Chicago Blackhawks and Saint Louis Blues: A 47 Year Rivalry

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CHICAGO – There’s no point in saying we’ve done this before, seen this before, or even… lived this before. The last time the Hawks came home to play the Blues, the United Center was as mad as it’s been since they took the sign down. The Hawks were down two games to none in the Western Conference Quarter finals and were in some serious need of the hometown love, support and atmosphere that only Chicago fans can provide. The roars throughout the anthem and the sheer anticipation of the entire situation was more than anyone could really handle – I don’t expect this evening to be anything different. This won’t be the first time this match-up has meant a little more to anyone and everyone than a simple regular season game. Tonight marks the second of five meetings this season between the solidified power houses in the Central Division of the Western Conference – if history was to ever prove itself – this Wednesday Night Rivalry shouldn’t disappoint.

”[Hawks] are the best team in the league and that’s clear through the first two months.” – Darryl Sutter

In the forty seven years that the Saint Louis Blues have been in the NHL with the Blackhawks, they’ve met for a total of three hundred and thirty six times – two hundred and eighty of which came in the regular season. Including the 1991 “Saint Patrick’s Day Massacre” which was donned its name after the two hundred and eighty seven penalty minutes assessed, and the most memorable of it all, the twelve ejections (six from each team) that occurred. Of those two hundred and eighty meetings in the regular season, the Blackhawks are a superior 135-103-42. But the real truth lies in the animosity that builds throughout game day in both cities and subsequently both locker rooms. There’s nothing regular about regular season games between the Hawks and the Blues. Ironically, the Blues have former Blackhawks owner James Norris to thank for their existence after he pushed through their expansion in 1966 before passing away. They entered the NHL officially in 1967 and of course, like any good business man, Norris’ family owned the Saint Louis Arena – where the Hawks future competition would call home. Even more amusing for the Blackhawk faithful and nauseating for Blues fans is their lack of hardware. In those forty seven years the Blues have accumulated only eight Division Championships and one President’s Trophy – all amounting to a total of ZERO Conference Championships and therefore, ZERO Stanley Cups. To make the Saint Louis Angst even more intense comes the hard to swallow fact – The Blues are the oldest club in the NHL to never won a Stanley Cup Championship. I’d sure trade all those Division Championships for even one shot at the Cup. But then again I’m not from Saint Louis, thank God, and the Hawks already possess the poorest regular season record for any Stanley Cup Champion to date – that was in 1938 when they went 11-25.

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When put in comparison to the Hawks Two Stanley Cups, three Conference Championships, two President’s Trophies, and fifteen Division titles (in the same amount of time) the Blues must feel like the Hawks awkward step brother – sent to live less than three hundred miles away, but close enough to still run home to mommy should they need to. Interestingly enough the Blues always seem to show up when they meet with Chicago, the same cannot be said for the Hawks – they seem to only show when they absolutely deem it necessary. Regardless, one thing that holds true for both these clubs is success, heart, determination and sheer dirty grit. When there’s only one winner in something, when just ONE bounce can change a team’s fate, any Stanley Cup Champion might not be the only exceptional or talented group in the league. If it were that way, let’s face it, it’d be more than boring – even for those playing for it.

Apr 27, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; St. Louis Blues goalie

Ryan Miller

(39) makes a save in front of Chicago Blackhawks center

Jonathan Toews

(19) during the third period in game six of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center. Chicago won 5-1 to take the series 4 games to 1. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Truth be told, this rivalry compares to that of the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings, even the Hawks and Red Wings – which for some has no comparison. To list the accomplishments for both these organizations specifically would be near endless – better I just sum it up. The two most compelling facts one might find even blew my mind slightly. Both the Chicago Blackhawks and Saint Louis Blues qualified for the post season for seventeen years straight from 1980 – 1997. Re-solidifying the caliber of these organizations, every divisional final for eleven years from 1982 – 1993 involved either the Hawks or the Blues. Including the 1993 Norris Semi-final in which the Blackhawks lost to the Blues on a late goal – a goal that Eddie Belfour was more than convinced he was interfered on. But the goal stood and the Blackhawks lost, leading our exuberant former goaltender to rearrange the visitors locker room to the tune of a few thousand dollars. Reports mention that amongst the replaced items were a coffee pot, television set and a hot tub. I’m sure Eddie was still just a little upset over the game and had some trouble expressing himself with his words – that can happen for athletes sometimes. I speak from experience.

Needless to say, there’s no love lost between these two highly talented and highly poised clubs. The first time these two met in October the game began with two penalties assessed to the Blues and the Hawks cashed in on the advantage and before even a minute was up, the Hawks had seemed to be putting their foot on the Blues throats. But with scoring threats like TJ Oshie, Jaden Schwartz, newly acquired Paul Stastny, David Backes and of course, up and coming Vkladamir Tarasenko in their forward corps – that lead didn’t last long. The blues returned the favor 12:15 into the first and added two more early in the second. The Hawks would score early in the third but it would be as close as they’d come as the play of Defensemen Jay Bouwmeester and Alex Pietrangelo continued to not disappoint for the Blues. It was a lovely game to watch, upsetting outcome, but enjoyable – tonight will be no different.

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As we know the Hawks always love a good spotlight to help persuade them to truly “show up” and with the entire national spotlight bright after their 5-1 Circus Trip, their three game win streak and Darryl Sutters, “[Hawks] are the best team in hockey right now” comment… this is as big a moment as any to continue sending messages throughout the NHL. Tonight’s playoff-esque regular season match-up will put these clubs on NBC for their weekly “Wednesday Night Rivalry” where I’d imagine the call will go to the great Doc Emmerich, Pierre McGuire (inside the glass) and our beloved Eddie Olczyk helping educate our young hockey players. It might as well be the playoffs. Continuing on the Blackhawks haven’t been on home ice in seventeen days and it’ll also be the first time the Blues have been in Chicago since they were bounced from the Western Conference Quarterfinal in Game 6 last year – expect the 122 decibel record for noise during the anthem to be shattered tonight.

The Blues are currently tied for 1^st in the Central Division with the Nashville Predators at thirty four points – three points ahead of the Hawks. The Hawks though got some help from the Carolina Hurricanes last night (beating Nashville 2-1) and now have the chance to make a six point swing should they manage to put the Blues away in Regulation. Should they do that, they’ll move to only one point behind both the Blues and Predators in the same amount of games.

I’m not one to predict a hockey game anymore, especially between the Blues and Hawks in this decade. But I am willing to predict a fantastic display of hockey like it used to be played – tough, up tempo and skilled. The nation will be watching and when that’s the case – both these teams seem unable to disappoint.

HAWKS V.S. BLUES 7pm CST on NBCSN

Follow me on Twitter @ZRaderstorf and the Hawks @Blackhawk_Up

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