Andreas Lilja picked up his first fighting major of the season last night against Sheldon Souray.  He’s the first player on the Red Wings other than Darren McCarty to get into a fight this season.  No word yet on whether or not Lilja will be automatically put on waivers for it.

There was one other fight, Steve Begin and Cody Bass had a quick, open scrap mid-way through the Habs-Sens game.

And so they went

Tim Sullivan of the Union-Tribune has a piece about George Parros and his friendship with Padres pitcher (and fellow Princeton Tiger) Chris Young.  Young went to the Ducks-Caps game on Wednesday night and knew something could go down between Parros and Donald Brashear.  With the Caps up, Parros wanted to spark his team, and Brashear was hesitant:

“He was reluctant to fight, obviously, ‘cause they were on the road and he didn’t want to give away any of that momentum,” Parros said of Brashear. “He said we weren’t going to fight and I’m like, ‘I understand, but I’m going to make it look like I’m asking you anyway, so everyone knows.’”

That was obviously all the persuasion Brash needed.

Parros has visited Young at his games, not that it’s always easy:

Their friendship endures despite their different paths, their nomadic schedules, their distance and the awkward greetings Brian Giles has delivered during Parros’ visits to Petco Park and to the Padres’ training camp in Peoria, Ariz.

“The best memory I have of George is seeing his face when Brian gave him his naked hug,” Young said.

“It’s happened every time I go down there,” Parros lamented. “I’m going to start going down there in a rubber body suit.”

Videos added

Andreas Lilja vs Sheldon Souray Nov 20, 2008
Shane O’Brien vs Erik Reitz Nov 20, 2008
Steve Begin vs Cody Bass Nov 20, 2008

Some reads

Older Predator defenseman has fight left in him
Tocchet Leading His Team His Way
Sheppard’s progress slower than hoped
Passion, punishing play was Wendel Clark’s stamp
Barry Melrose’s excuse stinks
Quarterly report: Team-by-team grades

Alex Ovechkin gave the Caps a 4-2 lead over the Ducks, and at the ensuing faceoff Parros issued his challenge.  A close fight, fought in-tight, Parros landed some rights, and then Brash landed his own.

Videos added

Donald Brashear vs George Parros Nov 19, 2008
Mike Hoffman vs Wes O’Neill Nov 19, 2008
Andrew Clouthier vs Barron Smith Nov 19, 2008
Kyle Clifford vs Zack Kassian Nov 19, 2008
John Cullen vs Brian Benning Feb 6, 1992
Randy McKay vs Wendel Clark Feb 1, 1992
Scott Stevens vs Daniel Marois Feb 1, 1992
Mike Peluso vs Mike Eagles Jan 10, 1992

Some reads

Toews’ first fight not likely to win any awards
Hockey Fighting: Then & Now
Lecavalier Not Mad At Report
Search for consistency has baffled Dallas Stars
Most memorable quotes from the season so far
Bissonnette: ‘Thank you for the opportunity’
One-on-one with Stars’ co-GM Brett Hull
Roy comes full circle

After taking a stick up high, Staal didn’t really care who his dance partner was.  After Erik Reitz squashed Matt Cooke behind the net, Staal and Reitz started pushing and shoving. They dropped the gloves, squared off and had a quick scrap.

In the Hawks-Yotes game, Olli Jokinen threw a hit on Colin Fraser near the Phoenix bench, and these two started exchanging shoves before having a go.  It was the big Finn’s first fight wearing the Coyotes sweater.  At the beginning of the third period, Jonathan Toews went after Martin Hanzal.  Hanzal was targeted thanks to Chicago thinking he hurt Patrick Kane earlier after a hit in the neutral zone.  It was Toews’ first ever fight.

In the most active tilt of the night, Ian Laperriere took on Eric Nystrom after the two bumped near the penalty boxes.

Videos added

Ian Laperriere vs Eric Nystrom Nov 18, 2008
Jonathan Toews vs Martin Hanzal Nov 18, 2008 x2
Colin Fraser vs Olli Jokinen Nov 18, 2008 x2
Erik Reitz vs Jordan Staal Nov 18, 2008

Some reads

Dallas Stars captain caps aggression at times
McCarty and Mojzis on Waivers | McCarty placed on waivers, but still with team
Holmgren wants players to take lead on head-hits
Florida Panthers’ Jay Bouwmeester won’t fret over deal
Gilmour planning to be ‘teacher’ with Frontenacs
Is Kovalchuk ready to lead?
Stamkos Finally Feels Like Part Of Game

Mid-way through the second period Tootoo wasn’t fond of a hit Brad Staubitz put on him.  They turned to look at each other, as though they were about to square off, and before you know it Tootoo’s popped him and Staubitz is on the ice.  Players gather, and as Staubitz is getting back up, sans gloves, Greg de Vries and Jody Shelley were having a go.  Those two had a closer-than-expected tilt, and Staubitz was never able to get at Tootoo.

Fast forward to the third period. Scott Nichol and Joe Thornton decide to have a crosschecking contest before throwing punches.  The much taller Thornton easily held off Nichol, who threw Thornton down fairly quickly.  Right off the ensuing faceoff - in fact, almost before the faceoff, Staubitz is ready to drop the gloves with Tootoo.  They have a real scrap this time, but it’s not quite done yet.  Off of the very next faceoff in the Sharks zone, the puck goes back to de Vries.  He takes a shot which is covered up by Brian Boucher.  Shelley was already skating over to de Vries to reacquaint himself, and these two go at it once more.  Things weren’t so even this time around, and Shelley landed a monster uppercut on de Vries, sending him off for repairs.

If any of this feels a little familiar, there’s good reason.  In the spring of 2007 a couple of similar incidents happened.  Against the Stars Tootoo one-punched Stephane Robidas (second video).  The Sharks and Predators aren’t too shy with one another either.  One of their playoff games in ‘07 had a trio of fights.  Things were pretty tame last season between the two teams, with only one fight in the four games played against one another: Darcy Hordichuk vs Jody Shelley Feb 9, 2008.

A sigh of relief

Jason Arnott was taken to the hospital at the end of the first period of last night’s game.  Luckily there was an update later in the night that he was released quickly and should be ready to return to action soon.

Videos added

Jody Shelley vs Greg de Vries Round 2 Nov 17, 2008
Brad Staubitz vs Jordin Tootoo Nov 17, 2008
Joe Thornton vs Scott Nichol Nov 17, 2008
Jody Shelley vs Greg de Vries Round 1 Nov 17, 2008
Shawn Thornton vs Jamal Mayers Nov 17, 2008
Zack Stortini vs Darren McCarty Nov 17, 2008
Rob Davison vs Tim Jackman Nov 17, 2008

Some reads

Stamkos’ Minutes Rising
Problems started back in October
Michalek comes up big on blocks
Five years since life was turned upside down
‘Let’s get on with it:’ Fletcher
Flyers’ Hartnell sees positives in his benching
More Morning Skate: Don Cherry vs. Head Shots
Ben Clymer’s Blog: The decision to come to the KHL
FOTW: Mike Komisarek vs Milan Lucic Nov 13, 2008

In the only other fight of the night, Adam Burish took on Doug Murray after the big Swede threw a hit on Burish in the neutral zone that wasn’t well-received.

Videos added

Raitis Ivanans vs George Parros Nov 16, 2008
Doug Murray vs Adam Burish Nov 16, 2008 x2

Listen up

Nov 14: Jesse Boulerice

Some reads

Ducks’ identity missing in action?
Wang should speak up about Isles’ dire situation
CBC’s Saturday night takes on Punjabi accent
Brassard has been putting his tough side on display
Shawn Thornton helps Bruins with gloves on

After the Canucks opened up a 4-0 lead, Ryan Hollweg was more than willing to go with Darcy Hordichuk to try and spark his team.  Later in the second, when the Canucks kept hitting, Pavel Kubina wound up having a short go with Mattias Ohlund.

Steve Ott and Daniel Carcillo had the fight of the night.  The closer-than-expected scrap is already rating high.  So is the Josh Gratton-Georges Laraque fight.  Laraque dominated the smaller man.  The Habs forward was clearly looking to silence those who criticized him for not stepping up more during this past week’s Bruins game where Milan Lucic hammered down Mike Komisarek.

Use the force Looch

Alan Siegel of the Eagle Tribune has a piece about fan-favorite Lucic littered with a couple of quotes from yours truly.  Apparently I said “He does what seems like everything on the ice”.  A little Yoda-y, but the point was simple: he’ll do anything for the team.  A rare powerforward, he’s on pace for more than 20 goals this season.

