Winter Classic Still Strong After Five Years

The 5th Annual Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic could not have been better. Two division rivals, both sitting one and two in the Atlantic Division standings, playing to the final whistle in front of over 47,000 fans at Citizens Bank Park.

The National Hockey League's outdoor gala had less problems with mother nature in Philadelphia than they did last year in Pittsburgh. With the game being scheduled a day later due to the NFL games, it gave the ice crew some time to keep the ice playable with mild temperatures and fear of rain in the forecast. Of course the league moved the game back two hours, with temperatures dropping later into the afternoon. Luckily not dealing a repeat of 2011, with heavy rain and temperatures in the 50's. 

The spectacle of the game was as big as it has been in the past. Most in part to the Flyers and Rangers fans who keep it alive. Let's face it, the Winter Classic is a hot event that two of the 30 teams in the NHL hope to hold on New Years Day (or weekend). The 2nd annual alumni game bringing back some of the greats of Philadelphia and New York's hockey past had the Phillies ballpark filled to capacity on New Years Eve. Be honest, if you're a Flyers fan, you were somewhat excited to see Bobby Clarke and Eric Lindros skate together.

The drama leading up to the game heightens every year. The biggest concern is the weather on the day of the event. While many hope for snow and temperatures in the mid 30's (the ideal weather for the ice that was seen at the inaugural event in Buffalo), people in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh can tell you snow is not always in the forecast for the first day in January. The Pittsburgh Classic was the first one challenged by mother nature. Heavy rains and almost 60 degree weather threatened the game, with many hoping the game could continue. The game was moved to 8pm that night, creating a more dramatic atmosphere, and had Penguin and Capital fans sitting in rain during the third period. For the league, they were lucky to pull the game off that night.

Add HBO's "24/7" series into the equation and you have hockey drama at its most realistic and finest. How many teams let you into their locker room and their inner circle for a month? Especially two clubs like the Flyers and Rangers who are in the middle of an Atlantic Division dogfight with each other and the rest of their division. You see all of it, obscenities and all (especially former Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau). This will make you want to get HBO if you don't subscribe currently.   

Now, onto the game. A first period filled with physical play that anyone would expect from two teams that have dropped the gloves in the first minute of their first two meetings this season. The Flyers got the home crowd going with Brayden Schenn getting his first NHL goal on a rebound. How excited would you be to score your first goal in the pros in front of 47,000 plus people at the age of 20? Schenn got to do it. Claude Giroux gave the Flyers some insurance with a goal set up by a breakout by Scott Hartnell to Maxime Talbot, who played in his third Winter Classic this afternoon, making it 2-0 Philadelphia.

While we are on the topic of former Pittsburgh Penguins, Mike Rupp, who had a fight in the 2011 Winter Classic, scored quickly and saluted the Flyer faithful, making it 2-1. If you were in line for hot chocolate and not in your seat for the beginning of the third, the game changed quickly. Rupp scored again and then Brad Richards, another Ranger pickup during the offseason, gave New York the lead within the first 6 minutes of the period. The last five minutes of the game had people glued to the TV. With minor penalties setting up a 4 on 4 situation, it created open ice and an opportunity for the Flyers to pull Babrovsky and try to tie the game. A penalty shot opportunity gave the Flyers a golden opportunity with less than 20 seconds left in the game. Briere went one on one with Henrik Lundqvist, who was a wall toward the end of the game and denied Briere on the penalty shot.

A tough one to swallow for the people of Philadelphia and a reason to celebrate for the Ranger faithful, both teams and their fans should take time to reflect on the experience, especially those who were lucky enough to get tickets. It's an event that someone like myself remembers when the game was held at Heinz Field. Despite the rain and the delayed start, it had all the elements of a memorable day. There was at least some flurries toward the end of the second period.

So where will the NHL Winter Classic be held in 2013? Let the campaigning begin.

Talbot Deserves Cheers, Not Jeers From Penguin Fans

With the Philadelphia Flyers making their first trip to Pittsburgh this season, fans still remember that day in late June when fan favorite Maxime Talbot signed with the Philadelphia Flyers. While his departure from the Penguins was imminent, the idea that Talbot would sign with the cross-state rival Flyers had some questioning how he could do such a thing.

While it will pain many to see Talbot in orange and black at Consol Energy Center tomorrow night, there are a few reasons why fans should applaud him for what he did while he was a member of the Penguins.

His overall representation as a fan favorite. It's enough for people to point to Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin as their favorite player, but for others, Talbot stood out. I have always acknowledged that NHL players are some of the best athletes when it comes to fan relations. Talbot was a perfect example of that representation. A character in his own without trying to draw all the attention to himself. I said that Philadelphia was lucky to be getting a guy like Talbot. Who could forget his A&L Car Motor Sales commercials that had him getting "Superstar Treatment?" I can also say that my family adopted him as our favorite. His "Ice Time" program covers are still on the refrigerator. 

Another reason would be the on ice contributions that Talbot brought to the Penguins. Talbot was a great defensive forward and unsung hero in his time in Pittsburgh.

Wind the clock back to April 25, 2009. The Penguins are in a series clinching situation against the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Flyers go up 3-0, and Tablot and Carcillo drop the gloves. While not a victory for Talbot, it was the spark the Penguins needed to come back and win the game 5-3. Go to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. The story of how an unexpected player will rise and lead his team to victory in the deciding game. In that Stanley Cup clinching 2-1 victory, Talbot had both goals.

So for those of you who feel that these reasons still don't take away from the fact that he did take a contract with the Flyers, look at it this way. Talbot, unlike Jagr, who is expecting and will be booed by the Penguins crowd for the first time since May 4, 2008, is a young player who is still has a long career ahead of him. Talbot is 27, and wanted a long term contract from the Penguins, who didn't offer him one, and the Flyers did. He also left on better terms than Jagr did.

So if you are a Penguin fan and are going to the game tomorrow night, show your appreciation for Max Tablot. There is a lot more to him than the color of the jersey he wears. FYI: He's #27 now.

Jagr's Choice Shows the True Colors Pittsburgh Forgot

For Pittsburgh Penguin fans, they have to be slapping themselves for not realizing that Jarimor Jagr was capable of making the move he did on Friday afternoon. Earlier in the week, the Steel City was abuzz about the idea that Jagr was very interested in signing with the Pens in his return to the NHL. On Wednesday, Pittsburgh expected Jagr to make a flight into New York City, hop on a plane to Pittsburgh, and agree to a one year, $2 Million deal. To top it all off, all the Pittsburgh affiliates would have had coverage of the live broadcast of Jarimor receiving his "68" jersey on a jersey different from the one he wore a decade ago with the team, and shaking Mario Lemieux's hand and possibly a "bro-hug."

For all of us, our alarm clocks awoke us from that wonderful dream while Jagr's whereabouts remained unknown from Wednesday night into Friday afternoon. The Penguins and Red Wings both patiently waiting to hear on his decision, finally pulled their deals an hour before free agency began. Pens fans showed some disappointment, which turned into anger once the afternoon rolled around. The news that Jagr not only turned Pittsburgh down, but then the news that he took $1.3 million more to play for the Philadelphia Flyers.

For those of you who have never watched hockey or followed it, the Penguins and Flyers hate each other. There was more love between Biggie and 2Pac than there is between these two teams. So you can see why your friend the Penguin fan may have had steam coming out of their ears yesterday.

Well, unless Jagr doesn't know the Flyers schedule, he will have to face the crowd that once loved him long ago three times, and maybe even in a playoff series in the spring. So it is going to be interesting to see the fans reaction to Jagr when he takes the ice on December 29 at CONSOL Energy Center. Hopefully for him, the fans are still in the Christmas spirit, and the Pens are at the top of the Atlantic and East. While it won't be like Lebron James' return to Cleveland, it will be a hostile environment, especially since Pittsburgh is still pulling the knife out of their back which Jagr dug deeper this time.

So what did we learn from all of this? Jarimor Jagr is in it for the money. OK,  lesson learned, but to go to an arch rival that the Penguins despise with a passion leaves fans feeling that this was the nail in the coffin for any reconciliation of Jagr and the Penguins. This may not bother Ray Shero as much, but what about a guy like Mario? A man who reached out to him when he could have said "sorry, but we're not interested in your services anymore." So put your Jagr jersey back in the closet or into your bonfire this 4th of July weekend, it'll be a collectors item down the road or good firewood. 

Jagr's Interest in Penguins Creating Buzz, Questions

For many Penguins fans, we can all remember the amazing play of the Czech born Jarimor Jagr, a man whose name could be arranged to say "MARIO JR." He dangled the puck and scored a goal to tie Chicago in the historical comeback in Game 1 of the 1992 Stanley Cup Final. He became the leader of the Penguins after Mario Lemieux retired for the first time. We can all say that Jagr will be in the Hockey Hall of Fame and he is worthy of having his number 68 retired and raised to the rafters at Consol Energy Center along with Mario and Briere (66, 21). If Jagr's story with the Penguins was as simple as this, Hollywood would pass on the simple storyline. But Jarimor's story took him from being the town hero and became an outlaw a decade ago.

The story of Jarimor Jagr has been written and re-written by people based on their attitude toward the man who Pittsburgh once called a hero. Most of remember how his time ended in the Steel City and the rumors that spread about him. Of course, rumors are rumors and like my hockey coach always said "what is said in the locker room, stays in the locker room." Of course, the Pittsburgh and national media never wanted a sound bite after our junior varsity games. This has lead to divided feelings towards him.

Fans of the Penguins will acknowledge that Jagr was a big part of the success the Pens had in the 90's. That may be, but some fans remember how the break-up went and many would say that Jagr got the better of the divorce settlement. I have attended hundreds of Penguin games over the past 15 years. I have been to several games that Jagr has played in as a Capital and a Ranger. Boos seemed to outshine the cheers from the fans, especially during the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2008, Jagr's then final games in the NHL.

Now onto the main part of this article. Everyone in Pittsburgh and the hockey world is buzzing about Jagr's interest in coming back to the NHL, and seems to be looking at Pittsburgh. It's been reported that he has talked to Mario and maybe even Ray Shero. The Penguins had extended an invite to a charity golf outing which would be a 20 year reunion for the 1991 Stanley Cup team.

When it comes to coming back to the NHL and possibly signing with the Pens, it should seem reasonable that fans have put aside their grudges with Jagr. They are now analyzing it based on how much he can contribute to this team that is still a Stanley Cup contender.

It's obvious that his age sticks out. He's 39. He is not the young Jagr that blew us all away in the 90's. Then again, the Penguins did bring back Alexei Kovalev halfway through this past season to add some reinforcement to a battered squad. In his three years in the KHL, Jagr had 82 goals and 102 assists. Not bad stats for a guy his age. The Penguins also need some help at Right Wing. Keep that in mind.

The Penguins also have to look at who they will resign and have to let go once July 1 rolls around. Shero should look at signing Tyler Kennedy to a 3 year contract, and will have to make a tough choice that may involve saying goodbye to fan favorite Max Talbot or Dupuis. The Penguins will have $5 Million added to their salary cap this year. If they are serious about Jagr, they need to negotiate a one year deal worth at most $2 million. Jagr may not get what he wants, but the Pens need to think about the core of their team.

One reason that I think Jagr could be resigned is to finish his career in the city where he became a star. By saying that, I would expect Jagr to play an important role in the Penguins lineup. He will have a chance to play with Malkin, who plays like a young Jagr and Crosby, the reincarnation of Mario Lemieux according to many. If he thinks he can coast through the season and just pick up his paycheck and call it quits, the fans will not tolerate that and will let him hear it.

The Green Men Cometh

If the television show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia has taught me anything about life, it's that the old saying, "monkey see, monkey do" is true with the Green Man. Charlie Day, a writer and star of the show, portrays Charlie Kelly, an illiterate janitor who owns a dive bar in South Philadelphia with his three friends.

Day and the cast came up with an idea for a persona for Charlie on the show. A green spandex suit that Charlie puts on and dances in when he is intoxicated, or in the episode, was on an accidental acid trip. It became a noticeable symbol of the show. It not only became popular in Philadelphia, it had two imitators in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada making headlines at Vancouver Canucks hockey games, who continue to do it today.

The two "green men," who go by the names Sully and Force, don the green spandex suit and create antics, distracting and mocking the visiting team's player while he's in the penalty box. What's great about this is, their seats are right next to the glass. This puts them in a position where not only do the people around them get to enjoy it, but the fans at home do on CBC and other television networks. Whether it's acrobatics, throwing waffles against the glass when Toronto came to town, or holding a cut-out of Vince Vaughn, a Chicago Blackhawks fan, wearing a Canucks jersey. Never have I seen something like this at a game, but when I saw it, I immediately thought of Charlie Kelly and Sunny.

Best Network Theme Song for the NHL?

In the spirit of the new deal with NBC and the NHL, I thought it would be fun to put the theme songs for the current networks and former networks against one another in a contest of which one is the best. Which one is the best?

NHL and NBC Together Again For 10 More Years

In the battle of TV deals, NBC stays with the National Hockey League for a record 10 more years which will give the NHL $2 billion. After offers were going back and forth between ESPN, NBC, FOX and Turner Broadcasting, the league's current suitor matched and out-bid ESPN for the television rights, which was announced this past Tuesday. This was the first time ESPN has taken an interest in acquiring both cable and network rights (ABC) to NHL games. But now, ESPN will not have a shot at hockey until 2021.

This new television deal comes with a lot of benefits for the league. NBC and the cable carrier Versus will carry 100 games during the regular season each year, and will broadcast every playoff game nationally. The NHL on NBC will kick off earlier this year. Instead of the Winter Classic being the first game, a game will air on the network on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving in the U.S. NBC will continue to cover the classic on New Years Day, along with games 3-7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Versus, which will be renamed withe the NBC name in the title, will carry several games each week, any Future Heritage Classics, and the NHL Premiere Games in Europe.

After hearing about the inevitable deal early Tuesday morning, I was hoping that the NHL didn't get short-changed by NBC. I was shocked to see the 10 year, $2 Billion deal when I first read the article, I was very surprised by the deal. But as I continued to look at the details, I became more optimistic about the new deal.

Here is one reason I believe it was positive. With Comcast buying the network, the chances of NBC getting another television deal with the NHL went up. If this was the same network being run by Jeff Zucker and General Electric, the deal would have looked bleak.

Let's face it. Since GE took over the network, it slowly went downhill. It's ratings were awful, going from #1 in 2002 to last place by 2008. When the orphaned NHL came out of the lockout and was looking for a TV home, NBC made an offer that many people feel the league took out of desperation. Even Conan O'Brien back in his Late Night years mocked NBC for taking the NHL in. Along with the Outdoor Life Network (OLN), now Versus, sub-par production and criticism of the channels dogged the league and NBC. Although I must say that both NBC and Versus have improved when it comes to broadcasting and producing games.

With Comcast now in control of the network, it opens up a window of opportunity for the NHL and NBC to expand and improve year-by-year in this new deal. Comcast now has control over all of NBC's channels, along with them owning Versus. With the promise of every playoff game, there is a possibility that hockey could be shown on the USA Network, and NBC Universal, two channels that were known for their Olympic Coverage in 2010. With Versus most likely being renamed "NBC Sports Network," it will become a better known channel, and hopefully an easier channel to find on most cable company's listings, an issue the league has dealt with since 2005.  

