Throwdown Lowdown – Penguins @ Blues – 10-23-10

I do believe Deryk Engelland got Colton Orr square on the chin. Image via Zimbio

If it wasn’t abundantly clear after last season, the Blues-Blackhawks rivalry is back!  It showed again with two good fights in last night’s action.  First, BJ Crombeen went crazy on Jacob Dowell, basically out-working him for a near-unanimous win.  Then, a battle of behemoths as Brad Winchester went after John Scott.  I’ll have to give the decision to Scott on that one, as he landed more solid punches.  The two fights brings the Blues to eight fights on the season, vaulting them into a tie for SECOND overall in the NHL, only behind the Anaheim Ducks.  The Blues’ fight record stands at 4-2-2.

Your immediate thoughts when you hear the words “Pittsburgh Penguins” turn to goal-scoring.  So it may be hard for you to believe it when I tell you that the Pens fought 49 times last season.  Yes, it’s true!  That tied them for 15th place in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets.  I’m totally not kidding!  And it may FURTHER confuse you when I say the Pens are one of the top fighting clubs in the league early on THIS season – tied for third with the ever-truculent Toronto Maple Leafs and the DJ King-crowned Washington Capitals.  Each team has worked seven fights on the season.  Dude, I checked the stats, it’s all fact!  The part that may NOT stun you is that the Pens were 13-17-19 in their fights in ’09-’10.  And the Penguins not only brought back 41 of their 49 fights, but added 16 fights in the offseason – too bad 14 of those 16 are on the shelf.  So yes, they DO like to fight.

But let’s get to the reason why you’re shocked.  It’s pretty simple – you haven’t seen them go after Blues players yet.  Anyway, it has been 6½ years since the Blues and Pens have fought with each other.  And that’s a long time.

Leading the returning fighters was the massive Mike Rupp (6’5”, 230lbs, 4-4-4) with 12.  Other fighters that returned include Eric Godard (6’4”, 214lbs, 3-2-3) with eight, Craig Adams (6’0”, 197lbs, 1-4-2) with seven, filthy mongrel Matt Cooke (5’11”, 205lbs, 1-3-2) with six, former AHL lifer Deryk Engelland (6’2”, 207lbs, 2-1-0) with three and Chris Kunitz (6’0”, 193lbs, Draw), Überstar Sidney Crosby (5’11”, 200lbs, Win), Q’s Cuties favorite Jordan Staal (6’4”, 220lbs, Draw, on the IR), Kris Letang (6’0”, 201lbs, Draw) and awesomely-named Tyler Kennedy (5’11”, 183lbs, Loss) each with one.  No longer with Pittsburgh are former Blue Bill Guerin (6’2”, 220lbs, 1-2-2, Free Agent) with five, another Former Blue in Jay McKee(6’4”, 203lbs, 0-0-2, appears to have retired) with two and Ruslan Fedotenko (6’2”, 195lbs, Draw, signed with the Rangers) with one.  But they added noted pest Arron Asham (5’11”, 205lbs, 5-5-4 last year with Philly, on the IR) and his 14 fights plus Mike Comrie (5’10”, 185lbs, 2-0-0 last year with Edmonton) and his 2 scraps.

I would LOVE it if any of the Blues’ American contingent – I’m looking at you in particular, Erik Johnson! – went after Crosby.  Alas, that will not happen.  A fight between Engelland and Winchester may be fun to watch, as Engelland has already shown he’s not afraid of bigger fighters.  In fact, do yourself a favor and check out Engelland’s fight with Colton Orr (the inspiration of today’s image).  He’s not messin’ around here.

Two in a row on home ice would be really sweet.  And SO unlike last year.

LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!

Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights