-Wings III, The Conflagration! Now it's just another game between two teams that don't like each other much, but aren't going to go out of their way to kill each other. I will tune in though. It's hockey and a chance to see Hull score his 700th on Patty Wahhhhh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammyk Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 I will tune in though. It's hockey and a chance to see Hull score his 700th on Patty Wahhhhh. If he does, he couldn't have picked a better goalie to do it against. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJayDevil Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 Agreed. Avs/Wings rival is pretty much dead. The Devs/Rags one is more intense than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insanity_gallops Posted February 6, 2003 Share Posted February 6, 2003 However, ESPN... is STILL trying to sell this rivalry using clips that are mostly from two or three years ago. Heh, I definitely noticed Mike Ricci on the Colorado bench during at least one of their promo shots... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 Heh, I definitely noticed Mike Ricci on the Colorado bench during at least one of their promo shots... yep, sitting next to Dale Hunter. The Avs/Wings rivalry is dead, just look at last nights 1-0 borefest with few high quality chances & major penalties. That's not a rivalry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJDF Posted February 7, 2003 Author Share Posted February 7, 2003 Don't get me wrong...these are still two good teams and always has a playoff feel to the game. But it isn't a hated rivalry as they insist. I think all avid hockey fans know this and don't need the game sold to them in that way to watch it; and the casual hockey fan or non-fan who may watch this game hoping for chippy play and fights will be very disappointed. How about the Florida/Pittsburgh rivalry???? Mario is such a goon!! GO DEVILS!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Sports Bureau Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 Yeah, it's not a hated rivalry anymore. But it's a game both teams REALLY want to win. Boy that was boring. Last month's game was much better. The photos of Cujo giving up the goal are hilarious. (And I am a fan of his.) He's airborne, like three feet off the ground and horizontal to it and the puck's down on the ice sliding by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJayDevil Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 Agree that rivalry is no longer heated but is the Flyers/Devs rivalry heated anymore? '7' said it was a 1-0 borefest. 4 of the last 5 games between the Devs and Flyers were 1-0. That still heated? I'm not sure if I wanna answer that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Sports Bureau Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 Haven't really seen anything in hockey lately that approaches what you seem to be looking for. That's OK by me. I appreciate a good fight, but I'm not biding my time when I'm watching waiting for him. But the passive fans love fights, so losing that kind of intensity probably isn't thrilling the league or the ratings guys. But all of these rivalries are still good games. I mean don't we all really get up when the Devs play the Flyers. Your heart kind of beats faster when the game starts and everything like that. So it's not bloody war out there, but there's still drama to be watched. For fans of the Wings and Avs, last night's game mighta been thrilling. For me, there was no emotional investment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJayDevil Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 Thanks ESB, you made me feel good about the rivalry again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilMinder Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 Just watch the Rangers over the next two months. As the playoffs come up they will be more desperate and guess who plays them three times? Should be interesting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJayDevil Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 Yeah I can't wait for the game on the 25th. Then the on March 15th on ABC, which I will be at. Mostly likely by then all the tiles from that graphic will be removed, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bg. Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 To have a big time rivalry (IMO) you need a few things. 1) Playoff Matchups 2) Great games 3) Emotion in the building 4) Hatred between the teams Right now the Ranger Devil has had good games, plenty of emotion (Holik personally responsible for that one) but the Rangers are not at an elite level, nor is there real hatred between the teams. If the Rangers could get the 8 seed, and Kasparatis plants an elbow to the head of Elias, we'd have a big time rivalry again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek21 Posted February 7, 2003 Share Posted February 7, 2003 Nice post bg. I echo your sentiments on what makes a great rivalry. Flyers-Devils doesn't have that nastiness anymore. I think NJay's comparison with Avs-Wings was right on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarbingerOfSorrow Posted February 8, 2003 Share Posted February 8, 2003 Perhaps there will be some nastiness in today's rematch. I think I'll tune in to ABC today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleton_devil Posted February 8, 2003 Share Posted February 8, 2003 Perhaps there will be some nastiness in today's rematch. Nah, there won't be any nastiness ... with too many key players out of the lineup and no coach behind the bench, the Avs are finished, right? :-) Speaking of coaches, how in the world did Tocchet talk LaCroix into picking up McAllister -- if this trend continues, the Avs are going look more like the mid-90's Blackhawks -- Cummings, Probert, Ciccone, Russell, etc....? The Avalanche, fair-weather faithful are clambering atop the bandwagon in droves ... why even you, HOS, have retrieved the old "One Goal/Team" placards from the mothballs ... thank God for Dallas & Vancouver -- they should make life in Colorado somewhat tolerable for me this Spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarbingerOfSorrow Posted February 8, 2003 Share Posted February 8, 2003 BOO-YAH!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJayDevil Posted February 8, 2003 Share Posted February 8, 2003 wow, don't really like Roy but those 3 saves in 2 seconds was quite nice. got a little lucky on that last save tho. that person had the whole net and the puck was rolling so the shot didn't have any velocity on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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