Anaheim Ducks (Pacific Division wars)

Lore & Background

The Canucks-Ducks rivalry took shape in the late 1990s and early 2000s as both teams rose to prominence in the Pacific Division. The Ducks, founded in 1993, quickly became a thorn in Vancouver's side, with their fast, skilled style clashing against the Canucks' gritty, physical approach. The rivalry peaked during the 2000s, when playoff meetings and star players like Markus Naslund and Teemu Selanne fueled a bitter competition that often spilled over into fights and post-game scrums.

In Their Own Story

The rivalry's defining moment arrived in the 2007 Western Conference Semifinals, a series that felt less like hockey and more like a grudge match. Anaheim, led by the young guns Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, swept Vancouver in five games — but the scoreboard tells only half the story. The series was a meat grinder of hits, scrums, and simmering hatred. It all boiled over in Game 4, when Chris Pronger's late, predatory hit on Trevor Linden sent the Canucks legend crumpling to the ice. The ensuing brawl turned Rogers Arena into a cauldron of rage, and the Ducks' eventual Stanley Cup victory only salted the wound. Canucks fans still can't hear '07 without muttering curses; the memory fuels 'Ducks suck!' chants that echo through the arena to this day.

Reader's Guide

The rivalry burned hottest between 2000 and 2007, with the Ducks as the perfect villain — fast, skilled, and unapologetically dirty. The 2007 playoff sweep was the crucible: Anaheim crushed Vancouver's Cup hopes on their way to a championship, and Chris Pronger's hit on Trevor Linden in Game 4 sparked a brawl that crystallized the hatred. For Canucks fans, that series isn't just a loss — it's a scar. Every 'Ducks suck!' chant at Rogers Arena traces back to that spring, when Anaheim broke their hearts and skated off with the trophy.

Did You Know?

• The Canucks and Ducks first met in the 1993–94 season, with Anaheim winning 4-2 in their inaugural game.
• The rivalry intensified after a 2002 game where Todd Bertuzzi fought Paul Kariya, leading to a bench-clearing brawl.
• Teemu Selanne, a Ducks legend, was originally drafted by the Winnipeg Jets and later played for the Canucks' rivals, adding fuel to the fire.
• The 2007 playoff series was the only postseason meeting between the two teams until 2024.