Fansided

5 best and bloodiest rivalries in the history of the NHL

By Mary Clarke

CALGARY, AB - FEBRUARY 1: Buddy Robinson #53 of the Calgary Flames fights Jujhar Khaira #16 of the Edmonton Oilers during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on February 1, 2020 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - FEBRUARY 1: Buddy Robinson #53 of the Calgary Flames fights Jujhar Khaira #16 of the Edmonton Oilers during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on February 1, 2020 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 15: Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers and Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins go toe-to-toe prior to fighting during the first period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on April 15, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 15: Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers and Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins go toe-to-toe prior to fighting during the first period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on April 15, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

2. Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

The brutal rivalry of the Battle of Pennsylvania is another proximity rivalry that has been continuously one of the best in hockey. Between two cross-state cities in Pennsylvania, the rivalry between the Penguins and Flyers is an amalgamation of the rivalry between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia itself.

The fact that the Flyers and Penguins have played each other in the playoffs four times in 10 seasons between 2008 and 2018 no doubt has helped the rivalry stay fresh in many minds. The 2012 playoff series between the two was one of the most entertaining and wild playoff series of all time, with the Flyers emerging victorious after playing through games with final scores of 8-5, 8-4, 10-3 and 5-1, with many brawls along the way.

Of course, the Penguins have gotten in their fair share of vengeance on the Flyers. The team singlehandedly turned around their 2009 series thanks to an iconic fight — and shush — between Maxime Talbot and Daniel Carcillo. After that series win, the Penguins won their first Stanley Cup since 1992 and then rattled off two others in 2016 and 2017 to hold championship glory over their state rivals.

Historically, Philadelphia leads the regular season and postseason series between the two, with a 178–114–30–11 all-time record favoring the Flyers. Philadelphia saw more success from the late 1980s to early 2000s, while Pittsburgh has dominated the matchup in more recent years.

Though the Flyers have been mediocre in recent seasons while the Penguins were winning their Stanley Cups, the tides seem to be changing to possibly seeing the teams on a more even ground for matchups in the future.

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