2010-11 Game of the Year

[Merlin401]

In the past, with so few crazy moments, we've had to settle for using great fight-filled games as "moments". Well with the abundance of great moments this year, we can separate this into its own deserved category: The most exciting game of the year.

Nominees

Anaheim Ducks at St. Louis Blues, Oct 11, 2010

Stat Line: 143 penalty minutes, 4 fights, 5 misconducts
Highlights: Reaves thrown out in a fight with Chipchura; then a brawl in with Bobby Ryan goes after a Blues player causing a big scrum; continued fights into the third period before another brawl that features Erik Johnson with Mikkelson

Edmonton Oilers at New York Rangers, Nov 14, 2010

Stat Line: 154 penalty minutes, 5 fights, 9 misconducts
Highlights: The third period gets crazy with well over a 100 penalty minutes as Derek Boogaard beats Steve MacIntyre in a big win; then a rematch; then a fight and delayed brawl during a TV time out featuring all the skaters on the ice going at it

Atlanta Thrashers at Boston Bruins, Dec 23, 2010

Stat Line: 120 penalty minutes, 4 fights, 6 misconducts
Highlights: The game starts off with a fight off the opening draw between Thornton and Boulton and just gets better; the highlight is the big brawl in the 3rd period in which Milan Lucic manages to pick up a match penalty.

Ottawa Senators at Philadelphia Flyers, Jan 20, 2011

Stat Line: 126 penalty minutes, 5 fights, 5 misconducts
Highlights: In shades of the record setting brawl these two engaged in a half decade ago, the third period deteriorates into a series of fights and brawls; first Jeff Carter vs. Jesse Winchester in a big scrum after a Claude Giroux hit; then some scrums and Giroux fighting Nick Foligno; off the next draw, a big 3-on-3 brawl.

Dallas Stars at Boston Bruins, Feb 3, 2011

Stat Line: 92 penalty minutes, 4 fights, 3 misconducts
Highlights: The craziest start to a game with back-to-back-to-back fights off the draw including Campbell-Ott, Thornton-Barch and McQuiad dropping Sutherby. Another fight early in the 1st; more scrums and a monster contoversial hit in the 2nd period made this one of the best games of the year

Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins, Feb 9, 2011

Stat Line: 192 penalty minutes, 6 fights, 7 misconducts
Highlights: In a crazy 8-6 old-fashioned victory, Carey Price gets into it with Milan Lucic in the 1st, then fights Tim Thomas during a big scrum in the 2nd; the 3rd period starts becoming one of constant fights until a massive brawl in the last minute leaving several players badly bloodied including Gregory Campbell teeing off on Pyatt and Shawn Thornton going after the Montreal skill players

Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders, Feb 11, 2011

Stat Line: 346 penalty minutes, 8 fights, 21 misconducts
Highlights: The buildup with the team looking for revenge on Maxime Talbot; the revenge with Matt Martin suckering him from behind; the brawl; Trevor Gillies going out and starting a crazy brawl by injuring Eric Tangradi with a high hit and barrage of punches; Micheal Haley fighting Talbot and then the epic square off with goalie Brent Johnson that prompted Eric Godard to jump off the bench.

My Pick

The Boston-Montreal game was an old-school wonder, and the fights were exciting, bloody, and mean spirited. I love that game but, damn, the Isles-Pens was EPIC.

[Fatt Patt]

Bring history into it and Boston-Montreal wins.

[kam]

Originally Posted by Fatt Patt

Bring history into it and Boston-Montreal wins.

2010-11 Game of the Year dingbat.

Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders, Feb 11, 2011 all the way.

[Fatt Patt]

Originally Posted by kam

2010-11 Game of the Year dingbat.

Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders, Feb 11, 2011 all the way.

Well "history" could mean recent events that lead up to that game to make it what it was.....

Nonetheless I still say Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins was better.

[kam]

Originally Posted by Fatt Patt

Well "history" could mean recent events that lead up to that game to make it what it was.....

Nonetheless I still say Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins was better.

Ahh, I got ya.

[acdcrocksno1]

Isles Pens no competion

[nyislesfan45]

Originally Posted by Fatt Patt

Well "history" could mean recent events that lead up to that game to make it what it was.....

Nonetheless I still say Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins was better.

As a Bruin fan, maybe that game was better. It doesn't even touch the Isles-Pens game though.

[MOFOR]

The Isles-Pens game by A MILE, although the Bruins-Habs should be right up there as well.

[RayzorEdge]

Islanders vs. Penguins, of course.

[Killah_punk]

Stat Line: 346 penalty minutes, 8 fights, 21 misconducts

/\ Says it all.

[Sapunka16]

I watched the Bruins-Canadiens game live, and watching the Islanders-Penguins replays after going out that night was way more entertaining. The game was simply unreal, and it's still fun to watch those videos, whereas the Bruins-Canadiens game is only fun for Bruins fans.

[skacore]

Easily Pitts/Islanders! That was straight out of Slapshot..you don't see that nowadays.

[29th_Candidate]

As bad and as pussified as the NHL has become, Feb 11th's Isles vs. Pens game/war gives me hope that anything can still happen in a hockey game. That was a game for the ages; perhaps the best one I've ever seen. Thank you Islanders and Pens for ensuring that old school hockey brawls remain alive and well (or at least possible) in the NHL.

[Fatt Patt]

Originally Posted by nyislesfan45

As a Bruin fan, maybe that game was better. It doesn't even touch the Isles-Pens game though.

Fair enough I like both games, I'm a sucker for history so when these 2 teams tangle I probably value it higher than most......

[Tucker_316]

Originally Posted by Fatt Patt

Fair enough I like both games, I'm a sucker for history so when these 2 teams tangle I probably value it higher than most......

Well the thing about the Habs Bruins games is that you know that games like those will follow. The rematch after that brawl filled game on the island was kinda dull, and next season I dont know if their little rivalry will be sustainable.