You just got Kronwall’d because I don’t know why I even bother covering Red Wings fights. Image via jpowers65/Flickr
In a game I felt the St. Louis Blues HAD to win to keep their reputation as a league-wide menace, the team held their end of the deal by downing the Buffalo Sabres 4-2, despite an extremely sluggish first period and a few late calls that left a lot to the imagination. While the two teams always seemed to be on the precipice of getting into a brawl (the incident between TJ Oshie and Patrick Kaleta comes to mind), only one fight occurred, and it was a good one between Ryan Reaves and young Joe Finley. Finley held his own, but Reaves delivered a knockout blow in taking the victory (video here). So the Blues now have collected 23 fighting majors on the National Hockey League season, which remains good for 10th by themselves in that category. With yet another fight victory, the Blues’ fight record stays impressive, now at 11-2-10.
I really don’t know why I even bother to waste energy on this report for tonight’s opponent, the Detroit Red Wings. Nothing ever changes with these guys . . . they don’t fight, even when they really should, and while you can sugarcoat it with as hard a candy shell as you can find, it reeks of a team that chooses not only to not be physical, but not to stand up for themselves either. This may explain why the Wings tend to have dropped out of the playoffs in embarrassing fashion the last few years, but that’s neither here nor there. Despite seemingly not needing to cover this team, we HAVE covered this team a few times in the past (November 15th, December 6th, December 27th and December 31st). The Wings remain in dead last in the NHL with six fighting majors collected on the season. Their fight record is a bit less than robust, obviously, at 2-4-0.
Of those six Wings fights, Justin Abdelkader (6’1”, 219lbs, 1-1-0) has taken part in two of them. The other four have been split among Jonathan Ericsson (6’4”, 221lbs, Win), Todd Bertuzzi (6’3”, 229lbs, Draw), youngster Jakub Kindl (6’3”, 216lbs, Loss) and veteran Mike Commodore (6’4”, 227lbs, Loss to BJ Crombeen).
I’ll go ahead and predict no fighting for this one. I think I stand a great chance of being right. It should be a pretty good game, though.
One-game roadie? This team can do it. Let’s see it happen THIS time.
LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!
Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights
I think you may have missed a fight in the Buffalo game! Ryan Reaves and Joe Finlay?
Reaves fought Finley on Saturday.
I guess all there is to hockey games is fighting, right? I am not even a Wings fan but I’m pretty sure that they won more playoff games last year, in the 2nd round, than the Blues have won in the playoffs since the lockout.
Obviously they’re doing something right.
I guess the Red Wings should model their roster in fashion of the Blues. In hopes to mimic their success over the last 20 years. Anyone who wouldn’t trade goals for fighting majors is an idiot. But in any case the Wings don’t have the starpower the Blues do. You gotta be able to drop the gloves to protect your stars (by stars I ofcourse mean Brian Elliot)
Glad it worked out for you tonight.
Looking forward to the Blues first playoff win since the lockout…
Listen, when the wings were easily the toughest team in hockey, you know, when they had Probert and Kocer, er, the “bruise brothers”, and Gallant etc, they were fun to watch but just didn’t win enough. I boxed from the age of 6 to 23 and as much as I love fighting, I’ll take the successful stanley cup winning red wings of the last 20 years anyday over the fun to watch but not so successful ass kicking days. Although man do I miss me some Probert!
Lot of good that toughness did you guys last night. There is smart toughness and dumb toughness. I’ll leave it up to you to figure out which one the Blues displayed last night.
Didn’t know that fighting majors now equal points in the standings! Tyler Atwood, you are an idiot.
Tough-guy Blues really got a lot of bang for their fighting buck last night! I wonder if they know those big ugly paws can be used for scoring beautiful backhanders, not just punching the back of Brad Stuart’s head after he lands a clean check. Better luck next time.
Nice! Need to up goals, but still love the fights. Hasnt hurt us TOO much this season.