Throwdown Lowdown – Blues @ Canucks – 12-05-10

This twerp is on a leave of absence. Good, I don’t really like him anyway. Imaga via Zimbio

Last night’s 2-1 Blues overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers was clearly a disappointment, but at least they got a point.  But we also got to see Stefan Della Rovere’s first NHL fight – he squared off against former Blackhawk Colin Fraser, which earns points in my book.  Unfortunately, I didn’t see the fight nor could I find video of it for this report, but from all accounts it was a draw.  I will update you on that for Thursday’s report, but for the time being the Blues are tied for second in the NHL once again with the Pittsburgh Penguins with 27 fights on the season, and their fight record – for the moment – stands at 13-7-7.

This report would have been a lot easier to write before Rick Rypien – he of the “HEY I’M GONNA FIGHT A FAN!” fame in the Twin Cities – took a leave of absence.  Alas, it seems that incident has caused him to presumably think about some things – like hockey, how bad he is at playing it and whether or not the enforcer role is right for him (it is).  With Rypien out more often than in, the Canucks have only fought 13 times on the season, good for 20th place in the NHL.  Their fight record is not dreadful but not spectacular either – 3-5-5.

Tanner Glass (6’1”, 210lbs, 1-2-1) leads the Rypien-less Canucks with four fights on the season.  Rypien (5’11”, 190lbs, 0-2-1), despite his absences, is second with three fights.  Guillaume Desbiens (6’2”, 210lbs, 1-1-0) broke his hand in his second fight of the season back in early November and presumably will not play tonight.  Those with one fight each include Blues fan non-favorite Kevin Bieksa (6’1”, 198lbs, Win), former Blue Jacket Raffi Torres (6’0”, 216lbs, Draw), “Goalie Killer” Keith Ballard (5’11”, 208lbs, Draw) and the massive Andrew Alberts (6’5”, 218lbs, Loss).

As much as I’d love it, a fight between Bieksa and David Backes would be awesome but probably won’t happen.  Oh well, you can’t always get what you want.  A fight between Glass and either Della Rovere or Cam Janssen does seem more likely.  But honestly, there may not be much in the way of fisticuffs this evening.

CAN WE FINALLY PUT THIS LOSING STREAK TO REST, PLEASE?!?!

LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!

Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights