Throwdown Lowdown – Rangers @ Blues 1-16-10
Something Aaron Voros is used to . . . GETING PUNCHED IN THE JAW! Image via nydailynews.com
There was testiness and physicality, not to mention slew-footing allegations, that sprang from Thursday’s Blues contest with the Minnesota Wild. Despite all that, there were no fighting majors “awarded”, so there were no “fights” to recap, meaning no records for the Blues have changed. And that’s OK, because unlike the Minnesota Wild, every once in awhile we draft skilled players that hit interesting corners of the net. Thank you, TJ Oshie. WINNING STREAK! YYYYYYYYES!!!!!
The New York Rangers, like many Eastern Conference teams, are no strangers to dropping the mitts. They’re in the middle of the pack amongst fighting teams with 25 bouts, sporting a decent-if-not-spectacular 7-8-10 record. Last year, the Blue Shirts were a goon’s dream – Colton Orr would take on anyone and it seemed anyone would take him up on it. With Orr fleeing to the Toronto Maple Leafs in free agency, someone had to pick up the slack.
In steps Donald Brashear, who probably has “Professional Goon” printed on his business card (mind you, this is not meant as a put-down). Signed to a lucrative (by brawler’s standards) contract during the offseason, the rumbling winger (6’3″, 234lbs) is of course best known as the guy on the receiving end of a Marty McSorley “love tap” to the cranium back in the day. Like many hockey players, he shook that off and became one of the most noted fighters in the NHL (not to say he wasn’t on his way to that point before the head-slashing incident). According to Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights, Brashear sports a 3-3-3 record this season. He’s certainly doing what he’s paid to do.
Other Rangers to look for a fight from are Aaron Voros (6’4″, 215lbs, 2-0-3) and, if he plays, NHL’s Ultimate Pest Sean Avery (5’10″, 195lbs, 2-0-2, listed as day-to-day with a foot injury). Other possible fighters include Brian Boyle (6’7″, 252lbs, 0-2-1) and Ryan Callahan (5’11″, 188lbs, 0-1-1). Some of you may remember last year’s home tilt with the Rangers, when Cam Janssen essentially emasculated Voros. That’s where you may have heard THAT name before.
As far as David Backes’ evisceration of Team Canada . . . no one there, unfortunately. So we’ll move on to the dream matchup of the evening, if for no other reason than because it hasn’t happened yet EVER – Janssen and Brashear. However, Janssen was scratched Thursday, and he may get scratched again Saturday depending on who Davis Payne would like to go to battle with (and because Brad Winchester has elevated his game lately). So if Janssen won’t go, look for Winchester to take on Voros as they match up size-wise. I wouldn’t like a Brashear-BJ Crombeen matchup because it would seem a bit one-sided toward Brashear on paper. But if Crombeen is game for it, let’s hope he goes for it . . . and let’s hope for the best.
This is a great opportunity for the Blues to close out the home stand with a statement against a Right Coast foe. Time to take care of business.
LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!
Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights.
