Line brawl & Crazy Torts - Aftermath

[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

It would have been better if it had been Berra, if only for the Olympic angle on the scrap.

And if we're calling guys up for next game, Breen and Ferland better be on the plane as well. Possibly Kanzig on an emergency call up basis.

Ferland is done for the year, knee surgery.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by moon

Obviously that's not what it meant since Bieksa didn't fight.

I have no idea whether he would have dropped his gloves or not if Sedin is there or not but that doesn't matter because he did drop his gloves in this case.

I am relaying what I have heard media and NHL types say. They want to get rid of these types of fights, Westgarth dropped his gloves a half second after the puck was dropped and NHL/media think by /suspending coaches they can possibly curb these types of fights.

Therefore I expect Hartley gets fined and based on previous comments that fits with what the league wants so the fine would be justified.

Then why would Hartley be fined if Bieksa took the faceoff? The NHL and Shanahan know what that symbolizes which is why you and Resolute will be proven wrong on Monday. Hartley did nothing wrong. It was Vancouver who started the whole thing with having Bieksa take the faceoff. If he doesn't do that it's probably a one on one fight or two on two fight.

[TjRhythmic]

Canucks just proved to all teams with this game, the Kings game, and the Ducks game, that if you bait them into playing a tough physical game they'll struggle... and then they'll blame everyone else for their short commings when it doesn't work out in their favor.

I just like how Calgary just started their lineup, it is what it is... and Vancouver is turning it into a poor me, melodrama, blaming everyone else, calling them names, claiming they had no choice and they were backed into a corner.

And with Westgarth, it was more self preservation... Bieksa waved the kid out taking the faceoff. Bieksa is cheap so he probably thought he'd throw a punch or 2, Westgarth got the jump on him and when Bieksa wasn't fighting Westgarth let him go. It was nothing like Sestito on Nolan, or Thornton and Orpik. Or Ference and Stempniak.

And then Lain went to Westgarth after. Westgarth didn't chase him down.

Mcgratten and Sestito was going to happen... I think the other fights were more Vancouver trying to prove they're tougher and Calgary pushed back harder.

My opinion on it anyways

[Arkamedius]

Originally Posted by moon

Well if it isn't a rule now it has been talked about fining coaches for staged fights at the start of games.

Westgarth was clearly the initiator of the fights as he had his gloves off before anyone. He was out there with one purpose and that was too fight. No denying that.

I love what Hartley did, loved the fights but Hartley 100% deserves a fine from how that game started and how fast Westgarth had his gloves off.

Two things,

1. Bieksa isn't innocent.
2. Does the NHL audit whose gloves hit the ice first or just that both players have agreed to drop gloves?

In seriousness, punches were being thrown from both sides there. Tensions are high on both teams which obviously is going to result in altercations. The biggest controversy here is Torts approaching Hartley during the intermission. This isn't the first time there has been a fight at the start of the game, doubt it will be the last. Player safety is a concern, entertainment is of course another which is why I suspect the NHL hasn't provided specific rules regulating fight times with the exception of at the end of the period.

[Arkamedius]

Originally Posted by moon

Obviously that's not what it meant since Bieksa didn't fight.

Very interesting..
I see number the 3 in a Canucks jersey throwing punches with I think it is Smid..?

[jar_e]

Score reporting that Torts will have an in-person hearing for his role last night.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by TjRhythmic

And with Westgarth, it was more self preservation... Bieksa waved the kid out taking the faceoff. Bieksa is cheap so he probably thought he'd throw a punch or 2, Westgarth got the jump on him and when Bieksa wasn't fighting Westgarth let him go. It was nothing like Sestito on Nolan, or Thornton and Orpik. Or Ference and Stempniak.

Yeah, I would reiterate the Westgarth vs Bieksa "fight". Westgarth dropped his gloves quick and grabbed Bieksa, but never even attempted to throw a punch. He seemed surprised that they weren't going after each other and at that point he might have deserved an instigator for shoulder rubbing but not fighting.

And yet the Canuck fans somehow believe that if the Sedins were out there McGrattan and Westgarth would have fought them? Nope, Westgarth vs Bieksa very clearly illustrated that these guys wouldn't have fought anyone not willing to.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Score reporting that Torts will have an in-person hearing for his role last night.

Yup. Torts is headed to New York tomorrow.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Yup. Torts is headed to New York tomorrow.

I please let Brooksie be there for some interviewing.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Yup. Torts is headed to New York tomorrow.

Someone tell Brooksie... that interview would be legendary.

[puckluck2]

Surprise surprise. The NHL knows the real culprit behind the brawl.

2 games is my guess.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Surprise surprise. The NHL knows the real culprit behind the brawl.

2 games is my guess.

Well I think this is more to do with showing up in the hallway.

[jschick88]

Brooksie article he wrote last night after the brawl. Nothing to earth shattering.

Well, at least John Tortorella didn’t bring a water bottle with him to throw at Bob Hartley when he invaded the corridor outside the Flames’ room looking for trouble and the Calgary coach after the first period of Saturday’s match in Vancouver that opened with a five-on-five brawl.

The Vancouver coach, in so many ways Saturday night the same as the Rangers’ coach he was through his four-plus season reign over Broadway until he was deposed following last season, is expected to return to New York early this week for a disciplinary hearing with NHL VP Colin Campbell.

http://nypost.com/2014/01/19/tortore...algarys-coach/

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

Someone tell Brooksie... that interview would be legendary.

We need to start a fund and petition to move Brooksie to Vancouver. Imagine if Van lost last night, and then Torts had Brooksie.

[IgiTang]

With the recent antics of the nucks and specificly with Sestito going after guys 1 second into the game, its no wonder a team put its a$$ kickers out for the opening draw. If Hartley didnt do it, someone else would have. Im interested to know how other coaches truly feel about this.

And the last change matters. Tort's seen this as an opportunity to be the victim for once and it failed big time.

Also, where in the rule book does it say you cant start guys who only play 6mins/game and are known for thier fighting skill, not hockey sense? It doesnt. Hartley did nothing wrong IMO.

[strombad]

I find it interesting that people think Hartley did anything wrong. He started his 4th line, at worst, it's an intimidation tactic.

It's not like Westgarth doesn't take a few faceoffs every season, Bieksa on the other hand takes about... zero? Is that right? Yeah, zero.

Kind of shows what team was looking for scrap. Anyone who thinks that a starting line that includes Jones, Smid, and Butler was looking for scraps is out to lunch.

[taco.vidal]

http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/01/19/...w-in-vancouver

At the top of Spezza's to-do-list Sunday morning was a text to McGrattan to congratulate him for his great restraint during the proceedings and his ability to hold back Calgary goalie coach Clint Malarchuk, who also had to be stopped from trying to get at Tortorella.

"That was my first text (Sunday) morning," said Spezza following an off-ice workout at the Canadian Tire Centre. "(He said in the text) 'It probably took a lot for (McGrattan) not to take a swing at (Tortorella).'

"He was grabbing and pulling guys back. I was pretty impressed. That's the new, mature Brian McGrattan I guess. Six or seven years ago he probably would have had Torts' suit jacket ripped off and him on the ground. I had good chuckle with him (Sunday) about it. Of all the guys to be there."

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by Zulu29

Ferland is done for the year, knee surgery.

Then park him in a chair outside the dressing room! And sharpen the crutches too!

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Then park him in a chair outside the dressing room! And sharpen the crutches too!

Just get him some of these for his crutches - I had them on my crutches after my ACL repair, so I didn't slip on the ice.

[killer_carlson]

An In Person hearing for a player suggests a more serious suspension.

I don't know how often they do In Person hearings for coaches. I don't recall Rolston getting one in Buffalo for the Scott incident.

I'm hoping that Tortorella gets suspended until after the Olympic break. Although, the longer the Tortorella suspension, the more likely that Hartley will get some punishment as well.