Ever since their arrival in Denver over a decade ago, the Colorado Avalanche have been a thorn in the sides of the Detroit Red Wings.
Their rivalry has been nothing short of a love-hate relationship ever since. But for some reason, the postseason is when this rivalry hits an all-time high…and in some cases, low.
On Thursday night, the fire that lay dormant for quite some time will return with a vengeance.
After dispatching the Minnesota Wild in five games, Colorado now draws the Wings in its cross-hairs. Ever since the return of Peter Forsberg, the Avs have torn through the rest of the Western Conference en route to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
But thanks to San Jose beating Calgary, the Avs didn’t get the Dallas Stars as originally thought.
Instead, they get to beat up on the team that has been dubbed as “The Oakland Raiders of the NHL” by the city of Denver.
In the previous five playoff meetings between these two, the Avs took three of those meetings from Detroit, but Detroit has returned to superiority this season. This makes many wonder if the Avalanche can pull another Mile High Miracle with the heavily-favored Red Wings.
I’m here to say that Colorado will do the impossible once again and defeat Detroit for the fourth time.
It is rather ironic that the original crew has reunited in Denver at the perfect time. The fire that consumed this rivalry was starting to simmer down to nothing more than something on a gas stove. Now times have changed, and this time around, the Avalanche are tougher and stronger than previous years.
To top it off, they thrive more on being the underdogs than the favorites. That’s how they won their two Stanley Cups: Their first one in their inaugural season in Denver against the well-favored Florida Panthers, and the second in 2001 against the “unstoppable” New Jersey Devils and Martin Brodeur.
This is the perfect series to prove that point to all the naysayers and critics of the Avalanche this season.
This series can go to seven games, but in the interest of fairness, and the auspicious sixth meeting of these rivals, I say that Colorado wins in six games.
Now isn’t that “six-sational?”
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3 months ago
Being a Red Wings fan -- I am VERY afraid of the Avs... Like you said, when Forsberg came back -- they tore it up -- almost looking like the team from the 90s... In fact Forsberg looks just as fast. With Sakic and Foote back -- it looks scary. The big question is can Theodore be what Roy was back in the 90s -- a stone wall. He may not need to -- I'm particularly concerned because at times the Wings seem so anemic. I think the real battle for this game will be between the Colorado and Detroit 3rd line. Datsyuk and Zetterberg will bring their A game -- cuz they will have realized that crushing the Avs in the regular season before the "facelift" means nothing now. If Foote and Salei turn it up tho -- I think the Avs may very well take the series in 6... But, I'm really hoping the Wings will take it FIVE. ;)
3 months ago
Being a Red Wings fan -- I am VERY afraid of the Avs... Like you said, when Forsberg came back -- they tore it up -- almost looking like the team from the 90s... In fact Forsberg looks just as fast. With Sakic and Foote back -- it looks scary. The big question is can Theodore be what Roy was back in the 90s -- a stone wall. He may not need to -- I'm particularly concerned because at times the Wings seem so anemic. I think the real battle for this game will be between the Colorado and Detroit 3rd line. Datsyuk and Zetterberg will bring their A game -- cuz they will have realized that crushing the Avs in the regular season before the "facelift" means nothing now. If Foote and Salei turn it up tho -- I think the Avs may very well take the series in 6... But, I'm really hoping the Wings will take it FIVE. ;)
3 months ago
Being a Red Wings fan -- I am VERY afraid of the Avs... Like you said, when Forsberg came back -- they tore it up -- almost looking like the team from the 90s... In fact Forsberg looks just as fast. With Sakic and Foote back -- it looks scary. The big question is can Theodore be what Roy was back in the 90s -- a stone wall. He may not need to -- I'm particularly concerned because at times the Wings seem so anemic. I think the real battle for this game will be between the Colorado and Detroit 3rd line. Datsyuk and Zetterberg will bring their A game -- cuz they will have realized that crushing the Avs in the regular season before the "facelift" means nothing now. If Foote and Salei turn it up tho -- I think the Avs may very well take the series in 6... But, I'm really hoping the Wings will take it FIVE. ;)
3 months ago
Ugh -- sorry for the repeats. My PC hung. Is there a way to remove commwnts?
3 months ago
I'm a huge Red Wings fan and I find it kinda hilarious that I just finished my first article here with pretty much the same theme and title. Except from the good guys side.
I do believe that the Av's have a chance at taking a game or two from the Wings but I do not believe they have what it takes to beat these Wings.
It's be physical and it will get ugly. (I hope) I think the Wings in 5.
But good article, well written and insightful considering your an Av's Fan. haha
3 months ago
I did notice that Nathan. On behalf of the other writers, welcome to the Bleacher Report, the real sports network. In any event, a few things you need to know.
1) I am not an Avs fan. I happen to be a Blues fan, but I love it when these two duke it out. It's always fun.
2) The Wings are dangerous, but as I said, Colorado loves to be the underdog.
3) Detroit has had a real issue with power play killing this season, and Colorado seems to get better with time.
In any event, I'm glad to see that you and I will have a lot to talk about over the next week or so. See you on the ice, chief. Look forward to some seriously good water cooler talk during this series.
3 months ago
I am a huge Avs fan bee since 1996. gosh miss the glory days of Roy, Blake, Sakic, Borgue, Kariya, etc. This is a huge rivarly, I am really looking forward to reliving Sakic vs Hull and Forsberg vs. Shanahan sorta memories. Sakic is a beast as usual but still the Wings should give us a run for our money. i say avs in 7
3 months ago
If you guys liked this article, feel free to buzz it up with yahoo! It's time to get the Bleacher where it belongs: In the mainstream
3 months ago
My heart is with the bruins. Sometimes thats a bad place for my heart to be and years back i had a stretch where all i rooted for was the Avs. Go Colorado!
3 months ago
The avalanche are not the same team anymore. They do not have what it takes to beat the number 1 seed in hockey. Redwings in 6.
3 months ago
Wings in 5. Theodore is known for choking in the clutch, which is why he's bounced around so much that past few seasons. I have no doubt in my mind that it will happen again. He looked ok against Minnesota, but definitely not good enough to thwart the wings constant 3, and sometimes 4, lines of talent. Also, Minnesota didn't have the dominant power forwards that the Wings do in Holmstrom and Franzen, who will be parked in from of Theodore all series long. The Avs are different that they were during the regular season, but I can't see their two new tools being able to shut down the Wings for an entire series.
3 months ago
I say Wings in 6. Osgood will be great in the net, whereas Theodore has never been great in the postseason. Ya ya I know he's the "comeback player of the year", but rewards/trophies are for regular season acolades (with exception to the Conn Smythe). Wings will pepper him with 35+ shots a night and they have home-ice advantage. Colorado has won some series against the Wings because of OT wins and Patrick Roy. In my opinion, Wings and Sharks will face-off in the Conference Finals.
Be sure to check out my Playoff Predictions for this round. I went 6/8 last round, should have been 7/8 but I was too shy to take the Flyers.
P.S. Note to Ron: The Avs defeated the Wild this year in 6 games. Wild won 2 games in OT.
3 months ago
I hope this series is like the Avs-Redwings series of the past. It seems to me that the rivalry is not there any more. We didn't see big fights between these two teams this year. The fights between goalie and goalie need to come back and this series needs to be physical. Avs in 6
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