Shelley and Brashear Cap Off Long Day

Things got started early yesterday. Vancouver and Pittsburgh erupted 25 seconds into the day game, with a double bout.  Some general pushing and shoving seemed to start rough, but when Matt Cooke upended Alex Edler, it was the spark needed for the gloves to fly.  The game would settle down for the most part after that.

Mitch Fritz popped Andrew Peters with a big uppercut in the Isles-Sabres game.  The only opponent who’s given Fritz any trouble this season is the equally enormous John Scott.

In a FOTW candidate, Jared Boll and Garnet Exelby had an excellent back and forth scrap.

Making their own mark on the night, and giving the Capitals one of the few highlights from their 7-2 loss to the Sharks, heavyweights Donald Brashear and Jody Shelley got the crowd into it early out in San Jose. Another FOTW candidate for sure.

No thanks

To the dismay of the Montreal crowd, Milan Lucic declined George Laraque‘s fight invitation last night.  Bruins coach Claude Julien told the media that he forbade Lucic from fighting Laraque (and Red Fisher’s take).

Was it the right move?  Debatable.  More on that later.

The division rivals meet again on Jan 13.

Videos added

Cody McCormick vs Matt Greene Nov 22, 2008
Donald Brashear vs Jody Shelley Nov 22, 2008
Steve Montador vs Steve Ott Nov 22, 2008
Chris Kunitz vs Sean Avery Nov 22, 2008
George Parros vs Krys Barch Nov 22, 2008
Jared Boll vs Garnet Exelby Nov 22, 2008
Mitch Fritz vs Andrew Peters Nov 22, 2008
Jannik Hansen vs Matt Cooke Nov 22, 2008
Jon Mirasty vs Trevor Gillies Nov 21, 2008
Darin Kimble vs Mike Peluso Feb 23, 1992

Some reads

It’s been a rocky road for Tocchet
NHL: Deliberate blows to head won’t be tolerated
Oilers’ gamble a bust
Islanders’ vision coming into focus
To Russia for money