Are the Bruins now the Leafs biggest rival?

[Maestro84]

Eh I guess so... to me, bad blood creates the best rivalries. Other than Kadri doing the occasional dumb thing, there hasn’t been a lot of animosity. No real big scrums after whistles and after game 2, the physical play has completely died down. I don’t even hate the Boston fans, they’ve been great so far this series.

The NHL tries to create these rivalries by facing the same teams together over and over but for me, the best way to create a good rivalry is hate. Sometimes somebody crossing the line is the best thing for entertainment value. Best rivalries were in the 90’s and late 2000’s IMO. Especially Detroit Colorado.

The Patrick Division in the 90's were filled with bad blood. Pretty much every match-up besides NYI-NJD were heated rivalries where the teams and their fans flat out hated one another

 

[HockeyMomx2]

what are your babbling about? Boston's biggest rival is montreal and vice versa, not the rangers

Did we flashback to the 70s and the old divisions?

 

[Loosie]

3 7 games series in a span of 6 years? (With another one very likely next year?) yup.

 

[MarkusKetterer]

Let's put this another way too.

I want to take the 2004 Lightning banner and fire an arrow lit on fire at it and cook it, with the Calgary Flames logo on the feather-end.

I want to take the 2006 Hurricanes banner and douse it all in bitumen, straight from Alberta's Oil Patch.

I want to take the Ducks 2007 banner and cut a massive 'O' in it with a sword decorated in Senators colors.

And I want to take the Rangers 1994 and Booins 2011 banners and drown them both in a LOT of Vancouver's raw sewage.

That's where my mind is at regarding those 5 banners.

>=P

Groan. Bettman does not hate Canada. Otherwise, there would not be the return of the Jets. There are more American teams than Canadian teams, so statistically, American teams are going to win the Cup. I agree with you on Calgary because that was a Gelinas goal. Edmonton crapped the bed, as did Ottawa against Anaheim. Vancouver got outplayed in both of the Finals appearance, and their location had nothing to do with it because it's a big market.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

If the Bruins take out the Leafs in the first round in game 7 again... damn.

 

[RaginRonic]

Groan. Bettman does not hate Canada. Otherwise, there would not be the return of the Jets. There are more American teams than Canadian teams, so statistically, American teams are going to win the Cup. I agree with you on Calgary because that was a Gelinas goal. Edmonton crapped the bed, as did Ottawa against Anaheim. Vancouver got outplayed in both of the Finals appearance, and their location had nothing to do with it because it's a big market.

There are fans who have patience.

There are fans who have NO patience.

And then there's fans who've reached the end of their rope, waiting for Canada's Cup drought to die a very public death.

I was LONG past that point in 2011. Now?

This is a bit emblematic of how I'd glare at Bettman if I ever met him.

>=P

 

[NobleSix]

Considering the Habs had a poll where about 75% of the voters support Boston winning over Toronto I think that speaks about who Habs fans hate more.

And in Bruins GDT's you'll often come across posts about how they hate the Leafs more than the Habs now.

From a Leafs perspective, Boston could never come close to the Habs, but our rivals arent even in the post season (Ottawa and Buffalo, Montreal and even Detroit). Boston may be a rival but it's not like the players hate each other, and it doesnt exist outside of the post season... every one of those potential series with Ott, Mtl, Buf and Det would blow whatever we have going on with Boston right out of the water in entertainment value and animosity.

Most Canadiens' fans will agree that the Bruins are the Habs' biggest rival.

The main reason many of us want to see the Bruins win this series is because we think the Leaf fanbase and media is completely insufferable. At least if the Bruins win, we won't be hearing about it 24/7 in real life, on tv, and on the internet. When the Bruins won the cup in 2011 I didn't get trolled once that summer, and didn't hear one word about it unless I went looking. Can't say I could say the same if the Leafs ever won. That's not to say that there aren't any respectful and polite Leaf fans out there. There definitely are many.

For Habs fans wanting the Bruins to win, it generally breaks down to this: We hate the Bruins organization more than the Leafs organization, but we hate the general Toronto fanbase and media more than we hate the Bruins organization.

If it were possible, i'd prefer both the Leafs and the Bruins to be eliminated at once on Tuesday night. But since that isn't possible I'd personally rather see the Bruins win, as I see them as the lesser of two evils in this situation.

 

[BostonBob]

This is a bit emblematic of how I'd glare at Bettman if I ever met him.

With or without the eyeliner ????

 

[RaginRonic]

With or without the eyeliner ????

It says you're in Vancouver, B.C.

I'd figured that you'd be someone who would want to kick the Booins rear ends too.

You need to tap into that anger to give your focus back.

>=P

 

[Kimota]

It's really hard to find real rivals in this day and age where the NHL has changed, the hate and the dirty plays are far less present. It's so clean, even Marchand. Think about this, the last time the Habs played the Bruins in the playoffs, a player threaten to kill three other players while they were shaking hands. That is what the Leafs are up against if they want the Bruins to became their Top rival. You think this will ever get that far, esp. now?

 

[jetsforever]

I guess they're the biggest "right now" but that's more this specific Boston team
For the franchise as a whole, historical consideration is important and it's Montreal in that respect.

 

[JD1]

I like the (not so) new playoff format and the rivalries it builds.

I agree with the other poster stating that a Toronto win would be insufferable

Toronto and Boston are the two teams I truly dislike. the only teams I have actively cheered against in 50 years of hockey watching. i'd rather see Boston win and it's not even close.

 

[varano]

The league has gotten so soft now that I dont think rivalries are a thing anymore

 

[JianYang]

The habs will always be Boston’s biggest rival without a doubt but I’m starting to think the B’s are now becoming the Leafs ultimate rival instead of Montreal. They’ve now engaged in three really close, physical and hard fought series in the last 6 years, while the leafs and habs haven’t met in a playoff series for over 40 years now and are never good at the same time.

The last time the habs and leafs played in the playoffs was the late 70s. The playoffs are the most important peice to a rivalry, so this has been dormant for a long time.

Since Toronto came back into the east in the late 90s, I'm guessing Ottawa was the biggest rival for a while. Now I guess it's Boston.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Rivalries are dead, so no.

 

[boredmale]

We will have to wait till next season to see how many times Boston and Toronto play on Wednesday night on NBC Sports

 

[Harry22]

Most Canadiens' fans will agree that the Bruins are the Habs' biggest rival.

The main reason many of us want to see the Bruins win this series is because we think the Leaf fanbase and media is completely insufferable. At least if the Bruins win, we won't be hearing about it 24/7 in real life, on tv, and on the internet. When the Bruins won the cup in 2011 I didn't get trolled once that summer, and didn't hear one word about it unless I went looking. Can't say I could say the same if the Leafs ever won. That's not to say that there aren't any respectful and polite Leaf fans out there. There definitely are many.

For Habs fans wanting the Bruins to win, it generally breaks down to this: We hate the Bruins organization more than the Leafs organization, but we hate the general Toronto fanbase and media more than we hate the Bruins organization.

If it were possible, i'd prefer both the Leafs and the Bruins to be eliminated at once on Tuesday night. But since that isn't possible I'd personally rather see the Bruins win, as I see them as the lesser of two evils in this situation.

My sentiment exactly. Plus it's great to mention that the Leafs have not won a playoff series in 15 years. Hope Boston wins tomorrow but then I hope they get crushed by CBJ.

 

[Harry22]

To me to be a rivalry, the other team has to win at some point. Toronto needs to beat Boston at some point for it to become something. Boston beat the Habs in 2009 and 2011 and Habs beat Boston in 2004, 2008 and 2014.

 

[David Suzuki]

or not on the same level as the Leafs at the moment

Finished four points behind them. I'd say they're on a similar tier as bubble teams.

 

[BostonBob]

It says you're in Vancouver, B.C.

I'd figured that you'd be someone who would want to kick the Booins rear ends too.

You need to tap into that anger to give your focus back.

>=P

Oh boy - you've got the wrong guy here. Even though I grew up just outside Montreal I've been a lifelong Bruins fan thanks to a certain # 4 that used to wear the Black & Gold.

 

[Tuna Tatarrrrrr]

Oh boy - you've got the wrong guy here. Even though I grew up just outside Montreal I've been a lifelong Bruins fan thanks to a certain # 4 that used to wear the Black & Gold.

 

[Tuna Tatarrrrrr]

Finished four points behind them. I'd say they're on a similar tier as bubble teams.

Yep but the Leafs on paper are a better team especially on the offense but you're right, I seem to underrate our team a little bit because of the last season probably.

 

[A4T1L6]

I find the hate between Leafs-Habs-Bruins makes a good 3 way. I hate those other two teams, but I still respect what those franchises have done, along with my Leafs.

 

[David Suzuki]

Yep but the Leafs on paper are a better team especially on the offense but you're right, I seem to underrate our team a little bit because of the last season probably.

Yea I was mostly busting your balls lol. Toronto is better on paper, though their defense is still pretty bad and is holding them back along with their coach.

 

[jgatie]

Not necessarily. Habs vs Bruins is the most lopsided rivalry in the history of sport. We've been their boss for a century. They still called it a rivalry. Rivalry is just hate on ice, imo. But I guess in todays NHL it might mean playing each other a lot with a strong desire to beat the other team.

The 1980s called, they want their rivalry back.