For those of you wondering what ESPN offered the league, get ready to laugh. The Worldwide Leader of Sports offered to broadcast every playoff game, BUT only offered to broadcast one game during the week in the regular season, a terrible deal that even Barry Melrose and Matthew Baranaby, the networks NHL personalities, should be disgusted with. This would put the NHL in the same area with Major League Soccer, a game one time a week on ESPN2. Hopefully the MLS jumps ship and comes to Versus and NBC when their contract expires. Besides, ESPN just likes to cover the NBA and NFL more than anything. Two leagues that could both have lockout years coming up, leaving ESPN with just baseball and its block of shows.

Now, I am optimistic, but I do have some suggestions to make this deal even better and to improve the outreach of the game.
1) Two games on NBC once every other week:
    -Being a Penguins fan I can see all 82 games in the regular season, if I didn't have responsibilities. I like seeing my team on NBC, but there needs to be a game with more Western Conference teams. The 12:30pm start is something that makes me mad. What else is NBC showing that is so important. Well the amateur ski jumping, poker tournaments, and the amateur golf that means nothing to me are BORING! A 1pm game and a 4pm game once every other week would be great with the East and West switching one the one game a week cycle. A 1pm game one week, then a 4pm the week following the doubleheader week. Dick Ebersol, are you getting this? I don't care about some gambler from Iowa who can read someone's bluff for 4 minutes. No wonder the network has struggled.

2) More Personalities
Mike Emerick is a legend when it comes to play-by-play in hockey. Although I would encourage NBC and Versus to bring in announcers from other Comcast Sports Network affiliates to do games. They have in the past but they need to have more. When it comes to former players, bring more of them in. I love Jeremy Roenick, but there has to be a group of former players who can analyze. If Charles Barkley can do it on TNT or basketball, anyone can do it.

3) SHOW THE SCORE!!!
NBC never shoes the score before the break. It's not that big of a deal, but nobody in the production studio has ever thought of creating a graphic that gives the score of the game. It's traditional for all sports, what makes NBC's NHL coverage an exception to tradition?

The best of luck to the NHL and NBC in a marriage with this much money, it's worthy of a possible prenup.

The Stanley Cup: The Underdog of Trophies

It's that time of year again for sports. The baseball season is kicking off and basketball and hockey are starting their respected postseasons. Each league has 16 teams competing for a championship. Both playing for bragging rights and trying to win their league's trophy. For most, the NBA Playoffs will be front and center and outshine hockey's Stanley Cup playoffs during the next two months in viewership. Basketball's popularity may outshine hockey, but the significance of the price at the end of the NHL playoffs outdoes the NBA as well as the Lombardi Trophy in the NFL and the World Series Trophy.

Now, you are probably asking yourself, "what makes the Stanley Cup more prestigious when compared to the others?" Well, I can give you a few reasons to consider why the Stanley Cup is one of the most sought out and hardest trophy to win.

Reason 1: There is only 1 Stanley Cup: The NBA, NFL and MLB all make a new trophy every year to present to the championship team. The Stanley Cup is 118 years old. At one time just a silver-nickel bowl, it has grown to the 35 pound treasure it is today. The fact that the winning team only gets the summer with it makes them want it again the next season, just ask Chicago and Pittsburgh, the past two winners. To think of the millions who have touched it, raised it over their heads, seeing the history of a professional league that has seen its good and bad moments and the places it has gone. Of course there is a replica that sits in the Hall of Fame when the real deal is out on tour, just something to add.

Reason 2: The Road to Winning the Cup: The NHL plays an 82 game season that runs from October to mid-June. If you are a playoff team that goes all the way to the end, you might add 28 extra game maximum to your season. People don't need to be geniuses to see that hockey is a physical game. Men have broken bones in almost every place, lost teeth, they have been stitched more than a rag doll passed down from past generations, but will play through all those injuries to have an opportunity to live out the dream they had a kids, to carry the Cup around the ice, being on the winning team.

Reason 3: The Emotional Effect on Players/Fans: OK this might just be my point of view but the Stanley Cup does bring out the emotions of players and fans during the spring rush for hockey's most coveted price. The idea of being a part of history as a player. Getting your name on the Stanley Cup and having it their forever. It's amazing to watch grown men who take 100 mph pucks to the jaw and take physical tolls on their bodies become speechless and tear up after winning the Stanley Cup, while they never cry after losing teeth or break a bone. The fact that a silver and nickel trophy can do that to a adult male with a beard says a lot about hockey and what makes it so unique. Fans watching the game find themselves on the verge of heart attacks as their team comes seconds within winning the cup, knowing one play can mean victory of defeat. Fans share the same emotions as players do at times.

We cheer when they score and win, we share a variety of emotions that would have a non-hockey fan think we had lost our minds, and we find ourselves with tears of joy when they win, or sadness when they lose. Former NHL star and a player who will one day make it to the Hall of Fame, Jeremy Roenick came close to a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1992, but they were swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins. After Chicago won their first cup in 49 years, Roenick could not hold back the feelings he had about his shot at the Cup and Chicago's story book season.

Reason 4: How They Got There: Sometimes the victory is even sweeter when there is a good-feel story behind that teams championship season. The Pittsburgh Penguins, a team that almost didn't stay in Pittsburgh, went through the sad reality of a possible relocation. But with a new arena deal that finally came, the Penguins were to stay in Pittsburgh. The teams transition from hockey's worse to one of the best came in 2008 when they made it to the Finals against Detroit. After losing to the Red Wings in 6 games, the Penguins wanted to get back to the Finals in 2009. After a bad start to the 2008-2009 season, the Penguins fired their head coach Michael Therrien, and hired minor league coach Dan Bylsma. The team rallied to get the number 4 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, played heart-stopping hockey against the Flyers and Capitals, swept the Carolina Hurricanes, and had a date for vengeance against the Red Wings in the Finals once again. After losing the first two games, the Penguins won the next two at home, lost in game five, but won game six and forced a win or go home game 7 back in Detroit. The underdog Penguins won the game 2-1, that came down to the last 6.5 seconds with a career highlight save by Marc-Andre Fleury. An ending to a cinderella story that not even Disney could write.

The history, emotion and the stories that go along with the Stanley Cup make it one of the most coveted trophies in the world. Most people who don't watch hockey might not be able to name all 30 clubs in the league, but they know the name of the trophy given to the winner. When your team isn't in the race for the Cup, it more fun to watch, because when your team is in the hunt, it is nerve racking and results in a roller coaster of emotions. Either way, its a lot of fun to watch.

Penguins Weather the Storm Without Crosby, Malkin: Push for Best in East

Back in February, the Penguins were suffering injuries left and right. With captain Sidney Crosby out with a concussion, and several other players suffering injuries, losing Evgeni Malkin for the rest of the season seemed to be the injury that would throw the Penguins into a free-fall that would destroy their chance at a Stanley Cup run.

The mindset of several hockey analysts and those critical of Crosby and Malkin's teammates without them left Pittsburgh up the creek without a paddle, some saying that the Penguins couldn't win without both of their superstars, along with injuries to other players like Chris Kunitz and Mark Letestu. Those who were skeptical of the Pittsburgh Penguins never took a look at what the Penguins had that other teams don't have, a supporting cast with experience.

When you look at the other players on the Penguin roster, you see experience and chemistry that other teams don't display. The Pittsburgh Penguins roster has 12 players on their roster who were a part of the 2009 Stanley Cup Winning team. It's a moment like this when other general managers envy the work of Ray Shero when it comes to keeping the core of a team together. You can see it through players like Crosby and Malkin taking lower pay to stay together and other players taking smaller contracts with fewer years in them. The Penguins received experience with a former teammate in Alex Kovalev, who may not be the same Penguin he was in the late 1990's, but he does bring the same experience Billy Guerin and Gary Roberts brought to the team from 2008-2010.The Penguins also received James Neal and Matt Niskanen from Dallas. These two are still getting used to the Penguins system, but Neal has been present in shootout situations and Niskanen has integrated well into an already strong Penguin defense. 


