NHL Fights: Sharks and Ducks Line Brawl (Video)
Everyone hockey fan loves a good line brawl right?
NHL fights are turning taboo, and last night the Sharks and Ducks just fueled the debate. Last night with only 6:04 left in the third period things went from bad to worse, and in the middle of it all was John Scott. Who at this point in his career has no reason to be on the ice with six-minutes when the game is already won.
One question keeps coming up every time something like this happens. Is it time to outlaw fighting? Well, I’ve been on the fighting has it’s place side for a very long time, but after watching the video from last nights mess I may be changing my mind.
From a fan stand point I’ve had enough of this trash, and from a NHL stand point it needs to stop. This game was over and there was no need for a brawl.
Maybe the Buffalo Sabres are to blame, they did find a way to win vs. the Sharks on Saturday. I’m guessing that didn’t go over well in the locker room, and the Ducks just walking into a feeding frenzy. Oddly enough former Sabres Scott got involved in this mess. For his dumb choices Scott should be suspended for a while. He left the bench to start a fight. Sharks head coach Todd McLellan should join Scott. There was no reason to allow Scott on the ice, and now we are forced to rethink fighting again.
While there may be a place for it in the game the time may have arrived to have fighting join wooden sticks as nothing more than a memory. Just to show you how out of control the third period was here is a list of penalties from NHL.com.
3rd Period
07:38 ANA Sami Vatanen Holding – 2 min against Tommy Wingels
10:18 SJS Joe Pavelski Fighting (maj) – 5 min against Ben Lovejoy
10:18 ANA Ben Lovejoy Fighting (maj) – 5 min against Joe Pavelski
10:18 ANA Tim Jackman Roughing – 2 min against Marc-Edouard Vlasic
10:18 ANA Tim Jackman Roughing – 2 min against Marc-Edouard Vlasic
12:58 SJS Justin Braun Roughing – 2 min against Corey Perry
12:58 ANA Corey Perry Roughing – 2 min against Justin Braun
12:58 ANA Corey Perry Misconduct (10 min) – 10 min against Justin Braun
12:58 SJS Justin Braun Misconduct (10 min) – 10 min against Corey Perry
13:56 SJS Adam Burish Roughing – 2 min against Nate Thompson
13:56 ANA Tim Jackman Misconduct (10 min) – 10 min against John Scott
13:56 ANA Nate Thompson Roughing – 2 min against Adam Burish
13:56 ANA Nate Thompson Roughing – 2 min against Adam Burish
13:56 ANA Nate Thompson Misconduct (10 min) – 10 min
13:56 SJS John Scott Player leaves bench – bench – 2 min against Hampus Lindholm
13:56 SJS John Scott served by Tomas Hertl Instigator – 2 min against Tim Jackman
13:56 SJS John Scott Fighting (maj) – 5 min against Tim Jackman
13:56 SJS John Scott Game misconduct – 10 min
13:56 SJS Adam Burish Misconduct (10 min) – 10 min
16:54 SJS James Sheppard Fighting (maj) – 5 min against Ryan Getzlaf
16:54 ANA Ryan Getzlaf Fighting (maj) – 5 min against James Sheppard
16:54 ANA William Karlsson Slashing – 2 min against Marc-Edouard Vlasic
16:54 ANA Matt Beleskey Misconduct (10 min) – 10 min
16:54 ANA Ryan Kesler Misconduct (10 min) – 10 min
There is one positive to take from this boxing match. The NHL wants more rivalries, and now it seems they have gotten what they want. It remains to be seen if Gary Bettman can control the monster he is creating.
*GIF from gfycat.com