St. Louis Blues Rivalry With Chicago Produces Best All-Star Moment

The All-Star weekend for the NHL is meant to be fun and a chance for St. Louis Blues fans to connect with their fellow fans. It was also a chance for a certain rivalry to take center stage.

When the St. Louis Blues play the Chicago Blackhawks, it is always an intense moment. With a few exceptions when the Blackhawks were down early in the 2000’s and then the Blues were down in the middle of that decade, it has always been one of the more intense rivalries out there.

There is no better example, from a Blues standpoint, than the 2015-16 playoffs. The Blues beat the Blackhawks in an opening round matchup that went seven games.

That series will go down in people’s memories the way the Miracle on Ice did. Not because of it having that kind of significance, but it will be something you will have to remind others it was only a first round series, the same way people don’t remember that the USA had to play Team Finland after the Russia game.

It added extra spice to the rivalry that Troy Brouwer scored the series clinching goal. He was a former member of the Blackhawks and a key member of their first Stanley Cup run of the decade.

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However, one of the better moments of the rivalry in the last couple years actually happened during the 2020 NHL All-Star Game. The rivalry took on a more jovial tone, despite the volume of fan’s voices.

It actually all started the previous night during the Skills Competition. Every time Patrick Kane took part in an event, he received the loudest boos of anyone. David Pastrnak was the only one that came close and that was not even close.

Blues fans made sure the Blackhawks star knew the rivalry was not dead. Even though the Blackhawks have fallen out of contention the last couple seasons, the local fans still have a special place in their mental hell for those that led the Hawks to three Stanley Cups.

To his credit, Kane took it all in stride. He had a big smile every time the fans booed him and I’m sure he expected it every time.

Even when he went through the crowd to get to the shooting platform above the rink, he got boos. However, you could tell it was all in fun because the fans on either side of the aisle were smiling and one even patted him on the back. Kane just kept smiling.

The moment was even better during the actual game. Kane scored two goals, but it was his first goal that got the best reaction.

With the Central Division trailing 3-2, Kane streaks down the left wing and snipes an unassisted goal. The crowd, cheering for their division and not realizing fully who had scored, cheered wildly at the equalizer.

As he was going back to the bench, Kane puts one hand to his ear in Hulk Hogan-type style. Not coincidentally, the fans start realizing who scored and half of them start booing again. There was still a smattering of cheers though.

This moment pretty much topped the entire event. Especially as a fan rooting for the Central Division, only to see them tank again, this made the 10-5 beat down still fun.

Jordan Binnington saw things a little differently. When asked about the entire weekend, he saw the booing as excessive.

"“I don’t think it’s necessary but I respect the guy for coming out on top in St. Louis. I like that.” – Jordan Binnington in Post-Dispatch"

I disagree. If there was actual maliciousness behind it, maybe he’s right, but you could tell it was not the same kind of boos he would receive during a playoff game.

His reaction to the media was funny since he did this:

The Kane reaction showcased what a rivalry should be. Too often we let our emotions get the best of us and things boil over to the point where literal hatred is involved.

It’s sports, not life changing matters. This little moment reminded us that these guys are humans and we can dislike them or the team they play for but it should stop once the games end.

As a lifelong Blackhawks hater, I could not help but burst out laughing at Kane’s reaction. Pessimists will say he was being egotistical or cocky.

I simply saw it as a moment shared with the fans. After days of being booed, he was simply joking with the crowd saying Oh, now I’m OK since I scored for you hmm?

It was just a little wink and a nod to the crowd and a fun moment. It actually stole the entire weekend, helping showcase that the majority of fans just want to have fun and interact with players like that and the fools that throw beer or get in fights are the minority.