The 8 Best Rivalries in the NHL Right Now
The 8 Best Rivalries in the NHL Right Now0 of 8
Connor Bedard and Dylan Larkin.Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Let’s start with a little trivia: Did you know that the Blackhawks and the Red Wings have played each other in more regular-season games than any other two NHL franchises in league history?
The two biggest Midwestern cities used to be in the same NHL division. Although that came to an end ahead of the 2013-14 season, the bitter memories remain—as do the rivalry vibes.
There’s still something special about watching the Hawks and the Wings battle, even though it only happens twice per year.
As we prepare for their first matchup of the season Wednesday night, let’s take a look at some of the best active rivalries across the NHL right now.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings1 of 8
Alex Vlasic and Patrick Kane.Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
You know the Red Wings-Blackhawks rivalry is real because the games are still entertaining while neither team is particularly good at the moment.
The two teams have different rivalries of their own—the Red Wings vs. the Avalanche, and the Blackhawks vs. staying inside—but nothing hits like this one.
These Midwestern hub clubs have faced each other in more regular-season games than any other two teams in NHL history. And even though they play in different conferences now, all those heated years when both teams were on top of the league linger.
They’ve had parallel eras of success and eras of rebuild, and Patrick Kane switching sides has reignited a little something. We’ll see if he’s got some more magic up his sleeve Wednesday night.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers2 of 8
Sidney Crosby and Sean Couturier. Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images
The true mark of a rivalry is never knowing quite who is going to win.
The Flyers pummel the Penguins when Philly is bad and Pittsburgh is good, and the Penguins find revenge when the roles reverse.
This rivalry is the perfect combination of regional bragging rights, “hockey town” teams, drama and longevity. There are so many iconic moments, marquee events and wacky box scores to look back on.
The best part? It seems authentic beyond just fan interest. The players seem to genuinely hold disdain for one another.
You could argue the Capitals are the Penguins’ contemporary rivals where it actually counts. We’ve enjoyed tons of entertaining playoff series between the two throughout the 2000s, and Sidney Crosby and. Alex Ovechkin are the top two players of a generation.
When both retire, though, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh will still hate each other.
Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby vs. Father Time3 of 8
Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Speaking of Crosby and Ovechkin, we’re approaching two decades of watching these two tear up the NHL and they just keep going.
The year is 2024, Sidney Crosby is 37 and has six goals and 15 points in 14 games. He’s two goals away from a career 600.
Meanwhile, Alex Ovechkin is 39 with seven goals and 14 points in 11 games and on pace to smash Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record by the end of the season.
Somehow, these two were never named Stars of the Week simultaneously until this week. Ovechkin finished the week with a goal in a loss to the Hurricanes on Nov. 3, making him the first player to register a four-game goal streak at age 39 or older since Jaromir Jagr in 2013.
The Boston-Toronto-Montreal Hate Triangle 4 of 8
Brad Marchand and Auston Matthews.Brian Fluharty/Getty Images
So, if Boston’s rival is Montreal, and Montreal’s rival is Toronto, and Toronto’s rival is Boston, who’s flying the plane?
Three teams rarely find themselves in a situation where each of them could claim each other as main rivals for various reasons.
The Bruins-Canadiens is your classic Original Six rivalry. If you’re from Boston or Montreal, you grow up with a hatred in your heart for the other team regardless of either’s current status. If you grew up in Toronto, you want regional dominance over Montreal and one playoff win against the Bruins (which hasn’t happened since the 1950s).
The lopsided Leafs-Bruins rivalry is competitive regardless of results, which is why it always goes to seven games. You’re going to get drama, intensity and some overtime heroics.
We’ll just have to wait to see if the sadness on the Toronto end and the bragging rights on the Boston end are enough to surpass contemporary rivalry status and become more long-term.
It might take a Toronto playoff win, which looks more likely than ever after that 4-0 drubbing Tuesday night, if Boston even makes it in this year.
New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils5 of 8
Adam Fox and Jack Hughes.Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images
The Hudson River Rivalry is an OG that survived realignment and is now living to tell the tale. The 2023 series that the Devils won in seven games delivered in spades and reminded us how electric things can be when both teams are good.
It was the seventh time New York and New Jersey had met in the postseason, and perhaps the best thing about this rivalry is how even the play is and how back-and-forth the dominance is.
The Devils were pushed around a bit in the 1980s as the new team on the block, but the rivalry truly began when the Rangers won that iconic 1994 conference finals series en route to the Stanley Cup.
From 1995 to 2003, the Devils won three Cups and earned revenge on the Rangers along the way, while New York missed the playoffs for several seasons.
The rivalry cooled off in 2012 when the Devils embarked on a rebuild, but both teams have been back ever since that 2023 series.
With New Jersey appearing to bounce back this season, and the Rangers arguably better than ever, this postseason could be one for the ages.
The Buffalo Sabres vs. Success6 of 8
Lindy Ruff.Ben Ludeman/NHLI via Getty Images
The Buffalo Sabres have the longest active playoff series win drought at 17 seasons and also the longest active postseason appearance drought at 13 seasons, a league record.
It’s a good thing they are currently sitting at 5-7-1, second-last in the Atlantic Division.
At this point, you wonder if the budding youth movement has what it takes, and where to go from here if it doesn’t.
Nikita Kucherov vs. the Concept of Regression7 of 8
Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Regression comes for most NHL players after a particularly hot streak.
Whether a high shooting percentage comes back to earth, opponents figure out a unit’s power-play secrets or a stretch of luck runs out, things always slow down at some point.
However, Nikita Kucherov laughs in the face of regression.
The Tampa Bay Lightning winger scored 44 goals and 144 points in 81 games last season, so naturally, he’s started 2024-25 just as hot. He’s got 10 goals and 20 points in 12 games, on pace to eclipse last season’s goal total with a projected 68 goals.
The 31-year-old shoots a lot, scores a lot and is one of the few who can keep us all guessing.
Igor Shesterkin vs. Pressure8 of 8
Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images
Igor Shesterkin is the best player on a great Rangers team, and he doesn’t just handle the bright lights of Madison Square Garden: He thrives under them.
Rangers on MSG @RangersMSGNWho better to break down this amazing Igor Shesterkin save but Henrik?? It’s not always about technique… sometimes it’s all about hockey intelligence 🤔#NYR | @HLundqvist | @michellegingras pic.twitter.com/XBObBNZ7li
The heat was on as he entered the season after reportedly turning down a contract offer that would have made him the highest-paid goaltender in history. He decided to bet on himself even harder in this contract year, and it looks like it’ll pay off.
According to MoneyPuck.com, Shesterkin ranks second among all NHL goaltenders with 11.6 goals saved above expected. The Rangers are averaging the fewest goals per game (2.18) in the league as a whole, and the Russian has the second-highest save percentage among goaltenders with at least five starts (.933).
He’s been consistently elite throughout his career, but there’s something extra to be said about embracing the pressure and rising with it.
