Looks like Tim Jackman is Mike Ricci's cousin. Image via sharkspage.com, and avert your eyes before clicking the photo for the full-size version
Off-Topic to start: if you don’t know (chances are likely that you don’t), my favorite music band is 311. Today, March 11th, is a national holiday for us 311-heads. Yes, it’s 311 Day! They’re playing a huge live show in Las Vegas, which is being webcast worldwide. Since I know just about all of their tunes by heart and there will be hockey on the tube, I won’t watch. But I’m sure it’ll be fun. And if you listen to any alternative radio stations today, you’ll probably hear a few 311 tracks today, as traditionally today is the day a whole bunch of fellow 311-heads are calling to hear their favorite 311 tunes. Happy 311 Day, y’all!
The Blues are coming off a disappointing effort on Saturday against the Colorado Chris Stewarts Avalanche. There was one early scrap involving BJ Crombeen and Cody McLeod, which ended in a draw after Crombeen fell on top of McLeod. The draw brings the Blues to 57 fights on the season, still staying strong at 5th league-wide. Their ’09-’10 fight record now stands at 23-18-16.
The New York Islanders have one of the younger, more exciting rebuilding teams in the league. I won’t compare them to the Pittsburgh Penguins circa 2005, since that would be unfair to both squads. However, they have high-end young stars in John Tavares and Kyle Okposo, among others. But with this youth comes an unwillingness to throw down the gloves. They have done so only 24 times this season, good for 26th in the NHL. Their fight record is a God-awful 4-9-11. Among the seven players that have contested these fights, only two are currently in Uniondale, representing 11 of those 24 fights. When the Blues and Islanders matched up on November 21st in The ‘Lou, the two teams predictably did not throw down the gloves.
There is only one current Islander that is a threat to get into a fracas, winger Tim Jackman (6’4″, 210lbs, 2-4-4), pictured above. Jackman, who is of no relation to our own Barret Jackman, brings size and a nasty mean streak about him. He is not a threat to score, but he is the kind of guy that does the dirty things to help young teams along a rebuilding process. The only other fighter still with the Islanders is defenseman Bruno Gervais (6’1″, 205lbs, 0-1-0). The other five fighters that are not currently with the Islanders are center Nate Thompson (6’0″, 207lbs, 1-1-3 with the Isles and 1-1-4 overall, waived to Tampa Bay on January 21st), defenseman and noted Philadelphia SUV-defeater Brendan Witt (6’2″, 223lbs, 0-1-2, in the AHL since February 5th), defenseman Andy Sutton (6’6″, 245lbs, 0-1-1, traded to Ottawa on March 2nd), winger Matt Martin (6’2″, 192lbs, 1-0-1, in the AHL since February 11th) and winger Joel Rechlicz (6’4″, 220lbs, 0-1-0, in the AHL since October 21st).
My dream fight matchup this evening involves a couple of heavyweights, but it is all dependent on how Blues coach Davis Payne wants to play his hand. Assuredly, you would think Tim Jackman would play, but will the Blues ride with DJ King? King did not suit up on Saturday. If he’s not in the owner’s box tonight, I want him to face off against Jackman. They’re both big, strong, tough and ornery. This is about the only fight I would want to see between these two teams, but admittedly, the chances of a fight in this one are slim even if King DOES play.
If you want to be a playoff team, this is a game the Blues MUST have. Go get it!
LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!
Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights
