Big Z Man 1990
Registered User
These two teams have served as our primary rivals over the years.
During the Central Division era, Detroit was arguably a bigger rivalry, as we only usually played the Penguins once a year under the old schedule format.
But Detroit was mainly a rival from our perspective. Despite having the same markets as the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, the Red Wings then considered Chicago and St. Louis to be their primary rivals.
It showed on the ice too. Detroit dominated us during the times we were in the Central Division, including a 4-game sweep in the 2009 playoffs.
Then in 2011, the Thrashers became the Winnipeg Jets (and to me the true heir to the original Jets history, but that's another conversation), and when it came time to move us and the Red Wings to the Eastern Conference, the powers that be put us and the Red Wings in separate divisions for the first time. Detroit was more concerned about renewing rivalries with other Original 6 teams, and to keep us and Detroit together likely would have meant separating Pittsburgh and Philadelphia again - and neither wanted that.
It was at that point that we started sharing a division with the Penguins. In addition to other Ohio-Pittsburgh rivalries that have been crafted over the years, the main east-west highway through Columbus, I-70, serves the southern fringes of the Pittsburgh area.
While the Red Wings declined in prominence, Pittsburgh remained contenders and like Detroit during the Central Division days, the Penguins were more often than not on the winning end of games with us. We've even lost two playoff series to them, one in a year the Penguins won the Cup.
I consider Pittsburgh our primary rival now, but that's just me. I want to hear from you about who our bigger rival is between Detroit and Pittsburgh.
During the Central Division era, Detroit was arguably a bigger rivalry, as we only usually played the Penguins once a year under the old schedule format.
But Detroit was mainly a rival from our perspective. Despite having the same markets as the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry, the Red Wings then considered Chicago and St. Louis to be their primary rivals.
It showed on the ice too. Detroit dominated us during the times we were in the Central Division, including a 4-game sweep in the 2009 playoffs.
Then in 2011, the Thrashers became the Winnipeg Jets (and to me the true heir to the original Jets history, but that's another conversation), and when it came time to move us and the Red Wings to the Eastern Conference, the powers that be put us and the Red Wings in separate divisions for the first time. Detroit was more concerned about renewing rivalries with other Original 6 teams, and to keep us and Detroit together likely would have meant separating Pittsburgh and Philadelphia again - and neither wanted that.
It was at that point that we started sharing a division with the Penguins. In addition to other Ohio-Pittsburgh rivalries that have been crafted over the years, the main east-west highway through Columbus, I-70, serves the southern fringes of the Pittsburgh area.
While the Red Wings declined in prominence, Pittsburgh remained contenders and like Detroit during the Central Division days, the Penguins were more often than not on the winning end of games with us. We've even lost two playoff series to them, one in a year the Penguins won the Cup.
I consider Pittsburgh our primary rival now, but that's just me. I want to hear from you about who our bigger rival is between Detroit and Pittsburgh.