NHL FanHouse

Fight of the Week: Princeton's Favorite Son Drops Them Again

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jackets, Canucks, Ducks, Penguins, Predators, Rangers, Sharks, Wild, NHL Fans, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

Every Friday, FanHouse sifts through the rubble and picks the best NHL fight, with the help of HockeyFights.com.

A light week on the card, but there was a relatively surprising bout and some pretty good ones to choose from. Highlighting it is our favorite former Princeton player, a gentleman who has made a name for himself by being a really good fighter. Of course, the big news of the week involved a team captain dropping the gloves with a random defenseman.

Huh? Fight of the Week: Marek Zidlicky vs. Sidney Crosby

Sometimes, guys are obviously planning to fight before they drop the gloves. Others are clearly spontaneous. This one falls under the latter. Crosby and Zidlicky had enough of using their sticks, and decided to use fists instead. Watch it here.

Beatdown of the Week: Kent Huskins vs. Jared Boll

Boll is one of the league's real up-and-coming heavyweights, and he dominated this scrap. It started with a hard hit on Huskins by Boll, and quickly became a fight. Just as fast as it started, Boll emphatically ended it. He then proceeded to stand over his conquest like a predator stands over lunch. Watch the fight here.

Runner-Up: Dane Byers vs. Tanner Glass

This was a little quick for most fans' tastes, but some really good punches were thrown. Byers got off to a quick start, but Glass got the last laugh, or "shot," if you prefer. Check it out here.

Fight of the Week: Wade Belak vs. George Parros

Parros is a top fighter, and he got all he could handle in this one from Thursday night. The Predators might not have done much to stay in the game, but Belak more than held his own against one of the best.

There is some solid back-and-forth between the two, and the ending is kind of a surprise. Too bad for the Ducks' TV people that the fight was over by the time they got the "Tale of the Tape" graphic ready.

Fight of the Week: Princeton's Favorite Son Drops Them Again originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ovechkin Hurt in Loss to Columbus

Adam Gretz — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:40:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jackets, Capitals, NHL Injuries, NHL Videos

The Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets played an overtime thriller on Sunday afternoon, with the Jackets picking up the 5-4 win thanks to R.J. Umberger's game-winner (and second goal of the game) at the 1:45 mark of the extra frame.

Perhaps the biggest concern for Capitals fans isn't the outcome on the scoreboard, but the status of the league's leading scorer and back-to-back MVP winner, Alex Ovechkin, who left the game after playing just 7:43.

From the Capitals Web site:

A few minutes before leaving, Ovechkin was involved in an altercation in front of the Blue Jackets' bench. During a break in play barely a minute into the second period, Ovechkin was bumped by Columbus left wing Jason Chimera and Ovechkin responded with a shove and players from both teams skated over to the scrum. Ovechkin, Chimera and Blue Jacket right wing Jared Boll all received minors for roughing, and Boll was also issued a misconduct.

As if the league didn't have enough star players injured through the first month of the season.

The team announced, via Twitter, that Ovechkin is day-to-day with an upper body injury, and that because of an off day on Monday, there won't be an update on his status until Tuesday. He's currently leading the league in most offensive categories, including goals (14), points (23), and shots on goal (85).

The third period saw the two teams combine for five goals, including a pair from Raffi Torres, who tied the game for Columbus with just 16 seconds to play in regulation. Rick Nash opened the scoring for the Blue Jackets early in the second period with this goal that probably won't be showing up on the highlight reel for Washington's defense this season:

Washington has now lost back-to-back games at home following a six-game winning streak, but has still managed to gain at least a point in the standings in nine straight games. The Capitals haven't lost in regulation since their 3-2 loss in Detroit all the way back on October 10.

Ovechkin Hurt in Loss to Columbus originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sidney Crosby Fights Marek Zidlicky

Bruce Ciskie — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Penguins, Wild, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

While fighting isn't at all legal in hockey, there is an understanding with players. Some employ enforcer-type guys whose job is to mix it up with those who try to mess with a team's skill players.

You'll see captains and other team leaders sometimes willing to mix it up, too, even if that's not their reputation. Last year, Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby made waves by starting a fight off a faceoff in a game. On Saturday, Crosby was back dropping the gloves, this time with an even more unlikely opponent.

As the Penguins were struggling to score against Minnesota, Crosby got involved with defenseman Marek Zidlicky. Eventually, the two dropped the gloves and began to "throw down."

Well, Crosby threw a couple punches. Outside of that, nothing to see here.

Just what you would expect out of a fight between two guys who hardly ever fight.

Minnesota was outshot for the game 35-15 but won 2-1. Crosby picked up nine minutes in penalties on the night and was visibly frustrated with the officials, arguing with them on the ice a few times during the game.

Sidney Crosby Fights Marek Zidlicky originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This Week's Edition of Clean Or Dirty: Andrew Ladd Hits Matt D'agostini

Adam Gretz — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, Canadiens, NHL Videos

Since it's been, oh, I don't know, five minutes, since we had a debate on what's a clean hit and what's a dirty hit, Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Ladd decided to give us something else to talk about on Friday night when he laid out Montreal's Matt D'agostini early in the second period.

Video after the jump.

Ladd was issued a five-minute major for elbowing, a 10-minute game misconduct, and a two-minute minor for roughing Kyle Chipchura (Chipchura also received two for roughing). While Ladd was called for elbowing, that doesn't appear to be an elbow. It looks like he gets him with his shoulder, but it's clearly a shot directly to the head.

And this is where the discussion starts yet again. Is this clean or dirty? And will the NHL's bizarre disciplinary system step in and hand out additional punishment? Probably not, but it's anybody's guess. As Chris Botta said in our 2-on-1 last Monday: "Until the league decides that head shots are illegal, it is what it is."

This Week's Edition of Clean Or Dirty: Andrew Ladd Hits Matt D'agostini originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Heavyweights

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Canucks, Ducks, Flames, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Stars, Red Wings, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

Every Friday, FanHouse sifts through the rubble and picks the best NHL fight, with the help of HockeyFights.com.

It's no secret what we're looking for in a good fight. It needs to have intensity, some good back-and-forth action, and there is some longevity needed. If two guys trade a flurry of punches for seven seconds, it's not nearly as impressive as a high-quality 30-second fight.

This week's top fight has a little bit of everything.

Beatdown of the Week: Krys Barch vs. D.J. King

King played in just one game last season, but he showed no rust in this quick putaway of Barch. Watch the fight here, but don't blink, because you might miss the action.

Runner-Up: Colton Orr vs. George Parros

While the fight itself was okay, the news happened when Orr shoved the linesman who appeared to be trying to break up the bout prematurely.

(Orr, by the way, is not going to be punished any further for that, beyond the misconduct penalty he got at the time.)

Orr and Parros are experienced at this sort of thing, and it's no surprise they can get together and give the fans a good slugfest. Watch the video here.

Runner-Up: Brad May vs. Tanner Glass

May held a real heavy edge in experience on Glass, so you might think he would control this fight. Instead, the youngster did very well against May, even ducking out of the way as May threw a roundhouse that would have knocked Glass into the middle of the Olympic break. Watch the video here.

Fight of the Week: Steve MacIntyre vs. Brian McGrattan

This was easily the best dance of the week. McGrattan is the better fighter, and he won this one hands-down. But it wasn't just about that. MacIntyre made a good showing of himself by simply competing, and he showed he can hang with one of the league's better fighters.

It's not hard to fathom that these two -- playing on division rivals -- will go again this season.

Fight of the Week: Heavyweights originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Colton Orr Faces Suspension After Shoving Official During Fight

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:25:00 EST

Filed under: Ducks, Maple Leafs, NHL Fights, NHL Videos, NHL Discipline

Monday night's Maple Leafs win over Anaheim featured plenty of penalties. In fact, five of Toronto's six goals were scored with the extra attacker.

Besides Anaheim's trademark undisciplined play, there was also a pretty intense fight. During the first period, Toronto's Colton Orr hooked up with Duck George Parros for an impressive heavyweight bout. While the fight was clean, Orr risked suspension by shoving an official during the bout. Video after the jump.

It's going to be tough for Orr to shove this aside (pun intended) as an accident. He pretty clearly stuck his right hand out and shoved the linesman on purpose, and that's a no-no.

Orr received a misconduct for the shove, and he is awaiting the call to the NHL carpet. A two- or three-game suspension is the minimum you can expect out of this. It's one thing if Orr is blindly reaching out and happens to hit the official. However, the eye in the sky doesn't lie. Orr's actions were clearly intentional.

Colton Orr Faces Suspension After Shoving Official During Fight originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blue Jackets Livid at Scuderi After Hip Check on Chimera

Bruce Ciskie — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:45:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jackets, Kings, Western, NHL Videos, NHL Discipline

As talk of NHL discipline heats up early in the season, the Columbus Blue Jackets would like a little bit of love from the league office.

During a 6-2 pasting at the hands of Los Angeles Sunday night, Columbus forward Jason Chimera carried the puck across the Kings' blue line, and was met promptly by a low hit from defenseman Rob Scuderi. What appeared to be an attempt at a solid hip check was treated as anything but by the Blue Jackets.

First off, a look at the videotape.

Scuderi was not penalized. Chimera was given a misconduct, presumably for chirping at the Kings' bench after he (thankfully) got up after the hit. Derek Dorsett picked up a game misconduct after jumping off the bench to get involved in a post-hit fracas. Dorsett, however, was said to be coming on as part of a line change, and his argument apparently won the league over, as he will not be suspended further.

Chimera was livid after the game.

"It's a dirty hit. There's no room in the game for that kind of (expletive). A guy takes your knees out, what are you supposed to do? It wasn't a hip check at all. It was a direct hit on the knee. That's the way it goes, I guess. And he doesn't want to fight after a hit like that, either. I landed on my face, on the ice. My neck was squished against the ice. I'm lucky I don't have a concussion or something. It's a dirty hit and there's no room in the game for it. Too many guys now are getting carried off the ice on a stretcher. It's just dirty stuff. It shows no level of respect. I don't care if Scuderi's a good player. He needs to stick up for himself. You fight after you do something like that to somebody."

Scuderi did not offer an apology, instead claiming that his hit on Chimera was clean. He also told reporters that he didn't have a problem with the way Columbus reacted, saying they were just standing up for a teammate.

It's not hard to understand why this hit is so controversial. Scuderi tried to throw an old-school hit, but he got a bit too close to Chimera's knees for comfort.

Now, for the $64,000 question: Should Scuderi face supplemental discipline?

It could be argued that he hit Chimera too low, but was it intentional? This isn't as clear-cut as most hits that result in suspensions. For example, you can't argue that Tuomo Ruutu was trying to throw a clean hit on Darcy Tucker. The argument in favor of suspending Scuderi alleges intent that isn't abundantly clear.

While the Blue Jackets' reaction is completely understandable, and Scuderi was wrong not to have fought later in the game when asked, the NHL's hands are virtually tied when it comes to suspending the defenseman. Any supplemental discipline here would open up a huge can of worms that the league isn't prepared to open.

(UPDATE: Scuderi was fined by the NHL)

Blue Jackets Livid at Scuderi After Hip Check on Chimera originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cherry Goes After Ovechkin Again

Bruce Ciskie — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Eastern, NHL Videos

After Alex Ovechkin scored his 50th goal last season, he had a rather unique celebration. Even before that happened, Ovechkin's celebrations had drawn the ire of CBC Hockey Night in Canada legend Don Cherry.

Yes, Cherry certainly tends to wear his Canadian heart on his sleeve. However, people generally listen to what he has to say, no matter the potential biases involved. After Ovechkin basically got away with a slew-foot earlier in the week, Cherry was very pointed in his comments on Coach's Corner Saturday night. Video after the jump.

Ovechkin did get off too easy when it comes to his hit on Rich Peverley. It's not about the slew-foot being an automatic suspension. Anyone who watches hockey can ascertain that Evgeni Artyuhkin is a much dirtier player than Ovechkin will ever be.

However, Cherry does have a point when it comes to the superstar. Ovechkin plays the game hard, which no one will ever question. That doesn't give him license to plow people from behind, or hit them in the knee. As Cherry notes, there is a reputation developing, and it isn't necessarily a good one.

At some point, Ovechkin will be asked to drop the gloves and stand up for his style of play. It might not be a desirable thought for Capitals fans, but it's one that is likely to become reality very soon if Ovechkin doesn't tone down his hits a little bit.

Cherry Goes After Ovechkin Again originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuomo Ruutu Suspended 3 Games for Hit on Darcy Tucker

Adam Gretz — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:10:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Hurricanes, NHL Injuries, NHL Videos, NHL Discipline

The NHL acted fast in determining a punishment for Carolina Hurricanes forward Tuomo Ruutu, suspending him three games for his hit on Colorado's Darcy Tucker Friday night.

Just a little over five minutes into the second period, Ruutu hit Tucker from behind into the boards, knocking him unconscious on the ice. Tucker was eventually taken off on a stretcher and, according to the team, suffered a concussion. He remained in the hospital overnight and is expected to be released on Saturday, according to TSN.

Ruutu was issued a five-minute major for boarding and given a game misconduct following the hit.

The Avalanche responded with a goal on the ensuing power play before winning the game, 5-4, and continuing their impressive early season performance that currently has them atop the Western Conference with a 7-1-1 record.

Tuomo Ruutu Suspended 3 Games for Hit on Darcy Tucker originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lessons in Puck Throwing

Adam Gretz — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Videos

David Booth played a pretty strong game for the Florida Panthers on Friday night, using his speed to create a number of scoring chances and record eight shots on goal in a 3-2 shootout loss to Pittsburgh Penguins,

Midway through the third period, Booth committed what can only be described as a mental mistake when he lost his stick in the defensive zone and decided to pick up a loose puck and throw it down the ice. That, of course, is a penalty. But, don't feel too bad, David, because you're not the first guy to attempt it, and your gaffe isn't even the worst.

Videos after the jump.

Also: Ugly Jerseys and Naked Breakaways

First, we have Booth's play in Friday's game.

That's just simply a mental mistake, and he didn't even try to hide it. He just casually picked it up and tossed it out of the zone. As I mentioned above, Booth isn't the first, and likely won't be the last, player to ever be guilty of this, and his isn't even the most embarrassing.

First, we have Alexander Semin of the Washington Capitals and his attempt at a behind-the-back toss into the net against the Toronto Maple Leafs a couple of years back, resulting in him hilariously hitting the post.

Both of these, of course, fight for second-place behind the greatest puck toss of all time: long-time defenseman Marc Bergevin grabbing a puck out of mid-air and accidentally throwing it into his own net during a playoff game in 2000.

(H/T Kukla'sKorner for Booth video)

Lessons in Puck Throwing originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Pairing Off

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Flames, Hurricanes, Islanders, Oilers, Wild, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

Every Friday, FanHouse sifts through the rubble and picks the best NHL fight, with the help of HockeyFights.com.

Sometimes, one fight just isn't good enough. Such was the case in Calgary recently, as the Flames and Canucks met for one of six matchups between the division rivals this season. It took just 2:32 for two fights to break out. Even though there were two good scraps going on at once, there was a clear winner for our Fight of the Week honors.

Beatdown of the Week: David Koci vs. Derek Boogaard

Boogaard missed the first few games of the season, and he hasn't had many opportunities to drop the gloves. In fact, this fight with Koci was his first of the season. Needless to say, the Wild fan favorite didn't look very rusty, as he quickly and decisively polished off Koci.

Runner Up: Rick Rypien vs. Zack Stortini

If we measured the quality of a fight simply by counting the number of punches thrown, this one would be a solid candidate for the best fight of the season. However, the problem is that Rypien appeared to throw the vast majority of the punches, and Stortini struggled to get any shots in.

Runner Up: Scott Walker vs. Brendan Witt

Walker is a proven tough guy in this league, and this looked like a bit of a mismatch when it started. The heavily-tattooed Witt held his own, however, and helped turn this into a very entertaining fight. In the end, though, it's hard to argue against this being anything but a decisive win for Walker.

Fight(s) of the Week: Darcy Hordichuk vs. Brian McGrattan/Tanner Glass vs. Brandon Prust

The Prust/Glass fight was pretty solid, but it doesn't hold a candle to McGrattan battling Hordichuk. The two exchanged some solid blows right up to the end, which came when McGrattan absolutely leveled Hordichuk with a right. Prust and Glass got off to a fast start, but it quickly turned into a wrestling match on ice. The linesmen broke it up when they were up against the glass for too long.

Fight of the Week: Pairing Off originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Jeff Schultz Beats Ondrej Pavelec With 175-Foot Shot

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Thrashers, Eastern, NHL Videos

Vesa Toskala has more company.

A couple years ago, Toskala allowed an improbable goal from over 190 feet away against the New York Islanders. Since then, guys have allowed bad goals left and right, but few have come close to duplicating Toskala's feat until Thursday night in Atlanta. It was there that Thrashers goalie Ondrej Pavelec was fooled by a puck with a mind of its own. Video after the jump.

The Capitals took a 3-2 lead on this goal, which was credited to Jeff Schultz, who was probably standing around 175 feet away from Pavelec when he shot.

It was the start of a string of three goals by Washington in just 1:28, which was enough to chase Pavelec in favor of Johan Hedberg.

Video: Jeff Schultz Beats Ondrej Pavelec With 175-Foot Shot originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Evgeni Artyukhin Suspended Three Games for Slew-Foot

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:15:00 EST

Filed under: Ducks, Stars, NHL Videos, NHL Discipline

Just because Chris Pronger has departed doesn't mean the Anaheim Ducks are no longer capable of dirty hockey.

In a move that would have likely made Pronger proud, Anaheim forward Evgeni Artyukhin took out Dallas defenseman Matt Niskanen with a slew-foot during the Stars' 4-2 win Wednesday night. While the on-ice officials didn't notice the play, the NHL did. Artyukhin was suspended three games for the hit.

Before we go any further, check out video of the hit.

The official six feet away was obviously watching for hot girls in the stands, because there's really no excuse for missing something so obvious.

The NHL, however, doesn't watch for hot girls in the stands, so they acted quickly to get Artyukhin off the ice.

Artyukhin, who was suspended for two games Jan. 19, 2009, now is considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Accordingly, Artyukhin forfeits $34,756.11 in salary based on the number of games (82) in a season, rather than the number of days (193). The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Congrats on your new status with the NHL, Evgeni!

Meanwhile, Niskanen is said to have a head injury. He is out for Thursday's game at Los Angeles, and his status beyond that is up in the air. It marks just the seventh time in his 174-game NHL career that Niskanen has sat out.

Evgeni Artyukhin Suspended Three Games for Slew-Foot originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Willie Mitchell Delivers Crushing Hit on Jonathan Toews

Adam Gretz — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, Canucks, NHL Videos

The Vancouver Canucks were 3-2 winners against the Chicago Blackhawks Wednesday night thanks to Mikael Samuelsson's game-winning goal late in the third period.

Earlier in the period, Canucks defenseman Willie Mitchell came out of the penalty box and found himself in a position to catch Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews with his head down, and used that opportunity to deliver a crushing (and what appears to be a clean) open-ice hit.

It might be the hit of the year so far. Video after the jump.

Yeah, that appears to be clean. Mitchell doesn't leave his feet, doesn't lead with an elbow, and the hit doesn't appear to be directed at Toews' head. Just a good, solid open-ice hit.

The problem, if you're the Canucks, is that the play was stopped (negating a two-on-none break) because the Blackhawks decided to respond with an attempt at some vigilante justice, which is a continuing (and disturbing) trend in today's NHL following clean hits. Kris Versteeg ended up taking the extra penalty for Chicago, giving Vancouver a power play, but it cost the Canucks a prime scoring opportunity.

It's obvious that Toews was shaken up following the play, and that's unfortunate. Nobody wants to see him (or any other player) injured on the ice. But hockey is a physical game, and when players play within the rules (as Mitchell did in this case) they shouldn't have to drop the gloves and defend themselves.

Clean hit. Play on.

Video: Willie Mitchell Delivers Crushing Hit on Jonathan Toews originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Knuckle Puck: Youth Movement Taking Over NHL

Kevin Schultz — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Canadiens, NHL Fans, NHL Videos

Each and every Saturday this season I'll be taking a look at the random happenings and absurdities that occur in the world of hockey. This is the first edition. Feel free to suggest stories, complain or otherwise babble at me via electronic mail.

One of the stories to watch this season is the youth movement that is currently taking over the NHL. I'm not talking about Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. At 22 and 24 respectively, those guys are old news. The kids I'm talking about are a bit younger and dare I say, better.

First, there's one of the youngest members of the coaching ranks -- Josh Sacco. Josh is famous for replicating Herb Brooks' speech but did you know he's also an aspiring coach? Yep. Rumors have run rampant about where he may land -- word out of Toronto is he could be Ron Wilson's replacement if he is let go -- but expect him to go to the highest bidder. Right now, he's working on inspiring the Predators' in-game entertainment staff before games. It won't be long before he gets a job behind an NHL bench, possibly even before his fifth birthday.

Earlier in the week another young gun came on the scene. With a spin-o-rama goal that made it all the way to Sportscenter 9-year old Oliver Wahlstrom is the hottest free agent on the market today. Lots of teams are interested but the word is he may be able to wait for the draft. According to an inside source the NHL is considering dropping the age limit on the draft from 17 to 10 to accommodate Wahlstrom. Either way, watch out Danny Bolduc, Maine's got a new home grown NHL superstar.

So at the tender ages of four and nine, the NHL is getting a huge surge in young superstars. What kind of an impact this has on the game is yet to be seen but it seems as though we will have a whole generation of toddlers growing up wanting to be like Josh and Oliver.

YouTube of the Week
Bears are just a different sort of animal in Alaska. This one from Fairbanks carries a pick ax after rising out of an atomic blast somewhere. I'm really not sure what's going on or why I'm posting it except for the overwhelming feeling that I'll get eaten by a bear if I don't.

Knuckle Pucker of the Year Nominee
Each week, we'll nominate someone who deserves to be recognized for their outstanding service and commitment to giving me something to write about. By the end of the year I'll come up with some way to declare a winner. Today's nominee is...

The Montreal Canadiens! In case you missed it, earlier in the week the Habs pulled the goalie late in the game against the Avs for a 6-on-4. Except they ended up with seven men on the ice. And still couldn't score! What did we learn from this? Nothing except that those crazy Leafs fans who believe games are rigged in favor of the Habs are, well, probably right.

Knuckle Puck: Youth Movement Taking Over NHL originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Colton Orr Takes Over

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Blue Jackets, Flames, Lightning, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Predators, Senators, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

Every Friday, FanHouse sifts through the rubble and picks the best NHL fight, with the help of HockeyFights.com.

Some weeks, this job is just too easy. Our search for the best hockey fights includes a couple dandies this week, including a classic heavyweight battle in Toronto. It's the kind of bout that makes Brian Burke smile. Check out our runners-up, along with video of this week's best fight, after the jump.

Runner Up: Matt Walker vs. Chris Neil

Video here. Walker got some good early shots in, but Neil had a rally in him. This went from being a one-sided affair to quite competitive very quickly.

Runner Up: Jared Boll vs. Brandon Prust

Boll is one of the more underrated fighters in the league. He's big and strong, and also happens to be tough as nails. Prust brought some intensity to this fight, and he didn't back down after Boll landed an early right that would have staggered a lot of guys. Watch Prust make an impressive comeback here.

Runner Up: Zack Stortini vs. Triston Grant

Last week, we showed you Stortini standing and watching as skilled teammate Sam Gagner got in a scrap. No more of that, as Stortini mixed it up Tuesday, as his Oilers were blowing out the Predators. Stortini is a lot bigger than Grant, but the Nashville youngster held his own, mainly by keeping a strong hold on Stortini and limiting his ability to punch. Watch the video here.

Fight of the Week: David Koci vs. Colton Orr

This is easy. You don't even have to watch the video to know it's awesome, because Koci and Orr have plenty of experience and are more than capable of putting on a show. The heavyweights wore each other down, and there were more than a few punches thrown. Apologies for the lack of sound, but the feed that night had audio issues throughout. It's too bad, because it would be worth money to hear Joe Bowen call a fight this good.

Fight of the Week: Colton Orr Takes Over originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's a YouTube World, Kid

Kevin Schultz — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Media Watch, NHL Videos

When was the last time that the evening Sportscenter (I'm not talking about Sportscentre, mind you) led off with a teaser about something that happened in the hockey world?

That's a rhetorical question, since I'd have to do a lot of digging through a lot of film that I don't have access to to find the answer. Maybe it was when the Penguins skated the Cup around Detroit after winning Game 7. Or it could be further back, when Chris Simon stomped on Jarkko Ruutu, possibly?

My guess is the latter, since, in this YouTube world we live in, the only stories -- clips, I should say -- from hockey that seem to catch on are ones featuring dirty plays and bench-clearing brawls. Despite even the recent positive attitude ESPN has shown towards hockey, it would normally take a Roy son flipping off a crowd to make hockey relevant on the highlight show.

So, for one day, hockey was used as a teaser in a positive light, and we can thank a nine-year-old from Maine who made an unbelievable play for that. Hopefully for him he's got more great plays ahead.

Still, it was not Gary Bettman, Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin or any other adult that was responsible for the positive publicity. That's not to say anything negative of those three. It's just funny how sports picks the most unlikely of stars sometimes.

But kudos to the NHL as this could, in a roundabout way, be thanks to their liberal use of the internet and, specifically, internet video. The league has approached the internet with open arms, something I'm sure you've heard many times, and that's likely part of the reason this video got out there so fast. Heck, could it have even been planned this way by the league, or it is a simple case of video gone viral? Remember, the video that shows up in most places, including FanHouse, is one from the NHL itself. Not YouTube. Almost kind of ironic how that worked out.

The league is smart, they know the game. Nowadays it's only the quick clips that catch and hold on blogs and television, unless you're peddling the almighty football. The clip was posted on the NHL.com for much of the day today -- whether to showcase it or sell it, who knows -- and can still be found on the Bruins' homepage, their home rink being the stage for the shot seen 'round the internet.

So as much as Gary Bettman appears to bumble along at times -- sticking with Versus, potentially mishandling the Versus/DirecTV feud -- the league is doing a few things right. They know what they're up against and how to attract attention. Right now, it's with the power of the internet and the YouTube phenomenon. I wouldn't be surprised if this was a strategically deployed video clip. Not 'strategically deployed' in the sense that it was staged in any way (it wasn't) but in the sense that the league knew exactly how it was going to get it the maximum attention and promotion possible (although having the No. 1,347 ranked website on the entire internet doesn't hurt, either).

In the end a deserving kid from Maine gets 15 minutes and the sport gets some positive attention from ESPN and the mainstream internet media. No matter how it happened, it's nice to see it happening for the right reasons. Now just don't let it get to your head, kid!

It's a YouTube World, Kid originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Counting to 7 Is Hard For NHL Officials

Adam Gretz — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:55:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Canadiens, NHL Videos

Remember Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final when Pittsburgh managed to skate with six men on the ice for about 20 seconds, while none of the on-ice officials noticed it? Well, we had a replay of it on Thursday night in the Montreal vs. Colorado game. Only Montreal played with seven players.

With the Canadiens trailing, 3-2, and desperately trying to tie the score in their home opener, goaltender Carey Price went to the bench in favor of the extra attacker, which coincided with defenseman Hal Gill coming out of the penalty box. Instead of going to the bench, Gill remained on the ice and joined the play. The result? A 7-on-5 power play to close out the game.

Video, of course, after the jump.

This comes from NHL.com's game highlights with the focus intended for Craig Anderson's save on Tomas Plekanec, but as you can clearly see on the video, the Canadiens have seven players on the ice, which is, obviously, one more than they're allowed in that situation.

Too many men on the ice calls get missed all the time and nobody makes a big deal about it after the fact, usually because they happen so fast they rarely have much of an impact on the game. But given the situation (the closing seconds of a one-goal game) and the fact there are seven guys on the ice, that's a pretty big call for the men in stripes to miss. Fortunately for the Avs, the missed call didn't hurt them as they managed to hold on for the 3-2 win, improving to 5-1-1 on the season.

Just in case you missed it on the video, here's a still-frame found at the always on-the-ball Hockey's Future message boards.

Counting to 7 Is Hard For NHL Officials originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy Anniversary Wayne Gretzky

Adam Gretz — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:25:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, Oilers, NHL Videos

Twenty years ago today, Wayne Gretzky became the NHL's All-Time leading scorer when he recorded point No. 1,851 in his amazing career. He did in the final minutes of a game in Edmonton against the team he won four Stanley Cups with.

Gretzky would finish his career with 894 goals, 1,963 assists and 2,857 points. Amazingly, if you take away all of his goals and just look at his assists, he would still be the NHL's All-Tme leading scorer.

His former Edmonton teammate, Mark Messier, is now the No. 2 player on the points list with 1,887.

Happy Anniversary Wayne Gretzky originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nine-Year-Old Oliver Wahlstrom Scores Incredible Shootout Goal in Boston

Adam Gretz — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Fans, NHL Videos

Oliver Wahlstrom is a nine-year-old forward for the Portland Junior Pirates, a Pee Wee team in Portland, Maine. During the TD Bank's mini 1-on-1 challenge in Boston, Wahlstrom unleashed a stick-whirling, highlight-reel goal that stunned a motionless goaltender who could do nothing but freeze, and watch in amazement.

It might be the best goal you'll see all season, and it's even more impressive when you consider it's a nine-year-old doing it.

Video after the jump.

The poor goalie, he had no idea what to do. According to Greg Wyshynski at Puck Daddy, the Portland Junior Pirates are a team of mostly 12-year-olds, and the nine-year-old Wahlstrom is playing against older competition.

This kid was obviously watching the moves of former Springfield Falcon (AHL), and current New York Islander, Rob Schremp.

Below, Oliver talks about the shot on CBS' The Early Show.

Nine-Year-Old Oliver Wahlstrom Scores Incredible Shootout Goal in Boston originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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