Videos added

Chuck Kobasew vs Paul Mara Nov 15, 2008
Steve Ott vs Daniel Carcillo Nov 15, 2008
Pavel Kubina vs Mattias Ohlund Nov 15, 2008
Ryan Hollweg vs Darcy Hordichuk Nov 15, 2008
Luke Schenn vs Rob Davison Nov 15, 2008
Josh Gratton vs Georges Laraque Nov 15, 2008
Chris Neil vs Tim Jackman Nov 15, 2008

Some reads

Leaf fans: Get ready for a Burke-quake
Outside the box
Tampa Bay’s Tocchet to install high-tempo game
Same chef, new fixin’s
Defense suffers another bad break as Andrew Ference out 6-8 weeks
Bailey’s presence tad premature, but that’s OK

The Blackhawks would battle back, tying up the game with two goals from Dave Bolland, sending it into OT.  The home team couldn’t top it off though, and the Andy MacDonald scored the OT winner for the Blues.

There was one other fight last night, Nick Tarnasky taking on Brad May in the late game.

A little more rewind

There were just two fights Thursday night, but they’re both getting a ton of eyes.  In another re-sparked rivalry, Milan Lucic thrilled the home town crowd in Boston after he took down Mike Komisarek.

Cal Clutterbuck showed off some lessons from (or he’s a quick study of) Derek Boogaard when he handled Keith Yandle well in his first NHL fight.

Melrose canned

The inevitable happened, and Barry Melrose is already looking for another job after Lightning management fired him yesterday.  Rick Tocchet has been named the interim coach of the Lightning, and it’ll be interesting to see how much patience has with him before naming the so-called permanent replacement.

Some related stories:
Firing of Melrose was hardly a surprise
Melrose experiment fails miserably in Tampa Bay
Melrose Circus Doomed From Start
Lecavalier: Let’s Stay Positive

One thing this has done is draw attention away from the fact that Brian Burke is now a free agent.

Videos added

Nick Tarnasky vs Brad May Nov 14, 2008
Cam Janssen vs Ben Eager Nov 14, 2008
Keith Tkachuk vs Dustin Byfuglien Nov 14, 2008
David Backes vs Cam Barker Nov 14, 2008
Jeff Woywitka vs Brent Seabrook Nov 14, 2008
Matt Bradley vs Adam Mair Mar 26, 2004
Tie Domi vs Eric Cairns Feb 7, 2002
Keith Yandle vs Cal Clutterbuck Nov 13, 2008
Michael Komisarek vs Milan Lucic Nov 13, 2008
Ryan VandenBussche vs Garrett Burnett Nov 28, 2003
Garrett Burnett vs John Erskine Oct 8, 2003

Some reads

Chelios on WDFN: Referees told to call even-up penalties
Cause for a pause: Drop the gloves, Dragons
Brawling Milan Lucic caps an enjoyable victory
Getting To Know: Gary Roberts
NHL legends come to the defence of Kostopoulos
Amid the losing, Blues reverse one negative trend

The rest of the night’s action saw four fights in four games: Dainius Zubrus engaged in a rare scrap with Brandon Dubinsky during a scrum in Rangers-Devils; Todd Fedoruk took time off from his first line duties with the Coyotes to battle Jackets tough guy Jared Boll; Shawn Thornton took on Dustin Byfuglien in defense of teammate Stephane Yelle in Bruins-Hawks; and Ryan Craig and Nick Boynton fought during the closing moments of Bolts-Panthers.

Tomorrow night’s slate of games features two rivalries that have been fairly active over the past two season: Bruins-Canadiens and Penguins-Flyers as well as a potential rematch between Brian McGrattan and Derek Boogaard. Their first bout was a memorable one.

Videos added

Unfortunately some technical difficulties led to Craig-Boynton being gobbled up. We hope to add it soon. Video of Thornton-Byfuglien will be up in the afternoon.

Todd Fedoruk vs Jared Boll Nov 12, 2008
Brandon Dubinsky vs Dainius Zubrus Nov 12, 2008
Cam Janssen vs Andrew Peters Nov 12, 2008
David Koci vs Andrew Peters Nov 12, 2008
Jeremy Stevenson vs Krzysztof Oliwa Jan 22, 2004
Jordin Tootoo vs Jarome Iginla Jan 22, 2004
Scott Walker vs Chuck Kobasew Jan 22, 2004

Some reads

Dallas Stars captain Brenden Morrow avoids NHL suspension
Andre the giant (comedian)
Burke out as GM of Ducks; Bob Murray takes over | Ducks’ chief executive explains timing of GM move
When it comes to pests, players police themselves
Habs’ Kostopoulos sincerely regrets hit | Hoping image not tarnished
Bernhardt changes his game
Sean Avery, In Vogue
Lightning coach Melrose clears the air with players at meeting | “It was good for them to get another voice”
Bettman urges approval of arena