NHL Players Remembered for Key Hits and Rivalries

By the Editorial Team · Monday, September 21, 2026

Several NHL players, including Nick Kypreos, Evander Kane, Sam Bennett, Mario Lemieux, and Ryan Hartman, have shaped intense playoff rivalries through notable physical and strategic confrontations. These rivalries have significantly impacted team performances and playoff outcomes, underscoring the ongoing role of player aggression and tension in defining postseason histories.

Several National Hockey League players have been remembered for their impactful moments and rivalries that shaped their teams’ playoff histories.

For the St. Louis Blues, the 1996 playoffs remain notable for an incident involving Nick Kypreos of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Blues goaltender Grant Fuhr. During the series, Blues defenseman Chris Pronger delivered a cross-check that led to heightened tensions. Kypreos then fell deliberately on Fuhr’s knee, causing an injury that ended Fuhr’s postseason and prompted a one-game suspension for Kypreos. Despite Fuhr’s injury, the Blues advanced past Toronto in six games behind Jon Casey in net but ultimately fell to the Detroit Red Wings in a double overtime Game 7 during the Western Conference semifinals.

The Vegas Golden Knights have developed intense rivalries during their relatively brief time in the league, particularly against the San Jose Sharks. Their clashes reached a peak in back-to-back postseasons in 2018 and 2019, highlighted by a seven-game series in 2019. Evander Kane, a key figure on the Sharks, engaged in numerous on-ice battles with Vegas enforcer Ryan Reaves, contributing to the rivalry’s heated nature. Kane later continued to face the Golden Knights as a member of the Edmonton Oilers during playoff series in 2023 and 2025.

In recent postseason matchups involving the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers has drawn particular attention for his aggressive and persistent style of play. While other Panthers such as Aaron Ekblad and Niko Mikkola have also been sources of tension during playoffs, Bennett’s consistent intensity combined with his offensive contributions makes him a standout opponent.

For the Washington Capitals, Mario Lemieux is frequently cited as a significant adversary. Over five playoff series against Washington with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Lemieux’s performance was a key factor in Pittsburgh’s domination, including a remarkable 17-point effort in the 1992 Patrick Division semifinals that helped overturn a 3-1 series deficit. Years later, Lemieux watched from the ownership box as the Capitals endured a prolonged playoff drought before their breakthrough in 2018.

The Winnipeg Jets’ rivalry landscape includes several prominent figures, but Ryan Hartman of the Minnesota Wild stands out due to his impact in recent years. Hartman’s deliberate high stick on Cole Perfetti in December 2023 intensified existing animosity between the teams. Earlier, in April 2023, Hartman had injured Nikola Ehlers with a blindside hit before the playoffs commenced, further fueling tensions. While Corey Perry has a history of agitating Jets fans during the Ducks’ 2015 playoff sweep, Hartman’s actions involving injuries and suspensions have given him a more immediate reputation as a Jets nemesis.

These players and incidents highlight how on-ice physicality and rivalries continue to influence playoff narratives across the NHL.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.