January 6, 2008

Steve Downie at it again. : Already suspended this year, Steve Downie takes a cheap "thumb" at the eye of Jason Blake. At what point does the NHL do something serious about the Flyers, who have already been suspended 52 games this season for a variety of cheap shots. Is it a team mentality or just a series of unfortunate events?

read story | posted by dfleming to Hockey at 12:44 PM CDT (76 comments total)

Sorry folks, the second link should be to this TSN article.

posted by dfleming at 12:46 PM CDT on January 6

Did the league do much when the Flyers got their Broad St. Bullies handle?

posted by billsaysthis at 12:53 PM CDT on January 6

Downie got 20 games for a head shot on McAmmond in the pre-season, Jesse Boulerice got 25 games for a crosscheck to the head of Vancouver's Ryan Kesler, defenceman Randy Jones got two games for a hit from behind on Boston's Patrice Bergeron, forward Scott Hartnell got two games for hitting Boston's Andrew Alberts' head into the boards when the player was on his knees and defenceless, and Riley Cote took a three-game suspension for a high head-shot on Stars defenceman Matt Niskanen.

The fact that the league continues to take no action against the Flyers organization is a joke.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 12:58 PM CDT on January 6

It sickens me, honestly. I can understand that players are responsible for their own actions but at some point, someone needs to blame the people organizing and paying these players. If I was Gary Bettman and I wanted to nip it now, I would publicly announce that if any Flyers player performs an action warranting a suspension for the rest of the season, the Philidelphia Flyers will not be drafting in the 2008 year.

I would guess a few of their players would dress less often (Boulerice, Cote and Downie to be precise).

posted by dfleming at 1:03 PM CDT on January 6

That's a season-long ban. The video shows what is undeniably an attempt to seriously injure Blake. This guy's off his rocker. Get rid of 'im. The Flyers could do themselves a big service by using him as an example and givin' him his walking papers. Pro hockey has enough perils as a collision sport without this crap comin' into the equation.

posted by Spitztengle at 1:04 PM CDT on January 6

Wow. Another thread based on a cheap shot given by a Flyer. Is it a team mentality? Seems to be. I actually hope that he was trying to throw a punch (somehow that seems more acceptable), rather than trying to poke Blake's eye out. Did you see how proud Downie was skating to the box? I guess he used to beat up his little sister too. It must've brought back some memories for him. Congrats to the Flyers for morphing into the Chiefs.

posted by BoKnows at 1:08 PM CDT on January 6

Is it a team mentality or just a series of unfortunate events?

How many "unfortunate events" do you need to have before everyone realizes it's no longer "coincidental"?

The head coach of the Flyers (John Stevens) is probably the primary cause for the Flyers' bull****. He was the head coach of their minor league team (Phantoms) and they led the league in penalty minutes in 2003-04 and 2005-06 (his last as full time coach), and was in the top five 3 other years he was coaching. He doesn't seem to know how to coach talent, but he looks like he definitely encourages "toughness". Obviously, those players don't know the line between "tough" and "cheap".

When asked of his opinion on the hit, [Toronto Maple Leaf coach Paul] Maurice replied, "I have a strong one that matters not."

Amazing restraint from a man who usually doesn't hold back when talking to the media.

Is it really surprising that Downie, a player who has already been suspended for 20 games for a dirty play this season, would punch an opposing player who

is tied up by the officials
AND doesn't have his own gloves off
AND isn't attempting to fight?

If Downie gets suspended again (I suspect he'll get 2 games), that will mean that the Flyers have received as many suspensions (6) as the rest of the league combined.

Sure. It's just a coincidence.

posted by grum@work at 2:07 PM CDT on January 6

AND doesn't have his own gloves off
AND isn't attempting to fight

Not only that Grum, Jason Blake is not a dirty player and has a grand total of 320 penalty mins in 16 years of pro hockey. He is clearly not a threat to Downie. What is Downie trying to prove? I guess he became a target for the Maple leafs now too. Like I said in the Chris Simon thread, I'd rather see a rookie play his heart out than some goon try to hurt someone.

Have you seen the Phantoms jersey? I'd be angry too.

posted by BoKnows at 3:34 PM CDT on January 6

Once is an anomaly, twice is coincidence, and three times is a trend. This is the sixth incident, and it is obvious that coaching or management, or both, must bear some responsibility. Why wait for another incident? How about docking Philadelphia at least a first-round draft pick and suspending their coach for 10 games or so? A healthy fine to the team, something on the order of $250,000, would be a good wake-up call. I'd like to refer back to the thread of a few weeks ago when we discussed head injuries. It is long past time that the NHL pulled its head out of its @$$ and did something.

posted by Howard_T at 5:16 PM CDT on January 6

it's nice to see the flyers are a competitive team again. the rhetoric here is teeming with resentment for the flyers franchise and another cry for the continued "pussification" of team sports. hockey is a sport where the men on the ice handle any issues regarding borderline play and it should remain that way to avoid hockey becoming soccer on ice. i read several reports on the game, none mentioned the incident. i imagine that it is an incident of more concern to flyers haters, leafs fans, and unfortunately the league office who is ever more concerned with making the game a more gentile sport instead of a game decided and enforced by the men on the ice.

posted by tnip23 at 5:20 PM CDT on January 6

hockey is a sport where the men on the ice handle any issues regarding borderline play

I don't think trying to poke someone's eye out or having a go at someone's head comes under the category of "borderline."

posted by juv3nal at 5:42 PM CDT on January 6

I guess you guys didn't hear about the biting incident on Friday. The league has already reviewed it though and Hatcher will not be suspended.
Click here for video.

posted by MrFrisby at 6:24 PM CDT on January 6

the rhetoric here is teeming with resentment for the flyers franchise and another cry for the continued "pussification" of team sports. hockey is a sport where the men on the ice handle any issues regarding borderline play and it should remain that way to avoid hockey becoming soccer on ice.

Bullshit. It was that way until they added the Third Man In rule and tie downs and all that other stuff in hopes of cleaning up the image of the sport in the US. All of that has led to the dirty play we see now. Who is going to deal with this on ice and how? How would the Bruins have addressed what the Flyers did to Patrice Bergeron? Blown out one of the best Flyers' knees? Everytime we have an example of dirty play, someone pops in to talk about political correctness and "pussification". Nonsense and dosh, sir.

posted by yerfatma at 6:31 PM CDT on January 6

I don't think trying to poke someone's eye out or having a go at someone's head comes under the category of "borderline."

in the heat of the battle it happens. downie is a borderline player in a borderline sport doing what it takes to win. not what you'd teach your children, but what happens in gladiator sports. i'm sure the new NHL will punish him, (although i have yet to see the play in live speed) i just want league offices and the despicaple humans that are sports officials to have less say in sporting events. the flyers have made a nice adjustment this year and the games i have seen have been determined by legal play on the ice. a prime example was the 8-2 win over the pens that became a fight fest in the 3rd, not because of anything the flyers did but because of the frustration of the losing team. again, this is hockey, not soccer, play on, fight on.

posted by tnip23 at 6:36 PM CDT on January 6

Bullshit. It was that way until they added the Third Man In rule and tie downs and all that other stuff in hopes of cleaning up the image of the sport in the US. All of that has led to the dirty play we see now. Who is going to deal with this on ice and how? How would the Bruins have addressed what the Flyers did to Patrice Bergeron? Blown out one of the best Flyers' knees? Everytime we have an example of dirty play, someone pops in to talk about political correctness and "pussification". Nonsense and dosh, sir.

posted by yerfatma at 6:31 PM CST on January 6

nonsense and dosh is a new england area fan complaining about anything within the past sports year. 16-0 with a cheating coach, sox title, celtics great start, bruins playing well, good BC season... honestly, i didn't see the bergeron hit so i can't comment, i'm just tired of constant flyers bashing and whether you will admit it or not a constant movement towards pol. corectness, "pussification", or "soccerization" or whatever you want to call it in all sports.

posted by tnip23 at 6:45 PM CDT on January 6

nonsense and dosh is a new england area fan complaining about anything within the past sports year. 16-0 with a cheating coach, sox title, celtics great start, bruins playing well, good BC season...

Nonsense and dosh is anyone claiming that there has been a better exercise of logic in a comment in this new year.

posted by holden at 6:58 PM CDT on January 6

tnip, like Howard_T stated, there have been 6 incidents involving the Flyers. The same amount for the rest of the league combined. This isn't Flyer bashing. These are facts.

where the men on the ice handle any issues

We all know there are "fighters", or "tough guys" on each team. Jason Blake is not that player for the Leafs and Downie knows that. Regardless, Flyer fans should be embarrassed by the cheap plays.

posted by BoKnows at 7:20 PM CDT on January 6

tnip, like Howard_T stated, there have been 6 incidents involving the Flyers. The same amount for the rest of the league combined. This isn't Flyer bashing. These are facts.

where the men on the ice handle any issues

We all know there are "fighters", or "tough guys" on each team. Jason Blake is not that player for the Leafs and Downie knows that. Regardless, Flyer fans should be embarrassed by the cheap plays.

posted by BoKnows at 7:20 PM CST on January 6

i was embarressed by last yrs. performance. downie is what he is, a marginal player who has to push the envelope, as do the flyers to be competative. i don't care if the style of a minority (and it is a minority) of flyers players offend the delicate sensibilities of opposing hockey fans as long as it results in wins. look at the flyers, they have no true enforcer, it takes a team effort to take up the slack.

posted by tnip23 at 8:01 PM CDT on January 6

I recall that win over the Pens. They took 2 different shots at the Goalie of all people. 1 when their "enforcer" acted like he fell and took the goalies knees out. Another when Crosby tripped him from behind while he was behind the net. Both times they both acted like it was an accident. The league didn't do anything to the Pens.

When Todd B. wounded that guy forever, did his team lose a 1st round pick?

posted by Prophite at 8:11 PM CDT on January 6

as long as it results in wins.

Really? You don't care as long as it's a W? Personally, I hope my team plays with a good sense of gamesmanship and sportsmanship. The W's would be icing (no pun intended) on the cake.

(and it is a minority) of flyers players
it takes a team effort to take up the slack.

Which it is? I agree with the team effort part. But this style of play is a minority in the NHL. Again, this is factual, not my opinion.

posted by BoKnows at 8:14 PM CDT on January 6

The flyers are, and always have been, a dirty team. Not a tough team, but a dirty one. Sometimes they have had enough skill mixed in to be successful, sometimes not. But dirty is in their DNA and they will likely never clean that up.

s do the flyers to be competative. i don't care if the style of a minority (and it is a minority) of flyers players offend the delicate sensibilities of opposing hockey fans as long as it results in wins.

So you admit your team is unsportsmanlike. I agree. But it is not a "minority" -- it is the very essence of the team. And, for the record, it hasn't resulted in a cup since 1975, so, individual wins aside, it hasn't exactly been a winning strategy over the long term.

posted by rumple at 8:15 PM CDT on January 6

I just watched the video. This topic is a joke right? Where is the thumb? He popped him while they both were being held, but I thought i was going to see eye juice oozing from Blake's head. Instead I see a 4 minute penalty, not even a 10 misconduct and you're calling for a 1st round pick? I'm guessing you're a leafs fan? Take the loss and move on.

posted by Prophite at 9:50 PM CDT on January 6

Prophite, most of the comments here (including the topic) are based on all the Flyers suspensions this season, not just this one.
The penalization handed out during the game is based on what the referee's see, they don't go to replay. If the ref didn't see it, then obviously the ref can not penalize accordingly.

He popped him while they both were being held

Right. Cheap shot.

posted by BoKnows at 10:25 PM CDT on January 6

downie is what he is, a marginal player who has to push the envelope, as do the flyers to be competative.

Attempting to injure players with cheap shots is not "pushing the envelope". It's f*cking cowardly.

There are lots of teams that are "competitive" without resorting to dirty play and cheap shots. The Detroit Red Wings are a prime example.

posted by grum@work at 11:42 PM CDT on January 6

Yeah, once the refs step in, fight's over. You don't sucker-shot someone who's tied up, especially when you can't see where your punches are landing. Downie shouldn't get Chris Simon time or anything, but he should get a few games, and maybe the Flyers braintrust needs a bit of a talking-to by Mr. Campbell about the trends this year.

So to answer:
Is it a team mentality or just a series of unfortunate events?
Yes, and, well, yes.

posted by chicobangs at 12:05 AM CDT on January 7

Detroit? The Flyers play in the Atlantic div. Pens, Rangers, Jersey, NY I.

The topic says Steve Downie at it again. Then it mentions a mystery "thumb" to the eye. Other people brought up the previous things about the team.

The thing is, he gets a 4 minute minor and someone calls for the Flyers 1st rounder. I think that's funny at best.

He got the double minor because the ref did see what he did.

posted by Prophite at 12:08 AM CDT on January 7

Already suspended this year, Steve Downie takes a cheap "thumb" at the eye of Jason Blake. At what point does the NHL do something serious about the Flyers, who have already been suspended 52 games this season for a variety of cheap shots.

This is all from the thread topic. Read the summary.

What does the division have to do with it?

posted by BoKnows at 12:16 AM CDT on January 7

First response: the TSN article makes no mention of a thumb, just a sucker punch, and the video is at best inconclusive, and since when does a thumb to the eye cause the purple bruise around the eye? yes he sucker-punched him, dumb move, but certainlty not unusual in the NHL. Yes, the Flyers need to smarten-up, the best eveidence perhaps being that an out-of-control play by Hatcher may cost the team one of their scoring leaders. As to the "cheap shots", the microscope has been on them since the Downie hit in the pre-season, and comes from people like Simon and Bertuzzi in the past, so lets not count how many other suspensions have been handed out in the league, but rather how many other "cheap-shots" there have been. I might even mention the no-call on the late in the game cross-check from behind by Sundin on a full speed Timmonen, making him lucky to have hit the Leaf's net because it stopped him from going into the boards. Also see u-tube for Afinogenov slew foots/kicks Upshall, no call.

posted by e at 1:32 AM CDT on January 7

Here, Hatcher head-hunts and ends up causing his own teammate a spinal cord contusion. Watch the video and ask yourself why Hatcher felt the need to deliver a leaping check into an opponent's head. It's not needed. He could have put his shoulder into the body, but instead he leaps through his opponent's head. And he's so far out of control he gets his teammate's head too. Amazing. And sad.

Also, follow the link to the Flyers site for the latest from Paul Holmgren.

Q:Can you give us the latest update on Steve Downie and the incident that took place last night?

PH: “I have not seen the incident yet. I’m still on my way back from the airport in New York and I’m not in a situation where I can comment on it one way or the other.”

All of us are better informed than the Flyers front office. Philly must be very proud.

Silence from GMs is not the answer to this. In fact, it would be nice if just once the response was a forceful condemnation of a teams own players. Only then will these plays begin to cease.

posted by 86 at 8:31 AM CDT on January 7

Somewhere in his Spofi grave Summerseve is spinning out of control.

posted by Folkways at 8:34 AM CDT on January 7

Holmgren might've actually won GM of the year if not for his team's pitiful excuse for grit.

posted by garfield at 9:45 AM CDT on January 7

the league office who is ever more concerned with making the game a more gentile sport

About time somebody kicked the Jews out of hockey.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 11:54 AM CDT on January 7

As a western NHL fan who couldn't give a rat's ass about the east as long as the Leafs lose - Downie can crawl back to his cave any time now. 4 NHL games, 10 PIM, 20 games suspended, 1 point. It's not tough, gritty play, its cheap, late, intent-to-injure play.

At what point will Philly wake up and realize they'll be shorthanded twice every game he's on the ice? NHL refs do call based on reputation, for a team to dress a team with that many bad rep players is just asking for penalties.

Four games into his career and he already has a worse image than Avery, Bertuzzi and Pronger . Stupid.

(And being forced to watch the Leafs-Flyers game by HNIC, it did look like he poked Blake's eye in real-time. You don't get that immediate bruising deep in the socket unless something jams the eye. Faint possibility he just meant to punch not poke but Downie's been in too many hockey fights to punch with his thumb stuck out, he does not get any benefit of the doubt)

posted by deflated at 12:37 PM CDT on January 7

While I agree Downie is a plays with a thug mentality and will probably be out of the league soon, I disagree that there was any intentional eye gouging going on there. He was just flailing away while the ref had him in a bear hug. He couldnt even see Blake at that point. That was just incidental contact in that fight. The real issue is that this guy needs to get his act under control. He ought to know better after the earlier incident. He is going to have a big target on him and someone is going to make him pay dearly for being a cement head soon.

posted by Hockey fan at 12:48 PM CDT on January 7

Here, Hatcher head-hunts and ends up causing his own teammate a spinal cord contusion.

I wouldn't wish a spinal cord contusion on anyone but this may be as good of an example of karma as any. This time it won't be one of the Flyers expendable goons that will be missing time because of dangerous and uneccesary play, it'll be their second leading scorer.

4 NHL games, 10 PIM, 20 games suspended, 1 point.

Sidney Crosby has nothing on this guy.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 6:38 PM CDT on January 7

the league office who is ever more concerned with making the game a more gentile sport

About time somebody kicked the Jews out of hockey.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 11:54 AM CST on January

ROFL, very funny black hand, i had a couple too many rangpur and tonics when i posted that, wasn't my only spelling error either. genteel makes more sense as other than matt schneider, i couldn't name any jewish players in the nhl.

posted by tnip23 at 7:30 PM CDT on January 7

other than matt schneider, i couldn't name any jewish players in the nhl.

I think Mike Cammalleri is Jewish.

posted by grum@work at 7:45 PM CDT on January 7

I am getting a major sense of déjà vu right now. I'd swear that I've seen these previous two comments before.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 7:50 PM CDT on January 7

wouldn't wish a spinal cord contusion on anyone but this may be as good of an example of karma as any. This time it won't be one of the Flyers expendable goons that will be missing time because of dangerous and uneccesary play, it'll be their second leading scorer.

Why point this out? Does it make you happy? So by using the word Karma you're saying they got what they deserved right? So if you think a serious injury is warranted then it's ok. Now I get it.

Their second leading scorer had nothing to do with. Why be glad an innocent person is injured? So it teaches the Flyers a lesson?

Take a first rounder if they do it, but if something happens to them, then it's all good right?

posted by Prophite at 7:56 PM CDT on January 7

Maybe 'Hit by friendly Flyer' would have been better YYM.

posted by BoKnows at 8:15 PM CDT on January 7

Notice the thumb tucked in? He punched him, got a 4 minute penalty and now someones glad Lupul (their 3RD leading scorer) has spinal cord trouble. This topic is becoming funny and hypocritical at the same time.

posted by Prophite at 8:19 PM CDT on January 7

Notice how Blake has his gloves on?
Notice how the linesmen have already stepped in?
Notice how Downie is delivering a cheap shot?
Did you notice how Hatcher left his feet when Lupul got hurt?

posted by BoKnows at 8:26 PM CDT on January 7

Notice the thumb tucked in?

No, I don't, and unless you have another picture to show me, you don't either. The thumb that you see next to the Maple Leaf crest belongs to the linesman attempting to break up the ''fight''. In the video of the incident, it appears clear to me that it is Steve Downie's left thumb being thrust upward into Jason Blake's eye.

posted by tommytrump at 9:02 PM CDT on January 7

Why be glad an innocent person is injured?

Please point out to me where I said I was glad Lupul was injured. I was pointing out the irony in that the Flyers dirty play was detrimental to their team's future success.

If nothing else I'd like Lupul to return as soon as possible because he was doing quite well for my fantasy team.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 9:08 PM CDT on January 7

That's a shot of his fist about 1/10th of a second before it makes contact with Blake. Does he have a switch blade thumb? Give it a rest. It's pretty obvious what some of these responses are about. The hate in this topic is evident. If Downie poked Blake in the eye with his thumb, why no suspension? The Leafs lost, move on. First round pick? Please.

posted by Prophite at 9:11 PM CDT on January 7

It's pretty obvious what some of these responses are about.

What are they about? I'm not a Leafs fan. I'm not a Flyer hater. I live in Saint Louis and the Blues are on a similiar upswing. And guess what? No one's getting suspended.

The hate in this topic is evident.

I think it's frustration, not hate. With the exception of a Chris Simon thread, and the Ice Bowl coverage, most of the hockey threads have been about the Flyers 6 suspensions in 3 months.

posted by BoKnows at 9:32 PM CDT on January 7

There's no issue with talking about suspensions at all. But to say Downie is at it again and then someone chime in with, "it should cost them a 1st rounder", when all he got was a 4 minute minor it's just a little over kill. It's kind of a give me a break type thing here. What's next? Flyers team plane goes down! See I told you they should have played better, that's nothing but Karma. To hell with them all!

It's Hockey, a guy got punched. Front page news?

posted by Prophite at 11:05 PM CDT on January 7

posted by Ufez Jones at 11:56 PM CDT on January 7

It's Hockey, a guy got punched. Front page news?

That's a bit simplistic, isn't it?

How about:

"It's hockey. A previously suspended player (for a dirty hit) sucker punched another player who was unable to defend himself. The league is investigating this action, and if the player gets a suspension, it will be the 6th one for the team in just over 3 months of play. That would give them the same number of suspensions as the rest of the league combined. It is hard to ignore the trend that seems to be developing with this team."

Your version is like saying "Over in Iraq, some people are mad at other people. Front page news?"

posted by grum@work at 11:59 PM CDT on January 7

I wonder if Prophite ever played hockey and if he did I hope he stopped. I see a punch that hasn't landed to the head of an opponent who is being held by the official. The thumb easily could have come up (as the video seems to show).I think fighting belongs in hockey, but not by players who cheap shot another when he can't defend himself. Philadelphia seems to want to go back to their roots of "roller derby" hockey and forsake skillful physical hockey for the back alley "muggings" of their past.

posted by sandskater at 12:44 AM CDT on January 8

Right sandskater, which is why they let brashear go and opted for Brierre, Lupul and kimo Timonnen. They went after the NHL's top thugs that's for sure.

And grum at work you are going on about an investigation that never happened. He had a phone call with the V.P. of the NHL and he decided no further punishment was warranted. So as it stands we are still arguing about a 4 minute minor.

Comparing my reaction to a 4 minute minor to what are boys are going through over in Iraq is water you can tread in alone.

posted by Prophite at 9:09 AM CDT on January 8

posted by yerfatma at 10:13 AM CDT on January 8

posted by YukonGold at 10:33 AM CDT on January 8

It's too bad. I like this Flyers core group of players. They've done a great job turning that franchise around. Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and others are legit wicked. The deals with Nashville were outright thefts.

But claiming that the organization is being persecuted unfairly, or that criticism is unwarranted in the case of Downie is ridiculous. He's introducing himself into the NHL in a manner we've seen countless times by similar players (pest jerkwad). He's being a total fucktard. This is not new, special or unintended on the part of Downie. He's trying to establish himself and his brand of hockey - see his junior career for further evidence - is about inflicting pain and getting under the opponents skin.

That was a complete suckerpunch on Blake. He meant to.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:16 AM CDT on January 8

Why point this out? Does it make you happy? So by using the word Karma you're saying they got what they deserved right? So if you think a serious injury is warranted then it's ok.

And what's your take on Bergeron or McAmmond? Did they deserve what they got?

I've defended the Flyers in these threads a few times - but how can you bemoan the serious injury on Lupul's part without a reference to the serious injuries that several Flyer players have inflicted in the first 3 months of the season?

And I think, clearly, grum was suggesting that the karma was that, for the first time the player injured as a Flyer attempted another borderline play was a Flyer. Not that Lupul deserved to be injured. The karma is that the style of play happend to result in a serious injury to one of their own.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:22 AM CDT on January 8

Nitpick: It wasn't borderline, Weedy. It's dirty as hell, out-of-control, intent-to-injure garbage.

Prophite, what did you think of the Hatcher hit? Does it anger you that he went after an unsuspecting player in an out of control, leaping, head-high manner? Or should Lupol have just kept his head up?

Note --- So we are clear: The standard excuse for dirty hits these days is that the opposing player should have just "kept his head up", so I'm using it here in the hopes that people will see how ridiculous the argument is. Players are not putting themselves in vulnerable positions by not "keeping their heads on a swivel". Dangerous, out-of-control actions by other players are making them vulnerable to serious injury. Don't blame the victim. And don't excuse the asshat.

posted by 86 at 12:16 PM CDT on January 8

And I think, clearly, grum was suggesting that the karma was that

I have been mistaken for grum. Today is a good day.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 2:15 PM CDT on January 8

Weird, even Paul Holmgren is mistaken. He thinks it was a cheap shot and the Flyers need to stop gooning it up. What a yutz. Total Flyer hater.

posted by yerfatma at 2:55 PM CDT on January 8

Yerfatms shoots! He Scores!

posted by BoKnows at 3:20 PM CDT on January 8

God there's a dude on the board that Fatty linked to that makes Prophite seem like the Pope. Screaming about anti-Flyer NHL agendas - super stuff.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 3:27 PM CDT on January 8

And I don't get why he's posting anonymously but signing his posts, like he's too lazy to sign up for Blogger but knows his wit is so formidable it needs to have a John Hancock on it.

posted by yerfatma at 4:05 PM CDT on January 8

fyi, hockey-recap is back as hockey cube

posted by garfield at 4:08 PM CDT on January 8

Let me help you with this, Prophite, so we can move on to another topic. The Flyers let Brashear go because he's a has-been. They needed youthful thugs like Downie et al. Having refilled their "goon larder", they added some skillful players to deftly skate around the body parts and "eye juice" that litter the ice after their less-evolved teamates have done their best to terminate the opposition. However, there is a caveat to running a roster of ruffians: You should have them sniff their teamates jerseys before the game so they don't maim any more of the "opted fors"

posted by sandskater at 11:53 PM CDT on January 8

With all that said, I still say, 4 minute minor. Next subject.

BTW, Downie: 5 games played- 2 goals 0 assts- +1- 12 pims.

Flyers Best player Gagne has missed 30 games this year after his second concussion Nov 7th. 10 games played, 2 concussions. First 1 from Boumeester (drunk driving defenseman) and his second from Gary Roberts (washed up 4th liner). Doesn't seem as if teams are going after him. The Flyers have been on the receiving end of questionable play, but I couldn't find anything in the records here.

posted by Prophite at 10:59 AM CDT on January 9

You'd think the fact that they have been on the receiving end of questionable play would make you more likely to condemn it. Instead we get silence (see my question above) and excuse making.

posted by 86 at 11:17 AM CDT on January 9

And grum at work you are going on about an investigation that never happened. He had a phone call with the V.P. of the NHL and he decided no further punishment was warranted. So as it stands we are still arguing about a 4 minute minor.

Actually, further punishment was warranted as Downie was fined an undisclosed amount by the league for his actions.

So, you know, there's that.

posted by grum@work at 11:35 AM CDT on January 9

Next subject.

At least it's a new variation on an old canard

posted by yerfatma at 12:43 PM CDT on January 9

Brilliant! Just photoshop the said to ced and it would be flat out amazing.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 5:27 PM CDT on January 9

You kids today, always bitching about something.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 5:40 PM CDT on January 9

Bobby Clarke defending Downie:

On the other shoulder, Downie has Flyers senior vice-president Bob Clarke saying he loved Downie's cheap shot - thought it was great. "When he went after Blake, I loved it," Clarke told TSN yesterday.

More confirmation the Flyers are morally bankrupt.

http://tinyurl.com/yoaz86

posted by rumple at 5:48 PM CDT on January 10

Looks like there won't be any pressure from the orginization on the players to change their playing style.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 8:02 PM CDT on January 10

Downie: 6 games, 2 goals- 2 assts, +3, 16 pims. Flyers have moved him up to the 2nd or 3rd line. His 2 assts came in a win against division rival NY Rangers.

posted by Prophite at 11:52 AM CDT on January 11

Mussolini made the trains run on time*. What are you getting at?

* Not actually true, apparently.

posted by yerfatma at 12:02 PM CDT on January 11

He sounds like a real gem. The hazing incident is a great story.

Like Yerfatma, I'm not sure what you're getting at Prophite. If you have some brilliant point, do tell.
If you're trying to say he's a scorer, well, even Chris Simon had 29 goals one year.

posted by BoKnows at 4:35 PM CDT on January 11

Are you saying that knocking out three of your teammate's teeth is a bad thing? Back in my day, when we fought polar bears on the way to practice (the Connecticut polar bear is a frightening breed) we would consider that a motivator and slap a "C" in his chest. You've really wonder about the manhood of a teenager who doesn't feel like he should stand naked in a bus bathroom with a few of his buddies. I just hope when my kids are old enough, there will be a man like Downie around to show them the path to maturity and respectability. And maybe even how to gouge the eyes of one's foes. If you can't skate with 'em, blind 'em. That's what Toe Blake would say.

posted by tahoemoj at 1:30 PM CDT on January 12

Old Time Hockey!

posted by BoKnows at 1:44 PM CDT on January 12

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