Throwdown Lowdown – Blues @ Islanders, 03-05-11
Chris ******* Stewart. And Zenon Konopka. Truculence. Image via Yahoo!
A much better effort by the Blues in losing 3-2 to a most-likely playoff-bound Washington Capitals squad did nothing to change my opinion about whether or not this season is over. (Yes, that was me.) It is, still. But it did let me know that there AT LEAST was some spirit in this club. As for the fight, well, there was one. I’m not sure you could CALL it a fight, overall, but it technically goes down as one. It was between Tyson Strachan and Matt Bradley (video here, if you really want to re-live this stupid insanity). Yes, that’s the very definition of a unanimous victory by Bradley. And I was planning on flame-bombing Strachan for his effort, but he got sent down to Peoria today, so I won’t kick him while he’s down. Anyway, the Blues still sit in second place by themselves with 61 fighting majors on the season, and with that loss the team’s fight record now stands at 25-19-17.
We have not covered the New York Islanders yet this season, but damn if this team isn’t fun for people like me to report on. One of the bona-fide worst teams in the NHL due to a combination of untimely injuries, poor play, a coaching change and other facts, the Isles are a great combination of young talent and veteran grit. Of course, players like the recently-twice-suspended Trevor Gillies would not really fit either of those categories, but you will see his name later in this report. This team features the second-leading individual fighter in the league in Zenon Konopka (although it had been rumored that he was traded to the Ducks at the deadline . . . that was not true) as well as a guy who I think will be much better than everyone thinks in five years in the ultra-talented John Tavares. The main reason I love the Islanders? They are currently all alone in fifth in fighting majors with 51. Their fight record is a pretty respectable 17-15-19.
Konopka (6’0”, 211lbs, 6-5-10) is the second-leading individual fighter in the NHL with 21, and obviously, the best, most active fighter on the East Coast . . . and also, the leading fighter the Islanders have. He’s also a boss at business proceedings. I pretty much love this dude. Next is Matt Martin (6’2”, 192, 3-3-3) with nine fights. Following is the perpetually-suspended (and rightfully so) Gillies (6’3”, 215lbs, 5-2-1, no relation to Clark Gillies) with eight. Three fights each belong to Michael Haley ( 5’11”, 198lbs, 2-0-1) and Travis Hamonic (6’2”, 215lbs, 1-1-1). Everyone else for the Isles has fought once each: Jesse Joensuu (6’4”, 212lbs, Draw, currently with Bridgeport of the AHL), Tavares (6’0”, 195lbs, Draw), Josh Bailey (6’1”, 188lbs, Draw), Radek Martinek (6’1”, 203lbs, Loss, Doubtful with a LBI), Bruno Gervais (Which should be a Golden Globes presenter name, by the way) (6’1”, 205lbs, Loss), Rick DiPietro (6’1”, 210lbs, EPIC LOSS, Out with Knee/Face problems) and Andrew MacDonald (NO, NOT THAT ONE) (6’1”, 188lbs, Loss). This is quite the violent team with a violent leader.
I will be quite honest, I hope to GOD that Cam Janssen plays. Size-wise, he matches up PERFECTLY with Konopka. It’s so prevalent that I can’t even think of a better matchup. Other than that, in this lost season, I couldn’t even tell you what to think of.
Mardi Gras. “Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez”, all. (Let The Good Times Roll) And . . .
LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!
Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights
