Getting Political

On page 2 of The Weekly Standard’s profile of Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is this fun mention:

Growing up, Pawlenty played hockey. He is still a rabid NHL fan. The first website he visits each morning is hockeyfights.com, which shows combat highlights from the previous night’s games.

Very cool.  I don’t get political here, but I’ll have to decide what to start lobbying for…

Playoffs continue

As I type this the Rangers are taking on the Sabres in overtime on NBC.

I can’t wait for the Ducks and Canucks on Versus tonight.  I know it’s only been two games, but I wasn’t expecting this series to be tied after game one ended.

Both networks have done a great job so far during the playoffs.  When I get them, the HD picture and camera angles have been great.  Definitely an improvement over last season.

Videos added

Tie Domi vs Rob Ray Nov 21, 1996
Bob Probert vs Tie Domi Apr 3, 1996
Jim Cummins vs Shawn Heins Jan 17, 2002
Dennis Bonvie vs Patrick Cote Jan 15, 2000
Richard Scott vs Eric Cairns Dec 4, 2003

Today’s games

Buffalo Sabres vs New York Rangers 2:00 PM ET
Anaheim Ducks vs Vancouver Canucks 8:00 PM ET

Some Good Filler

Ah, “filler”, usually crappy, but we’re bringing the good stuff.

There haven’t been any fights in the few games since the last video update, but I have added some clips.

Be sure to check out the 2006-07 hockeyfights.com Awards.

Videos Added

Brian Boyle vs Brennan Evans Apr 21, 2007 (AHL)
Bob Probert vs Tie Domi Dec 2, 1992
Bob Probert vs Tie Domi Feb 9, 1992
Gerard Gallant vs Paul Broten Feb 9, 1992
Steve Chiasson vs Joe Cirella Feb 9, 1992
(three above all the same clip)
Tie Domi vs Rob Ray Feb 25, 1998
Eric Godard vs Lyle Odelein Nov 19, 2003
George Parros vs Donald Brashear Dec 8, 2006

Tie Domi had great rivalries with Bob Probert and Rob Ray.  Definitely more to come with each.

Tonight’s Games

New York Rangers vs Buffalo Sabres 7:00 PM ET
Vancouver Canucks vs Anaheim Ducks 10:00 PM ET

Some reads

Nix interviews, just put mikes on players
Comments from Avery, Renney backfire as Buffalo adds fuel to its fire
Tie Domi Gets a Warning
Avery hurt his own team most of all
Dissecting the post-series handshake

2006-07 hockeyfights.com Awards

I present the 2006-07 hockeyfights.com Awards.

The awards are a collaborative effort by the hockeyfights.com content team headed up by Jon Porus.  Not only did he lay the foundation for many of the categories and nominees, but he got to have a lot of fun picking award names.  Tons of thanks to them for helping set all of these up. Update: The NHL's 2006-07 awards have been added below.

Below are all our categories this season.  Cast your vote and have your say.

• Fight of the Year
• Kocur Award: TKO or KO of the Year
• Probert Award: Fighter of the Year
• Crowder Award: Rookie of the Year
• People's Choice Award
• Broad Street Bully Award: Best Enforcing Team
• Worst Enforcing Team
• Most Improved/Comeback Fighter
• Wells Award: Most Under-Rated/Unknown Fighter
• Best Mid-Season Fighter Pick-Up of the Year
• Best Team Feud
• Grimson Award: Best Punching Power/Most Destructive Fighter
• Best Player Feud
• Biggest Let-Down
• Schultz Award: Most Old-School Moment
• Shero Award: Fighting Advocate of the Year
• Kimble Award: Most Exciting Fighter
• McPhee Award: Best Middleweight/Light Heavyweight

2006-07 NHL Awards:

• Hart Memorial Trophy
• Frank J. Selke Trophy
• Jack Adams Award
• James Norris Trophy
• Lester B. Pearson Award
• Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
• Calder Trophy
• Vezina Trophy

It Continues

No eliminations yesterday.  The Wings sent the Flames a message, and the Stars held off the Canucks behind the strong play of Marty Turco (again).

The Wings-Flames game was pretty chippy.  Dion Phaneuf and Todd Bertuzzi dropped the gloves, but never really threw punches.  They picked up fighting majors nonetheless.

Yesterday’s fight

Dion Phaneuf vs Todd Bertuzzi Apr 21, 2007

More Ducks-Wild

Just because the series is over doesn’t mean “it’s over”.

From Minnesota: Parting Shots

Minnesota general manager Doug Risebrough on Saturday took a thinly veiled shot at colleague Brian Burke by accusing the Anaheim boss of employing a thug in Brad May, who earned a three-game suspension for punching out Kim Johnsson.

Risebrough also told series lightning rod Derek Boogaard not to shake hands with the Ducks after Game 5 because he feared something might erupt on the receiving line.

Wild coach Jacques Lemaire also said he refused to shake hands because of May’s actions and Burke’s pre-series comments talking up Anaheim’s toughness.

From Anaheim: Series conclusion doesn’t end the talk

“Until today,” a perturbed Burke said late Saturday afternoon, “I thought the great wines in America were made in California. But now I know they’re made in St. Paul.”

Punny, very punny. Burke obviously was talking about the whines emanating from the Twin Cities of late — the variety made from sour grapes.

“I’m embarrassed by this; it’s so disrespectful to our players,” Burke said. “The other team whined after Game 1, they whined after Game 2, after Game 3, after Game 4, after Game 5 ... now it’s continuing, instead of admitting our team did a good job against their team and deserved to win. Four years ago Minnesota beat my team at Vancouver in the playoffs (when Burke was the Canucks GM.) I didn’t whine. We took our lumps and moved on.

“You know, there is a classy way to lose and there is a no-class way to lose. This is (an example of) a no-class way to lose.”

Johnsson, Minnesota still feeling pain
May Boo’d
Opportunity is more than just ice time for Foster

Some reads

Drugs, violence have no place in hockey - Mike Keenan writes about the Islanders’ Chris Simon and Sean Hill
Habs needed Avery’s help
Pens’ GM Shero must address list of priorities
In the Grizzled Rangers Lineup, Two Fresh Faces Light Up the Ice

Today’s games

New Jersey Devils vs Tampa Bay Lightning 1:00 PM ET
Detroit Red Wings vs Calgary Flames 7:00 PM ET

And Another Two

Two of three games last night led to eliminations: the Sabres ended the Islanders season and the Sharks took care of the Predators.

The end of the Lightning at Devils game, the only non-elimination game last night, got physical.  The Bolts were definitely frustrated by the Devils and were already trying to put the game past them and try and set the tone for the next game in Tampa.  Devils assistant coach John MacLean let Lightning head coach John Tortorella know how he felt after the Nolan Pratt-Jamie Langenbrunner fight.  Maybe he didn’t like Andre Roy and Pratt looking for trouble at the end of the game, or maybe it was just because the linesmen weren’t in a rush to break up the second fight, where Pratt had the clear upper-hand.  Neither would say, but Lighting captain Tim Taylor spoke of setting the tone for next game:

“It’s about Game 6. That’s what it’s all about: getting ready for Game 6 and letting them know we’re not a team that just gives in,” Taylor said. “It’s about one game, winning Game 6, and that’s what the end of the game was about, that we’re letting them know we’re not giving in.”

Chris Simon’s Suspension

The Islanders played a total of 5 playoff games.  That leaves Chris Simon with 5 games remaining on his suspension.  These carry into next regular season, assuming he signs with an NHL team.  Simon is an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Sean Hill’s Suspension

Hours prior to last night’s games it was announced that Hill has been suspended 20 games.

League bans Hill for drug violation

If the Islanders were wondering what else possibly could go wrong in their Stanley Cup first-round series against Buffalo, they got the answer hours before Game 5 against the Sabres Friday night at HSBC Arena. Defenseman Sean Hill made ignominious history Friday afternoon when he became the first player ever suspended under a new NHL program for violating policy banning the use of performance-enhancing substances. There was no announcement of the substance used by Hill that violated the policy.

Hill, now 37-years old, has 19 games left on this suspension and is an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The Islanders didn’t make much of a peep regarding Hill’s suspension.  GM Garth Snow said “The Islanders support the commissioner’s decision.” The Toronto Star’s Damien Cox thinks the timing of it is suspicious.

Last night’s fights

Andre Roy vs Michael Rupp Apr 20, 2007
Nolan Pratt vs Jamie Langenbrunner Apr 20, 2007

Today’s games

Calgary Flames vs Detroit Red Wings 3:00 PM ET
Vancouver Canucks vs Dallas Stars 8:00 PM ET

Some reads

Clearly, Wild have a long way to go
Assessing midseason NHL deals
Not the same old Sens
Stars’ Sydor thrives on hitting
Lindros rusty but happy to be back
Rangers Sign Colton Orr to a Contract Extension
Rangers Sign Hollweg, Pock and Sanguinetti to New Contracts

Update 325pm: Randy Youngman writes about the Wild-Ducks series, focusing on Lemaire and Boogaard, neither of whom shook hands after the series was over.

Two More Gone

The Senators have eliminated the Pens and the Ducks took care of the Wild.

Meanwhile the Stars kept the series alive against the Canucks by scoring the first goal of the game in OT (another OT, the only series to really love it so far this season), and the Flames tied things up against the Wings.

There were no fights last night, although the pregame of the Wild-Ducks game had a lot of people thinking there would have been at least one.

Other fights added

Tie Domi vs Darren Langdon Dec 6, 1996
Kirk Muller vs Bill Berg Dec 6, 1996
Domi vs Langdon Jan 12, 1998
Darren Langdon vs Tie Domi Nov 8, 2000
Tie Domi vs Darren Langdon Mar 13, 2004

Forum downloads for the above

The Kirk Muller-Bill Berg fight was right after the first Tie Domi-Darren Langdon fight, so I included the link here.  It’s the same footage.

Curt Fraser vs Terry Carkner Nov 16, 1989
Brad May vs Terry Carkner Nov 11, 1995
Terry Carkner vs Brad May Feb 25, 1996
Terry Carkner vs Mark Janssens Jan 21, 1998

Why all the Terry Carkner?  Just trying to help add something to this great forums post.

Tonight’s games

Tampa Bay Lightning vs New Jersey Devils 7:00 PM ET
New York Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres 7:00 PM ET
San Jose Sharks vs Nashville Predators 9:00 PM ET

Some reads

May hopes Wild’s Johnsson will be OK
A finale most foul
A Sport for Tough Guys
Fine feathered fiends
Shanahan, Avery driving Rangers in playoffs
Shanny got what he came for

Wild and Ducks Get Busy During Pregame

Derek Boogaard and George Parros got busy during the pregame warmups for tonight’s game.

Yahoo’s got the goods: the boxscore, and you can watch the game live for free.  There’s a link towards the top of that page that opens a pop - I’d recommend signing into Yahoo beforehand.

After the update about the pregame, the broadcast panned to the arena where they had a moment of silence for the Virginia Tech victims.  A classy move by the Ducks organization.

Update 1110pm: Wild and Ducks clash during Game 5 pre-game skate

Update 120am: The series comes to an end after a strong game by the Ducks.

Playoff Battles Continue

The Thrashers, who had home advantage and lost both of the first two games to the Rangers got trounced last night.  Ilya Kovalchuk started to take his frustration out on Sean Avery.  I was a little surprised majors were called.  Kovalchuk did get off a couple of punches, but most of those situations seem to wind up having the player in Kovalchuk’s jersey get a double roughing, and the other player a roughing.  As good as the Rangers look, the Thrashers look just as bad.  The odds don’t look good for the first playoff win in franchise history, but the fans in Atlanta definitely deserve one.

The Wild stayed alive last night, holding off the Ducks, and giving their home crowd at least one playoff victory.

After avoiding the penalty box pretty well throughout his hockey career, Brent Burns has suddenly thrown fighting into his game.  Just four days after his first career fight, he went again last night.  This time he matched up against Corey Perry.

Adam Hall then started to fight with Kent Huskins, but Shawn Thornton jumped in.  A scrum ensued, but the punching was done, at least between those two.  During that same scrum Brad May was ejected for popping Kim Johnsson.  As he received an attempt to injure penalty, the league will automatically review the play, and he could be suspended.

Do Wild fans like Derek Boogaard?  Here’s a clip from after the fight mentioned above.  Nothing happened once play started, but nothing really had to.

Last night’s fights

Ilya Kovalchuk vs Sean Avery Apr 17, 2007
Corey Perry vs Brent Burns Apr 17, 2007
Kent Huskins vs Adam Hall Apr 17, 2007

Tonight’s games

New Jersey Devils vs Tampa Bay Lightning 7:00 PM ET
Atlanta Thrashers vs New York Rangers 7:00 PM ET
Buffalo Sabres vs New York Islanders 7:30 PM ET
Nashville Predators vs San Jose Sharks 10:00 PM ET

Some reads

Wild unveil new-look top line, plus a bit more offense to boot
Roberts’ leadership paying dividends for Pens
Thrashers taken in by agitator’s antics
Fiesty Sean Avery has emerged as a skilled force
N.H.L. Ratings Are All Over the Ice
Ducks, Wild scraps result in match penalty for Brad May
At long last, Wild are full of fight

The Avery quote of the night, from Rangers’ Avery at his troublemaking best again:

Somebody asked Avery if he would take that trade-off, him for Kovalchuk, expecting the obvious answer.

“Not really, not right now,” he said. “Would you? I’d rather have me on the ice than him.”

Update 1200pm: Another good read: Tough guy becomes series-saving distraction

Armstrong’s Hit Takes Out Eaves

Colby Armstrong is letting the Senators know he’s come to play.  After going -2 in the first game of the series, Armstrong has gotten into a fight, picked up an assist and threw a huge hit a Patrick Eaves, which took him out of the game via stretcher.

Sens coach Bryan Murray called the hit clean:

“I read all the articles when Chris Neil hit (the Sabres') Chris Drury (in February) and it was the same type of hit,” he said. “It was a kid trying to make contact. (Eaves) had his head down a little bit. He got driven with the shoulder, that’s part of hockey.

“I feel bad with (Eaves) getting hurt the way he did and I know you’ll write extensive articles about how tough Armstrong was and how that shouldn’t be allowed,’’ Murray continued, ‘’but we felt the same way when Neil hit Drury.

‘’It was a fair hit, a hockey hit and we live with it accordingly.”

Moments after the hit Dean McAmmond challenged Maxime Talbot.

Dean McAmmond vs Maxime Talbot Apr 15, 2007

McAmmond already netted a goal and added an assist later in the second period to complete the Gordie Howe hat trick.

Some reads

Burns finally earns his hockey fighting stripes
Much-needed symbol of respect
Thirty-something Dean McAmmond packed a punch the Senators needed after losing Game 2 to Pittsburgh
Sens flex their muscle
Chelios a cyclepath
Sharks’ coach: Blame claim ‘comical’
Been there, done that
Ott goes from afterthought to force
NHL’s most famous goon still has that fighting spirit

Today’s games

New Jersey Devils vs Tampa Bay Lightning 7:00 PM ET
Buffalo Sabres vs New York Islanders 7:30 PM ET
Nashville Predators vs San Jose Sharks 10:00 PM ET

Quick Follow-Up

Looks like the fighting didn’t end Friday night.  Colby Armstrong dropped the gloves and had a quick fight with Mike Comrie after an invitation from Comrie during a faceoff.

All of yesterday’s games were played pretty tough.  Definitely a good playoff year so far.  It’s a shame there’s not one divisional matchup in the first round.

