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Hockey fight blog with humorous, blow-by-blow commentary on brawls, goons & enforcers

Hockey fight blog with humorous, blow-by-blow commentary on goons, enforcers and donnybrooks.

Milan Lucic’s Happy Homecoming


in Uncategorized

As reported about 10 days ago, Milan Lucic is a Boston Bruin once again.

Personally, I am reluctantly rejoicing. Hesitantly happy. Because I always liked Lucic, and hope he enjoys his season here. And I also hope the Boston fanny nitwits realize what they’re getting and aren’t too hard on our (once) prodigal son.

Milan Lucic’s Road Back to Boston
It’s recently come out that Lucic had discussions with about half the league – and the Blackhawks were a strong suitor. The Hawks need to protect (newly acquired next big thing) Connor Bedard, so that makes sense.

Bruins’ Offseason Acquisitions: James van Riemsdyk and Kevin Shattenkirk
The Bruins would have had the best July 1st ever – if it were 2013. In addition to adding Milan Lucic, they added James van Riemsdyk and, long rumored to be in the Bruins plans, defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. All three have ties to the New England area. JVR and Shattenkirk are both Hockey East alums, having played at UNH and Boston University respectively. While Lucic spent his formative years here in the Hub of the Universe.

All are on the back nine of their careers, but bring a unique skill set to the 2023-2024 Boston Bruins.

JVR is a big body that put up 29 points in 61 games for the Flyers last year. He’s going to be counted on to help anchor the 4th line on a nightly basis with Lucic, and can potentially slide up the lineup in case of injury, or as an in-game adjustment from Coach Jim Montgomery.

Kevin Shattenkirk has been toiling away on a couple of really crappy Anaheim Ducks teams the last few year – so you’re excused if you said, “Shattenkirk still plays hockey?!” Yes, yes, he does. Shatty managed 27 points in 75 games last year and was a dismal -20 playing on a shitty team. He’s been linked to the Bruins for as long as I can remember, and it seems like this is the natural progression. He’s still got a little game and can definitely still be a veteran bottom 6 pairing.

Milan Lucic, as documented, is what he is these days. He can still play a little, and he can still fight.

Milan Lucic’s Donnybrook Prospects
Milan had three excellent tilts last year. He’s going to need to be sharp as the Toronto Maple Leafs added veteran tough guy, Ryan Reaves. Many consider Reaves to be the reigning heavyweight champion in the NHL. I’m looking forward to seeing how Lucic does against him, and we certainly can’t forget that Arber “WiFi” Xhekaj is still in Montreal. You knew I couldn’t go two posts without bringing up the WiFi. Point being – theres thems guys, and a few others in the Eastern Conference, that realistically could keep Looch’s fight card full. New NHL be dammed.

Still, it all seems like a Boston Plan B. All three are veterans, and all three are on that back 9.

Bruins Trade Tribulations
Boston looked to be headed in the right direction when signing Tyler Bertuzzi when they shipped Taylor Hall and sent Uncle Nick Foligno to Chicago. It was a classic salary dump. I’m not Don Sweeney, and I wasn’t in the room for any discussions, but it seems like they had a giant window in which to get something done with Bert, and they just couldn’t do it. The money he signed for in Toronto seemed reasonable.

Then, the Bruins let Garnet Hathaway go for short money too. Dimitry Orlov was way out their price range, so it seemed they HAD an ability to keep Hathaway or Bertuzzi, but not both. Instead, they wound up with neither, got three patchwork pieces, and thusly are going to arbitration with Trent Frederic and Jeremy Swayman.

It’s a very dicey situation right now. The free agent pool this off-season is shallow. Next year it will be deeper, and the cap is going up. A lot of clubs seem to be taking a “wait and see” attitude until 2024.

If I were Don Sweeney, I would demand to know if Patrice Bergeron is coming back. Further, I would be taking calls on anyone not named Swayman. He may be doing those things in the background, and in public we’re getting the boilerplate.

Fuggit: I can’t pretend I’m not pumped that Lucic is back. And he seems pretty damn happy about it too. I hope he fights a lot and can chip in offensively. I hope he has that golden year Lucic Smash attitude. And I also hope this season isn’t a massive step backwards.

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Milan Lucic Returns to Boston


in Milan Lucic, Calgary Flames, Colton Orr, Georges Laraque, Nathan Horton

Rumors are swirling that Milan Lucic, a beloved Boston Bruins fan favorite, will be signing with the Bruins on July 1. Update: 1/7/23 – he did! I have mixed emotions about the alleged deal. Personally, I have always liked Lucic, and it’ll be fun to see him back in the black and gold. However, it makes me wonder what he’s thinking. 

Lucic’s Arrival and Early Success in Boston
Let’s go back to when Milan Lucic arrived here in 2007-2008, wearing number 62. In one of his very first games, he recorded a Gordie Howe Hat Trick and was soon given the number 17, which basically reinforced that he wasn’t going anywhere. As the season went on, he fought against many big names of the time, including Raitis Ivanans, Nick Tarnasky, Ben Eager, and John Erskine.

In my opinion, he acquitted himself well in most of his fights. He also managed to score 8 goals and provide 19 assists, resulting in 27 points (which is 27 more than I have in the NHL) in his rookie year. This is quite impressive for a guy that had 89 minutes in penalties to go with 13 fights. Everyone loved LOOOOOOOOOOCH, and then the comparisons started. 

The Lucic-Neely Comparisons: An Unfair Assessment
Due to his playing style as a power forward, his offensive prowess, and his willingness to drop the gloves, Lucic found himself being compared to Bruins legend, Cam Neely. It was inevitable. Both are from Vancouver. Both were great power forwards, and both could fight.

In my opinion, the comparison wasn’t entirely fair. Neely was a superior offensive talent, playing in an era when fighting was still prevalent and expected. Lucic came up in a time when fighting was a bit more specialized role, and he has never been the most graceful of a skater, but still always seemed to get the job done.

Lucic’s Role in the Bruins’ Championship Season
In the 2010-2011 season, Lucic had an outstanding year with the Boston Bruins. In 79 games, he scored an impressive 30 goals and provided 32 assists, resulting in a total of 62 points. This season was particularly significant as the Bruins ended a 30-plus year championship drought and won the Stanley Cup, with Lucic playing a crucial role in the team’s success.

Forming a line with Marc Savard and Nathan Horton, the strategy was straightforward: Lucic would use his physicality to create opportunities, Savard or Horton would capitalize on those chances, and the cycle would continue. It was a winning formula that brought joy to Bruins fans. However, it’s worth noting that Boston fans can sometimes be overly critical, which is unfortunate.

Criticisms and Controversies Surrounding Lucic
Lucic was a prominent offensive player and not just a fourth-liner, yet the fan base began to turn on him, particularly after losing fights to players like Colton Orr. There was also a well-known incident involving a public feud between Lucic and Georges Laraque in Montreal.

Milan Lucic asleep on the plane looking like Sloth from the Goonies.

Lucic was a prominent offensive player and not just a fourth-liner, yet the fan base began to turn on him, particularly after losing fights to players like Colton Orr. There was also a well-known incident involving a public feud between Lucic and Georges Laraque in Montreal. It’s been too long to remember the exact details, but tensions were high between them.

In a highly anticipated game in Montreal, Lucic and Laraque lined up next to each other. Laraque clearly challenged him to a fight, but Lucic declined. This incident added fuel to an ongoing feud between Lucic and Montreal’s Dale Weise. Fans were disappointed that Lucic refused to fight a heavyweight like Laraque but would engage in conflicts with a pesky shit disturber like Weise.

Lucic’s time in Boston was always productive, especially after Marc Savard left the game due to concussions. He formed a successful line with David Krejci and Nathan Horton, utilizing his signature “Lucic smash” style. However, despite his contributions, the fans were critical of his skating abilities and his choice of opponents in fights. 

In the 2014-2015 season, with a year remaining on his contract, Lucic was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Martin Jones, a decision that I believe the Bruins should have reconsidered. He spent a single season in LA before signing with the Edmonton Oilers in the summer of 2016. Unfortunately, his production has declined since then, leading to his recent trade to the Calgary Flames.

Milan’s Recent Decline and the Potential Risks of a Boston Return
Lucic’s skating skills have always been subpar, and they have not improved over time. Additionally, his offensive numbers have dipped. Although he had only three fights last year, they were against formidable opponents, with his bout against Kurtis MacDermid being one of the highlights of the year.

Signing Lucic for the Bruins makes sense. Reportedly, he will ink a one-year deal for $1 million. He is expected to bring intimidation to the ice and contribute to the team’s fourth line. However, there are concerns about the potential cost of this signing. I worry that Lucic may come to regret his decision to return to Boston after his time with the Oilers and Flames. It could turn into a disappointing end to his career, mirroring the cliche of finishing where he started. 

So – if the Boston fans can find a way to buck their usual trend of scrutinizing his every move, and the media can resist fueling the fire of the nitwit fans, I think it’s going to be a match made in heaven. Having said that, stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason, and I see this going down in a Hindenburg-esque ball of flames. Here’s hoping I’m very wrong. Because we love the guy.

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Colton Orr Still Hasn’t Kicked My Head In


in Colton Orr

In the last couple of weeks, there’s been two NHL games that featured multiple fights.

On March 30th the Bruins and Blue Jackets got into 3. And on the 5th of April, Tampa and the New York Rangers had a spirited game featuring 5. Of those 5, Corey Perry was involved in 2, and took a sound beating in the second.

I just happened to be in the World’s Most Famous Arena that night, due to a convenient business trip, and also had my whole life flash before my eyes after bumping into former NHL tough guy, and Goonblog favorite, Colton Orr. Let’s look at the fights first, then I will get to Colton.

Back to the Banning Banter
There was an article I saw about the banning of fighting in the Q next year. Unsurprisingly, a guy that was paralyzed in a QMJHL fight a few years ago, Dean Bergeron, was in support of the ban. While former NHL tough guys (and Q alums) Georges Laraque and Riley Cote were against it.

Laraque took the stance that it was his only way to get to The Show, and therefore had no regrets. Cote argued that if these kids don’t learn to protect themselves now, what happens when they get to the National and all bets are off? I’ve made similar arguments in the past, and agree with the two tough guys here.

Why I’m bringing this up now is that the Bruins got into three fights (with a bottom feeder team) in which they were either defending themselves or sticking up for a teammate.

George and Sweezey
Lakub Lauko of the Bruins has been trying to stick in the NHL this season. He had a spirited fight with CBJ’s Billy Sweezey – and Billy’s dad was in the Garden for the game, dressed in full Columbus gear and pounding a beer after the scrap.

I didn’t even need to mention Sweezey was from Massachusetts, did I? If your name is Billy, and you’re in the NHL – you’re also from Massachusetts. Every time.

Lauko did very well in the fight, and Bruins Coach, Jim Montgomery, said that Lauko has earned ice time all year, and that the scrap was another important part of proving himself.

The Dream Warrior
The second fight was Trent “Nightmare on Causeway St.” Frederic sticking up for Bruins Captain, Patrice Bergeron. Lane Pederson cross checked Bergeron in the face and only got a 2-minute penalty. Once he served his time, Freddy gave him a “how do you do” on the old shin pad during a faceoff. Both guys dropped their gloves – because that’s how it’s done in the NHL. Frederic proceeds to one-punch Lane Pederson (who was dreaming to begin with), and that was the end of it. You cross check the Captain, kid? Now we gotta go. Justice is served.

Let’s Go Brandon
The last fight of the night featured Boone Jenner of the Jackets and Boston’s Brandon Carlo. Personally, I would like Carlo to be way meaner, and fight more in general – but I get that he’s not really THAT player and might be worried about head injuries. Jenner pushed him a couple of times before Carlo got to the end of his rope – and away they went. I think Jenner won the fight but was still glad to see Carlo stick up for himself.

All three fights were examples of why fighting should always be a part of hockey. The first one was two guys that had a disagreement. The second was a guy supporting a teammate and ensuring everyone knows where the line is, and the third is a classic example of a guy sticking up for himself. If these tools aren’t used in Junior, there’s a lot of guys that are going to be in for a rude awakening later in their careers. And that shouldn’t have to happen.

The City That Never Sleeps
On to my time on the ground in New York. First off, I hadn’t been to Madison Square Garden since a Grateful Dead show in the 90’s. Good gravy, that place is FREEZING. Like, the coldest rink ever. I was there for a work event in section 223. Great seats. I really enjoyed the arena, sightlines, and all that – but next time: Don’t be such a bigshot, dummy. Take a jacket.

Going into the game I was thinking it could go one of two ways. It was either going to end up as a humdrum “don’t get anyone hurt on either side” affair, since both teams are already in the playoffs. In fact, the Lightning can’t improve their position, but the Rangers could. Or, since there is some bad blood between the two teams, it could end up as a a playoff snarly.

It ended up as the latter. In fact, the guy next to me leaned over at one point and said, “I thought this was going to be super boring, but this is the best game I’ve seen all year!”

For me, having no dog in the fight whatsoever, I agree. The game was fight-filled, and the Rangers won 6-3. It was very entertaining, and the fights were all decent, except for Corey Perry’s second scrap. That wasn’t a good result for him. Not at all. Another reason why the NHL needs fighting.

And have I mentioned? Former Ranger, Colton Orr, was in the building to award the “Season Ticket Holder of the Game” prize before the tilt got underway.

Feels Like the First Time. For Me.

I have always been a huge Orr fan, and this was not our first encounter. Long ago, I met him at a Boston bar in North Station after a Bruins game. In the interest of full transparency, I also had an estimated 318 beers on board. If memory serves, it’s likely I spent the night on The Ref’s couch in the nearby North End that night. So, yeah. That drunk.

Orr had just been called up, having arrived at the bar to meet some of the boys to celebrate after the game. Now, to say I was excited to meet him – and talk hockey fights – is an understatement. Turned out, I think he was surprised I knew who he was. He was also surprised I was still upright.

Because I was steaming drunk. Like Jim Lahey, I had become the liquor.

Colton was super nice. Humored me for a good 20 minutes as I slurred out inquiries about his call up, who he had fought that year in the AHL, who he was planning to fight in the NHL, and so on, and on, and on.

One of his buddies showed up, so we shook hands and parted ways. It was not a “sweet sorrow” situation. Because, frankly, I wanted to hug him and never let him go. Goonblog loves us some Colton.

Reunited, and it Feels So Good. For Me.
Flash forward to April 5th. If you’ve never been to MSG, let me just say this, again: It’s friggin’ freezing in there, and the concourse is unreasonably tight and narrow. I was moving through foot traffic to get to the beer stand on behalf of my colleagues (my shout). Focused on the mission, with nothing but good intentions and the tactical awareness of Rob O’Neill.

I dodged around a cement pole, and walked straight into, you guessed it (because it’s in the title of the post) Colton Orr.

Like, truly “straight into”. As opposed to figuratively.

Mr. Orr looked to be in game shape, was unimpressed, and for a moment thoughts of my mortality flashed front and center.

There was a quick “I’m going to murder you” look in his piercing blue eyes. I tried to say “Ooops, bud, my bad”. But was so nervous all I got out was, “Ooops. Me. Bad.” At least now Colton can say he’s met Fat Tarzan.

To his credit, that glare quickly turned into a smile. He politely said something like “no problem”, possibly because he thought he may be addressing someone on the spectrum,  and walked on.

Regardless, I am glad to have now met Colton Orr twice, and appreciate that both times he’s taken way more pity on me than anyone deserved.

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Another Hockey Fight Death Knell?


in Trent Frederic

There’s been a couple of recent developments, in a couple of different leagues, which both impact fighting in hockey in a negative way.

  1. The first news comes from the NHL. Gary Bettman reported that there was discussion at the winter meetings around banning the type of fighting that is most prevalent these days. That being: the guy just laid out a player on your team, so now he must fight, kinda fight.
  2. The second comes from the QMJHL (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League – Heretofore known as the “Q”). They have taken a stance to outright ban fighting starting with the 2023-2024 season.

They both suck. And are connected in ways which may not be beneficial to incoming players (or future popularity of the sport), so let’s break it down.

NHL Fighting Rules
In the NHL the rules have changed quite a bit. Gone are the staged fights. On a serious decline are the fights that happen organically. What has replaced them, is the you just hit my guy, now we gotta go fight. And it is not my favorite variety.

I don’t believe one should have to fight because a guy put a good bodycheck on an opponent in the course of game play. I’d like to see two guys that are mad at each other, or trying to change momentum, drop the mitts and go at it. Unfortunately, NHL linesmen are being more and more directed to jump in and stop a fight before its conclusion. See Freddy and Dylan Cozens below.

Trent Frederic vs. Dylan Cozens, March 19, 2023

In the NHL there is an instigator rule. Nine out of ten times, it doesn’t get called. Attractive women talk to me more than the instigator gets called – it’s that rare. I don’t get it. A guy gets jumped for a hit a on the other team, and is basically forced into a fight. How is that NOT an instigator penalty? Call it. It was the spirit of why it was introduced in the first place.

I know there’s a ton of you out there thinking I’ve lost my mind, but if they start calling the instigator as it should be, I hazard to guess we’ll see a return of two tough guys looking to settle scores at center ice as well as fight happening more organically. Hockey, despite what people say, needs fighting. It really does. No one goes to get a beer during a fight. It is also what makes hockey so unique in a saturated pro sports landscape. It is the only league where it’s allowed….

QMJHL Fighting Rules
…which makes the banning of fighting in the QMJHL sound insane. I get their point. A lot of the kids in the Q are as young as 16 years old. There is a lot more known about concussions now than ever before. I hear you. It doesn’t change the fact that hockey is an emotional and very fast game.

You want to see concussions spike? Well, what do you think will happen now that there’s no repercussion for boarding someone, or hitting someone with their head down on the Q? That’s right. Head injuries. Do I go pound on someone and get myself kicked out of said game and the next, or do I let that slide? Most times they’ll let it slide.

March – in like a lion, out like a lamb.

I foresee lot of guys coming from the Q and making it to the show entering a whole new world of pain. It’s a lot like how millennials were told everything needs to be fair, but when they got to the real world it was a new awakening.

“Oh, Ryan Reaves is after me because I just boarded one of his guys?! Well, this wasn’t allowed in the Q! Somebody call my Mom.”

Over time, I think we’ll see other leagues follow suit, sadly. Then the NHL should just expand the ice and play on an international sheet. It’s uniqueness will be gone.

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The Bruins Just Got Better


in Old Time Hockey, Hockey Movies

What a weekend for the black and gold, eh? First, they go out and swing a great deal with the Capitals. Then they go and beat a very good Seattle team. Then the new boys join the club in Vancouver and Linus Ullmark scores the first ever goal by a Bruins goalie to ice the game 3-1. Unbelievable turn of events.

I think the Bruins did a fantastic job in shedding an underperforming player in Craig Smith while getting some real grit back in the form of Garnet Hathaway. For those unfamiliar, Hathaway is the pride of Kennebunkport, ME. He’s said it’s always been a dream of his to wear the spoked B. While I will admit bringing local kids back to Boston has more often than not – NOT – panned out, I do like this pickup tremendously.

Any time there’s a trade, I always picture Joe McGrath climbing on the Chiefs bus yelling, “Where are the new boys?!” It always makes me laugh.

“Piss on Eddie Shore”!

The Prototypical Bruin
Garnet Hathaway is not going to give you 20-25 goals a year. He’s going to give you a genuine sandpaper and grit type effort on the ice. He plays an honest game and does have the ability to fight. So… a prototypical Bruin in my estimation. It’s exactly the type of player they need to make a long cup run.

The Bruins also acquired Dimitry Orlov. I think it’s a fine move as Orlov is a know commodity and a solid 2-way defenseman. I think coming with a familiar face in Hathaway with help his transition. Defensemen have it a little tougher when coming in off a trade. More forwards to learn how they like to break out, and how they like receiving pucks, and little things like that – but I think he’s going to fit in just fine.


Ullmark: When you Care Enough to Send the Very Best
How about that Ullmark? What a season he’s having. I mean, he’s the runaway favorite for the Vezina, and now he’s got his first career goal to go with it. To say I went mental at my local when he corralled the puck and fired it the length of the ice into the yawning empty net is an understatement!

I matched Jack Edwards’ level of excitement. As an aside, I think Jack had a stroke or some kind of brain injury. He almost has one during the call of this goal, but I have noticed his speech has been labored, sometimes slurred, and he has trouble putting sentences together. Either way, the Bruins just got better, and that’s bad news for the rest of the league.

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Finger on the Pulse of the Fiasco


in Nicolas Deslauriers, Steve Downie, Steve Ott

I’m not gonna pigpile on the NHL for that debacle they called “All-Star Weekend”, as there have already been too many articles from far more capable “writers” than yours truly… but that sucked.

The new skills format on Friday was beyond jokes, and the “3×3 with four divisions” format has already worn out its welcome – and it’s only a few years old (since 2016). As of February 1, 2023 only 51 out of 803 NHL games this season have gone to the 3×3 format. Less than 7% of all NHL games play that format for more than 5 minutes. That’s what you’re trying to sell to the average NHL fan?

Shame on you for not having your finger on the pulse on the folks on the other side of the TV screen. Give me 5×5 with the best players in the World showcasing their talents, or cancel the game. If not, I’m not watching going forward and I hope everyone else joins in boycotting this friggin’ fiasco.

This is what happens when you (NHL) allow the almighty dollar to dictate how things run and get done. The NHL, like many other businesses, are in it for one thing, and one thing only: making as much money as humanly possible. I don’t blame them, but the cascade of boos has to be heard by the league over what they put out as a product and keep fiddling with.

Stolen Valor?
Clearly, no one from the NHL Marketing Team has ever played the game. If they had, these stupid ideas would have been shot down in the first boardroom they were brought up in. Was this a “Partner” involved change, i.e. Honda minions, ABC, Disney or the World Wide Leader ESPN? Who the fuck knows, but heads have to roll. Did you see the tweet from Zegras’ during Friday’s debauchery? When your own players are calling things out you know there is a major problem.

Who doesn’t like something new? New bike, car, golf clubs or Bauer twig – they’re all welcome. The new ideas this year, however, failed miserably.

“We get it, Killer, but what the hell do you suggest“? Funny you should ask….

Gauntlet of Goons
Have you ever seen, or are you at least familiar with, the concept of an NHL hockey fight? Almost everyone is standing and cheering loudly as they are all, and I quote Maximus here, “Entertained”. Obviously, the NHL will never bring fighting to the All-Star weekend, but they can incorporate aspects of it.

Remeber in 2016 when John Scott was voted into the game by the fans? Imagine if they had a bunch of Goons like Reeves, Deslauriers and others present… and former Goons stepping up to lay into him like a punching bag? Get those geeks from Sport Science to measure the punching power and show us what it looks like scientifically.

What about a dunk tank for current / former rats like Corey Perry, Brad Marchand, Steve Downie, Steve Ott, Patrick Kaleta, etc… Good way to raise funds for charity. Personally, I’d pay a few hundo to launch a couple of haymakers at Perry. He is by far the worlds biggest scumbag in the NHL, BTW. I put him right up there with Matt Cooke.

I should stop. Because lord knows the cheap pricks at NHL HQ will just steal my brilliant ideas and and call them their own. Suffice to say, things need to change, and I hope they do. If not, I will need something to do besides drink frustratedly.

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Hockey Fights: The New Model


in Milan Lucic

The Rangers and Flames had a bit of a contentious affair last evening in New York. The game featured 3 fights, which we don’t ever do not, never not love… ever. You could say, that the way in which said disagreements initiated, is a microcosm of the current era in hockey fighting.

New Hotness
All three scraps happened after one player leveled another, and then their teammate took on the guy that did the leveling. Got that? Before I get accused of being an old man yelling at a cloud, I will explain.

Back in the Day Donnybrooks
In the days of yesteryear, bodychecking was done as predatorily as it is now. The equipment was archaic and not very protective. If a guy ran another guy hard it would hurt them as much as the guy doing the running. And these guys didn’t even wear helmets for Christ’s sake. No need to open-ice-destroy a man when there’s a risk he could smash his friggin’ head on the ice and bleed all over the place. And yet…

There was a respect factor that existed back then. The NHL was a winter job for a lot of these guys and there was a level of community which isn’t there anymore. If I know a guy just came off injury, or maybe it’s night 2 of a back-to-back. I have the choice to run him or separate him from the puck gently – but firmly enough to accomplish the mission of reestablishing possession. I’m taking the firm but gentle option every time.

When and Why?
I can’t say when the new way of fighting started, or why. The “staged” fights are largely gone form the NHL. Also gone are the days when the 4th-liners would come out and the crowd would start buzzing because they knew what was coming. Occasionally you see fights like last week where Wayne Simmonds took it upon himself to try and turn the tide of a game. It worked, BTW. For a little while anyway. Now it seems if you want to start a fight, just lay a heavy check on anyone and you’ll get a taker.

What I find very interesting about last night’s three fights, is the second one in particular. It all started when Sammy Blais derailed a chugging Milan Lucic at center ice.

Looooooch!
Now, Lucic is a very big boy and can take care of himself. He’s been having a bit of a renaissance this year fight-wise and is still not someone to trifle with. After Blais hit him, he was really mad, and wearing the classic LUCIC SMASH face he puts on when he’s… really mad. Ultimately, Lucic couldn’t get to him, but he certainly threw a few in at the bottom of the pile under which Blais found himself when the Flames converged. Instead, we were treated to Calgary’s MacKenzie Weegar whaling the shit out of Will Cuylle of the Rangers.

This bout isn’t close, and I feel bad for Cuylle’s… face.

I’m not complaining. I like hockey fights, however they come. I just don’t get the logic. The NHL says “no”, we can’t have two big guys – that know how to fight going out to fight for the sake of fighting – but “yes”, it’s OK to have a near fucking line brawl every time someone lays the body to someone else in the course of gameplay. It’s quite typical of the NHL and in a lot of ways, it’s not their fault.

I get they can’t openly endorse fighting, but fighting in hockey is one of the many things that makes the game unique. It’s one of the reasons people still watch to this day. The hope of a fight gets them to tuning in.

I’m interested to hear other thoughts on this. If I were smart enough, I would put a poll in this post, but alas I don’t have the technical perspicacity. Here’s the question. Do you mind the current hit, and “you have to fight model”, or would you prefer the old staged fights approach?

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Gary Bettman’s Arizona Nudes


in AJ Greer, Phoenix Coyotes, Wayne Simmonds

For those of you that may be contributing to the recent report showing NHL viewership is down 22% this season, the Boston Bruins are having a heck of a good year. They cruise into the All-Star break sitting atop the NHL with a record of 39-7-5 for a total of 83 points. That’s a 7-point advantage on the closest team overall, and they’re 13 points up on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs are the closest team in their division, and the Bruins had their way with them last night winning 5-2 in Toronto to get the break started in style. I have four thoughts on Boston after last night’s tilt.

