Why so many fights in the playoffs this year?

[Senser81]

Is it just me, or does it seem that most of these 1st round series games end up being bloodbaths? I don't ever recall seeing this much fighting in the playoffs. Is it because the players know that Shanahan won't discipline them for fighting?

 

[1ke]

I agree that there has been like more, or seemed like it at least. I also think that tho since its the Rangers and Pens that its catching all the coverage.

LA and Vancouver, Chicago and PHX, Boston and Washington, NJ and Fla all have been pretty straight forward and for the most part clean series. Other than the Zetterberg thing with Detroit its gotten back to hockey too.

 

[Ravin]

It's playoff hockey. It's a thing of beauty.

 

[Tailback U]

Seems like more fights to me too but I think it will start to settle down although I hope it doesn't!

 

[Ravin]

Well you only have to look at the teams involved.

Pittsburgh vs Philly: Obviously hate each other, and this nothing new here. We knew it was just a matter of time before they started killing each other.

New York vs Ottawa - New York had the most fights in the regular season. You had to know that wasn't going to end. And depending on who they play in round two, it could get a hell of a lot worse.

St. Louis vs San Jose - St. Louis is a rough team as well, and used their size to get them in. Kind of figured this would be a rough series as well.

 

[ZoneBlitz]

Im not sure why either, gonna wait for FirstTimer to weigh in on this issue.

 

[Ravin]

Im not sure why either, gonna wait for FirstTimer to weigh in on this issue.

Because it is playoff hockey, which you obviously wouldn't understand.


What is great is, FT and the other non-hockey trolls talked about how there is no fighting in the playoffs so it isn't needed in the series.

Go ask why Ottawa put Konopka and Carkner in for game 2 against the Rangers.
Go watch game three of St. Louis and San Jose tonight and tell me what isn't needed.

Hell, even the Detroit/Nashville series had it. What did we say, police themselves? Weber had to answer for what he did, he fought, issue over.

You don't think teams are getting behind players that fight and using it. You just had to watch the Pens/Flyers game to see that.


But I guess you would prefer they call timeout and have a good talking to instead.

 

[Senser81]

Because it is playoff hockey, which you obviously wouldn't understand.


What is great is, FT and the other non-hockey trolls talked about how there is no fighting in the playoffs so it isn't needed in the series.

Go ask why Ottawa put Konopka and Carkner in for game 2 against the Rangers.
Go watch game three of St. Louis and San Jose tonight and tell me what isn't needed.

Hell, even the Detroit/Nashville series had it. What did we say, police themselves? Weber had to answer for what he did, he fought, issue over.

You don't think teams are getting behind players that fight and using it. You just had to watch the Pens/Flyers game to see that.


But I guess you would prefer they call timeout and have a good talking to instead.

Don't quite understand this posting. The Detroit-Nashville thing was basically one incident, and it resolved itself.

Both the Rangers and the Penguins seemed to have gone "all in" for this fighting crap, and its probably going to cost both teams the series. It might even be the same with the Blues-Sharks series.

It seems to me that the experienced underdogs like San Jose and Philly are goading the opponent into fighting, while relative newcomers New York and St. Louis are taking the bait against inferior competition.

I guess my point is I don't see what Pittsburgh, New York, and St. Louis are gaining by turning each game into a free-for-all.

 

[Ravin]

Don't quite understand this posting. The Detroit-Nashville thing was basically one incident, and it resolved itself.

Both the Rangers and the Penguins seemed to have gone "all in" for this fighting crap, and its probably going to cost both teams the series. It might even be the same with the Blues-Sharks series.

It seems to me that the experienced underdogs like San Jose and Philly are goading the opponent into fighting, while relative newcomers New York and St. Louis are taking the bait against inferior competition.

I guess my point is I don't see what Pittsburgh, New York, and St. Louis are gaining by turning each game into a free-for-all.

Rangers have gone "all-in" all season on fighting, and they were first in the East. They know what they are doing. If you think game two is them throwing in the towel, then I don't know what to tell you, because that is far from what they are doing.

Playoff hockey is tough, hard hitting, and just another beast. You have to figure, you just played an 82 game season, and now this one team is standing in your way from moving on. Emotions are at an all time high, and in simple terms "you don't fuck around".

Neither of the teams you mentioned are cashing it in. New York and St. Louis are two very tough teams, and are probably the next two favs to win the cup. They just play that style of hockey, and when you put that style of hard hitting hockey into a situation where emotions are going crazy you get what you got in game two.

New York was answering Ottawa in game two, not the other way around. Here is basically how that plays out. Ottawa got owned in game one, so they answer back to start the game with three tough guys. They wanted to get Boyle for what he did to their player, and well, they went after him. And as wr5l will put it, you don't come in that building, start that kind of shit, and expect to get away with it. Ottawa did come away with the win, but they had to earn that shit.

St. Louis game two was a little different, but more the fact the Blues lost game one, and were not going to leave their ice without a win, which they got. The stuff near the end was again emotions going over the top.

As for Pens/Flyers, that is just pure hate. They do not like each other at all in any aspect, and after the first two games, you knew it was going to get physical. They got a lot of the shit out of the way in the first period, and things settled. Once it got out of hand in the third, then the fighting started again.

You guys have got to understand, this isn't just some friendly game of puck. Playoffs are a war in hockey, and it is brutal to play. You are not going to let players run your guys and just skate away and think "oh whatever, we are winning at this moment." The other series just haven't got there yet. Wait and see what happens with Shaw. If he plays again, he is going to answer for hitting Smith.

Here is just a little info. Of the top 5 teams who lead in fighting, 4 of them are in the playoffs.
1. New York Rangers (First in the East)
2. Boston Bruins (2nd seed, 4th in the East overall)
4. Philadelphia Flyers (5th seed, 3rd in the East overall)
5. Ottawa Senators (8th seed in the east)

 

[wr50l]

Don't quite understand this posting. The Detroit-Nashville thing was basically one incident, and it resolved itself.

Both the Rangers and the Penguins seemed to have gone "all in" for this fighting crap, and its probably going to cost both teams the series. It might even be the same with the Blues-Sharks series.

It seems to me that the experienced underdogs like San Jose and Philly are goading the opponent into fighting, while relative newcomers New York and St. Louis are taking the bait against inferior competition.

I guess my point is I don't see what Pittsburgh, New York, and St. Louis are gaining by turning each game into a free-for-all.

Pittsburgh's problem has been not playing any defence since they lost to Philadelphia several weeks ago in OT. Getting goaded into something hasn't cost them anything. Vancouver are down 3-0 as well without the fighting.

I don't see what the Rangers have done wrong either. We're not Vancouver, we can win by being aggressive. In fact if we match Ottawa in one of their best attributes then our defensive depth and top skill will take over.

What exactly have New York or St Louis lost from these alleged distraction tactics? They've each lost 1 out of 2, but so have Boston and Phoenix without the fighting.

 

[Tailback U]

Teams like Pittsburgh, Vancouver, Detroit, and San Jose should do everything they can to stay out of the box and keep their heads in the game. Sure, they all have guys who can and will drop the gloves but they can't let it turn into a royal rumble, that's not how those clubs have been designed to play.

They have to keep their composure or they will lose and everybody knows it, hence Dustin Brown flattening Sedin.

 

[Ravin]

Teams like Pittsburgh, Vancouver, Detroit, and San Jose should do everything they can to stay out of the box and keep their heads in the game. Sure, they all have guys who can and will drop the gloves but they can't let it turn into a royal rumble, that's not how those clubs have been designed to play.

They have to keep their composure or they will lose and everybody knows it, hence Dustin Brown flattening Sedin.

I got to say though, I wanted nothing more than to Thornton and Backes go at it. Nothing like two captains going at it.

 

[FedEx227]

Or you can watch people that are good at fighting and just watch MMA.

 

[Sigona]

Go ask why Ottawa put Konopka and Carkner in for game 2 against the Rangers.

Two funny things about Konopka playing in game 2 is that 1) he didn't get any PIM and 2) he had an assist. He did more than they wanted him to by scoring a point.

 

[JOHNNYTHECLOWN]

You don't want to make a mistake or put your team in a disadvantage, but if push comes to shove, and a statement needs to be made, drop 'em.

I'm loving the Pit/Phi just because you know those guys just don't like each other.

 

[Ravin]

Two funny things about Konopka playing in game 2 is that 1) he didn't get any PIM and 2) he had an assist. He did more than they wanted him to by scoring a point.

And Carkner played 2 shifts, or 39 seconds and was kicked out of the game.

Don't just pick one and not talk about the other. :gayrod:

 

[leaffan]

Or you can watch people that are good at fighting and just watch MMA.

Or I can ban you for a week since we're actually trying to not troll the sports sections.

Unless of course you want me in that section of the website creating chaos :longo:

 

[wr50l]

Or you can watch people that are good at fighting and just watch MMA.

Or a real combat sport where they don't dry fuck each other such as boxing.

 

[FedEx227]

Fair enough, whatever. Back to MLB and NBA.

 

[Senser81]

Playoff hockey is tough, hard hitting, and just another beast. You have to figure, you just played an 82 game season, and now this one team is standing in your way from moving on. Emotions are at an all time high, and in simple terms "you don't fuck around".

100% incorrect. Goonishness usually decreases during the playoffs. It doesn't increase. Pittsburgh appears to be "fucking around", no?