Yesterday’s fight

Colby Armstrong vs Mike Comrie Apr 14, 2007

Some reads

Rangers’ Avery Makes His Luck and the Difference
Wild can’t afford to get boxed in again tonight
Getzlaf appears to be closing the gap between potential and performance
Probert avoids adding to record
Boogaard ill, vexed by referees

Today’s games

Calgary Flames vs Detroit Red Wings 1:00 PM ET
Ottawa Senators vs Pittsburgh Penguins 6:00 PM ET
Anaheim Ducks vs Minnesota Wild 8:00 PM ET
Vancouver Canucks vs Dallas Stars 9:30 PM ET

It Starts

The first fights of this year’s playoff season happened last night.

The San Jose-Nashville series erupted with a minute left in last night’s game 2.  The main target was Scott Hartnell, but the main event wound up being Ryane Clowe vs Jordin Tootoo.  It was a bit of a yard sale and there were three separate fights when all was said and done.

While many were expecting a George Parros vs Derek Boogaard matchup - and they almost got it - the unlikely pair of Brent Burns and Chris Kunitz emerged from a scrum and had a good scrap.

Last night’s fights

Ryane Clowe vs Jordin Tootoo Apr 13, 2007
Mike Grier vs Scott Hartnell Apr 13, 2007
Scott Hannan vs Jerred Smithson Apr 13, 2007
Brent Burns vs Chris Kunitz Apr 13, 2007

A few days ago I added the 2005-06 playoff fights.  I started adding 2003-04 playoff fights, and also a couple of more Janssen-Hollweg bouts to follow up their 05-06 playoff fight.

Other fights added

Cam Janssen vs Ryan Hollweg Jan 22, 2006
Cam Janssen vs Ryan Hollweg Oct 2, 2005
Jason Marshall vs Ville Nieminen May 16, 2004
Mike Rathje vs Chris Simon May 13, 2004
Chris Simon vs Andre Roy May 27, 2004
Andrew Ference vs Cory Stillman May 27, 2004

Some reads

Penguins hint at humiliation
Wild need to match the Ducks’ muscle
Playoff beards

Season change

All pages on the site will now default to the 2006-07 playoffs.  You can get to any of the regular season statistics through the league pages (like the NHL, for example).  The AHL will be a little light until the playoffs begin.

Awards

Sunday or Monday I’ll post the award nominees.

Today’s games

New York Rangers vs Atlanta Thrashers 3:00 PM ET
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Ottawa Senators 3:00 PM ET
Tampa Bay Lightning vs New Jersey Devils 7:00 PM ET - Watch on Yahoo for free
New York Islanders vs Buffalo Sabres 7:30 PM ET

Getting Ready

Tonight’s the night.  Playoff time, what you’ve waited the whole year for.

There are so many articles out there with season recaps, playoff previews, predictions, etc.  Here are a bunch I think might interest you.

Anaheim Has Gone From Warm and Fuzzy to Fiery and Nasty

The Anaheim Ducks used to have an animated Tinkerbell that fluttered across the scoreboard and sprinkled pixie dust onto pictures of players’ heads.

Tinkerbell cannot possibly recognize her team anymore. The Ducks have essentially traded pixie dust on the head for punches to the face.

“We fight,” Anaheim General Manager Brian Burke said. “It’s what we do. We put a premium on it.”

...snip…

Sitting in their dressing room, the Ducks are as likely to be talking about right hooks as wrist shots. They monitor the Web site hockeyfights.com, which features penalty statistics that the N.H.L. does not always publish. Parros and Thornton take boxing lessons in the summer to hone their craft.

Wild Head To Anaheim With Their ‘Enforcer’
From the toughest to the meekest
Emery’s play getting rave reviews this season
Which traded player will have the biggest postseason impact?
Another first for Crosby: playoffs
Wings ripe for the picking: Cherry
‘Tis season to dream
The Stanley Cup playoffs - Eh to Z
The Cup: Gotta love it

Non-playoff reads

McSorley isn’t bad for a rookie
Team could have interest in bringing back Forsberg

Fridge unplugged: LW Todd Fedoruk said he’d like to remain a Flyer, but believes that as a seven-year veteran he should earn more than the NHL minimum salary of $450,000.

Fedoruk will be a UFA on July 1. “With any job there’s an increase in pay,” he said.

“I feel I deserve to get off that hump and earn some money.

“I lose a fight and all of a sudden, peril.”

