In which Dowell was introduced to “The Church of Engelland”. Image via Zimbio

Who said there was no animosity between the Blues and the Colorado Avalanche?  You can count out the two contestants.  FOUR fights and one “incident” made the Blues 3-1 win all that more sweet for this reporter to tell you about.  Unfortunately as of this writing, Fried Chicken had not uploaded the fights to his site, and due to my refusal to shill for anyone else’s services on such a matter, I will have these videos for you before Saturday’s game but not right now.  This is a pinky promise.  But to recap, there was a rare “Two for the price of one” fight, where Ryan Reaves appeared to defeat Cody McLeod at the exact time Cam Janssen and David Koci worked what I thought was a draw.  I have been waiting three years to see what TJ Oshie could do in a fight and . . . well, quite frankly, I wish he hadn’t taken THAT one.  He lost soundly to Ryan Wilson.  And in a fight I really didn’t catch so I will assume it was a draw until I review the clip from the late-game Barret Jackman-induced melee, Kevin Porter and BJ Crombeen went at it.  I will classify Ryan Stoa vs. Jackman an “incident” as the two DID go at it, but by the point it happened it was quite one-sided toward Jackman, and neither received a fighting major.  Wow, that was complicated but quite fun to type out . . . anyway, this brings the Blues to 78 fighting majors on the season, still leading the NHL by a good distance.  I will update the fight record as soon as film is available.

On five occasions have we covered our “lovely” rivals from the Windy City, the Chicago Blackhawks (October 18th, October 22nd, November 30th, December 28th and February 21st).  Full disclosure, if I haven’t done this before: I truly despise the Chicago Blackhawks, and have done so for A VERY LONG TIME.  This dates back to their Mike Keenan Era (especially the incident called the “St. Patrick’s Day Massacre” from 20 years ago, which explains every reason needed as to why I called Keenan a scumbag BEFORE his tenure with the Blues).  Sure, a lot of Blues fans have animosity toward Detroit, and I really can’t say as if I blame them (and trust me, I don’t like that team either).  But whereas Red Wings fans fail to reciprocate the Blues’ rivalry with them, Blackhawks fans seem not to mind allowing us being called their rivals.  I like that, actually.  And it’s funny . . . I have plenty more Blackhawks fan friends than Red Wings fan friends.  GO FIGURE!  All that said, the Blackhawks are one of the lower-tier fighting teams in the league with 28 fighting majors collected on the season.  Their fight record is not bad at 13-8-7, but if you take away eight wins from one fighter, it looks a LOT worse.  Also of note: out of those 28 fights, seven have been contested against the Blues.  It’s goin’ down, baby!

Jake Dowell (6’0”, 199lbs, 3-4-2 including a loss to Crombeen) leads the Blackhawks with nine fights.  Second behind him is the team’s best fighter, John Scott (6’8”, 258lbs, 8-0-0 including a win over Brad Winchester and two wins over Janssen) with eight.  Troy Brouwer (6’2”, 214lbs, 0-2-1, out with a shoulder injury) has fought three times on the season.  Two fights each have been contested by Bryan Bickell (6’4”, 223lbs, 1-0-1 including a draw with David Backes) and Nick Boynton (6’1”, 218lbs, 0-1-1 including once getting destroyed by Crombeen).  In the one-fight-each club, you have Brent Seabrook (6’3”, 218lbs, Win), Jack Skille (6’1”, 215lbs, Draw, traded to Florida in the Michael Frolik deal), Jeremy Morin (6’1”, 190lbs, Draw . . . with Chris Porter, currently with Rockford of the AHL) and Viktor Stalberg (6’3”, 210lbs, Loss).

With the Blackhawks fighting for their playoff lives, it would be hard to imagine the Blues NOT trying to get into the head of the Indian Heads this evening.  Maybe sending out Reaves to square off with someone like Scott (assuming Scott would suit up) would be a bit much, but how about a scrap between Janssen and Dowell?  Maybe Boynton wants a rematch with Crombeen?  The possibilities, as they say, are endless.  And after seeing SEVERAL interesting fight matchups last night . . . the possibilities get even more endless as the number of games count down to zero.

It’s a chance to play spoiler against a bitter rival . . . GET.  THIS.  DONE.

LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!

Information obtained via the incomparable Fried Chicken’s Hockey Fights

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