Throwdown Lowdown – Blues @ Avalanche 3-6-10

"Hey dude, wanna have a beer after the game?" Image via UPI (but you probably won't be seeing David Koci tonight)

The Blues aren’t just beating people on the scoreboard, they’re punching people too.  There were two fights on Thursday between the Blues and Dallas Stars – one featuring expected contestants and one featuring not-so-expected contestants.  First, we had the long-awaited rematch between DJ King and Krys Barch.  King broke his hand on Barch’s helmet in their last fight back in November (a fight that King won).  King won the rematch handily.  Next, it was the second fight of Erik Johnson’s career.  He squared off against Jamie Benn, who was in the first fight in a regular season NHL game in his career.  Johnson controlled Benn early but Benn charged late and won the battle.  Despite the two fights, the Blues sunk back into 5th place in the league with 56 fights on the season and now sport a fight record of 23-18-15 in ’09-’10.

Now the Blues are in Denver to face the Colorado Avalanche.  Four weeks ago, the Blues squared off in Denver, and the Throwdown Lowdown was on the case.  Since then, not including the two fights in their previous matchup with the Blues, the Avs have only fought twice.  They have no problems throwing down the gloves when they feel the need to, as evidenced by their 9th place standing with 47 fights.  Their fight record on the season is an underwhelming 9-14-24; however, two of those wins were against the Blues.  Both came in Denver on February 28th; David Koci edged King (and in a bit of irony, Koci injured his hand in the process) and Chris Stewart took down BJ Crombeen.

The only changes from the previous meeting are in the records of multiple fighters for the Avs: Koci is now 2-4-5, Stewart is now 3-0-2, Cody McLeod is now 2-3-9 and Matt Hendricks is now 1-3-3.  Otherwise, the information from the previous report is still accurate, except that Koci is on injured reserve

Despite Koci’s absence, I anticipate multiple fights in this game.  The Avs have played in three games since the Olympic Break (including one with mutual bitter rival, the Detroit Red Wings), but their only fight was on Wednesday with the Anaheim Ducks.  The Blues bring physicality, which seems to bring out the best in the big, tough Avs.  Assuming King suits up, look for him to fight someone like Stewart amidst the absence of Koci.  Also don’t be surprised if McLeod goes at it with someone like Crombeen or Brad Winchester.

The Blues haven’t lost since losing to Colorado, in Denver, back on February 8th.  Can the Blues avenge that loss, take down this almost-certain playoff club and continue this hot streak?  I SAY YES!

LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!

Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights