Mike Keenan

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