TRIPLE PUNCH ACTION! Image via The Toronto Star

As expected, there were no fights in the 4-0 7-3 win by the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday over the Blues. The Blues now tie for third in the NHL with the Boston Bruins with 20 fights, holding a very good 9-5-6 record in those fights.

The Ottawa Senators weren’t always the most pugilistic team in the world, but now they’re trying to hang with the big boys in the Eastern Conference, and the conference has changed.  So they’ve shot up the boards on the fighting front, and they’re currently in a tie for ninth with the Philadelphia Flyers with 15 fights on the season.  The best part about the Senators is that they’re competitive in those fights – holding a record of 6-3-6 in those fights.  This stands to be the best test the Blues have faced fight-wise on the season, and it doesn’t get any easier tonight.

The leading fighters for Ottawa are not surprising – Chris Neil (6’1”, 215lbs, 1-0-4) and Matt Carkner (6’4”, 238lbs, 3-0-2) with five fights each.  Other fighters include Jarkko Ruutu (6’1”, 204lbs, 1-0-1), Mike “Mr. Carrie Underwood” Fisher (6’1”, 208lbs, Win) and Chris Campoli (6’0”, 200lbs, Draw).

Carkner fought with Cam Janssen last year, but I don’t expect anything like that this year.  I say Carkner squares off with Brad Winchester.  The size matches up well, and they both play about the same role at their respective positions.  LET IT HAPPEN!

I NEED A VICTORY!  GO GET ONE!  PLEASE?!  POR FAVOR?!  S’IL VOUS PLAÎT?!

LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!

Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights

With Carlo Colaiacovo also out and not due to skate for close to a week, the depth on defense will be tested early this season. If he is not ready for the October 9th home opener, there is a possibility Ian Cole, Alex Pietrangelo and Tyson Strachan will all start the 2010-11 campaign on the Blues roster.

Sad news for the 24 year old Russian. His performance in camp and the preseason made him a legitimate contender for the 6th or 7th spot on defense.

Nathan Oystrick is still and option, since he is still with the Blues camp. However, with the youngsters doing so well, his experience can serve well as a stabilizer in Peoria. Don’t forget their depth is reduced thanks to these injuries as well.

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Two other injury updates:

Andy McDonald skated full speed today and is expected back tomorrow for the last home preseason game against Dallas.

Vladimir Sobotka skated at practice, wearing no. 17.

This guy can brawl . . . image via silversevensens.com on SB Nation

Cam Janssen DID play in The Note’s exciting 4-3 overtime win over Les Habitants on Wednesday.  There WAS a fight in the game . . . and while there was a scrum attributed to Janssen’s inability to get around Montreal goaltender Carey Price (in a situation that further illustrates how a legal check on a goaltender that’s THAT far out of the crease should NEVER be a penalty – hilarious GIF of the incident is here), that one fight actually involved what was voted a draw at Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights between BJ Crombeen and Travis Moen, and it indeed was a straight-up draw.  Crombeen is now 6-4-3 on the season.  The Blues hang tight in 5th place in the NHL with 41 fights on the season.  Individually, Crombeen is tied for 7th in the NHL with 13 fights on the season.

In addition, not only did Georges Laraque not play in this game . . . the Canadiens told him not to let the door hit him in the rear on the way out.  This is the team Laraque grew up rooting for, and he’s not too happy . . . and I can’t see as if I blame him.  He’ll latch on somewhere as an enforcer, to be sure.  Every team needs one.  It won’t be the Blues; we have a surplus of brawlers.

The Ottawa Senators are 2nd in the Northeast Division in large part because they are a physical team and seem to feed off the physicality of their brethren.  They have gotten themselves into 33 scraps on the season (spread amongst only eight different players) and sport a healthy 13-6-14 fight record for their bravery.  A shining example of this team’s physicality is their leading fighter and a man who has fought nearly half of Ottawa’s 33 bouts, defenseman Matt Carkner (6’4″, 231lbs, 8-2-4).  Carkner not only will battle with anyone, but he’ll normally work himself into a good fight with anyone as well, it seems.  The other Sens with multiple fights on the season are wingers Chris Neil (6’1″, 212lbs, 2-2-4), Shean Donovan (6’3″, 218lbs, 1-0-2) and Jarkko Ruutu (6’1″, 207lbs, 1-0-1).  Carkner’s 16 fights puts him 3rd amongst NHL individual fight leaders.

With Janssen making a return to ice action yesterday, we may be able to safely assume he’ll be in the lineup on Thursday, especially considering the physicality of Ottawa and the fact that Patrik Berglund is reportedly battling the flu (along with Mike Weaver, apparently).  Therefore, the dream matchup of the evening is Janssen against Carkner.  Janssen gives about 15 pounds and 4 inches to Carkner, but if you think that’s going to stop him, you’re crazy.  Crombeen and Neil also could put on a show for the folks of Canada’s Capital.  And despite not quite having the fight credentials of Janssen or Crombeen, Brad Winchester matches up size-wise with Carkner, but he’d better be careful with him.

Last night’s victory was big, but will the momentum carry?  We’ll find out tonight in Ottawa.  Also, the Blues are 5 points out of a playoff spot.  Crazy, I know.  But I love it.

LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!

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