Wade Belak Impresses Again
If you were having trouble ranking Wade Belak among the league’s top heavyweights, you shouldn’t have any problems now. Belak continued his impressive showing this season during Tuesday’s game between the Caps and Predators, sending Donald Brashear down to the ice with a left hand in the first period.
It was Brashear’s worst loss in a while. He took his time skating back to the penalty box and didn’t return to the game, not because of a woozy head, but due to his knee buckling while he fell to the ice. It was the second time Belak’s dropped an opponent this season. Cam Janssen was the first, back on February 12.
Belak’s work wasn’t done though. He and John Erskine came together during the second period and exchanged blows as well in a relatively even bout that featured its fair share of haymakers thrown. Jordin Tootoo bloodied Matt Bradley in the game’s third scrap as well.
Fighting with a purpose?
The discussion regarding fighting and its place in today’s game during this week’s GM meetings in Florida is well-documented. One proposal suggests that the league do away with “staged fights” or fights that take place following a faceoff, by handing out ten-minute misconducts in response. Some of the reaction has been surprising. According to Brian Burke, he’s all for the idea. My reaction: How exactly do you determine when to give out one of these misconducts? Directly off of the faceoff is a given, but 30 seconds after? A minute? There’s no real way to gauge it, and even if the best method is found, it will still create some controversy.
Either way, there were plenty of fights last night. Eleven in all, and three happened off of a faceoff in case you were wondering. The word going around says that the majority of the players are against any chances when it comes to fighting, Georges Laraque especially. So was last night’s activity a response to yesterday’s news?
Many an exciting fight took place too. Arron Asham went toe-to-toe with a surprising opponent in Patrick Kaleta during Sabres–Flyers. It was another “Fight of the Year” candidate. Minutes after Brian Sutherby and Jay McKee dropped the gloves in Stars–Blues, Krys Barch and Janssen followed suit in what was likely 2008-09’s longest bout. The two went back and forth for almost two minutes.
Videos added
Mark Stuart vs Jared Boll Mar 10, 2009
Krys Barch vs Cam Janssen Mar 10, 2009
Brian Sutherby vs Jay McKee Mar 10, 2009
John Erskine vs Wade Belak Mar 10, 2009
Matt Bradley vs Jordin Tootoo Mar 10, 2009
Donald Brashear vs Wade Belak Mar 10, 2009
Bruno Gervais vs Lee Stempniak Mar 10, 2009
Tim Jackman vs Phil Oreskovic Mar 10, 2009
Zack Stortini vs Greg Stewart Mar 10, 2009
The rest of last night’s clips should be added later today.
Some reads
Roberts announces retirement
May had nobody to fight with
A pugilist’s nightmare
Enforcement of instigator could reduce fighting
Tough guys lose out in internal battle
Montador excited to be part of another turnaround
In hockey, they’re always ready to rumble
Q&A Moncton Wildcats President Robert Irving
