Maybe fighting IS good

[TheWestWing 71]

CGY-PHX

Man, with the screaming crowd in CGY this was one exciting game! Iginla and Jovo went at it in the 1st and then CGY comes back from 0-3 to win in the SO. Iginla had (shoot me for saying this cuz this cliche can be retired) a Gordie hat trick too!

Been watching alot of PHX and Mueller is a stud - watch this kid as he'll be around for awhile if Gretz doesnt screw him up. PHX is still a tad streaky which I think is fueled by Gretz's unbridled emotion, which is both good and bad. Could be a game that devistates them. We'll see.

[calfan 0]

CGY-PHX

Man, with the screaming crowd in CGY this was one exciting game! Iginla and Jovo went at it in the 1st and then CGY comes back from 0-3 to win in the SO. Iginla had (shoot me for saying this cuz this cliche can be retired) a Gordie hat trick too!

Been watching alot of PHX and Mueller is a stud - watch this kid as he'll be around for awhile if Gretz doesnt screw him up. PHX is still a tad streaky which I think is fueled by Gretz's unbridled emotion, which is both good and bad. Could be a game that devistates them. We'll see.

I'm in the minority here who thinks fighting has its place in hockey. I was at the game and what TSN doesn't show is Iginla trying to drive through Jovo to the net and Jovo gives him two or three hard crosschecks and a shove in the face (no penalty call). Iginla gets right in his face and gives him a couple of shots back to show him he's not going to be pushed around. Jovo takes exception, down go the gloves, off come the helmets and away they go. Funny how Iggy's first fight in a long time comes in the game when he scores for the first time in 11 games.

Best laugh of the night was when the guys in front of me got up and left with 15 to play and the guy behind me yells at them "You're going to miss the OT!". He was right!

Don't understand the comment about Gretz ruining Mueller. He played on a team of young kids who was brought along by a very good coach. He probably learned a thing or two.

[Turkey 0]

It's not actually as easy as being For or Against Fighting in hockey for a lot of us. I probably get grouped into the anti-fighting camp because I really loathe goons and meaningless fights, nearly as much as I hate dirty play in general. That said, I love a good fight between two guys that can really play the game. Doesn't bother me at all.

[12Newf 0]

OF COURSE FIGHTING IS GOOD! it swings momentum all the time but most people fail to see that. if only calgary had a goaltender worth anything. on paper they have one of the best teams in the league even if tanguay sucks.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

I'm in the minority here who thinks fighting has its place in hockey. I was at the game and what TSN doesn't show is Iginla trying to drive through Jovo to the net and Jovo gives him two or three hard crosschecks and a shove in the face (no penalty call). Iginla gets right in his face and gives him a couple of shots back to show him he's not going to be pushed around. Jovo takes exception, down go the gloves, off come the helmets and away they go. Funny how Iggy's first fight in a long time comes in the game when he scores for the first time in 11 games.

Best laugh of the night was when the guys in front of me got up and left with 15 to play and the guy behind me yells at them "You're going to miss the OT!". He was right!

Don't understand the comment about Gretz ruining Mueller. He played on a team of young kids who was brought along by a very good coach. He probably learned a thing or two.

I don't think that's true at all. Just because we don't have fighters doesn't mean we don't love a good donnybrook.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

For once that ***** Iginla took his visor off. Hopefully, he can do it from now on, instead of acting like his ***** boy Phaneuf.

[Hank 0]

CGY-PHX

Man, with the screaming crowd in CGY this was one exciting game! Iginla and Jovo went at it in the 1st and then CGY comes back from 0-3 to win in the SO. Iginla had (shoot me for saying this cuz this cliche can be retired) a Gordie hat trick too!

Been watching alot of PHX and Mueller is a stud - watch this kid as he'll be around for awhile if Gretz doesnt screw him up. PHX is still a tad streaky which I think is fueled by Gretz's unbridled emotion, which is both good and bad. Could be a game that devistates them. We'll see.

I used to like Iginla, but now I don't. He wears a sheild down to his knees and then he picks fights with people and never takes it off. Also, he'll fight guys as tough as him just as much as he'll fight non-fighters like Mathieu Schneider or David Seguchi.

For the past 3 years, Calgary has gotten a really bad reputation for starting crap once a game is out of hand. They tried it against the Wings last year and the year before that they did it against the Ducks. My favourite memory of the Ducks fiasco was watching Iginla pick a fight with Francouis Beachimen only to get the living crap kicked out of him. Calgary didn't win a game after that tilt.

Mueller is getting better and better as the season progresses. Between him, Hanzal and Turris, they're going to be stacked up the middle for many years.

[DEVILSWATERBOY 10]

The main reason fighting is needed is to protect your star players with what was once called an enforcer does anybody think Stevie Y would have been around as long as he was without Probie Kocur and Mac to protect him, Kenny Holland needs to wake up and get a real enforcer in hear before we lose one of are young stars of now, Downey is not the answer

maybe it will be Mac who knows , we need an enforcer in Detroit!

[Guest micah]

Downey is not the answer

maybe it will be Mac who knows , we need an enforcer in Detroit!

Do you think Mac is a better fighter today than Downey is?

[shannyfan1414 0]

Fighting is needed in the NHL!!!

The players seemed to be nicer to one another, on the ice, when players would police themselves. You just took a cheap shot at Stevie, well here is Probert to teach you not to do that again.

[DEVILSWATERBOY 10]

Do you think Mac is a better fighter today than Downey is?

Thats yet to be seen, my main point is that the Wings need an enforcer that can also put the puck in the net , plain and simple I am sick of seeing Dats ,Z ,Huds, and Homer being run at every shift they are on the ice, its needs to stop before one of are stars is down with a serious injury from some goon taking liberties.

Edited February 6, 2008 by DEVILSWATERBOY

[DEVILSWATERBOY 10]

Fighting is needed in the NHL!!!

The players seemed to be nicer to one another, on the ice, when players would police themselves. You just took a cheap shot at Stevie, well here is Probert to teach you not to do that again.

AMEN, Thats becuase they were held accountable for their actions, this is Bettmans NHL and it blows

[Turkey 0]

The problem is that we now get "enforcers" wanting to fight after every hit on every player. It has nothing to do with hitting stars anymore. The only reason these guys are in the league is fighting. They know it, so they try to fight all the time. That includes when the fight is pointless.

I prefer watching a skilled player put up his OWN dukes. Didn't Gordie Howe look after his own business? That's what I respect.

[edicius 3,269]

Jovo takes exception, down go the gloves, off come the helmets and away they go. Funny how Iggy's first fight in a long time comes in the game when he scores for the first time in 11 games.

Wow, Iginla took off his helmet for a fight? Color me shocked.

[Guest jaytan]

I don't think any hockey fans who understand the sport are against fighting. It's just the idiots who are barely fans in the first place and the hapless executives who think fighting somehow tarnishes the image of the sport on a national scale in the US.

[Guest micah]

Didn't Gordie Howe look after his own business? That's what I respect.

Godie Howe very seldom fought - the way he "looked after his own business" was with cheapshots, stickwork and elbows for the most part. He was a great player, but his antics make guys like Tootoo look like Lady Byng candidates.

[wingslogo19 281]

Good fight that's forsure.. And I think all players who are in a fight should take off there helmet first thing

[DEVILSWATERBOY 10]

The problem is that we now get "enforcers" wanting to fight after every hit on every player. It has nothing to do with hitting stars anymore. The only reason these guys are in the league is fighting. They know it, so they try to fight all the time. That includes when the fight is pointless.

I prefer watching a skilled player put up his OWN dukes. Didn't Gordie Howe look after his own business? That's what I respect.

Why would you want star players to bust up there hands when you pay a goon to take care of that problem, plus an enforcer may only have to fight once in awhile, once he lays down the law the cheap shots will slow down and just having him on the bench would help keep it inline ( I could not even think of Dats taking on some one like Pronger, that would be suicide for Dats)

[Turkey 0]

Godie Howe very seldom fought - the way he "looked after his own business" was with cheapshots, stickwork and elbows for the most part. He was a great player, but his antics make guys like Tootoo look like Lady Byng candidates.

Behind the play elbows etc get thrown all the time. That's part of the game, I think. When I think dirty I think of head shots, hitting to injure, etc. Giving a guy a little elbow or a little taste of the stick to remind him what hitting you earns doesn't really bother me. People gave Gordie space because they were just a little afraid of him. That's fine. Comparing him to Tootoo is a little silly. Gordie was 10x the player Tootoo is.

[Turkey 0]

Why would you want star players to bust up there hands when you pay a goon to take care of that problem, plus an enforcer may only have to fight once in awhile, once he lays down the law the cheap shots will slow down and just having him on the bench would help keep it inline ( I could not even think of Dats taking on some one like Pronger, that would be suicide for Dats)

That's my point exactly, the goon used to be there to defend against hits on stars. I might think that's a little silly but I can deal with it. The problem is the goons are now fighting people for hitting anybody. That's just silly. Admittedly, compared to the average goon most players are superstars but that still doesn't make it right.

I like this article on the subject from THN today:

LOLenforcers

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

Godie Howe very seldom fought - the way he "looked after his own business" was with cheapshots, stickwork and elbows for the most part. He was a great player, but his antics make guys like Tootoo look like Lady Byng candidates.

Behind the play elbows etc get thrown all the time. That's part of the game, I think. When I think dirty I think of head shots, hitting to injure, etc. Giving a guy a little elbow or a little taste of the stick to remind him what hitting you earns doesn't really bother me. People gave Gordie space because they were just a little afraid of him. That's fine. Comparing him to Tootoo is a little silly. Gordie was 10x the player Tootoo is.

Not to mention, that kind of stuff used to happen constantly back in Gordie's day. It was part of the game then, for better or worse.

[dallas27 7]

AMEN, Thats becuase they were held accountable for their actions, this is Bettmans NHL and it blows

He has pansified hockey. I'll take a fight over a shoot-out anyday. Nothing can get the crowd on their feet faster than Downie beating the crap out of someone because they messed with Z, Dats, Lids, etc. You mess with a star player you have to own up to it, no exceptions.

[Hockeytown Red Wings 245]

He has pansified hockey. I'll take a fight over a shoot-out anyday. Nothing can get the crowd on their feet faster than Downie beating the crap out of someone because they messed with Z, Dats, Lids, etc. You mess with a star player you have to own up to it, no exceptions.

And especially Detroit. This city loves their fights as much as any, and now we see virtually no fights. I think that's part of the reason the Detroit crowd is going to other sports now. It used to be Kocur and Probert, McCarty and Lapointe, and for awhile even Sean Avery. Now we have a 4th liner who sees no ice time and maybe draws a fight every few games.

I understand that the Wings have sacrificed the physicality for an amazing finesse team that wins hockey games, which is the most important (waiting for the playoffs).

[dallas27 7]

And especially Detroit. This city loves their fights as much as any, and now we see virtually no fights. I think that's part of the reason the Detroit crowd is going to other sports now. It used to be Kocur and Probert, McCarty and Lapointe, and for awhile even Sean Avery. Now we have a 4th liner who sees no ice time and maybe draws a fight every few games.

I understand that the Wings have sacrificed the physicality for an amazing finesse team that wins hockey games, which is the most important (waiting for the playoffs).

Yep. Two things I used to love going to the games for: The jig and hoping that someone was going to fight.

Gotta agree with what you said though, sucks in a way that they changed that. But they are winning hockey games, a lot of them, so it's hard for anything negative to come out of that.

[DEVILSWATERBOY 10]

That's my point exactly, the goon used to be there to defend against hits on stars. I might think that's a little silly but I can deal with it. The problem is the goons are now fighting people for hitting anybody. That's just silly. Admittedly, compared to the average goon most players are superstars but that still doesn't make it right.

I like this article on the subject from THN today:

LOLenforcers

I understand the point that you are making, alot of the star players in the league do not fight you will have the exception like Shanny who would score and was a super star in the league but players like that a few and far between most of your goal scores are usually on the smaller size. Look at last nights game with all the crap that went on on the ice do you think that if Downey was in the lineup that half that crap would have been going on, I dont just the presence of a some one willing to hold players accountable will curb alot of cheap shots