The Biggest Rivalry of All Time

[Bulduray_1 274]

 

 

 

The Biggest Rivalry of All Time

 

 

Rivalries are one of the greatest aspects of hockey and it’s not without saying Sergey’s career has been full of gut-wrenching rivalries throughout the years. Ever since he first started playing on the ice, he’s met fierce opponents that shaped into who he is today. But there is just one rivalry that sticks out like a sore thumb, let’s check it out shall we?

 

Moscow Menace and the Continental Cup

 

Although this isn’t an individual rivalry, Sergey has been right at the forefront of such a painful and heartbreaking rivalry for the Moscow Menace franchise, ever since Sergey got called up to the show back in S82. Moscow has always been blessed with a stacked team, with several all-star players and even some being inducted into the hall of fame. Unfortunately for them, it seemed like everything went south when the team had to play the Continental Cup Finals. 

 

You see, even before Sergey made his debut, Moscow had a history of tough finals losses. They came off a sour defeat to the Vancouver Wolves with a 4-2 series defeat in S81. Not to mention another finals defeat for Moscow in the S80 playoffs by Vancouver once again. But Sergey had made it his lifelong plan to bring Moscow a cup, he grew up watching the Moscow Menace when he was just a young kid and he wanted the chance to make his city proud.

 

 “I’m ready to give it my all, I know this team has had some discouraging losses as of late. But this team has the skill and swagger to win a Cup this year” - Sergey Preobrazhensky, Pre-Season Press Conference S82

 

Unfortunately, what young and naive Sergey didn’t know at the time, was that Moscow was practically cursed when it came to winning the Continental Cup.

 

Throughout the seasons, Moscow had always been a top competitor in the European Conference. Over a multitude of seasons, they’ve finished near the top of the standings on a regular occasion, but they just couldn’t get it done when it mattered the most. Let’s look at the S80 decade in the lens of Moscow’s playoff exits shall we? 

 

S80: Lost in the Continental Cup Finals vs Vancouver Wolves (4-3)

S81: Lost in the Continental Cup Finals vs Vancouver Wolves (4-2)

S82: Lost in the Continental Cup Finals vs Vancouver Wolves (4-0)

S83: Lost in the Continental Cup Finals vs Seattle Beats (4-3)

S84: Lost in the Semi Finals vs Warsaw Predators (4-3)

S85: Lost in the Continental Cup Finals vs D.C Dragons (4-1)

S86: Lost in the Semi Finals vs HC Davos Dynamo (4-2)

 

I mean, it doesn’t take a detective to figure out that there is something seriously wrong with Moscow when it comes to playoff time. This team has all the talent in the world, but it's like the thought of the Continental Cup is just a turn off to the team. Seems like Moscow’s goals were beyond our understanding. 

 

I genuinely feel bad for the Moscow franchise, they always put out good teams, but it always seems like they’re doomed to fail come playoff time. The Moscow vs Continental Cup rivalry will always hold a special place in my heart for a long time. 

 

Edited February 20, 2023 by Bulduray_1

[FrostBeard 2,061]

Moscow just needs someone who has that winning mentality, but they have refused to draft my players so it is kinda their fault.