Wade Belak gives Cam Janssen a warm welcome

So it did actually happen. Wade Belak challenged Cam Janssen in last nights Devils vs Leafs game.

Mere seconds after Janssen hopped over the boards Wade Belak began chirping at him and in short order the gloves were off and the two heavy weights went at it.

Belak got the upper hand early in the fight but never seemed to be able to capitalize on his dominant position. As fights go, this was not much of one, but the effect this fight had on both benches was positive. Both teams should now be able to put the late hit by Janssen on Tomas Kaberle behind them and go on to finish off their respective seasons.

Kudos to Belak for stepping up to the plate and handling himself well and even bigger kudos to Janssen for not turtling or running away from the fight. As expected the rest of the game was business as usual (althought the 3rd period did get a little chippy) and both teams focused on trying to get the two points.

Hockeyfights.com currently has the fight going to Wade Belak with 59.4% of the vote.

You can see the fight below:




For the most part I tend to think that fighting in hockey is useless and pointless. However, in this case it serves a purpose. It tells opposing teams that you will not let them get away with questionable actions without penalty and it serves to juice up your teammates and your fans. Oh, yeah, and it IS fun to watch.

Tyler over at NHL Digest is trying to win an Edmonton Oilers fan picture contest and plans to give away the prize (a Sirius satellite radio and 6 month subscription) to readers of his blog.

Kaberle returns, hopes Janssen doesn't shoot the messenger

The rumors out of Toronto are that Tomas Kaberle will return to the ice tonight, ironically against the team that knocked him out of the lineup earlier this month.

Kaberle is the offensive catalyst for the Toronto Maple Leafs and arguably there best defenseman to boot. If you have been sitting the Leaf players on your roster tonight might be a good time to put them back in your starting lineup... ummm Maybe Not.

Martin Brodeur was pulled from his last start after allowing 4 goals on 12 shots. If history has any bearing Marty will be on fire tonight and a shutout is a distinct possibility.

On the PIM side, all reports out of the Leaf dressing room say that no Leaf player will be looking for revenge on Cam Janssen, not even Darcy Tucker. I'm not sure how much of that medicine you are willing to swallow but I tend to believe it. More because the Leaf's don't truly have a player capable of taking Janssen to task than anything else.

Both Darcy Tucker and Wade Belak have dropped the gloves with Janssen this year and both fights went to Janssen, although Tucker did give a good account of himself (if my memory serves). It can be difficult to send a physical message when you get the snot beat out of you by the guy you are trying to give the message to.

If there is an attempt to send a message tonight, expect Janssen to shoot the messenger.

Off with their Heads! NHL puts goalies heads on the block

I am sick and tired of this crap!

I'm watching the Leaf vs Canucks game and Bates Battaglia gets a crap-assed goal by smacking Roberto Luongo in the head with his stick.

Whatever happened to goaltender interference? If I'm Luongo I hamstring Battman the next time he comes near my crease.

Oh, hold on a second... I'm a Leaf fan.

Nah, screw it. I'm a goalie first, the NHL really needs to put a stop to all the goalie running crap that is going on this year.

Not only is this not a goal, it is a 2 minute penalty for goaltender interference to Master Bates.

And these bloody commentators, "That is definitely a goal, his stick is underneath the crossbar." Not a thing about smacking the goalie in the head. This is complete Bulls*&t.

Hey, NHL, get your heads out of your asses and start to protect your goalies.