"It transcends sports in ways that other rivalries don't," Minton said. "We just felt that it was time to do it, and with the NHL coming back on ESPN, the opportunity presented itself to us."
Beginning with the Quebec Nordiques' relocation to Colorado following the 1994-95 NHL season, the documentary gave a brief history lesson of both teams before diving into the 1996 Western Conference Finals.
In Game 6 of that physical postseason series, Avalanche forward Claude Lemieux checked Kris Draper from behind into the boards. The hit was so severe that Draper suffered a broken orbital bone, broken jaw, broken cheekbone, broken nose and a concussion.
Lemieux's hit and the frustration several former Red Wings players felt after watching Colorado win the Stanley Cup that season ignited the bitter rivalry.
"At ESPN and E60, we say that stories are about change," said Mike Farrell, ESPN Storytelling & Original Content feature producer. "This story certainly has that."
Tensions between the Wings and Avalanche reached a new high in a regular-season game on March 26, 1997, later dubbed Fight Night at The Joe. Nine different fights broke out, including the iconic clash between Darren McCarty and Lemieux.
"Colorado was essentially Goliath in the 1996 era, but that March 26 game changed everything," Farrell said. "It allowed the Red Wings to slay the dragon."
Games between the Red Wings and Avalanche became must-watch hockey, as the teams combined to win five titles and met in the playoffs five times from 1996-2002.
According to McCarty, the feud has a lasting legacy on and off the ice.
"It's sort of sticking up for what you believe in," McCarty said in a June 25 interview with Jordan Oesterle and Red Wings TV's Daniella Bruce. "It also let a lot of us know that there are roles to be played in life. For as great and talented as the team was, there was also a spot for guys like me, and what made us so successful was that everybody embraced their role."
