Streaky Flames Still Fighting
With 57 fights in 54 games, the Calgary Flames are the only NHL team averaging more than a fight per game. They’ll need to keep fighting to stop the current nine-game losing streak (with three coming in the shootout). They’ve lost 11 of 12 ever since winning five straight.
It’s been a roller coaster of a ride for fans. They may not be able to count on wins, but they know they’ll get tough, defensive hockey. Brandon Prust has 18 fighting majors, second in the NHL to Zenon Konopka. Brian McGrattan is tied for 6th in the league with 14 majors.
A Flames clip made the national highlight reels yesterday after Mark Fistric hit Eric Nystrom with Nystrom’s helmet in a fight.
Videos added
Chris Thorburn vs Arron Asham Jan 28, 2010
Eric Nystrom vs Mark Fistric Jan 27, 2010
Ryan O’Byrne vs Matt Smaby Jan 27, 2010
Mike Brown vs Matt Bradley Jan 27, 2010
Mike Brown vs Chris Thorburn Jan 26, 2010
Cam Janssen vs Brandon Prust Jan 25, 2010
Cam Janssen vs Brian McGrattan Jan 25, 2010
Some reads
NHL to crack down on headshots, Bettman says
Enforcers excel in art of grip it, rip it | Faster game, more fights in modern NHL
One time only - Fights
Canucks’ Kesler calls Blackhawks’ Ladd a ‘coward’
Kevin Westgarth’s Blog: Honored to be an enforcer
Firsts, Seconds
Wade Belak and David Koci fought halfway through the first period of the Preds-Avs game last night. It was a decent heavyweight battle, one that sometimes settles down a game. But both teams continued playing hard and with under a minute left in the same period Steve Sullivan and Wojtek Wolski dropped the gloves after a whistle. Really.
Sullivan hasn’t been in a fight since he had a quick bout with Tony Granato in 1997. It was Wolski’s first fighting major at any major hockey level.
The fight wasn’t much, but enough to get a little headline from local papers:
Denver Post
The Tennessean
Rangers & Flyers classic battle
There were four fights in the Rangers-Flyers game Thursday night. Getting the most attention from that game [from the Daily News to HuffPo] is Daniel Carcillo punching up Rangers points leader Marian Gaborik.
Carcillo responded to his critics via TSN’s Michael Landsberg:
“If you watch the video he came after me and I fought him just like I’d fight anyone else.”
The 24-year-old went on to tell Landsberg he would not have fought Gaborik if he did not drop his gloves first.
“I was pretty surprised and I’m not really sure if [Gaborik] looked up and saw who it was, but he dropped his gloves, I dropped mine and the rest is history.”
New York and Philly play again on March 14th.
The Gazette on Laraque
Montreal’s The Gazette has gone after Georges Laraque each day after the Habs told him to stay home.
From Pat Hickey, yesterday:
But Laraque’s ice time reflected his ability - or lack thereof. He was a fourth-liner whose role was defined by his skills. His most obvious skill was his ability to throw punches, but he had nine fights last season and only four this year.
Fourth-liners have to understand and accept their role, and when they don’t, they tend to whine and become a distraction in the room. Laraque had reached that point.
From Mike Boone, today:
In the wake of the Georges Laraque debacle, however, Gainey had to say something. And part of what the GM said was an acknowledgment that he had erred in signing the erstwhile heavyweight champion of the NHL.
Those of us old enough to remember Eaton’s will recall the department store’s promise: “Goods satisfactory or money refunded.” Sadly, the slogan died with the passing of the great retailer.
Teeth Thief? Someone Swiped Lappy’s Teeth
George Parros: Ducks hit some turbulence
Zenon Konopka gets fist flying fast against New York Rangers
Sinking Habs get physical
Mitchell’s first NHL fight wins some kudos
Canucks’ Tanner Glass will do ‘whatever it takes’ to win
Latendresse: From banger to big-time scorer
A Gentleman Enforcer Turns His Focus to Haiti
Canadiens Split With Georges Laraque
Georges Laraque will not play for the Montreal Canadiens again this season according to a report on TSN.
General manager Bob Gainey contacted him Thursday morning and told him that head coach Jacques Martin didn’t had any confidence in him anymore and the team believes they can win without the enforcer in the lineup. The club will pay his salary for the rest of the season and will buy out the rest of his contract at the end of the 2009-10 campaign.
Given the style of teams Martin has recently coached in the past in Ottawa and Florida, it comes as no surprise that Martin wouldn’t be a fan of a player like Laraque.
“I was very emotional and I’m very hurt by this decision. I’m a proud guy and I may have let my emotions get the better of me,” Laraque told TSN.
“Needless to say, I’m very disappointed.”
Afternoon Action
Another busy Saturday has ended in the NHL and the only fistic action was early in the afternoon. Just two games featured fights, Devils-Avs with three, Bruins-Kings with two.
Andrew Peters and David Koci got things started early in Colorado. It was an even affair with Peters losing the armpit of his sweater.
Things picked up again the second period. Mark Fraser and Ryan Wilson dropped the gloves a few minutes in, and Rod Pelley and Matt Hendricks went half-way through the period.
Out in LA, Adam McQuaid continued his introduction into the NHL. He fought Brandon Segal. It was McQuaid’s second fight in three games. He’s played in just eight games so far this season. It was Segal’s first regular season NHL fight.
The heavies went later in the first. Shawn Thornton and Raitis Ivanans each moved higher up the FM leaders list.
Words, words, words
The talk about Darcy Hordichuk’s choice of words before fighing Derek Boogaard Wednesday night has simmered.
It amounts to: I didn’t say that and I don’t remember. From The Province:
“No, I never did say that and at the end of the day, I probably believe Boogaard on this one,” Vigneault said Thursday. “It wouldn’t surprise me that Hordi told him: ‘Coach told me I’ve got to fight.’ It must have been a real intellectual conversation. How smart can you be to go after a guy like that?
...“AV is the last guy who would ever send a player out,” said Hordichuk, who was also assessed a 10-minute misconduct for wanting a piece of Clutterbuck after the Boogaard bout. “I don’t know what I said to him at the time we were lining up. He wasn’t looking at me and I wasn’t sure he was going to fight. I told the refs ahead of time I might get a two-minute instigator.
“When the coach has to tell me to fight, I’m not going to be in the league very long. When guys are picking on your guys, that’s your green light to go after them.”
Videos added
Shawn Thornton vs Raitis Ivanans Jan 16, 2010 x2
Adam McQuaid vs Brandon Segal Jan 16, 2010 x2
Rod Pelley vs Matt Hendricks Jan 16, 2010
Mark Fraser vs Ryan Wilson Jan 16, 2010
Andrew Peters vs David Koci Jan 16, 2010
Wade Belak vs Brian McGrattan Jan 15, 2010 x2
Jay Rosehill vs Jason Chimera Jan 15, 2010 x2
Colton Orr vs Shaone Morrisonn Jan 15, 2010 x2
Some reads
Brashear benefits from Torts’ ‘numbers’ game
Grim Reaper: Not what you might expect
May was robbed
Inside the NHL: Case against Pens’ TV producer doesn’t add up
Wild Go Big
When the Wild are up 5-2 in the third and both Derek Boogaard and John Scott are in the lineup, who’s going to try and send a message?
According to Darcy Hordichuk via Boogaard, the answer to that is Canucks’ coach Alain Vigneault. From Russo’s Rants:
According to Boogaard, before the faceoff, Hordichuk told him that “The coach is making US fight you guys.”
Hordi just lunged at Boogaard, trying to give him no chance to setup. Not a bad idea for someone giving up half a foot. They went to the ice quickly and I’m sure Hordichuk was just fine with that.
Alexandre Bolduc then squared off with Scott. Also giving up half a foot, Bolduc willingly traded punches with the huge defenseman and wound up taking some heavy shots. The Wild broadcast reported he needed some help skating off the ice.
Tanner Glass and Shane Hnidy then fought a few minutes later.
The two teams meet again on Valentine’s Day. I’m sure it’ll be a loving affair.
David Backes vs Team Canada
David Backes, having a down year after scoring 31 goals last season, was still picked to represent the USA in Vancouver for next month’s Olympic games.
Either by coincidence, NHL strategy, or forward-thinking for the Olympics, Backes has dropped the gloves in January with Jonathan Toews, Corey Perry and Rick Nash, all playing for Team Canada.
A little Backes watch was setup in the forums. Which Olympian is next?
Missed stories
A lot has gone on since I’ve been able to make a blog post. The KHL brawl, Alexandre Burrows, some great bouts. I’ll try and catch up on those here, but there are good discussions about all in the forums.
Videos added
Byron Bitz vs Kyle Chipchura Jan 13, 2010 x2
Adam McQuaid vs Troy Bodie Jan 13, 2010 x2
Eric Godard vs Brian McGrattan Jan 13, 2010
Tanner Glass vs Shane Hnidy Jan 13, 2010
Alexandre Bolduc vs John Scott Jan 13, 2010
Darcy Hordichuk vs Derek Boogaard Jan 13, 2010
Jason Chimera vs Gregory Campbell Jan 13, 2010 x2
Some reads
Uncertainty gnaws at Laraque
Burrows affair rubs league wrong way
The Steve Ott contract issue
Downie’s future with Bolts now looking up | Tampa Bay Lightning’s Steve Downie raises his game as he tries to calm down
Taunting a blemish on the NHL
The Norris Division Lives
The Blackhawks and Blues opened up the new year by turning back the clock. There were nine goals along with five fights due to St Louis being beaten handedly at home.
Everyone got in on the action, including scorers Jonathan Toews and David Backes. Backes may not have many career fights, but his experience was more than enough compared to Toews’ one previous fight - and it showed during the bout.
Ben Eager was the only player to pick up more than one major.
The two rivals have four more games to play this season.
First Winter Classic fight
The first fight in the Winter Classic did happen. Shawn Thornton took on Daniel Carcillo in front of a Fenway crowd that may not have liked the outcome of the fight as much as the outcome of the game.
Videos added
Troy Bodie vs Dustin Byfuglien Jan 3, 2010
Cody McLeod vs Jared Boll Jan 2, 2010
Ben Eager vs B.J. Crombeen Jan 2, 2010 x2
Jonathan Toews vs David Backes Jan 2, 2010 x2
Cam Barker vs Mike Weaver Jan 2, 2010 x2
Colin Fraser vs Carlo Colaiacovo Jan 2, 2010 x2
Ben Eager vs Barret Jackman Jan 2, 2010 x2
Jason Strudwick vs Ryane Clowe Jan 2, 2010
Steve Staios vs Jay Leach Jan 2, 2010
Darcy Hordichuk vs Krys Barch Jan 2, 2010
Daniel Carcillo vs Shawn Thornton Jan 1, 2010
Some reads
Enforcing the issue: Blackhawks don’t back down vs. Blues
Lemaire downplays his impact on the Wild
Bissonnette contributes skill, fighting
Slats’ Fat Cats gotta go
Tampa Bay Lightning’s Blair Jones has the right ‘intangibles’
Abney adds ‘other element’
‘The Diesel’ fuels Mallards enforcer Goulet
Killing Penalties a Thankless, Yet Important Job
Update Jan 8 130pm: A few technical issues are popping up. It has slowed down some blogging and given a video delay or two, but all will be posted and should be normal by end of weekend.
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