Detroit Red Wings-Colorado Avalanche 'Unrivaled' ESPN documentary sets Twitter ablaze
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The Detroit Red Wings-Colorado Avalanche rivalry took center stage Sunday afternoon, hours before the Avalanche played for the Stanley Cup in Game 6 at Tampa Bay.
ESPN's E60 "Unrivaled" documentary dug deep into the legendary feud of the late 1990s-early 2000s, and it lived up to the hype for people following along on social media.
The show centered on Claude Lemieux, Darren McCarty — who have become friends — the hit on Kris Draper and the legendary Fight Night at The Joe on March 26, 1997, 25 years ago.
The Wings and Avs met five times in seven postseasons from 1996-2002, with the Wings advancing in 1997 and 2002, and the Avalanche winning in 1996, 1999 and 2000. Detroit won the Cup three times during that span (1997-98, 2002), and Colorado won twice (1996, 2001).
Here's a snippet of the reaction from Twitter:
More: Fight Night at The Joe: 'Darren McCarty will never pay for a meal in this town again'
More: Ref from Wings-Avs brawl reveals why Darren McCarty stayed in game: 'Paybacks are a bitch'
Watching E60 on ESPN. They are show UNRIVALED and its about the Colorado Avalanche vs Detroit Red Wings in 1996. This is the hockey I loved watching the hate between these 2 teams during this time was unmatched in sports.
— Nathan Mccullum Private in Stutsmans Army (@nathan_mccullum) June 26, 2022
This is bringing back so many memories. God what a time to be a Red Wings fan.
— Justin Eppenbrock (@jeppenbrock) June 26, 2022
15 mins into #Unrivaled and I have chills that just won’t stop. A time in hockey that was must watch TV and brings me back years in which I would stop my world to watch #AVs and #RedWings , although I had no skin in the games as a #NYR Fan!
— bobbleheadTrey (@bobbleheadTrey) June 26, 2022
That Red Wings/Avalanche rivalry was more violent than my kid self remembered it being at the time. https://t.co/zAsSm0E8b6
— Bryan Garcia (@BryanUF) June 26, 2022
The best seven year rivalry of all time #RedWings #Avs
— Dennis Fithian (@dennisfithian) June 26, 2022
People don’t remember this avs/red wings rivalry truly started with that dirty play of when their player smashed Foote’s face into the glass. 20 damn stitches he had to get
— Megan (@spicymegs303) June 26, 2022
My God. I forgot how much I HATED most of these Red Wings.
Even as a 10-12 year old. Pure hatred. #Unrivaled— Mark Caswell, Jr. (@MarkCaswellJr) June 26, 2022
Watching this Unrivaled special is making my blood boil just seeing the Red Wings! My parents were at Game 6 of the 96 Western Conference Finals which sparked the #Avs-#RedWings rivalry. Gotta love sports. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qNxcCybxMl
— AROD - Anthony Rodriguez (@AnthonyRod33) June 26, 2022
"He turned toward the boards."
"He put his head down."
"He turned toward the puck."
Those were the excuses. Among others.— George Malik (@georgemalik) June 26, 2022
Red Wings’ trainer John Wharton breaking down Kris Draper’s injuries from the Claude Lemieux hit is nothing short of horrifying pic.twitter.com/m6H2u5dWwl
— Barstool Detroit (@BSMotorCity) June 26, 2022
Sorry I will never cheer for the @Avalanche again after watching this @espn E60! #RedWings #NHL #SorryNotSorry
— Blake hoynacki (@SBHoynacki) June 26, 2022
This Unrivaled documentary on @espn is awesome!!! What a shit stirrer Claude Lemieux was. Kris Draper still hates him, this Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche rivalry was unmatched! #GoAvsGo #lgrw
— Alex Micheletti (@AlexMicheletti) June 26, 2022
Even with everything that happened, I do have to give love to Lemieux for discussing everything in front of Red Wings fans with McCarty! #Unrivaled
— Terrance Watts (@Terrance_Watts7) June 26, 2022
Wojo was right in his recital of the article.. even the fans were frustrated at the #RedWings for not having done anything to that point and they wanted blood.. and there was the recurring narrative of them being soft.
It was put up or shut up time. #Unrivaled— Inkog (@Inkog1) June 26, 2022
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings-Avalanche ESPN documentary sets Twitter ablaze
