Quote:
Originally Posted by dino7c
Zadorov's hit was a big turning point too...Canucks were busy trying to fight him for a clean hit and Backlund took advantage
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Funny part is that’s the right response.
Zadorov and Mackey both had good clean hits, and both were just willing to skate away and avoid the fight.
To me that’s more infuriating to the other team, just skating away from the guy trying to chase you down. Same reason that Tkachuk should have never fought Kassian, it’s better to not oblige him in that scenario.
If Gudbranson does the exact same thing on the Zadorov play that he did on the Mackey play then it would have cost the team a goal.
Let the other team look like idiots by standing there trying to start a fight, no reason to oblige them in either case. Personally I don’t think it really sends a message to other teams at all to fight a guy who is most likely going to be an AHLer in pre-season.
I’d much rather they send a message to the guys who actually are going after our stars, not the guys who are butthurt after a clean hit. Now If Gudbranson went and grabbed Kassian against the Oilers and pounded his face in then that would mean a lot more to me in terms of sending a message.