"Recent" is kind of a vague word. Does Red Wings/Avs count as recent? Back in the 90s/00s that was one of the most explosive rivalries in all of sports. But the conference realignment in 2013 broke them up, now they only play twice a year and never in the playoffs, so the on-ice rivalry is basically dead and just lives on in the fanbases.

More recent great rivalries would be Chicago/LA between 2010/2015, when both teams were winning Cups and regularly meeting in the playoffs. Avs and Blues has also been very hot recently, especially since the "win and you're in" game 82 of 2017/18 and the consecutive playoff series of 2021 and 2022. And Toronto/Boston has been pretty bitter, although that one is a bit one-sided because Boston has won every playoff series in recent memory.

Bettman vs fans

But seriously:

Ovi vs Sid in the playoffs was always a treat.

Flames and Oilers getting spicy again.

Toronto vs Playoffs

Tkachuk vs Tkachuk

Not in order.....

Penguins Flyers circa 2006-2016. Days when guys like Orpik, Kunitz, Hartnell, Carcillo would kill each other every time they met. Playoff series were epic.

Penguins Capitals. 2007-2018 Sid vs Geno. Numerous memorable playoff battles.

Avalanche v Red wings circa 1997-2004. The Brawl. Just YouTube it. There is even a documentary on it on ESPN+

Rangers and devils and flyers back in the day. (90s)Fans would fight in the stands if anyone of them played each other

I live close to DC. Penguins and Caps with Ovie and Crosby over the years have been special to see. And it still continues, which is wild tbh

Battle of Alberta

Leafs vs the 1st round

To be faaaaaiiiirrrrrr. It’s been one sided for too long. I do miss the hate of the early 2010’s

No rivalry in the NHL will ever equal the one between Quebec and Montréal.

The rivalry wasn't only on the ice, it was also in the homes of those who watched, people would fight over who's the best team at family gatherings. Some restaurant owners went as far as not serving the opposite team.

Le match du Vendredi Saint was a good example of how they hated each other.

Vegas Golden Knights/San Jose Sharks is my personal favorite. Edmonton Oilers/Calgary Flames always explodes too. You can’t forget the rivalry between Florida and the playoffs either.

MTL vs BOS vs TOR in any order these three teams hate each other with passion.

Islanders/Rangers

Minnesota sports in general have an issue where we think someone is our rival, but they beat us every time so the other team doesn't see us as a rival.

Sabres and Leafs

Probably Winnipeg/Minnesota? Regular season rivalries are next to non-existent in the current NHL because of the way they do the scheduling. It’ll be the most random-ass games that have the highest tension and PIM. Rivalries don’t exist until playoffs pretty much.

The NHL vs local fans who don't have cable.

It's probably the biggest in the league.

Ottawa vs Detroit have been better imo

Chicago Blackhawks and the IR.

Same here!! It’s when they pan the camera to poor Mrs. Tkachuk looking disapprovingly at both her son’s teams destroying each other that always gets me though lol

That game was an embarrassment to hockey

Can’t wait for a Tkatchuk vs Tkatchuk

Vancouver vs Chicago was insane for a few good years

Vancouver vs Boston was also insane for a couple years

Vancouver vs good management is the only rivalry we have now. 

Blues-Red Wings in the 90s was must see hockey. I treasured every time I got to go to a playoff game between those two. Really sad when that rivalry died.

Montreal vs Quebec

The wings/avs rivalry was already dead by that time, but other than Columbus the Central division hated each other. Chicago/Detroit/St.Louis/Nashville all had bad blood except for maybe the Blues and the Preds.

The old 5-team divisions were interesting at the end, because some were one team dominating for stretches (the southeast with Washington beating up on Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay, and atlanta/winnipeg) and others were just complete and total bloodbaths (the Atlantic with NYR, NYI, NJD, PIT, and PHI)

I remember how I got excited for March to roll around in the late 2000s and early 2010s, because Sundays on NBC i could flip on a noon matinee in the Atlantic division and just see a crazy fucking grudge match between Pittsburgh and the islanders, or devils/Rangers, or out of division and see the flyers and Bruins just trying to kill each other.

I like the larger divisions though, and I like that every team plays every other team twice, but I do miss seeing divisional opponents play each other like 6+ times a season.

Avalanche v Red wings. Is it extinct now? Feels like it.

There are tales of Christmases ruined because a Habs fan receiving Nordiques gear as a gift from his Nordiques-loving brother-in-law turned into an all-out brawl…

I remember being so excited for that rivalry to continue when they met up in the 08 playoffs, only for Franzen to singlehandedly obliterate the Avs more than I've ever seen any skater take over a playoff series. 9 goals in 4 games, what a legend.

Caps vs Pens

Used to be a top rivalry, it’s still big, but not the marquee value used to have

Detroit and Chicago. People keep trying to fan the flames whenever they happen to play, but TBH it was dead before they even went to the Eastern Conference.

Same here ; Detroit fan and I miss those good days battling with Colorado.

The heated, historic Florida Panthers fans vs Florida Panthers ownership rivalry is at an all time low right now for sure

Boston/Montreal was significant for so long and means nothing today.

Interesting note: Before the rinks were standard-sized, teams would build playstyles that gave them more home-ice advantage. Montreal had a bigger, wider rink. The playstyle was built around speed and passing. Boston had a smaller rink and they were built around strength and size. The differing flavors made for a stronger rivalry.

Wild fan, the first round of the playoffs.

I say Islanders. I was a Ranger fan in Islander country. It was hell.

The Canucks vs the front office and ownership.

Tampa and the salary cap

And ours has gotta be the Rangers, I've never heard of the Islanders

This is the only correct answer for the Yotes

Bruins fans: Mom can we have the Canadiens rivalry?

Mom: No, we have a Canadian rivalry at home.

Canadian rivalry at home: It's the fucking Maple Leafs.

Battle of Alberta or San Jose and Vegas

I feel there’s more vitriol to that rivalry than any other ones currently besides the battle of Alberta. Just because SJ isn’t very good as a whole on the year doesn’t mean they don’t bring it against Vegas. I do see your point though and it will be interesting to see next year how the games are.

Pegulas and their fanbase is getting up there. Very underrated.

Going to be a lot of Battle of Alberta in here, but honestly if I'm picking outside my bias, Leafs Bruins is so full of salt on both sides. I've never seen so many fans on either side get so pissed that their own player fell down, calling for penalties on an opposing player 4 feet away from the play.

Montreal-Boston is something too

I'll go with the Penguins vs Flyers.

That three game stretch in early 2020 was the stuff of legends.

Kassian vs Tkachuk. Bear vs Tkachuk. Smith vs Talbot.

Really? If we’re reminiscing nobody for Detroit vs Colorado?

I'm picturing your dad holding baby you, going up behind every dude at the urinal, "Hey, are you a Red Wings fan? No? Oh, how about you?" Peeking his head under stalls: "Hey bud, you like the Red Wings?" Until he's finally met the quorum and can change your diaper.

And a obligatory, Red Wings Suck! I miss the days we did photoshop battles on the avs message board. Good stuff.

Disagree, as neither team has been properly competitive in a seriously long time.

I give my vote to MTL/BOS.

Have to say, last year both teams looked closer to any sort of Battle of Alberta compared to the 80s that I can remember. Hope to see more of that!

And also Toronto vs Toronto as mentioned previously is Canada’s favourite rivalry.