Relentless Rick Rypien

Oct 20, 2009 1:56 AM David M Singer

Rick Rypien loads up on Zach Stortini. AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jimmy Jeong

Rick Rypien took on Zack Stortini last night and skated away with a solid win, again. The two met up towards the end of last season and had a similar fight, with Rypien tossing everything he had at the tough guy for the rival Oilers.

The debate around Rypien has moved from how good he is within his weightclass to how good he is versus anyone. His record this season is flawless.

Stortini is clearly trying to change his style and has taken a few expected lumps doing so, but has also won over some fans in the process.

Edmonton beat the Canucks 2-1 in a game that had a frenzy of a finish with a possible tying-goal just a split-second too late.

Normally I crop the photos some here, but the one above is just too good. Great shot Mr. Jeong.

Zombie needs more grit

Adam Proteau has a few fun quotes from Rob Zombie, who unsurprisingly thinks the game should be marketed differently:

“For a while there I was friends with so many guys on the Kings, we’d hang out, and you can see the spirit of the players is the same, it’s just the way they market it that’s different now,” Zombie said. “I don’t know if it’s because of the big dollars and family entertainment, but in recent years they’ve used pictures of the Kings (ice) girls with cutoff shirts to promote (the team). I was like, ‘What the f—-?’

“What the Kings should have done – and the NHL can use this slogan if they like –– was take somebody like Ian Laperriere when he was still on the team, have a big portrait of his face, smiling with no teeth and his big, messed-up nose, and the slogan – ‘You think you’re tough? KINGS.’

Video added

Rick Rypien vs Zack Stortini Oct 19, 2009

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Comments

#1 - vegaboy from newjersey on Oct 20, 2009 at 05:40 AM

NOW THATS AN A ASS WHOPPING !!!!!

#2 - Christian from Philadelphia on Oct 20, 2009 at 08:22 AM

You gotta remember fights are totally unpredictable. Anybody can beat anyone on any given day. Size, speed and strengh don’t matter. In hockey the winner of a fight depends on whose heart is bigger at that moment and whose balance is better. P.J. Stock was arguably the smallest fighter ever but was one of the toughest to mix it up with. Ask Krzystof Oliwa who once said he hated fighting Stock because of a reach disadvantage once you were gripped up with him. Stock and Matthew Barnaby had the heart of true fighters, could throw marathons and take punches to land punches.

#3 - Maxwerm on Oct 20, 2009 at 11:22 AM

Don’t forget Tie Domi. That was a little dude who was a complete savage with absolutely ZERO fear of anyone.

#4 - Wings_19 on Oct 21, 2009 at 02:10 AM

Rypien is a beast no doubt, but i’d like to see him go against a true heavyweight instead of Huggy bear

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