The man between the pipes deserves a lot of credit for the Penguins current position going into the playoffs. Team MVP and possible Hart Trophy candidate Marc-Andre Fleury has stood on his head several times this season, especially when the Penguins offense became anemic at times with all the injuries. Fleury's performance against Florida on Sunday showed why he is the MVP of the tem this year. Brent Johnson has been on his game as a back-up and proved that he doesn't take garbage from anyone.

It would be wrong to not recognize the work of the players in the Penguins farm systems in Wilkes/Barre Scranton. The Baby Penguins are in the run for the Calder Cup and will walk away with the best regular season record in the American Hockey League. Dustin Jeffrey, Ben Lovejoy, Joey Vitale, Tim Wallace, Ryan Craig and Brett Sterling have all answered the call for the Penguins and player like Jeffrey and Lovejoy have become regulars for the Pittsburgh Penguins. An NHL team needs a good farm system to provide reinforcements and the Penguins have that.

The Penguins sealed a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference on Saturday with a Carolina Hurricane lost. While it looks like the Penguins are guaranteed the fourth seed and home ice in the first round, they still have a shot at the Atlantic Division title and home ice throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. They currently sit 2 points behind the Philadelphia Flyers, who they play on Tuesday for the final time in the regular season at Consol Energy Center. The Flyers do have an extra game to play but a Pittsburgh win would make the final two weeks in the season interesting in the Atlantic Division. But when you think about Pittsburgh's situation, it is amazing to think that they not only can get home ice in the first round, but they could possibly finish at the top of the East, without Crosby and Malkin playing together since January. So, with Crosby back at practice, with his return still up in the air, can the Penguins go far in the playoffs without him, and what are their chances if he does return come Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals?

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The Art of a Goalie Fight

Anybody who follows hockey or occasionally watches hockey knows that the game is both fast and physical. When it comes to the physical part of the game, everyone knows that if someone on the ice rubs somebody the wrong way, the gloves will drop and a fight is the most likely outcome.

Fighting, as we know in our society, is frowned upon. Other sports such as football, basketball and sometimes baseball try to keep fights out of their respected games, and punish players severely for their actions. Hockey on the other hand, has always kept a place for players to drop the gloves, almost like an unwritten rule in hockey. Of course, we see it more in the pros than in college and high school, but it is a traditional just like the hockey stick and puck. There is even a site that keeps record of every NHL fight: HockeyFights.com. Hockey has always had its different category of fighters. There are the enforcers, who will drop the gloves at any given moment when an opponent crosses them. The sometimes fighter, who rarely goes at it, but will fight if are messed with. Then there are the star players like Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, who are rarely seen as fighters, especially since there are teammates who will usually do the job. At the bottom of this list of potential fighters are the goalies.

The goalie, the most coveted position, the player with the most padding, and the most protected player on the ice, has always been seen differently through the eyes of hockey fans. They stick out like a sore thumb when comparing him to the other five players on the ice. There are times when they may seem vulnerable, especially when opponents do everything they can to put the puck past them. While they may come off like this at times, there is a hidden fire underneath all that extra equipment, a player who is not afraid to get in on the fun of beating an opposing goalies face into the ice.

More recently, there have been two goalie fights this week. Just yesterday, Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas and Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price joined in on the brawl between these two historical rivals. Thomas skated all the way the Canadiens end and challenged Price. After the referee let them have at it, Price threw Thomas to the ice after nine seconds of grabbing and pulling. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh Penguins backup Goaltender Brent Johnson came to the defense of teammate Matt Cooke after New York Islanders Goaltender Rick DiPietro took a swipe at him. A fight that both goalies wanted resulted in a one punch knock-out by Johnson and sent DiPietro to the Injured Reserve for 4-6 weeks, getting the entire sold-out crowd at Consol Energy Center excited, especially since Johnson was also working on a shutout that night.   

