Five for Fighting Monday - Chris Stewart

I don’t get it, all this angst about Chris Stewart dropping the gloves and breaking his hand. Yeah, yeah, I get that part about how it sucks that he is out 4-6 weeks and that it isn’t good for the Avs.
What I don’t get is all the high and mighty, 20/20 vision by everyone now declaring that Chris Stewart shouldn’t be fighting. He’s too valuable. He needs to be scoring goals rather than playing rock ‘em sock ‘em robot.
Really? Are you sure about that?
Isn’t that a big part of what Chris Stewart is as a hockey player?
Isn’t that why you love his game so much?
Joe Sacco gets it, why don’t you?
Look in the mirror: you LOVE a guy that can skate like the wind, pass pretty, score on a slapper and pound the lights out of anyone in the league. Anyone.
How are you going to know and love that about Stewie if he isn’t THAT guy?
Well, you say, we all know he could do it if he wanted to.
That reasoning doesn’t fly when some d-bag decides to run Matt Duchene through the boards. Does he think twice about it just because he knows Chris Stewart COULD pound his brain to mush, even though he hasn’t in weeks/months/seasons? In fact no one can remember the last time he did cause he decided or was told that that isn’t his game anymore. Yeah, that should slow down that freight train barreling towards Dutchy.
Right.
And I know what you want to say. Well Koci should take care of those duties. Or, if you have a bit more brain power you are going to argue that McLeod should take care of business.
Both arguments are crap.
First, neither of the two can kick ass like Stewart. There’s no denying that.
Second and most importantly, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. No, you can’t. Every where I turn there’s whining about Stewart’s injury. Yet these are all the same people that spent vast amounts of time last year whining about Koci being on the ice. C’mon man! You can’t bitch non-stop about the team carrying Koci as a fighter and then complain when a REAL hockey player drops the gloves.
So he got hurt. Players get hurt all the time in a million ways. It happens and who’s to say how and when?
Wouldn’t you rather watch Stewie play his rough and tumble style than see Koci out there skating around like a goon? We all know Koci isn’t much of a hockey player. But if we go with the common argument (always loudly opined when Koci is on the ice) that we should get a better fighter that can actually play hockey as well…well aren’t we going to be in the same boat we are in now?
Well? Aren’t we?
It’s highly unlikely to play out that way regardless because Chris Stewart is a special kind of hockey player that doesn’t come around too often. He’s the rare kind of player that isn’t likely to show up twice on one team. Rare enough that every team in the league wishes they had one of these players. There isn’t even one to go around to each team.
Sure I’m bummed that Stewart is hurt. But I would be far more disappointed if Chris Stewart stopped being Chris Stewart and tried to be someone else.
    

Matt Duchene - First NHL Fight

Glad to see Matty raise a little Hell.

That is all!

    

Five for Fighting Monday

Steve Ott and Chris Stewart were doing a little chatting in the Saturday night game.  The two have not met in a fight.  Hopefully soon.

But, while we wait, here's a good fight with Ott and Lappy, good cause Lappy wins!

More about Bob Probert - "Tough Guy" book review

I hope you read the review I posted at Hockey Independent (if you have, thanks! leave a comment!), but I though I would post a couple other thoughts here.

Some of you might be wondering what I’m doing reading a book about a dyed-in-the-wool Red Wing like Bob Probert. But the bottom line is that I’m a hockey fan. If the Avs moved away tomorrow I would still love hockey. And under the umbrella of hockey are the tough guys. And I love the tough guys. Probert is a classic. So reading this book was a no-brainer.

In many ways this book could be called “How to use Fame, Fortune and a Meat Thermometer to Coast Through Rehab.” Bob Probert was in every famous rehab you can think of and many more to boot. But good times were just a set of tickets and an autograph away when you are Bob Probert. And the meat thermometer? Well, buy the book!

Why is it that Barry Melrose seems to be in every book about hockey I’ve ever read? Has anyone played the Kevin Bacon game, but with Melrose? What is that, 2 degrees of Bacon, or some such?

There are a few tidbits in this book for Avs fans. Probert mentions Claude Lemieux (with New Jersey), Tony Granato and Scott Parker. Though Chris Simon is mentioned, oddly he doesn’t mention that Simon beat the crap out of him in this playoff game. Boom!

Probert uses the term Boom! in the book. Something that seems to be popular with all fighters I follow on Twitter. So just thought I would throw my own in there!

Probert actually had the guts to think about telling Theo Fleury to get his act together and get straight. Wow. He didn’t, but he thought about it, talk about calling the kettle black.

Probert’s inability to keep up with his probation requirements meant that the Wings had to cut a deal with the judge, to Probert’s surprise it was a night in jail. A real surprise since they didn’t even tell him till they were on their way to see the judge. Probert felt tricked and I can’t say I blame him. At one point, Probie hadn’t played in Canada for 3 ½ years due to immigration/legal issues.

The book is full of all kinds of fun stories, like getting a world famous artist to include is number 24 in a painting, the odd wedding gift he received from Don Cherry, how he lost so many pairs of sunglasses and who is “Mo Melly?”

As you can imagine, Probert doesn’t hold back when it comes to his opinion of people. Gary Bettman: well it isn’t pretty as Probert rips him a new one again and again.

Overall a good book, I would recommend it to fans of the Wings, and tough guys!

-From the Point

Five for Fighting Monday - The Gordie Howe Hat Trick

I love the Gordie Howe hat trick. So today Five for Fighting Monday features a hat trick of the first three GH hat tricks of the season.

Note that so far the teams with a player getting a Howe are 3 - 0 on the season.

First Howe of the season is Pavel Datsyuk.

It cracks me up that people actually voted Datsyuk the winner of the fight on Hockey Fights. Perry's no idiot, he wasn't going to pound that guy, he knew the price would be too high, both on and off the ice. You can tell he is sand-bagging. But the best part is how excited the Wings announcers are during the whole fight, like Datsyuk is their new tough guy.

Up next is Kris Versteeg...

This fight was a lot like me and that girl Wendy dancing at our first jr high school dance; awkward, ugly and ultimately uninteresting.

So moving along.

Milan Lucic...

Five for Fighting Monday's run when I feel like running them, usually on Monday but you never know!  Keep you're head on a swivel.

-From the Point

Five for Fighting Monday - Top Rated Fights

The Avs' David Koci had two of his fights this season rated highly by the users over at HockeyFights.com. 

This one with Brian McGrattan is rated third overall for the season.

Next up is Koci vs Colton Orr.  This one is currently ranked at 8th overall. 

Remember all those people that love playoff hockey because the fighting is "nonexistent, or almost?"

Right.

How about that Gomer, huh? First fight in 10 years. He's making $8,000,000 and he's scored 1 goal.

Interesting that all the early fights were in the east, and three of these five were the Bruins and Sabres.

A former Avalanche pounding on a Red Wing? Yes please!

Five for Fighting Monday - Avs-Sharks Playoff Edition

Something that would probably hurt the Avs more than the Sharks would be a rematch of these two in the playoffs.  Though Murray plays big minutes for the Sharks, the loss of the Avs top line winger and highest goal scorer during the regular season, for FIVE minutes would be worse than the Sharks losing Murray for five.  Blake, Boyle and Vlasic can easily cover the sin-binned Murray.

On the other hand, this endless face washing and shoving matches at every whistle is ridiculous.  And a real good fight might just clear that up.

On another note, I've already heard a ton of people start with the whole angle against fighting now that the playoffs are here.  Some claim that fighting is non-existent in the playoffs.  Others make the same claim, add a comma and a caveat.  

Either way, they phrase it as though the playoffs are better hockey because there's no fighting.

Whatever, the playoffs are better because it's the playoffs, not because there's no fighting.  Which there is...

-From the Point

Five for Fighting Monday - Playoff Edition

Shortly after the Olympics were over, Terry Frei at the Denver Post wrote about the lack of fighting in the Games. His point was that most fans probably didn’t miss it. Now that it’s playoff season we will see a significant drop in fighting versus the regular season. Frei has a problem with all the pre-planned fights, the “gotta go” fights between the guys that play a mere two minutes a game.

Well, I didn’t really miss it during the Olympics but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t have been fun. I like fighting in hockey, it’s entertaining! You just can’t compare the NHL regular season to tournament hockey, as Frei does concede.

And I agree that some of the gratuitous regular season fighting is tiring. The problem is that if team A signs a slug that can’t skate but is 6-6, 250 pounds and can and WILL beat the crap outa your guys, team B is forced to return fire. Could it be better? Of course, but it’s really easy to say that about anything. If it was completely ruled out of the game I would miss it.

Ideally all teams would always have a bench full of guys that can actually play hockey. And I include guys like Ian Laperriere in that list. He is a responsible defensive forward and rock solid on the penalty kill. Scott Parker, not so much. Does Lappy drop ‘em on occasion to fire up his team? Of course he does. Eighty two games is a grind. Completely different from the win or go home stakes that are on the line in the Olympics and the playoffs.

Not that there isn’t ever fighting in the playoffs. Here is Joe Thornton dropping the gloves with Ryan Getzlaf in game six of last years first round match up. That was a great series to watch last year, very entertaining. Now despite all the talk preceding this game about how it was time for Thornton to take a stand I’m not sure anyone was expecting them to go at the opening face off.

So, was it contrived?

