I'll be at the game tonight

[Shakes]

If you could get a solid "Not Our Rival" chant going tonight it would make me very happy. Use this as an example:

Co-sign.

[PensFanInDC]

Hope it's not but it feels like a let down game; the struggling caps against a rival that is playing fantastic hockey.

[Azkar]

Hope it's not but it feels like a let down game; the struggling caps against a rival that is playing fantastic hockey.

Not our rivals

[Rocco]

Hope it's not but it feels like a let down game; the struggling caps against a rival that is playing fantastic hockey.

The Caps are playing Tampa tonight?

[llipgh2]

Actually, in a tweet from the Mario Lemieux Foundation today about the game, the Caps were called "rivals".

[Rocco]

Actually, in a tweet from the Mario Lemieux Foundation today about the game, the Caps were called "rivals".

Whoever is tweeting for the MLF must have just started watching hockey in 2006.

[columbia]

What's the requisite time for a rivalry, according to the Rocco-meter?

Spoiler:

The only team I'll ever consider a rival is the Flyers. I suppose some of the grey beards might say the Blues?

[Shakes]

Not our rivals:

1. Hey, team that is geographically close and with whom we share a contentious history, we're about to beat you.

2. We know this matters to you. You wanted it bad.

3. It doesn't matter to us. We don't even consider you our main opponent. We're just casually beating you into the ground, barely noticing you, and tomorrow, we won't remember the final score while you sit crushed, turning over this loss in your mind. You are pathetic.

[Rocco]

Caps fans consider the Pens to be their Most Hated Rival, which is just funny because for the Pens that will always be the Flyers, and I'm not sure the Caps are bigger rivals than the Rangers and Devils. Fans older than me probably remember 1975 and hate the Isles more. I suppose they are a rival in the sense they're in the same conference, but between the fact they're in separate divisions, the existence of other teams who are more hated and the fact the Pens routinely drop-kick the Caps in the playoffs they're not THE rival.

The Pens/Caps and Duke/Maryland paralells are striking. MD hates Duke and considers it a fierce rivalry, but even when MD was really good they were never #1 on Duke's list. That was always UNC, and Duke fans actually from North Carolina and not New Jersey would put NC State #2. That's why the "not our rivals" chant is such a dig, and why I might die of elation if I could ever get Pens fans to break it out. (I tried getting the chant going in 2008 when I was at a game in DC; didn't take.) Pens games are their Cup Finals; they don't mean nearly as much to Pens fans. It's not really a time thing. As long as the Flyers exist, they'll be the top rival. Capitals fans would be better off finding someone else to annoy

[Lt. Dish]

Not our rivals:

1. Hey, team that is geographically close and with whom we share a contentious history, we're about to beat you.

2. We know this matters to you. You wanted it bad.

3. It doesn't matter to us. We don't even consider you our main opponent. We're just casually beating you into the ground, barely noticing you, and tomorrow, we won't remember the final score while you sit crushed, turning over this loss in your mind. You are pathetic.

This was the Flyers' attitude about the Pens for like 15 years until @ 1990.

Spectrum Jinx.

[ziggo]

At least, I picked him for my fantasy team !!