Stars Mix It Up in Pittsburgh

Evgeni Malkin grapples with Rick Nash. AP Photo/Keith Srakocic

The Penguins and Blue Jackets fought it out in Pittsburgh last night.  There were five fights altogether and the game was capped off with stars Rick Nash and Evgeni Malkin dropping the gloves and throwing punches.

It’s rare to see a superstar fight in the regular season, and even rarer during the preseason, when the games are supposed to mean nothing to those who have already secured a roster spot.  Back-to-back games and hard hits can change that, and both teams were clearly ready to play a physical game.

Videos added

George Parros vs Darcy Hordichuk Sep 25, 2010
Andy Sutton vs Tanner Glass Sep 25, 2010
Rick Nash vs Evgeni Malkin Sep 25, 2010
Derek Dorsett vs Tim Wallace Sep 25, 2010
Jakub Voracek vs Kristopher Letang Sep 25, 2010
Jared Boll vs Eric Godard Sep 25, 2010
Matt Calvert vs Kristopher Letang Sep 25, 2010
Matt Walker vs Matt Kassian Sep 25, 2010
Kris Newbury vs Bryce Salvador Sep 25, 2010
Dane Byers vs David Clarkson Sep 25, 2010
Triston Grant vs Milan Lucic Sep 25, 2010
Kenndal McArdle vs Mark Stuart Sep 25, 2010
Bob Halkidis vs Bryan Marchment Jan 16, 1992
Wendel Clark vs Steve Smith Jan 16, 1992
Kevin McClelland vs Stu Grimson Jan 16, 1992
Matt Kassian vs Eric Brewer Sep 24, 2010
Clayton Stoner vs B.J. Crombeen Sep 24, 2010
Nate Prosser vs David Backes Sep 24, 2010
Daniel Carcillo vs Mike Brown Sep 24, 2010

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Bob Probert’s Brain Donated to Researchers by Family | Brawler had a big heart

2010-11 NHL Preseason Underway

David Koci fights Kevin Westgarth. AP Photo/ Jack Dempsey

The 2010-11 NHL preseason has started up, and the gloves are hitting the ice as players literally fight for jobs in the NHL.

It’s been an active first two nights.  As always, we’ll fill in video best we can.  The preseason can be tricky with a limited number of games televised, but things can trickle in and we’ll update as we can.

The Leafs and Sens have played a pair of games that have gone as expected: three fights in each games.  Last season’s best heavyweight rivalry between Colton Orr and Matt Carkner never got a chance to happen.  Orr sat out Tuesday night’s game, Carkner sat on Wednesday.  They’ll meet again, just not in the preseason:

Earlier in the day, Carkner said he’s looking forward to rekindling his rivalry with the Toronto tough man.

“Oh yeah, you hear it all summer from everyone,? he said. “There’s so many Toronto fans and Ottawa fans in the capital, I hear different things. Some people chirp me, some people praise me. It’s awesome. That’s the thing about playing Ontario teams. It’s a great rivalry and that’s just another story to go along with it.?

Asked if he knew the score from their four bouts last season (that voters on hockeyfights.com had 3-1 in favour of Orr), Carkner grinned and replied: “I don’t know. I think three shifts to (every one of his) one.?

Videos added

David Hale vs Jay Rosehill Sep 22, 2010
Zack Smith vs Danny Richmond Sep 22, 2010
Cody Bass vs Michael Komisarek Sep 22, 2010
Jake Dowell vs Chris Durno Sep 22, 2010
Nick Boynton vs Blair Jones Sep 22, 2010
Tanner Glass vs Robyn Regehr Sep 21, 2010
Tim Spencer vs Mike Brown Sep 21, 2010
Brian Lee vs Christian Hanson Sep 21, 2010
Zack Smith vs Jay Rosehill Sep 21, 2010

Some reads

Newcomers flex their muscle
Fistful of hope for McGrattan
Demers’ biggest secret
New enforcer Shelley already feels at home | Shelley relishes role of protecting Flyers
Victoria Grizzlies: ‘It’s still a tough league’
Kevin Cormier, 24, decides to retire

2010-11, It’s Here

Chris Chelios is checked by Wendel Clark April 24, 1994. AP Photo/Fred Jewell

NHL rookie camps are getting ready to start, the preseason is only weeks away - but there is hockey being played here in North America already.  The QMJHL preseason has been well under way for a couple of weeks now and the regular season starts in less than a week.  The other major junior leagues are also starting their preseasons.

Here are a couple of scraps from the Q preseason so far:
Yoann Mathieu vs Luke Warner Aug 22, 2010
Dylan Trevis vs Grant West Aug 21, 2010

Chelios era over

Chris Chelios has retired from hockey and joined the Red Wings as an advisor to hockey operations.

Chelios played in the NHL for 24 seasons.  One of the greatest American players and defensemen of all-time, he had seemingly three separate playing careers with long stints in Montreal, Chicago and Detroit.

Season prepping

We’re neatening things up around here and making sure we’re ready for the upcoming season.  Schedules, more videos, and new articles are all on the way.

Other videos added

Bob Probert vs Reid Simpson Mar 22, 1996
Bob Probert vs Link Gaetz Nov 14, 1991
Glen Sather vs Bob Baun Apr 15, 1971
Brad Park vs Jim Harrison Apr 15, 1971
Bob Probert vs Brent Severyn Oct 13, 1998
Curt Fraser vs Bob Probert Dec 4, 1987

Some reads

Q&A with George Parros
Bring back battles in front of the net
Hockey pays for scrappin’ Stoesz
Huskies’ Smuk likes to muck it up
Cam Janssen compares hockey fights to ‘basebrawls’