Throwdown Lowdown – Blues @ Coyotes 03-22-11

BIZ! LOVE THE BIZ! Image via Zimbio

I’ll admit, I missed much of the Blues’ 5-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, but my understanding is that I didn’t really miss much from the parts I didn’t see.  This is good to know . . . I hate watching a disappointing effort.  Furthermore, there were no fights in a game I fully expected to have to report fights on.  Oh well . . . the Blues hang tight at 67 fighting majors on the season, now tied for second in the NHL with the Boston Bruins.  Their fight record also stays still at 28-20-19.

We’ve covered the Phoenix Coyotes on three occasions this season (November 13th, December 31st and January 10th).  You’ll notice that this reporter has a bit of an obsession with one Paul Bissonnette.  He is the owner of probably the grandest Twitter account in hockey.  He is very self-deprecating.  And he can fight like a bad juju mama.  I love this guy, I really do.  If I were female, I’d want to have his kids.  I may be only somewhat joking . . . .  Anyway, the Yotes, despite the presence of Biz Nasty, are one of the least-fightingest teams in the NHL – placing 27th in the league with 19 fighting majors on the season.  For a team that doesn’t fight much, the Yotes’ fight record isn’t bad at 7-6-6.

Bissonnette (6’3”, 220lbs, 6-3-0 including two overwhelming wins over Cam Janssen) leads the team with nine fights on the season and has six of those seven wins.  Following him are Derek Morris (6’0”, 221lbs, 1-0-1) and Vernon Fiddler (5’11”, 201lbs, 0-1-1) with two fights apiece.  The solo fight club for this team is quite large – Shane Doan (6’2”, 224lbs, Draw, sole proprietor of DoanFace), Sami Lepisto (6’0”, 190lbs, Draw, Traded to Columbus at the deadline), Ed Jovanovski (6’3”, 218lbs, Draw, On IR with a concussion), former Blue Lee “Dutchie” Stempniak (6’0”, 195lbs, Draw), Taylor Pyatt (6’4”, 230lbs, Loss) and Nolan Yonkman (6’6”, 253lbs, Loss, Currently with San Antonio of the AHL).

I can say with a reasonable amount of certainty that Janssen will play, but can’t say whether or not Bissonnette will suit up.  If both do, that’s the fight to look for tonight.  But I would also be QUITE happy with Ryan Reaves having a go with The Biz.  You can’t go wrong either way, if you ask me.

Let’s finish the West Coast road swing with a bit of flair, boys.

LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!

Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights