By Tyler Atwood on March 13, 2010
Apparently, Derek Dorsett wanted to give this guy an elbow noogie. Image via bluejacketsxtra.com
This will be a brief Throwdown Lowdown, because we’ve already covered the Columbus Blue Jackets three times (!) since the report began in January. Division rivalries make my job easy, but add nothing to the product sometimes. Plus, as anticipated, there were no fights between the Blues or the New York Islanders on Thursday night. This leaves The Note at 57 fights on the season, still good for 5th place in the NHL. Their fight record still stands at 23-18-16.
As mentioned, Throwdown Lowdown reports were filed for Columbus games on January 12th at St. Louis, January 18th at Columbus and January 30th at St. Louis. There was one fight in the January 30th game – a declared draw between Brad Winchester and Jared Boll. Add seven more fights since that game, and it brings the Jackets to 43 total fights this season. That’s good for an 11th place tie with the New York Rangers – and oddly enough, the two teams were tied for 11th back on January 30th. Go figure! The Jackets’ fight record since the last report is 2-4-2, bringing their overall fight record to an uninspiring 9-19-15.
Rugged winger Boll (6’2″, 210lbs, 5-6-9) has fought in nearly half of Columbus’s fights this season, and it’s not hard to see why. The dude can, and will, throw bombs. Plus, when you grow up with a last name like Boll, it’s easy to get type-cast as a brawler. Other fighters to look for may be winger Derek Dorsett (5’11″, 187lbs, 1-2-2), veteran winger Chris Clark (6’0″, 198lbs, 0-1-0 w/CBJ and 0-3-1 overall), winger and team superstar Rick Nash (6’4″, 218lbs, 2-0-0) and veteran defenseman Mike Commodore (6’5″, 228lbs, 0-0-2). You’ll notice that, other than Boll and Nash, these fight records are all-too-uninspiring. If the Blues get into a fight with this team, they OUGHT to win said fight.
I would LOVE to see a rematch of Nash against David Backes. Maybe they can swap stories about their Olympic medals or something, or if Nash says something about a silver medal, Backes will imbed his into Nash’s head. That would be awesome! Also, with Cam Janssen still in the press box seat for another couple games, and this being a division rival, I fully expect DJ King to suit up and go at it with Boll. I anticipate blood in this game, what with the Blues being fully into the spirit of the playoff chase and the Jackets still fighting to stay in the hunt.
Just like Thursday, it’s a must-win game for the Blues . . . and it’s a lot more fun when the other team is a division rival. Get it done!
LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!
Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights
Posted in Articles | Tagged Brad Winchester, Cam Janssen, Chris Clark, Columbus Blue Jackets, David Backes, Derek Dorsett, DJ King, Jared Boll, Mike Commodore, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Olympic references, Rick Nash, St. Louis Blues
By Tyler Atwood on February 3, 2010
Here, David Backes shows how to make Jonathan Toews vomit in the penalty box. Twice. Image via stlouisgametime.com on SB Nation
There was only one scrap on Saturday night with the Blue Jackets, and maybe there should have been more. Jared Boll took on Brad Winchester after Boll made a questionable hit on Jay McClement. You’d think he’d be smart enough not to pick on the grinder line’s center, especially when said center-on-the-grinder-line is an alternate captain, but Jared seems to be – as noted before – “Strong like Boll, smart like tractor”. The match was considered a draw since no one really won the fight but both contestants got some good shots in. Winchester’s season fight record moves to 3-1-3. The Note hangs on to 5th spot in the league with 46 fights. Their season fight record is a robust 21-13-12.
Leave it to people like me to make fun of the Chicago Blackhawks. While many Blues fans have turned most of their hatred to another old Norris Division rival – the Detroit Red Wings – I have stuck with my extreme disdain for the Blackhawks. Most of it has to do with proximity, but a lot of it has to do with Mike Keenan, among other factors. So the Blackhawks can have their precious “2nd place in the conference” record, while I point and laugh at their puny 22 fights on the season. That’s good for a 24th place tie with the New York Islanders, who have maybe a half a fighter on their team. This from a former Norris Division rival. PATHETIC, I say! Amazing even yet, 5 of the 22 fights were in one game – their January 2nd matchup with the Blues in St. Louis. The Blackhawks somehow were 2-2-1 in those fights – Ben Eager defeated BJ Crombeen, Cam Barker defeated Mike Weaver (after Weaver destroyed Patrick Sharp at the red line), David Backes not only defeated Jonathan Toews but later made him vomit in the penalty box (this fight was the start of the “Inglorious Backes” movement that led to the t-shirt referenced in Jeff’s most recent Monday Musings filing), Carlo Colaiacovo worked a draw with Colin Fraser and Barret Jackman (whom I’ve taken to calling “SIR JAXX” lately, apropos of nothing) took down Eager. The Blackhawks’ season fight record is a very even 7-8-7.
What’s equally strange about the Blackhawks is the fact that 12 different players have contested their 22 fights on the season. This type of spread usually happens when a team has no true enforcer. Only three Blackhawks have thrown the gloves down more than once – center Fraser (6’1″, 190lbs, 0-2-4), winger Eager (6’2″, 230lbs, 3-2-0) and winger Troy Brouwer (6’2″, 214lbs, 1-1-0). The Blackhawks do possess one able-bodied enforcer in winger Dustin Byfuglien (6’4″, 257lbs, 1-0-0), but no one wants to mess with him . . . and at that size, do you BLAME them? Yeesh! Of the 12 fighers, one has been waived and two are currently with Chicago’s AHL affiliate in Rockford (Home of Cheap Trick, the greatest rock band ever to come out of Rockford!).
For whatever reason (probably because he’s a pest with no will to fight real fighters), Eager has rubbed me the wrong way throughout his career. Therefore, it would be nice (not to mention poetic justice) if either Cam Janssen or the recently-recalled DJ King not only were to play tonight, but were to throw fists into his face. (If you believe Dan O’Neill’s report from yesterday, they may both be on the same line with McClement) And if ANY Blue were to challenge Byfuglien (which I don’t suggest), let it be Winchester . . . yes, he gives about 30 pounds to him, but at least the reach advantage is equalized.
I need nothing to get me jacked up for this game. I may have friends that root for the Blackhawks, but I don’t like their team one bit.
LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!
Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights
Posted in Articles | Tagged Barret Jackman, Ben Eager, BJ Crombeen, Brad Winchester, Cam Barker, Cam Janssen, Carlo Colaiacovo, Chicago Blackhawks, Colin Fraser, Columbus Blue Jackets, David Backes, Detroit Red Wings, DJ King, Dustin Byfuglien, extreme lack of fighting, Jared Boll, Jay McClement, Jonathan Toews, Mike Keenan, Mike Weaver, music references, New York Islanders, Norris Division, Patrick Sharp, silly nicknames, St. Louis Blues, Troy Brouwer
By Tyler Atwood on January 30, 2010
Just had to. Just HAD to. Image via Red Wings blog (ugh), fightnightatthejoe.blogspot.com
The Blues have gone two straight games without playing Cam Janssen . . . and thus, two straight games without a good ol’ scrap. While this is great for Gary Bettman and his friends in New York, it tends to put people like me in a sedated trance without the proper innoculation. In layman’s terms . . . DO NOT WANT! The Blues remain strong at the 5th position with 45 fights and a 21-13-11 season fight record.
The good thing about divisional opponents is that we play them a lot. Thus, they get written about a lot and bloggers like me don’t have to repeat ourselves too much. The Columbus Blue Jackets have been reported about twice already: here and here. In both, it was well marked that the Jackets are not very good at fighting this season for whatever reason. They come into this contest tied with the New York Rangers for 11th in the NHL with 35 fights on the season and 7-15-13 on the season. All four fights between the Blues and Jackets came in the Blues home win back on January 12th. The Jackets are 1-1-2 since January 18th, the last matchup between the Blues and Jackets. The win came from the fists of . . . Rick Nash. AGAIN! He’s obviously taking his captaincy to heart. Or he’s training for his next fight with David Backes.
We’ve mentioned violent winger Jared Boll (6’2″, 210lbs, 4-6-6) on several occasions for these reports. It’s not that he’s an easy target . . . it’s just that he really likes to fight. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Others to look forward to are multi-talented captain winger Nash (6’4″, 218lbs, 2-0-0) and veteran defenseman Mike Commodore (6’5″, 228lbs, 0-0-2, should REALLY wear #64). Those are the only multiple fighters who have not been traded away, waived, sent to the IR or sent to Syracuse. Ken Hitchcock must have missed that memo about the Western Conference being a bit more rugged.
The dream matchup of the evening will likely be Boll against someone like Brad Winchester or BJ Crombeen, as with Janssen out the last two games, there’s no expectation that he would play. I will jinx it by saying this . . . I do not anticipate a fight in this game.
The home team has held serve in the Blues-Blue Jackets season series thus far. Let’s hope that continues tonight, and maybe the Blues will play like January 12th (violent) instead of like January 18th (largely passive).
LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!
Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights
Posted in Articles | Tagged BJ Crombeen, Brad Winchester, Cam Janssen, Columbus Blue Jackets, Jared Boll, Ken Hitchcock, Mike Commodore, New York Rangers, Rick Nash, St. Louis Blues
By Tyler Atwood on January 18, 2010
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.
Posted in Articles | Tagged Aaron Voros, Alexandre Picard (CBJ), BJ Crombeen, Cam Janssen, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, David Backes, Donald Brashear, Jared Boll, New York Rangers, Rick Nash, Roman Polak, St. Louis Blues
By Tyler Atwood on January 14, 2010
Wade Belak feels the sting of Derek Boogard's monster fist . . . image via si.com
Before we start . . . if you haven’t seen it already, from Puck Daddy via The Riverfront Times, this may be the funniest thing you’ll see all day. I wouldn’t put this past some of my brethren at St. Louis Game Time. Absolutely incredibly funny.
On to the report . . . as anticipated, the Blues and Blue Jackets dialed up the truculent behavior Tuesday night, leading to FOUR fights. Admittedly, one of them wasn’t really a fight, and both guys got kicked out for doing it, but still . . . FOUR fights! It was enthralling to say the least. BJ Crombeen worked a draw with Alexandre Picard to bring him to 6-4-2, Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights voters say Rick Nash defeated David Backes (which I do not agree with . . . the linesman stepped in and basically let Nash have a free run at Backes when they should have let them both go) to drop him to 2-2-0, Erik Johnson’s first-ever NHL fight earned him a game misconduct and a draw with Mike Commodore to start his record at 0-0-1, and Cam Janssen earned a victory over Jared Boll in the one PREDICTED fight of the evening sending Cam up to 7-1-2. Additionally, the Blues have shot up to a tie for 3rd in team fight leaders with 40, with only the Calgary Flames (49) and the Philadelphia Flyers (42) ahead of them and the Anaheim Ducks even with them. The attitude adjustment is in full effect, and when you’re fighting for every inch, gloves are sure to be dropped. It’s a welcome change!
The Minnesota Wild are on the lower end of the NHL list of fighting teams, shedding the gloves a total of 22 times on the season thus far. However, three of those fights came last night against a division rival and one of the “punchiest” teams in the league, the Vancouver Canucks. Minnesota went 1-1-1 in those fights. Also, the Wild’s overall 10-7-5 record in fights on the season suggests a team that is wise in picking its targets, and one of the eight fighters the Wild have had this year has four of those seven losses. However, they may not get to use their smarts to their advantage against a Blues team that has cranked up the physicality in the last two weeks. It will be interesting to see what plays out.
The Blues and Wild have fought once this season – Crombeen was able to subdue Nathan Smith at a home contest on October 23rd. This was one of only two fights for Smith on the season, the other being a draw. Since then, Smith has been sent down to Minnesota’s AHL affiliate, the Houston Aeros. Mind you, Smith is a former 1st round pick. Bust? Yeah, you could say that.
If the Wild want a fight, they want it to come from either winger Derek Boogaard (6’8″, 257lbs) or defenseman John Scott (6’8″, 258lbs), both absolutely massive human beings. Boogaard is a noted NHL brawler, and his 4-0-2 record on the season is hard not to be impressed with. However, Scott has done just about as well at 4-0-1. The only other Minnesota player with more than two fights is defenseman Shane Hnidy (6’2″, 204lbs), who is an ugly 0-4-0 on the season. Young defenseman Clayton Stoner (6’4″, 212lbs) would be another fighter to look out for as he’s 1-0-1 in only eight games played, but he’s listed as day-to-day and probably won’t play tonight.
Unfortunately, the Wild do not have any members of Team Canada on their squad, so don’t look for a scrap from Backes. So the dream matchup of the evening would be either Janssen or Crombeen taking on Hnidy. If so, let’s hope the “due factor” doesn’t come into play. If the Blues MUST fight Boogaard or Scott, hopefully it’ll either be Janssen – not afraid of anyone – or someone who at least comes close to matching up size-wise, such as Brad Winchester (who even then STILL gives three inches and nearly 30 pounds to both of them).
Can the Blues win two games in a row? If they play the same physical style that helped them to a win Tuesday night, then there’s no doubt it CAN happen. Let’s get it done!
LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!
Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights.
Posted in Articles | Tagged Alexandre Picard (CBJ), Anaheim Ducks, BJ Crombeen, Brad Winchester, Calgary Flames, Cam Janssen, Clayton Stoner, Columbus Blue Jackets, David Backes, Derek Boogaard, Erik Johnson, funny videos, Jared Boll, John Scott, Mike Commodore, Minnesota Wild, Nathan Smith, Philadelphia FLyers, Rick Nash, Shane Hnidy, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks
By Tyler Atwood on January 12, 2010
"Strong like Boll, smart like tractor." Image via wsj.net (of all places!)
“Fight-wise, there’s not much to look forward to in this game . . . .” Nostradamus, I am not. The Blues dialed up the physicality, got the Los Angeles Kings to play at their level and drew three fights out of the Purple and Black on Saturday. Amazingly, none of these fights involved either team’s “designated” fighter, but two of each team’s “alternate” fighters were up to the task. BJ Crombeen’s unanimous victory over Matt Greene brings him up to 6-4-1 on the season. Brad Winchester’s draw with Sean O’Donnell and victory over Greene – yes, LA’s alternate captain took it on the chin TWICE – brings “The Rifleman” (or as this reporter likes to call him . . . “Winchester Cathedral”) to 3-1-1 on the season.
Familiarity usually breeds hatred, and the Columbus Blue Jackets will be ready for the Blues’ physical style of play. According to Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights, Columbus has taken part in 27 fights thus far in 2009-10. However, they haven’t been in any fights since January 2nd, and the four games between then and now include the oft-dreaded “Western Canadian Swing”, which includes teams that are ranked number 1 (Calgary Flames), 3 (Edmonton Oilers) and 6 (Vancouver Canucks) in number of fights among NHL teams. Does this mean the Jackets are smart, or are they just saving their aggression for a divisional rival like the Blues? A valid query, indeed, and the answer may very well be “both”. Then again, 5 of the Jackets’ 10 fighters this season are either on IR (Derek Dorsett, 0-2-2; Marc Methot, 0-1-0), traded elsewhere (Jason Chimera, 0-1-0 and now with Washington) or are now in the minors (Michael Blunden, 0-3-0; Tom Sestito, 0-1-0). Plus, Columbus is 5-13-9 in fights this season. Yikes that’s bad!
13 of the Jackets’ 27 fights this year have involved a familiar face: Jared Boll. His fighting record on the season is 4-4-5, but you can’t let that fool you . . . he’s battled against Blues players before. The only other victory for Columbus in a fight this season came at the fists of young winger Alexandre Picard (not to be confused with young Ottawa defenseman . . . Alexandre Picard) two weeks ago.
With the hatred the two teams hold against each other stemming from the division rivalry and incidents involving David Backes and TJ Oshie from last season, and the fact that the two teams met earlier this season in Columbus and no fight ensued . . . it’s difficult to get a gauge on who will fight, if there ARE any fights in this contest. Let’s put even money on Boll and Cam Janssen getting into it at some point – hopefully after the Blues have amassed a 4-0 lead or something (hey, a man can dream, right? We DID have a 4-1 lead on the Kings at one point, after all . . . ). Barring that, it’d be cool to see something come up between Barret Jackman and someone like Mike Commodore, even if the matchup wouldn’t quite make sense.
It’s the start of a big three-game homestand and it’s a matchup against a division rival. Exciting times! Hope the boys start off right tonight.
LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!
Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights.
Posted in Articles | Tagged Alexandre Picard (CBJ), Alexandre Picard (OTT), Barret Jackman, BJ Crombeen, Brad Winchester, Calgary Flames, Cam Janssen, Columbus Blue Jackets, David Backes, Derek Dorsett, Edmonton Oilers, Jared Boll, Jason Chimera, Los Angeles Kings, Marc Methot, Matt Greene, Michael Blunden, Mike Commodore, Sean O'Donnell, St. Louis Blues, TJ Oshie, Tom Sestito, Vancouver Canucks