Red Wings renewing rivalry with Boston Bruins
Facing off against a rival changes the dynamics of any sporting event.
In players, good sports rivalries infuse a motivation to succeed that goes well beyond a normal competitive drive. For fans, rivalries build a sense of comradery between themselves and the team they are loyal to, breeding a "we're all in this together" mentality.
The most legendary sports rivalries in history all featured an elevated level of competitive chemistry between the two teams involved. And in hockey, where physical expressions of such tension are not only permitted but encouraged at times, rivalries can often reach fever pitch much more quickly.
Two Atlantic Division rivals will meet again on Wednesday night in Joe Louis Arena, as the Red Wings play host to the Bruins on home ice. Due to a slight irregularity in the 2014-15 schedule, two of the Red Wings' first three regular-season matches are against Boston.
Current Red Wings fans are seeing the rebirth of a rivalry with the Bruins. As two of the Original Six NHL franchises, the teams are certainly not strangers to playing each other. But due to competing in different divisions for years, the two teams formed stronger rivalries with other division adversaries -- the Red Wings with the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Boston Bruins with the Montreal Canadiens.
That was until 2013, when the NHL underwent a realignment and reshuffled its teams from six divisions to four. The decision moved the Red Wings into the newly-reformed Atlantic Division -- the same division as the Bruins.
The shift meant that the two teams would face each other more often in divisional matches.
In 2013-14, the teams faced off four times in the regular season, with the Red Wings winning three. But despite regular-season success against their rival, Detroit would later fall to the Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in five games. It was the first time the teams had met in the playoffs in 57 years.
An early exit from the playoffs at the hands of the Bruins has the Red Wings seeking redemption this year. And because of the way the schedule has played out, they are getting plenty of chances early in the season.
The Red Wings met the Bruins twice in the preseason, with the Bruins winning the first game and the Red Wings winning the second in an exciting shootout. In their regular-season home opener, the Wings played host to the Bruins once again and pulled off a 2-1 victory.
This week's "Wednesday Night Rivalry" game will likely prove to be more fuel to the fire of the budding rivalry, as well as another early indicator of who will dominate the Atlantic Division this season.
According to DetroitHockey.net, the Red Wings are 268-259-95 (.507) against the Bruins, achieving a better record at home (.623) than when away (.393). In the playoffs, the Bruins have historically been stronger, achieving a 23-15 record when playing Detroit.
The Red Wings currently hold the edge in Stanley Cup wins by a wide margin with 11, while Boston has six.
The Red Wings-Bruins rivalry is reheating quickly and will no doubt be one of the more exciting Atlantic Division matchups to watch this season.
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