  1. They have a lot of character guys. Case in point. AJ Greer. He scores the eventual game winner last night and on the ensuing faceoff he gets challenged by Toronto’s Wayne Simmonds. Listen, I’m a fan of guys that do what Simmonds does today, and what he’s been doing over his career. At this point, Simmonds is in Toronto to do basically one thing, and that is drop the gloves.

    As Mike Rupp once yelled at Jody Shelley, “You’re irrelevant out here!” which by the way is the meanest thing I have ever heard someone yell on the ice, that is how Wayne Simmonds is perceived. He’s been waived at least twice this season and has managed 1 assist and 34 PIM in 13 games this year. All this to say, his job is to go out and ask someone to fight when his team just went down 2 goals.
  2. The guy that scored the goal is the one that gets challenged? Honestly? Is it me? Anyway, Greer being a character guy and wanting to oblige the willing Simmonds, he says “yes”. Really bad idea. Simmonds gave him a hard right that buckled Greer and eventually got the concussion spotters involved. Simmonds did his job, and it worked. The ice definitely tilted in Toronto’s favor after the decided victory. And that’s why we have the fights.
  3. AJ Greer didn’t have to fight Wayne Simmonds. He just scored, and they were rolling. When a guy with the kind of grit and determination Greer has just to in the Show get challenged, they answer the bell. This Bruins team is littered with guys that would have done the same thing.
  4. Linus Ullmark is really good. Remember last season when it appeared that Jeremy Swayman was going to be the goalie of the future and they wasted 5 million on Ullmark? I mean, right up until the whole Tuukka fiasco? I’m not saying Swayman isn’t the future, but I am saying Linus Ullmark looks worth every friggin’ penny in his bank account right now.

    After the fight the Leafs regained some momentum. They were peppering Ullmark, and he had an answer for everything. What I like about his game is he’s compact. He’s looks like Pete Peeters to me. Really big, and square to the shooter. He doesn’t waste movement or slide around like an asshole like Rask loved to do. I hope they keep Goalie Bob away from Ullmark, because he’ll kill his game.

It would have been nice to go into the all-star break with 40 wins. I know I’m being picky, but, I would have loved to see that nice even number. I think back on the first half, and really the only game that bothers me is the regulation loss in Arizona. How the NHL is allowing teams to play in that barn is laughable.

Dirty Gary
Gary Bettman has nudes of someone in legislation in Arizona. He must. The Coyotes are playing in a top-notch division 1 hockey facility. I mean, it’s practically a pro set up….on the home side. The visitors are dressing in what appears to be Concord Youth Ice Association’s home dressing room. Guys, you remember. The “big” dressing room under the stairs in Rink 2? It’s embarrassing.

“Whaddaya think, about this long?”

The dressing rooms in Arizona aside, the Bruins left one in the desert. They let a really crappy team hang around, and Jeremy Swayman wasn’t very good. They embarrassed themselves and it was close enough to the beginning of the season when all the nit wits (myself included) came out of the woodwork with the old, oh yeah, this is who them are.

I knew this start wasn’t sustainable. I speak for everyone when I apologize. The Bruins are historically good with a ton of heart. Plenty of room on the bandwagon!

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What’s the Deal with the IIHF Medal Round?


in World Juniors

How’s it goin’ Eh? Hope everyone had a fantastic Holiday Season, enjoyed family time, relaxed and had a drink or 20. I know the Killer clan had a doozy, so let’s start the new year off right.

The World Juniors is one of my favorite hockey tournaments to watch. While away in the “can” these past few years, that provided some challenges to watch live as most cons aren’t into pucks. Fortunately, I was able to build out an infrastructure to watch most games live or on demand. Must be my entrepreneurial spirit that drove me, but I hope you can appreciate the depths I went to for my hockey “fix” while inside.

Let’s Talk About Bedard
Connor Bedard is all that and a bag of chips. What he did this year over the 10 days was simply magical -scoring 23 points and leading Canada to back-to-back Gold Medals. Every time he touched the puck you could tell something special was about to happen. Can’t wait to see where he ends up next year in the NHL. He is a generational talent, so sit back and enjoy watching him play whenever you can.

Team USA was able to earn the Bronze medal with a wild OT winner against Sweden 8-7. USA was led by Head Coach Rand Pecknold who has been the HC at Quinnipiac since 1994. One of my best buddies growing up was the keeper for them the first year they went D1. That kid saw more rubber than the inside of Jenna Jameson’s orifices. Congrats to Rand and the players!

Anyone catch the World Cup of Soccer last month? Snooze, I know, but stay with me as this will all tie together shortly. I can’t stand soccer / football or whatever you want to call it. Mostly because there is no hitting and when there is accidental contact, the players flop around like Mike Ribiero. Congrats to Argentina and Messi, who is pretty skilled with his feet, on winning the Cup. How in the world can that championship be decided on via penalty kicks alone? And herein lies another problem with “The Beautiful Game”.

That’s Not How You Do Overtime
Now, back to the World Juniors: how in the world can the IIHF have OT medal round games decided with 3×3? Come on! This is for a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal and you are deciding the winner like that? Makes absolutely zero sense. 5×5 for 20 minutes, then lather rinse repeat until a goal is scored. Am I talking to myself?

My beef with this stupid rule isn’t because Canada won the Gold… cause hell, USA won Bronze and I think it’s still dumb. I can only gather that the buffoons running the IIHF are exhausted by the Medal round after being in a foreign Country during the Holidays and just want to get the hell home.

One of my roommates in college was from a small town outside Toronto and he still calls that home today. Last time I saw him in person was October of 2002 when he made the trip down from the North to the States with his bride to attend my wedding. Thanks to technology, we keep in touch frequently during the hockey season, but I can’t wait to see him again in person one of these days. I haven’t checked with my probation officer lately regarding International travel… so that could impact my ability to go North of the border.

He loves hockey and can talk about it 24×7. His balls must still be cold as he loves hanging them when Canada wins any hockey related tournament. The second Dylan Guenther scored, my phone was blowing up with Canada flag emoji’s. I didn’t even bother getting into a back-and-forth that night as it wasn’t worth it. I congratulated him on the victory and went to bed. Let’s hope next year and going forward that the IIHF changes the medal round OT format.

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The Nightmare on Causeway Street


in Kevin Bahl, Trent Frederic

Hallelujah – I’m writing something that’s NOT about Arber Xhekaj! Because, and I’ll stress this again, we ARE NOT a Habs Blog! I feel better. Ref? Killer? Do you guys feel better? I feel better. And on we go…

My current favorite Boston Bruins player is none other than Trent Frederic, and he had a heck of a game last night in New Jersey. After a scoreless first period, Trent got the Bruins on the board around the halfway point of the second period. Hampus Lindholm makes a heck of a nice drop pass here, and Freddy absolutely labels one top drawer.

Off topic, but it doesn’t get better than Kenny Albert, with Edzo and Jonesy at ice level, from an announce team perspective. All three get the game, and as we’ll talk about in a second, seem to really enjoy fighting.

Anyhow, Frederic has a really good shot, and he cashes in on plays like this a lot. What makes him such a valuable asset, is he can also drive the net and create some havoc in the paint for opposing goaltenders. While he does that, he’s usually bound to be chirping someone.


Before the second period goal, Freddy tried to jumpstart the team with a scrap in the first, but not a major dustup. It just seemed like a good time for a fight, and he found a willing participant in New Jersey’s Kevin Bahl. Frederic’s style is to lull his opponents to sleep, then drop the hammer on them. He throws a lot of good straight rights, and mixes in his uppercut well.

It’s not quite Lyndon Byers-level uppercut, but he really likes to use it, and it is effective. In this scrap he also throws a couple that don’t land. I like Bahl’s strategy here as well. He lands some nice rights of his own, and they tire each other out. If I’m being honest, I’ll call it a draw, but if I’m a homer, I give the nod to the Nightmare. By the way, I saw someone else call Trent Frederic the Nightmare on Causeway St., and I’m fully stealing it.

Trent Frederic vs. Kevin Bahl

So, why are we just getting around to the Trent Frederic experience now? Well, former Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy had Freddy firmly in the doghouse. I’m not sure why Butch didn’t like him and refused to play him. Yeah, he can take some stupid penalties, but I think that was a byproduct of him getting limited ice under the Cassidy regime. When he did get a shift, he would try to do too much and often took a dumb penalty trying to make a difference. Now that Cassidy has taken his stupid face and Supercuts hairdo to Vegas, new Bruins coach Jim Montgomery has allowed Freddy to be Freddy, and it’s paying off in a big way.

In 60 games last year, he had 8G, 10A, for 18pints, and 57 PIM. Thus far in this campaign, he has 7 goals to go with another 7 Assists for 14 points and 27 PIM. Barring a catastrophic injury, he will shatter those numbers this season. The guy has a great motor, chirps everyone, can chip in on the offense, and drops the gloves with anyone willing to fight.

I’m very interested to see if Tom Wilson of the Capitals will give Freddy a shot in February when they come to Boston. Last year, Freddy was goading Wilson all game, and in typical fake tough guy Tom Wilson fashion he only obliged him at the end of Frederic’s shift. I’m pretty sure Wilson is coming back soon, but knowing him, he will have some excuse why he won’t fight The Nightmare. Either way, keep up the good work, Freddy. The Goonblog boys are pulling for you!

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