For some time, Penguin fans wanted to deny that there is a rivalry with the Columbus Blue Jackets. That time is now gone. Sorry elitist Pens fans, its a rivalry.
Hey, not all Pittsburgh fans are elitist. Some remember that their franchise needed to be saved by the NHL twice. But there are a some fans that don’t consider the Columbus Blue Jackets a rival.
Now the Jackets will never be what the Penguins have with their in-state foe and fellow 1967 expansion team, the Philadelphia Flyers. But what we have seen played out over the last three years has taken this regional skirmish to the next level. It is a full fledge rivalry that is destined to give us the best first round matchup this season. Pittsburgh vs Columbus. This seasons best series is about to blow up as one of the NHL’s best rivalries.
Regional Tensions
The tensions in the region go back to the dominate sport in the midwest; football. Invented in Ohio, the game has flourished in Western PA and in the Buckeye State. From dominate players calling this region home, to some of the best high school, college, and professional programs in the country, football is king here.
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The Steelers, arguably the best NFL franchise in history, have instilled a hatred of Pittsburgh in the blood of Ohioans. Both the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns have been tortured by the Steelers over the last 50 years. The beatings continue to come from the Black and Gold as both Ohio professional teams wallow in present day mediocrity.
The football rivalries continue at the collegiate level where both Penn State fans and University of Pittsburgh fans (especially Mark May) despise THE Ohio State University.
With the Buckeye State having a lack of professional hockey and the Pittsburgh Penguins being a dominate franchise in the 90’s, Ohio’s city and towns were populated with Pens fans. Especially those in the eastern portion of the state who were mostly Pittsburgh Steeler fans to begin with. So when the Columbus Blue Jackets came into the league at the turn of the century, much of Ohio already had Pens ties. But the casual hockey fans were primed to hate Pittsburgh. They loved booing the Steelers and were ready for a team that could beat back the City of Pittsburgh. After years of mediocrity, they finally have one in the Columbus Blue Jackets.
On Ice Conflicts
The 2013-2014 was the first season in which a real rivalry developed. Before that, the Columbus Blue Jackets had resided in the Western Conference. The CBJ and Pens had only played 14 times in 12 years before the shift into the East.
The Jackets lost all four regular season matchups with the Penguins that season. The downtrodden squad from Columbus would make the playoffs for the second time in franchise history that year though with a chance for revenge. The division winning Penguins would host the Jackets for a memorable first round series.
Heavily favored to get past the Jackets, the Pens were thrown everything they could handle. The series saw four consecutive 3-1 leads be blown for epic comeback victories. The Jackets losing the lead in games 1 and 3, and mounting comebacks that ended in overtime victories in games 2 and 4. Matt Calvert, Brandon Dubinsky, and of course Nick Foligno all provided heroic efforts in a valiant try at slaying the Pens.
The series was as physical, fast paced, and intense as any in recent memory. The tension on the ice has carried over into the seasons since that memorable series. Since the 2013-2014 season, the Jackets lead the series with a mark of 7-4-1. They also hold a slight goal advantage, 35-32 in that stretch. The play of both teams is always at a playoff level because there is no such thing as a meaningless game between rivals.
Brandon Dubinsky vs Sidney Crosby
The personal animosity between these two players has took this rivalry to a different level. Sidney Crosby is the best player in the world. He has Stanley Cups, Conn Smythes, Hart, Art Ross, Rocket Richards, Gold Medals and many many other awards stacked in a trophy room to the ceiling. Seemingly nothing ever bothers Crosby on the ice or can stop him from dominance.
Except for Bradon Dubinsky.
Ever since time he spent in New York, the Alaska native has owned Sidney Crosby. More than any other player in the NHL Dubinsky has Crosby’s number. Dubinsky just bothers Crosby unlike anyone else in the league. And this annoyance to Crosby has helped the Jackets own the Pens since 2014.
Dubinsky has hit, harassed, and fought Crosby more than anyone in the league. There have been occasions where Dubinsky has crossed the line certainly, but he is not alone in the cheap shots thrown between these two players. Crosby has made his fair shares of questionable plays on Dubinsky as well.
Since 2014, both Crosby and Dubinsky have played 10 games and been on the ice against each other on every occasion possible. Crosby only has two goals and 6 assist in that time span. Dubinsky, four goals and nine assist.
The animosity between these two characterizes the animosity between the entire teams. Even a casual sports fan can see that hate when these two teams get together. That mutual distain is at the heart of every rivalry.
Columbus vs Pittsburgh, First Round Series; Part 2
This series will undoubtedly be the best first round series of the playoffs. For my money, it might be the best series of the entire tournament. Playoff matchup part two will do nothing more but to add fuel to an already raging fire.
With no indication that either team is falling off anytime soon, expect there to be a lot more memorable games between these two teams. Get over yourself Pittsburgh, you’ve got some stiff competition right next door in Ohio, and we’re coming for the Cup. It’s a rivalry that will be one of the better ones in the NHL for years to come, whether Pittsburgh admits it or not.