Throwdown Lowdown – Blue Jackets @ Blues, 01-22-11
Jared Boll looks like he just got poked in the ass or something. Image via SB Nation
Not that it was unexpected, but the Blues and Detroit Red Wings did not drop the gloves in the Wings’ 4-3 overtime win on Thursday (though there was a really cool jousting match by Justin Abdelkader and Barret Jackman after Jaroslav Halak’s HUGE incredible late-regulation save). So The Note stays at 45 fighting majors on the season, still good for second in the NHL only behind the Anaheim Ducks. Their fight record still stands at 18-16-11.
It’s another division rival, so it’s another recap of previous reports when it comes to the Columbus Blue Jackets (November 10th and December 9th). Something good has happened since the last time the Blues played the Jackets – the Jackets started FIGHTING! They were somewhere around the second- or third-tier of fighting teams back then, but now they’re around the first- or second-tier level. They still have a ways to go before they reach the top shelf, like where the Ducks, Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins (and others) find themselves right now. Anyway, on the season the Jackets have collected 29 fighting majors, good for a tie for 12th in the NHL with the league-best Philadelphia Flyers. Their fight record has also improved since last time around – a somewhat-reasonable 9-12-8. So as you see, they’re much better at this fisticuffs business than our “friends” from Detroit.
Jared Boll (6’3”, 210lbs, 4-5-4 including this draw with Cam Janssen) is the annual team leader in fights, and it’s no different this season – he has 13, and is tied for third among individual NHL fighters as well. Derek Dorsett (5’11”, 187lbs, 2-6-1 including this loss to BJ Crombeen) has fought nine times on the season. Tom Sestito (6’5”, 228lbs, 3-0-1, currently with Springfield of the AHL) used his brief call-up to register four fights. Mike Commodore (6’5”, 235lbs, 0-1-1, also with Springfield after a messy waiver push-through) has fought twice, and Chris Clark (6’0”, 196lbs, Draw – with Nathan Oystrick) has fought once.
With the emergence of Ryan Reaves, I would have to pick him to be the most likely to fight someone tonight. I hope he has the intestinal fortitude to take on Boll, who matches up almost perfectly with Reaves size-wise. Saving that, maybe Crombeen will pick a fight with someone, but hopefully it won’t be Dorsett this time because easy fights are just . . . blah.
The Red Wings game was not demoralizing by any means, and this team plays well at home against Columbus traditionally. Here’s to a Blues victory!
LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!
Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights
