NFT: E60: Unrivaled- Red Wings/Avalanche Rivalry

The intensity was insane. To me, it was like Bulls/Knicks in the 90's, except in this instance, both teams in this matchup won the Cup.

Did it really start with that one hit?

it was terrific. It seemed less brutal or shocking back then, but history has almost made it look even more brutal after all these years.

but the hit that really started it all happened about a week before the infamous Lemieux hit on Draper.

Slava Kozlov on Detroit side stepped a hit by Adam Foote, but in doing so, grabbed the back of Foote's head, and slammed it directly into the glass (definitely looked purposeful to me). Ton of blood everywhere, and he needed 20 stitches to close it. Lemieux retaliates with a sucker punch on Kozlov after that hit, which really sets everything in motion.

...wasn't there a quote from one of the players, along the lines "I can't believe I'm shaking hands with these guys".

In comment 15776682 djm said:

Quote:

it was terrific. It seemed less brutal or shocking back then, but history has almost made it look even more brutal after all these years.

Because the NHL has changed. No more goons, much less fighting. Something like Red Wings/Avs would never happen today.

in 7 games in 2001 is one of my most crushing sports defeats.

In comment 15776777 Greg from LI said:

Quote:

In comment 15776682 djm said: Quote: it was terrific. It seemed less brutal or shocking back then, but history has almost made it look even more brutal after all these years. Because the NHL has changed. No more goons, much less fighting. Something like Red Wings/Avs would never happen today.

yep no doubt