David Backes: A True American Hero . . . via nbcolympics.com

With Cam Janssen a healthy scratch for a second game in a row, the chances of a fight between the Blues and New York Rangers diminished quickly.  It eliminated the possibility of Aaron Voros getting his rematch from the drubbing he took from Janssen last February, and it eliminated the possibility of a long-awaited bout between Janssen and Donald Brashear.  All records hold steady going into tonight’s game, and The Note, with 40 fights, have dropped to 4th among NHL teams in number of fights.  But we’re winning, so it’s an even trade-off.  In an unrelated story, Roman Polak is awesome.

You may recall that when the Blues faced the Columbus Blue Jackets last Tuesday, it was quite the violent affair.  There were four bouts, with two draws and one win per side.  Well, neither team has fought since then, so a lot of pent-up aggression may explode into fisticuffs tonight.  Just don’t say you weren’t warned.

We went over Columbus’s fighters and their success (or lack thereof, in their case) on Tuesday, but to recap . . . fight-wise, the Jackets are 6-14-11 on the season.  This is mediocre, if not worse.  And the majority of their fights are generated from winger Jared Boll (6’2″, 210lbs), who after losing to Janssen on Tuesday is 4-5-5 on the season.  Before Tuesday’s game, the only other fight victory (according to Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights) had been from young winger Alexandre Picard (6’2″, 206lbs, 1-0-1 after a draw with BJ Crombeen on Tuesday).  However, Rick Nash was (mistakenly, I believe) given the decision over David Backes in what has been Nash’s only fight on the season thus far.  Most of Columbus’s other fighters this season have either been traded away, been sent to Syracuse or been put on injured reserve.

Since he’s been scratched for two games in a row and the Blues have won both of those games, we cannot expect Janssen to be in the dream matchup this evening.  So instead, I’ll go with a rematch between Nash and Backes or a rematch between Picard and Crombeen.  Take your pick – either one would be a blast to watch and would bring all 13 people that show up to Nationwide Arena tonight to their feet (I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Columbus has been having problems drawing people to their games lately . . . probably because they’re not good this year).  I would surely expect a fight involving Backes . . . if you haven’t noticed, he’s trying to eliminate Team Canada before he gets to Vancouver.  A noble mission, indeed.  Godspeed, David.

The Jackets are coming off back-to-back losses to the Chicago Blackhawks (3-0 @ CHI, 6-5 @ CBJ), so they’re sure to be more than a bit perturbed seeing another division rival in their building.  The Blues are certainly not an easy win anymore, so expect this to be a fun game to watch.  And yes, please do look forward to flying fists this evening . . . I’m in withdrawal here!

LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!

Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights.

Something Aaron Voros is used to . . . GETING PUNCHED IN THE JAW! Image via nydailynews.com

There was testiness and physicality, not to mention slew-footing allegations, that sprang from Thursday’s Blues contest with the Minnesota Wild.  Despite all that, there were no fighting majors “awarded”, so there were no “fights” to recap, meaning no records for the Blues have changed.  And that’s OK, because unlike the Minnesota Wild, every once in awhile we draft skilled players that hit interesting corners of the net.  Thank you, TJ Oshie.  WINNING STREAK!  YYYYYYYYES!!!!!

The New York Rangers, like many Eastern Conference teams, are no strangers to dropping the mitts.  They’re in the middle of the pack amongst fighting teams with 25 bouts, sporting a decent-if-not-spectacular 7-8-10 record.  Last year, the Blue Shirts were a goon’s dream – Colton Orr would take on anyone and it seemed anyone would take him up on it.  With Orr fleeing to the Toronto Maple Leafs in free agency, someone had to pick up the slack.

In steps Donald Brashear, who probably has “Professional Goon” printed on his business card (mind you, this is not meant as a put-down).  Signed to a lucrative (by brawler’s standards) contract during the offseason, the rumbling winger (6’3″, 234lbs) is of course best known as the guy on the receiving end of a Marty McSorley “love tap” to the cranium back in the day.  Like many hockey players, he shook that off and became one of the most noted fighters in the NHL (not to say he wasn’t on his way to that point before the head-slashing incident).  According to Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights, Brashear sports a 3-3-3 record this season.  He’s certainly doing what he’s paid to do.

Other Rangers to look for a fight from are Aaron Voros (6’4″, 215lbs, 2-0-3) and, if he plays, NHL’s Ultimate Pest Sean Avery (5’10″, 195lbs, 2-0-2, listed as day-to-day with a foot injury).  Other possible fighters include Brian Boyle (6’7″, 252lbs, 0-2-1) and Ryan Callahan (5’11″, 188lbs, 0-1-1).  Some of you may remember last year’s home tilt with the Rangers, when Cam Janssen essentially emasculated Voros.  That’s where you may have heard THAT name before.

As far as David Backes’ evisceration of Team Canada . . . no one there, unfortunately.  So we’ll move on to the dream matchup of the evening, if for no other reason than because it hasn’t happened yet EVER – Janssen and Brashear.  However, Janssen was scratched Thursday, and he may get scratched again Saturday depending on who Davis Payne would like to go to battle with (and because Brad Winchester has elevated his game lately).  So if Janssen won’t go, look for Winchester to take on Voros as they match up size-wise.  I wouldn’t like a Brashear-BJ Crombeen matchup because it would seem a bit one-sided toward Brashear on paper.  But if Crombeen is game for it, let’s hope he goes for it . . . and let’s hope for the best.

This is a great opportunity for the Blues to close out the home stand with a statement against a Right Coast foe.  Time to take care of business.

LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!

Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights.