Hockey rivalries can be brutal, fueled by years of on-ice battles, bad blood, and a relentless pursuit of victory. Vice TV’s “The Grudge” takes a deep dive into these clashes, and this Wednesday, they’re dropping the puck on a legendary showdown: the Colorado Avalanche versus the Detroit Red Wings.
The episode revisits the 1996 NHL Western Conference Finals, a series that epitomized the animosity between these two teams. More than just a playoff matchup, these games represented a clash of styles, personalities, and legacies. The Red Wings, after a 41-year Stanley Cup drought, were finally back on top, but the Avalanche stood in their way.
“The Grudge” focuses on a particularly infamous moment in the rivalry: a brutal hit followed by a sucker punch from Claude Lemieux that sparked all-out chaos on the ice. The episode uses this incident as a lens to examine the broader context of the rivalry, exploring the motivations and emotions that drove these players to such extremes. It’s a story about more than just a game; it’s about pride, redemption, and the enduring power of a good old-fashioned grudge.
Catch “The Grudge: Avalanche vs. Red Wings” this Wednesday, April 16th at 10:00 PM ET/PT on Vice TV.
