I am not going to turn this blog into on the ledge off the ledge dot com. The Bruins are frustrating right now, almost as frustrating as the fact I taped the Senators and Leafs game last night, and inexplicably when I went to watch it this morning, the recording was black. So, I missed the battle of Ontario, and from what I understand, it was a doozy. Figures. Anyway, I want to focus on a Bruins positive.

Shawn Thornton came to the Bruins fresh off winning the Stanley Cup with Anaheim 2 years ago. He was instantly my favorite Bruin, and after this season, he’s gaining more and more fans every day. So far this season he’s had 7 fights, tying him with 2 others for the 3rd most fights in the league. What I think has been so impressive about Thornton this season is not only is he fighting at the right times in games, he is smoking people to boot. Of the 7 fights he’s had, I would say only the fight he had in Ottawa with Goonblog favorite Matt Carkner (fighting leader in the NHL) was the only one in which he didn’t win. Steve Montador will think twice about going with him again. So will Andrew Alberts. Looking at the week upcoming, the Bruins have Atlanta (Eric Boulton) and Buffalo (Steve Montador, and Paul Gaustad. Two guys he’s already fought, and beat.) Next Week brings St. Louis (Cam Janssen, BJ Crombeen) and Minnesota (“Sheriff” Shane Hnidy) so it doesn’t get much easier.

Thornton’s balance looks good, and his anger is visible when he fights this season. He’s been devastating with his shake off the elbow pad, and then lower the boom move all year. I am not sure if he’s into the MMA stuff, or who he trained with this off season, but whatever he did, it’s working. Keep up the good work Shawn; you are the only one keeping a lot of fans on the bandwagon right now.

Dangerous combo here boys. It’s a thousand. MOL is off at the Germ Factory leaving me unsupervised with at least a dozen of the “Workingman’s Brew” in the fridge. I just booked my ticket to hang with Dave at the beginning of August (we PROMISE a Podcast) and the NHL schedule came out today. You guys think I’m in a good mood? Hold on….

Walking down hall…..

Turning left into kitchen….

Opening fridge…..

They call me the Working Man……open, and sip……..AHHHHHHHH

Much better! Now then, here are some highlights of the Bruins Schedule. Before that, a tribute to my trip to the Great White North!

October 9th at Colorado. It’s back, its back, thank God it’s back! Boston opens their season on the road, per usual. Stupid circus.

October 15th at Montreal. The Habs open their 100th season in style against their hated rivals. Goosebumps thinking about it.

October 20th vs. Penguins. My first game as a season ticket holder. MOL is my usual date for opening night, so they may not see me in full plumage until…..

October 23rd vs. Toronto. Yup. Could be my last game as a season ticket holder.

November 13th vs. Montreal. First game for the Habs in Boston. Hopefully bad blood from October is still fresh.

November 28th vs. Islanders. Love the day after Thanksgiving game. Two years ago Kinger and I went, got wasted, and came home with a Hanson Brothers picture I bought for $150.00. Good times.

December 8th vs. Tampa Bay. I think these guys are going to be scrappy as hell under Barry Melrose. I’m also excited to see Steven Stamkos for the first time.

January 1st. Chicago vs. Detroit. I really want to go to Wrigley for this! If not, I guess I’ll watch on TV before going to the Bruins and Penguins.

January 19th vs. St. Louis. Hopefully Cam Janssen goes nuts.

February 7th vs. Flyers. I hate them.

March 7th vs. Blackhawks. Annual game I take my brother to against my other favorite Original Six Team?! I love it.

April 9th vs. Montreal. Hopefully there is some real bad blood here going into the playoffs!

Does anyone know how to build a time machine? I swear I won’t mess anything up. I won’t kill Hill Valley, I swear. We’re just going ahead a few months…no big whoop…..

I can not fucking believe the Bruins took another too many men on the ice penalty today. Again, while on the Power Play. If this isn’t the most poorly coached team in the NHL, then I don’t know what is.

At any rate. Here is a snap shot of my week last week.

Monday: Work. Outback Steakhouse. Reno 911 Movie. Home.

Tuesday: Work. Quick one at 99 that turned into 5. Home.

Wednesday: Work. Lowell Devils vs. Albany River Rats. Home.

Thursday: Work. Bruins vs. Wild, left at the end of the second because I was so fucking bored. Went to the Fours watched Simon’s tomahawk chop on Hollweg. Home. Poured MOL into bed.

Friday: Work. Quick three at the 99, then the Woo Sharks vs. Hartford, Papa Razzi, Home.

Big whoop. We are all busy. Point I am making is it was a very busy week for me, but it was equally busy for controversy in the NHL. That, ladies and gentlemen, is called a segue.

It actually started last Friday night. For those of you under a rock or without Youtube, New Jersey forward Cam Janssen was suspended three games for hitting Toronto defenseman Tomas Kaberle in what the NHL deemed an illegal way. I have seen the hit a zillion times, and I think it was three things.

1. It was very late. Kaberle was admiring his pass and Janssen in on the forecheck had plenty of time to turn back up ice. Instead he drilled Kaberle, who wasn’t even looking at him.
2. It was totally unnecessary. I understand Janssen’s role, and what he was trying to do, but he could have really hurt Kaberle, and it didn’t need to be done.
3. It was dirty. Again, I understand what he’s trying to do, but to drill a guy that is prone like that isn’t the way to do it. You want to stir it up, go hit a guy fair and square. Doing what he did perpetuations the notion of hockey and enforcers being barbaric.

What I found most shocking at the time of Janssen’s hit was the half hearted response by the Leafs. Only Travis Green did anything on the ice, and it didn’t look like his heart was really in it. I was reading in the book I have about Bobby Orr, Searching for Bobby Orr, about an incident in Boston many moons ago. Basically Bobby was clipped in the face accidentally by a Maple Leaf, and it started a brawl on the ice, and a near riot in the Boston Garden. After I thought about it for a couple of days, the shock really wore off. This is the new NHL people. There is no emotion in an 82 game exhibition season. I do have March 30th circled on my calendar though, as the Devils and Leafs play each other and there should be some fireworks. Having said that, see the above sentence about the new NHL and most likely nothing will happen.

The second incident was far more fiendish, and sinister carried out by Islander forward Chris Simon. For those of you emerging from a coma, first off welcome back and secondly I will recap. Chris Simon, after being drilled from behind by Ranger forward and super pest Ryan Hollweg, picked himself up off the ice. As Hollweg was coming back at him because the puck was in Simon’s area instead of Simon dropping the mitts and taking Hollweg on one on one, he went crazy for a second, and chopped Hollweg in the jaw with his stick. You no do that. Never never. MOL and I watched it at the Fours after leaving the most boring Bruins game ever. The Simon slash was one of those incidents where the whole bar saw it, and yelled out loud.

I understand what happened here. Simon lost control of his emotions for a second, and instead of doing what he should have done, i.e. drop the buckets and whale on Hollweg, he did something really stupid. I am in no way condoning what Simon did, in fact, quite the opposite. Hockey is an emotional game, and you need to try your best to harness that emotion in the right way. I am sure there isn’t a single guy that has played against Hollweg that hasn’t wanted to chop him in the face with their stick. His job is to be a pest, and he does it well. Having said that, Simon should never, ever have done what he did. I am sure he is very sorry about it, and wishes he could take it back, but that is no excuse. You have to respect the other players out there, even if you want to smash them to death with your stick. You just don’t do what Simon did, and I think the NHL did exactly what they needed to do in suspending him for 25 games.

There is a place for fighting in the NHL, and the stick work shown by Simon is a big reason why. He should have challenged Hollweg to a fight if he felt wronged. People that are against fighting should get used to seeing a guy getting chopped in the face like Hollweg was, because if and when it is regulated out of the game, it is going to be happening all the time.

I had given up. I’m not kidding. I wasn’t watching my Center Ice Package. I was barely paying attention to the Bruins, and I had most assuredly given up on my beloved Lowell Devils. Look at the posts I have made over the last couple months. Aside from me announcing my engagement, trying to sell T-shirts (buy some fucking shirts by the way), and giving detailed recaps of how sick I’ve been and my slight drinking problem, there has been little posts about hockey fights, or fighters.

It wasn’t a conscious decision. I really wish I had more to say. In fact, a lot has happened enforcer wise. George Parros was waived and picked up. Todd Fedoruk got his faced caved in. Brashear has been active. Those are just a few things that have happened. You see, I just didn’t have the heart. The two teams I follow the most, The Boston Bruins, and Lowell Devils, seemed to be very happy playing within the confines of the new rules. Boston has virtually no one that can do any fighting, and the Devils seemed to be the same old same old Lowell hockey club. They were once again a team that had capable guys on their roster, but no one seemed willing to drop em.

The Lowell theory goes back to the Ron “Thou shall not fight, you’re a fucking joke” Smith days. For years they loved to get pushed around even though they had guys capable of sticking up for themselves and teammates sitting on the bench. Even when Tom Rowe took over behind the bench and vowed they wouldn’t get pushed around, they did. Look at guys they had on their roster in Rowe’s tenure as head coach.

Brantt Myhres: 687 PIMS in 154 NHL Games. Only 77 in 29 injury plagued games in Lowell. He told me flat out he wanted to fight.

Sean Curry: Possibly the biggest pussy in the whole league.

Stephen Peat: Played 3 games. Has a mysterious leg injury.

Cody McLeod: Undersized for the role he was asked to play.

Mitch Love: Showed tons of promise before he was hurt last year.

Gordie Dwyer: One of the greatest guys I have ever met. Seemed totally unwilling to be that guy in the A.

The point I am trying to make, is I was done. I could not care less what the Devils of Lowell did. As such, I didn’t even notice when Cam Janssen was reassigned to Lowell from New Jersey. Two years ago, I would have been foaming at the mouth. Oh, I noticed when he was assigned for conditioning of his shoulder and he didn’t fight. I hoped his lack of physical play was not Gordie Dwyer Syndrome. I.e. I don’t want to fight because it’s just the “A”. When Janssen was sent back down after the holiday, I didn’t even notice. So when he had 3 fights in two games over the weekend, I was excited.

I really don’t think Cam is going to suffer from Gordie Dwyer Syndrome, or GDS. He had a spirited fight with Riley Cote Friday that featured the longest square off in history. I think he was the winner. He got jumped by Lowell PD’s favorite player, Martin Grenier, in what could be called a draw, and lost to Worcester’s Jonathan Tremblay yesterday. The point is, Janssen seems to really relish his role and has no signs of GDS. Cam has renewed my interest in gooning, and thuggery, and I thank him for it. So, Mr. Janssen, if you keep it up, I will keep the faith. You have the chance to become the most beloved Lowell player since Trevor Gillies. If there is a pill or a lotion you need to apply to avoid GDS, I will supply it. Hopefully all you need is the cheers of the fans, and a few cold ones after the game. Hey, I can supply that as well!

I am moving Christmas to December 19. Sorry Jesus, it’s gotta be done. Cam Janssen was just assigned to Lowell for conditioning. With Manchester in town tomorrow, here’s hoping we see Mike Hoffman and Cam have a tussle. I was feeling like shit, but this has really made my day. I need a life.

Well, it looks like I am splitting my playoff predictions. I had successfully picked Buffalo, and Anaheim to move on. Way wrong on the Devils. San Jose and Edmonton are in a dog fight, and I didn’t really pick a winner there anyway. I watched two of the Buffalo games, and all of the Carolina games. I caught one of the Anaheim games, but was loaded when I was watching it, so I can’t comment. I would have to say, the most interestng player in this year’s playoffs by far was #25 for the Devils. Mr. Cam Janssen.

Cam didn’t play a ton, but when he hit the ice, he made his presence know. He fought Mike Commodore in game one on a message shift from Coach Lou. Every other shift he was on the ice, he was lining people up. The hit he put on Kevyn Adams was devastating to say the least. Janssen is what playoff hockey is all about. He is grit, and muscle, and an under your skin guy that plays each shift tough. He leaves it on the ice every game. During the post game handshake (which by the way is the coolest tradition in sports) there was two really cool moments. One was Brodeur and Cam Ward meeting for the first time, and the other was Janssen and Commodore shaking hands for a long time. It is a sign of respect between these guys to do battle, and shake hands after. It’s like getting in a fight with a friend, and sharing a beer after. For Commodore it was on to the Eastern Conference Finals. For Cam Janssen, a flight back to St. Louis. I will miss #25 for the rest of the playoffs. Have a good Summer Mr. Janssen, see you in the Fall.

He’s not playing, he’s suspended!

I can see the stick boy in Slap Shot now. It seems the AHL got a tape of the hit Cam Janssen put on Mitch Love Wednesday night, and have handed him a two game suspension for his actions.

Janssen and Gladiator Runner up Mike Sgroi were trying all night to get either Gordie Dwyer, or Mitch Love to fight them. I saw love turn Janssen down at least three times, and Dwyer turned them both down probably another six times. Gordie is a super nice kid and all, but he is about as interested in fighting in the AHL, as I am in being ass raped in MCI Cedar Junction. At one point during the game Gordie and Janssen were locked up in a scrum along the boards after a stoppage in play. It appeared to me that Cam tagged Dwyer once, and Gordie turtled. Typical Lockmonster behavior truth be told.

As the game wore on, Janssen and Sgroi were growing tired of the lack of intestinal fortitude shown by the entire Lowell squad. Near the end of the third, Love was breaking out of his zone and had just dished the puck to his partner. As he dished it Janssen lined him, left his feet, and drilled Love, sending him sprawling to the ice. Love’s partner Tomas Slovak jumped in and challenged Janssen. Kudos to Slovak for sticking up for his teammate. Slovak was way out matched by Janssen, and really has no business fighting him at all. He did a great job keeping Janssen at bay, and getting his head far away from Janssen. I don’t really think either guy landed any punches. The penalty box attendant said Janssen winked at Slovak on the way to the box, and gave him a ton of credit for sticking up for Love.

I feel the suspension is warranted. Janssen is lucky he didn’t get a major for intent to injure on the hit. I don’t blame him for doing it, he’s just trying to do his job, but you do the crime, you gotta do the time. That is my second prison reference today. Maybe I do want to go to Cedar Junction? Oh wait….

Remember the subject of our first installment of Tales From the AHL? That’s right; Old Pumpkin Head has called it a career. I was thinking to myself, right before I saw this news yesterday, where is Rob Skrlac? That Albany team is going to be pretty tough, with up and comer Cam Janssen, and Gladiator Champ Mike Sgroi doing the heavy lifting. Pumpkin Head is getting a little long in the tooth, so he called it a day. It was awesome to see him make the show for a couple of games last time the NHL played. He was called up as a thank you for years of service to the New Jersey organization, and wasted no time letting the organization know he was thankful. He had a pretty good scrap with Stephen Peat on a Saturday afternoon ABC game, and the crowd erupted to thank him right back. Good luck in the future Rob. Don’t forget to share that huge pillow with your new wife!