Throwdown Lowdown – Blue Jackets @ Blues 1-12-10
"Strong like Boll, smart like tractor." Image via wsj.net (of all places!)
“Fight-wise, there’s not much to look forward to in this game . . . .” Nostradamus, I am not. The Blues dialed up the physicality, got the Los Angeles Kings to play at their level and drew three fights out of the Purple and Black on Saturday. Amazingly, none of these fights involved either team’s “designated” fighter, but two of each team’s “alternate” fighters were up to the task. BJ Crombeen’s unanimous victory over Matt Greene brings him up to 6-4-1 on the season. Brad Winchester’s draw with Sean O’Donnell and victory over Greene – yes, LA’s alternate captain took it on the chin TWICE – brings “The Rifleman” (or as this reporter likes to call him . . . “Winchester Cathedral”) to 3-1-1 on the season.
Familiarity usually breeds hatred, and the Columbus Blue Jackets will be ready for the Blues’ physical style of play. According to Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights, Columbus has taken part in 27 fights thus far in 2009-10. However, they haven’t been in any fights since January 2nd, and the four games between then and now include the oft-dreaded “Western Canadian Swing”, which includes teams that are ranked number 1 (Calgary Flames), 3 (Edmonton Oilers) and 6 (Vancouver Canucks) in number of fights among NHL teams. Does this mean the Jackets are smart, or are they just saving their aggression for a divisional rival like the Blues? A valid query, indeed, and the answer may very well be “both”. Then again, 5 of the Jackets’ 10 fighters this season are either on IR (Derek Dorsett, 0-2-2; Marc Methot, 0-1-0), traded elsewhere (Jason Chimera, 0-1-0 and now with Washington) or are now in the minors (Michael Blunden, 0-3-0; Tom Sestito, 0-1-0). Plus, Columbus is 5-13-9 in fights this season. Yikes that’s bad!
13 of the Jackets’ 27 fights this year have involved a familiar face: Jared Boll. His fighting record on the season is 4-4-5, but you can’t let that fool you . . . he’s battled against Blues players before. The only other victory for Columbus in a fight this season came at the fists of young winger Alexandre Picard (not to be confused with young Ottawa defenseman . . . Alexandre Picard) two weeks ago.
With the hatred the two teams hold against each other stemming from the division rivalry and incidents involving David Backes and TJ Oshie from last season, and the fact that the two teams met earlier this season in Columbus and no fight ensued . . . it’s difficult to get a gauge on who will fight, if there ARE any fights in this contest. Let’s put even money on Boll and Cam Janssen getting into it at some point – hopefully after the Blues have amassed a 4-0 lead or something (hey, a man can dream, right? We DID have a 4-1 lead on the Kings at one point, after all . . . ). Barring that, it’d be cool to see something come up between Barret Jackman and someone like Mike Commodore, even if the matchup wouldn’t quite make sense.
It’s the start of a big three-game homestand and it’s a matchup against a division rival. Exciting times! Hope the boys start off right tonight.
LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!
Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights.
