wingoilerfan

Who are your favorite Oiler rivals ... you know, the teams you just love to watch the Oilers play, regardless of how the final score ends up?

Here are 3 of mine, in no particular order ...

1. Dallas Stars. Although the Oilers and Stars are in different divisions, it doesn't take much for this rivalry to be rekindled ... especially since these teams are almost always destined to meet in the playoffs. :lol: The Stars, in recent years, have won the majority of regular season matchups and have eliminated the Oilers from the playoffs in all but one playoff season (1997), but these games are usually closely played right down to the wire. I usually expect a gritty, physical matchup if these teams meet in early or mid-March.

2. Calgary Flames. It's the Battle of Alberta! It doesn't really matter where either team is in the standings when these two teams meet ... the won-loss records can be thrown out the window in the Battle of Alberta. If one teams wins a lopsided victory, I can expect the other team to do the same in the next matchup, and I usually expect a lot of one-goal nailbiters ..

3. Vancouver Canucks. Oiler-Canuck games are usually on the abrasive side, with lots of penalties ... from what I've seen, anyway. The Canucks are an up-and-coming team ... one that the Oilers will have to start winning against more often because both teams will likely be competing for playoffs spots come mid-March (To me, March Madness means watching to see where my favorite hockey teams end up and who they'll have to beat to get there ). The Oilers haven't had much luck vs the Canucks lately, but we'll see when that will change ...

__________________
"If you're going to lose, lose with enthusiasm." -- former Edmonton Oilers coach Ron Low

Let's go Red Wings!
Long live the Oilers!

go_leafs_go02

Must agree with you there. Dallas is easily the Oilers biggest Rivalry, especially since they meet in the playoffs every single year.

Hope they meet again this year in the playoffs. Its pretty exciting to watch.

__________________

Ayirak

ya...agree....in my minds Vancouver isn't 3rd though...maybe 5th...but i think that it depends on were you live...like in minny they think Vancouver is such a big rival now because of the playoffs...and here in vancouver it's not that big...

__________________
http://www.fortminor.com

slapshot™

I love the Stars/Oiler playoff games. Hard-hitting, fast, tension-filled, crazy...'cept the Oil can't beat them. Damn Stars! :lol: They are an excellent series to watch, and when you watch other series they seem to be in slow motion compared to the Stars/Oiler series.

The Battle of Alberta just doesn't have the same intensity as it did in the '80's. They used to be fight-filled and crazy...but that was back in days of yore.

The 'Nucks and Oil can be entertaining games but I think the Vancouver/Colorado games are more of a rivaly than the Edmonton/Vancouver matchups.

hockeykid11

Same order as what you put. Dallas, Calgary, and Vancouver. Always fast paced with tons of emotional play.

That_Damn_Good

dallas and calgary.

gojetsgo

i don't care for the season match up of the stars, and oilers but when come playoff time, no match is better

scottthegame

Regular Season - Canucks. Last year, these teams played some very entertaining games. Nice rivalry going on here.

Playoffs - Stars. Without a doubt. The '02 playoffs just didn't seem right with these two teams on the outside.

__________________

gojetsgo

i was surprised that the stars didnt even make the playoffs that year

wayne s

I don't know that Edmonton/Vancouver is a big rivalry as far as Vancouver fans are concerned. They did play some very entertaining games last season though. In particular, the 4-3 Vancouver o.t. win that ended on a two man advantage after a very controversial goaltender interference call on Staios, and the 3-3 tie in Vancouver were two of the best games I watched last season. A playoff meeting between these two teams would build a huge rivalry very quickly, especially if the Oilers somehow won.

Edmonton/Dallas is a genuine rivalry. Despite always beating us the Dallas fans still hate Edmonton. Edmonton/Calgary is starting to heat up again. The Flames weren't close in the standings last year, and probably won't be again this year, but they always show up against Edmonton and quite frankly their regular season success against the Oilers the past 1 and 1/4 seasons is starting to get really annoying.