“Saturday night’s alright for fighting, Get a little action in…” Sir Elton John, 1973 (from the LP “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”)
Well, after a few weeks off it is time for the return of the Friday Fight Club (on a Saturday Night no less). What draws most of us to the game of hockey? Hockey features a lot of things, speed, adjility, fast paced non stop action, not knowing who will be the hero of the evening abiet an all star forward, a defenseman, a newcomer, or a hot goalie. Because of the fast pace of the game, things can get sometimes a little bit heated…or even a lot heated…and then on the ice two opposing players decided to “Go”, and they do. And the next thing you know, it’s “Old Time Hockey” all over again…
Thursday Nights game between the Sharks and Colorado Avalance was no different. Two scaps too place, one early in the first period between the Sharks Brad Winchester, a veteran of many a scrap, and the Avs Cody McLeod. This was as it turned out to be an undercard to the main event, Sharks heavyweight Ryane Clowe (one of the best unsung leaders in the NHL) vs the Avs Daniel Winnik. The Sharks and Avs were in the second period with Avs just moments early had taken a 3-2 lead. The Sharks have been in a slump and were pretty much in a foul mood already. Now, I do not know what was said between Clowe and McLeod before they dropped their gloves, but it seemed that McLeod was showing Clowe his hockey stick (maybe bragging how he bought his hockey sticks from Costco in bulk and saved $$$). Clowe obviously took umbridge to this, and it was on…
In the fight, Clowe was clearly the winner as he was able to lock up McLeod’s jersey after the two exchanged punches for a minute. Once Clowe had McLeod’s jersey secured he was able to finish McLeod with several right hooks before he had had enough. Clowe, seeing that he got in his shots, recognized McLeod could do no more and the fight was over. Now, it took another period for the Sharks to respond. When they finally did, they were able to rally with three goals in a 4 1/2 minute span to turn a 4-2 deficit into what was ultimately a 5-4 win. A fight in upon itself is usually not a reason that a team wins or loses a game, however it can set a tone especially for a team that is either slumping or at least not off to a good start early in a contest. This is also so teams can protect key players, i.e. having each other’s backside.
One of my “all time favorate fights” if I have one was a few seasons ago when former Shark Craig Rivet took care of business in a game against the Dallas Stars and their master intaginist Steve Ott. It all started when Ott was going around just hitting every teal sweater in sight, even after the wistle had blown. Rivet had already been called for a penalty and was destined for the penalty box. However, when he saw the shenanigans Ott was up to, Rivet was having none of that.
Rivet promptly took care of Ott for the day and made it clear to him that once the whistle blows, you stop hitting guys or you’ll get hammered, repeatedly. This has not stopped Ott, but on that day it at least slowed him down. On the whole, I’m not one who will say I go to a hockey game to see the fights, but I know they can happen and understand why they happen. There are unwritten rules and pretty much any NHL player knows that once a certain line is crossed, you have to keep that opponent in line. Sometimes you have to “Go”.
And finally, there is this spirited disagreement recently between the Blackhawks’ Dan Carcillo and former Shark Brad Staubitz of the Minnesota Wild. Let’s just say each one left the others “calling card” out there…
Staubitz by TKO…
This article in part is also intended to keep what former staff writer Alex Schirru started. This was one of the things that drew me to Blades of Teal. I am just hoping here to keep things fun and take the torch here and run with it…
The King Shark
*Video source: You Tube and Hockeyfights.com…
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