Was it planned?

Was it entertaining?

Well THIS is entertaining! Hehehe...er, lets hope the Sharks are the usual goldfish in the playoffs.

-From the Point

Five for Fighting Monday - The Gordie Howe Hat Trick

Since I am such a big fan of the Gordie Howe Hat Trick I feel obligated to put the latest such feat up on the blog this morning.  But I'm not happy about it.  And why would any Avs fan be happy about seeing our Avs taking a beat down?  I couldn't find a video of all three aspects of the GHHT so here is just the fight.
If you look closely you will see that besides a half dozen punches that Pyatt delivers, he also takes Stewie's lunch money.



That right there is about how the whole game went.  About how the whole last week has gone for our Colorado Avalanche.
Who would have thought the stupid desert dogs would be spanking the Avs with a 6-2 win at this time of the year? 
Oh, and Wolski has scored twice on the Avs since the trade, but why the hell is he getting some much space out there on the ice?  Both of those goals, Wolski had all day to put that puck right where he wanted.  Terrible!
As you can tell I'm a bit frustrated with the Avs right now.  I think I just knew the game was going to go downhill once I saw Pyatt beat up Stewie.  Pyatt has about one fight a year.  ONE!  And he made Stewie look like a punk.  No one has beat Stewie all year so I'm sure that it affected the Avs mentally to see him get popped like that.
I don't care what other Avs fans say, this might have been a good time for David Koci be out there exacting a little revenge to get the bench fired up. 

-From the Point

Five for Fighting Monday - The Gordie Howe Hat Trick

Whoa!  I missed this last week but the NHL actually had a game with a double Gordie Howe Hat Trick.  One guy on each team.  Of course this causes a skew in the stats in that teams with a Gordie Howe Hat Trick win their games about 75% of the time.  In this case they couldn't both win!

Five for Fighting Monday

How about that Matt Hendricks yesterday?  The guy has beat all the odds making this team.  Here's a preseason moment that was part of his success story.  This is a guy that will never be remembered by the casual fan and very few of the opposing fans.  No matter, the guys he out-works in the corners, the guys he beats to the puck and the guys he beats up...they remember.

Five for Fighting Monday

Just a quick update on my man-crush on Chris Stewart.  I didn't realize that going back to last season, Stewie has the last Gordie Howe Hat Trick for the Avs, so with the two this season (only two on the team) he has the Avs last three GHHT's in a row.
That ties him with Adam Deadmarsh for most on the Avs.
Here's that fight from last season.  Not a great fight, btw.



Stewie had four fights in the month of January '09.
Here's a good one!




-From the Point

Five for Fighting Monday

Today's five for fighting is sans video, for now.
For those of you that don't know, Frenchy and I work at the same place.  Our seemingly ever shrinking company is now shrinking office space as well.  Frenchy and I are now office mates. 
We call him Frenchy because he is French-Canadian.
I am American.
There will be tension in the office this morning.
Trust me.
Frenchy has been doing some pretty serious smack talkin' about that Canadian team for WEEKS! 
You know, that team that isn't getting the bye?
That team that everyone (Canadian & Adrian Dater) thought was going to HAMMER the USA?
Yeah, that team.
So if it comes to fisticuffs, I'll try to get it on video and post it.
All I can say is I value our friendship and I'll never forget that you taught me how to make poutine.
But if we gotta go, that's just the way it is!
I'll let you all know who wins this round of Canada vs. USA

-From the Point

Five for Fighting Monday

No Five 4 Fighting today but look for some Olympic coverage over the next couple weeks.  Don't cha know the gloves never fail to come off during international competition.

Whoops, what did I just say? Look! A Fight!



Oh Claude, you've come so far since your turtle fighting days. I never did understand that, who fights turtles?  Anyway, speaking of Claude, I should warn you to expect some figure skating coverage soon.  If you believe that your manhood will be questioned by reading such coverage, I suggest you take a break for a couple weeks till the NHL resumes.
If you think said coverage calls into question MY manhood...all I have to say to you is...

WANNA FIGHT?

It's Official, I've Got a Man-Crush on Chris Stewart

Two Gordie Howe Hat Tricks so far this season.  Yeah, that's right, I said SO FAR! 

He's the only guy in the league with two GHHT's this season.

It's gettin' to the point where Stewie doesn't have real "good" fights all that often, cause people are SCARED!


BTW-anyone that cheered, silently or otherwise about Koci's broken hand...shame on you.
Some guy in the league gets a head injury...you wouldn't cheer.
You think that it's ok cause it's just his hand?  Take it from me, I broke my thumb in August, its still not right.  Doc says it may never be right.  No matter what you do in life, it helps to have 10 functioning fingers.  So don't cheer.  Don't be that guy.

-From the Point

Five for Fighting Monday - The Gordie Howe Hat Trick

Chris Stewart of my Avs does it up right in this one, good goal, great assist and an amusing, if not great fight.  The fight isn't so great but it was the opponent that was the problem, Stewart was more than willing, garnering an instigator, the 5 for fighting and misconduct.

After taking a run at Matt Duchene, Bryan Allen was probably surprised at the ferocity that came his way.  You get Stewart fired up and the kid is just dangerous!  Allen may have even hurt himself with all the contortions he performed in the effort to get away from Stewie.

The Avs lost this one in the shootout.  Stephen Weiss had a regular hat trick in the game.  Great as the GHHT is, it's still less goals.






Iginla was SO close to the ever-elusive Double Gordie Howe Hat Trick!
Netting two goals, two assists and a fight. 

This is Calgary's second GHHT as a team.  Brian McGrattan and the Flames notched the first of the season, that was a win for the Flames over the Canucks. 




This could be the cheapest GHHT ever. You call that a fight, Nash?
And what's with that cheap goal? 
This season, the team with the GHHT wins more often than not, way to tarnish the GHHT legacy Columbus.
This is Colunbus' second GHHT, the first by Jared Boll.  Boll registered two fights in the (again) losing effort against the Rangers.
Stupid Blue Jackets.

Five for Fighting Monday

Last season the Avs and the Stars had one fight filled game on Oct. 18th 2008. Of the six guys in those fights only two remain with the same two teams. Steve Ott and Cody McLeod.
With the Avs and the Stars facing off twice this week, we’re bound to see a little action between the two.
But last season they did not fight each other. Ott went up against Lappy and McLeod fought BJ Crombeen.
Here’s the Ott vs. Laperriere




Here’s the McLeod vs. Crombeen



And here is an interesting fight involving Steve Ott and Yan Stastny!



As far as I know Paul Stastny is yet to have an NHL fight. His father and two uncles had a few here and there. He’ll probably get one eventually and it’s bound to be as shocking as it was to see Wolski fighting the other night.

Five for Fighting Monday

You want to show everyone who's boss?
Score a goal, tally a helper and top it off with a fight.
That'll show 'em!
Tonight the Avs and the Oil face off in a battle of the Gordie Howe hat tricks.
Chris Stewart and Zack Stortini are two of the only seven NHL players to register the elusive Gordie Howe hat trick so far this season.
Here's Stewie's GHHT, registered on Dec 2, 2009 against the Panthers. This is a particularly important fight for the Avs as a team. The victim, Bryan Allen, was taking a run at Matt Duchene and Stewart ended up taking the instigator penalty for this fight. But as you can see from the video, Allen wanted no part of this fight. And what a guy like Stewie is doing is sending a message that roughing up the Avs young stars will not be tolerated!

Zack Stortini registered his GHHT on Dec 9th 2009 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Stortini has duked it out with Wilson for his hit on the team captain. While that matter is probably settled, don't doubt for a minute that if Wilson lays another one of his hard hits on an Oiler, Stortini will be there to take care of things. And as Avs fans were witness to on Saturday, Wilson will back up his physical play.

It's interesting to note that teams with a GHHT have a 4-2-1 record.
Have a great Monday and an even better week.

Five for Fighting Monday

This a Cody McCormick - Jarome Iginla fight, but the best part is right at the beginning Cody McLeod just decks Dion Phaneuf! The video is worth watching over and over just for that one second. Keep watching, because they show it again.

Five for Fighting Monday - Adam Deadmarsh

Adam Deadmarsh edition.
Ah, another short work week, for most of us. So just remember, never underestimate the short ones, they just want to make you pay all the more, so in the words of Sammy Hagar: "Watch the left, watch the right, below the belt!"
The Avs paid tribute to Deader this weekend and he was admitted into the alumni association. Fantastic to see the Avalanche begin this process of honoring their past players.
Well, I thought I would post two videos here, the first is a bit of a downer, but I think it's important because I really think that Ed Jovanovski's KO of Deader was the beginning of the end for Adam.

Deader was out with a concussion after that fight. But he wasn't through with Jovanovski. Two months later Adam had his revenge. Jovanovski knocking out Deader is just another in a long list of reasons I do not like those damn Canucks. Deadmarsh had only 5 more fights the rest of his career and the continued concussion problems eventually led to his retirement.

Did you know Deader had a fight with Lappy as well as Ryan Smyth? Well I think that explains some of the off-season moves we saw this team make!!!
Deader was also the first of what has become a parade of prominent #18's to be traded away by the Avs. The others were Drury and Tanguay.
More trivia: ADAM DEADMARSH was misspelled as ADAM DEADMARCH. It was later corrected - a Stanley Cup first.