Some people may say that the Johnson-DiPietro fight was nothing to sneeze at, and the same can be said for the Thomas, Price fight. Well, they may be right, especially since there have been some goalies in the past 30 years who have defined themselves as instigators who are not afraid of anyone.

I heard about this fight one night from one of my parent's friends, and I immediately went looking for it on TV. He was in Buffalo watching the Sabres face the Ottawa Senators, and guys, this fight had everything! A cheap shot to the head of Sabres captain Chris Drury began a series of fights that lead to an all-out brawl. Even Sabres coach Lindy Ruff and Ottawa's coach at the time Bryan Murray were face to face, with glass separating one another, screaming every obscenity in the English and I guess French dictionary (it's hockey folks). the highlight of this brawl was Ottawa's goaltender Mike Emery, a former boxer and Buffalo's Martin Biron. Emery got the best of Biron and then took on Buffalo left winger Andrew Peters and held his own. I'd watch the full video, it's pretty entertaining! 

Anybody who followed hockey in the mid 90's, and especially if you live in Detroit or Denver, remembers the bitter rivalry between the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche. These two teams were in constant contention for the Western Conference Championship and a shot at the Stanley Cup. Avalanche Goalie Patrick Roy was never afraid of a challenge when his teammates would drop the gloves against Detroit. I mean, why not, Claude Lemieux shouldn't have all the fun right? Roy dropped the blocker and glove against Mike Vernon and Chris Osgood during the heated years of their rivalry, the Osgood one in my opinion, being on the more historical fight. Both goalies fighting at center ice at Joe Louis Arena. Patrick Roy truly brought hockey fights back into the spotlight following one Flyers career.

I would be a terrible hockey fan if I did not mention this next guy. The Philadelphia Flyers received the nickname "The Broad Street Bullies" back during their last Stanley Cup years in 1974 and 1975. If you're going to have that nickname, why not have a goaltender who lives up to it? Ron Hextall was that type of goaltender. The man was a Conn Smythe Trophy winner in a losing effort against Edmonton in the 1987 Stanley Cup Final. He also scored a few goals and fought like a enforcer on defense. There is a whole list of fights that Ron Hextall has been a part of. A list can be found here: Ron Hextall's Fighting Record. One of the most memorable fights came in 1989 when Hextall jumped Chris Chelios after an offsides call against Montreal. Another great fight comes toward the end of Hextall's career. Hextall and Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Felix Potvin join in on the brawl.

Of course there are so many more, and the Bleacher Report has made up their own top 10 list of the greatest goalie fights of all time Top 10 Goalie Fights of All-Time. 

When we see the goalies fight, it is surprising, yet intriguing. It's almost like we were able to catch Haley's Comet that one time in our lives, and its even better when we see it in person. Johnson and Dipietro's short lived fight makes some think back to the last time they saw two goalies fight. It rarely happens, but when it does, it gets everybody excited. So there is a certain art to a goalie fight. It's a type of art that goes out of the mainstream for a while, but when someone brings it back, people notice and they are interested in what they see. Is it because these players wear so much padding that they seem unfit for a fight? Is it their role on the ice that keeps them out of most altercations? We all know the goaltender does get more protection on the ice than any other player. If an opposing player knocks you down, he gets a penalty. A goalie is also restricted. He can't leave his end of the ice with the puck and he can only play the puck behind the net in his own little trapezoid, or else he gets a penalty, sending one of his teammates to serve the two minutes for him. So I can see why some goaltenders would want to get in on a brawl or just fight the other goaltender if its excepted. For anybody who was able to see the last goalie fight, it might be the last one you see for a while. So remember it well, because when the next one comes, you'll reflect on this current one when it happens.