Fedoruk said he needs to overcome the tentativeness he’s had since sustaining facial fractures in an October fight with Minnesota’s Derek Boogaard.

“You try to ignore it, but it’s something I have to look at because it’s affecting the way I play and the way I fight,” he said. “The tentativeness of getting hit is what I have to release.

“Come September, I’ll be eating nails for breakfast.”

Update 415pm: Tonight’s Ducks-Wild game is being streamed live on Yahoo for free.

2005-06 NHL Playoffs

With this season’s playoffs starting tomorrow night, I thought it’d be a good time to add some past playoff scraps.  Below are all the fights from the 2005-06 NHL Playoffs.

The big hit from the playoffs, Campbell on Umberger, can be viewed on the game page.

2005-06 NHL Playoff fight clips

Joffrey Lupul vs Jamie Lundmark Apr 21, 2006
Ryan Hollweg vs Cam Janssen Apr 22, 2006
Chris Neil vs Chris Dingman Apr 25, 2006
Zdeno Chara vs Vincent Lecavalier Apr 25, 2006
Dany Heatley vs Nolan Pratt Apr 25, 2006
Dion Phaneuf vs Ryan Getzlaf Apr 25, 2006
Sean O’Donnell vs Darren McCarty Apr 29, 2006
Travis Moen vs Chris Simon Apr 29, 2006
Jarome Iginla vs Francois Beauchemin May 1, 2006
Ian Laperriere vs Travis Moen May 5, 2006
Cam Janssen vs Mike Commodore May 6, 2006
Todd Fedoruk vs Georges Laraque May 23, 2006
Joe DiPenta vs Ethan Moreau May 23, 2006
Todd Fedoruk vs Georges Laraque May 23, 2006

And So It Ends

That’s it, the regular season o-vah.

There was drama on the last day as the Islanders squeeked in with a shootout win over the Devils.  I think I got about 10 texts when John Madden scored with a second left.  All were one or two words long except for one that descriptively let me know where Madden should have really put the puck.  New York papers should be fun to read in the morning, and like Alanah, I suggest listening to Leafs Lunch tomorrow.

There were two fights yesterday.  Brent Seabrook and Steve Ott went in one of the early games.  It was the third fight of the season for the scrappy Ott, who spent much of the year on the IR.

In the last game of the 2006-07 regular season Ian Laperriere dropped the gloves with Dion Phaneuf.  Lappy went right after Phaneuf after Phaneuf laid out Tyler Arnason.

Yesterday’s fights

Brent Seabrook vs Steve Ott Apr 8, 2007
Dion Phaneuf vs Ian Laperriere Apr 8, 2007

So what now?

First, sit back and get ready to enjoy the playoffs.

On that note, I’m going to add a good amount of recent playoff clips over the next couple of days.

We’ll also be announcing the hockeyfights.com 2006-07 season awards very soon.

Update 1000am: Also, as mentioned a few days ago, Chris Simon‘s suspension next season gets lighter for every game the Islanders play.  If the Isles can somehow get past the Sabres and reach ten games, Simon’s suspension will be fulfilled.

One More to Go

In just a couple of hours the last day of the regular season begins.

Jack Johnson received a nice welcome to the NHL from the Coyotes yesterday.

Andreas Lilja fought again for the Red Wings.  The Wings hit double digits for fighting majors this season (they didn’t last season).

Clips added

Patrick Sharp vs Andreas Lilja Apr 7, 2007
Daniel Carcillo vs Jack Johnson Apr 7, 2007
Josh Gratton vs Raitis Ivanans Apr 7, 2007
Shane Doan vs Jack Johnson Apr 7, 2007
Rob Niedermayer vs Ron Hainsey Apr 7, 2007

Hope to add Boulton-Tarnasky later in the day (Update: DVR issues, no ETA right now) along with some reads.

Quotable

From Wild leftovers:

Derek Boogaard on his Tuesday fight with Edmonton’s Zach Stortini, who tried to save himself from a potential knockout punch by almost bear-hugging Boogaard: “I think he was trying to give me a kiss or something.”