The Wilson-Holzer Fight Had A Twist

((HT: NHL Network/HockeyFights.com))

And it might mean another phone call from the league office for what happened at the 35-second mark


Korbinian Holzer might get a hearing over the punch, but anything is possible in the appeal- considering the idea that "Holzer didn't know what he was hitting at the time" would be his defense...

Should be an interesting test case for the NHLPA

DEVELOPING: Pat Quinn Passes At 71

((HT: Sportsnet))

The HQ really wanted Pat Quinn to come back to Atlanta and be coach and GM of the Thrashers at some point considering the amount of work he was able to do in turning around the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs.

But, alas, it was not to be...

The man who turned around those two squads has passed away and will be remembered for his toughness on the ice and relentless pursuit of perfection in constructing teams off it.

Here's how Sportsnet told Quinn's tale...

Tough dude who demanded results- and, most of the time, he got them...

Maple Leafs Fans Help Out Anthem Singer

((HT: NHL/TSN))

There are times when audio equipment will, in fact, flake out...

It did when the Toronto Maple Leafs were hosting the other night...

The wireless microphone crapped in the American anthem and the good fans up north helped out the cause...


Very classy and well done...

NHL Hockey is Back: Now With Ref Cams

((ht: cbssports.com))

So, one of the many reasons we love hockey is that they are willing to try stuff other major sports may not be willing to do.

And Wednesday night was the official kickoff to the 2014-15 NHL season. Which for us, is cause for celebration.

Check out what the fine folks at the Sportsnet Canada decided to try this season.

Helmet cams on the ref--

Here's the puck drop at the Toronto Maple Leafs/Montreal Canadiens game:



Pretty cool, eh?

Or there's this. Referee Tim Peel brings you into a scuffle between the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames.

Yes...

We like this view.

A lot...

Hockey Returns: First Fight of the Year

((ht: cbssports.com))

Ah...cooler weather, changing leaves...and hockey. All signs that fall is upon us and winter is but right around the corner.

And as the calendar quickly approaches October, so begins the NHL season. But right now, it's only in the form of exhibition games.

But that apparently doesn't mean practice like the NFL does.

At least not for Wayne Simmonds of the Philadelphia Flyers. Watch as Simmonds checks Korbinian Holzer of the Toronto Maple Leafs into the boards after the whistle.

Holzer, none too pleased, shoves Simmonds. And Mr. Simmonds, well, he responded by two big roundhouse punches and a shove back.

Low and behold as Mr. Holzer ends up on the ice, Simmonds ends up ejected and more than likely will be fined.

God bless the Hockey...

Alex Killorn Should Be Getting A Phone Call, Fans Get To Ice In Toronto...

((HT: NHL on TSN/Some Hockey Videos))

This happened at the end of the first period in tonight's Lightning-Maple Leafs game...


Killorn got a match penalty to go with his five-minute major...

Ranger was taken to hospital where he was listed as stable, conscious and alert, but still undergoing precautionary testing...

And security failed to do their job at the Air Canada Centre as this happened...
((HT: Adam Biesenthal))


And people wonder what's wrong these days...???

Oh, for the record, Tampa beat Toronto 5-3

Winter Classic Looks Cool, Sets Records

((HT: NHL on NBC))

When 106,000 people start tailgating at 9:30 in the morning for the Detroit-Toronto game, you know it has the shot to be something really special and really cool...

This was...


While seeing a toque on Jonathan Bernier is quite funny, but more out of necessity, it's still a riot...

Here's the Sportsnet version...

So, the HQ firmly believes the league is in a dangerous place... making sure that the Winter Classic is preserved as its special event, but not overdoing the damn thing- like Dodger Stadium this year...

SAVE OF THE YEAR!!! (And We're Not Doing This For Hyperbole)

((HT: Vine via @TheRoar_24/FS1))

Dion Phaneuf gets absolutely ROBBED!!!


There was no other way to put it...

Absolute hijacking...
it kept the game tied after 40 minutes...

ClubberSpeak: Ask Jim Lang

((HT: Jim Lang Blog))

Letters, he gets letters, he gets lots and lots of letters...

So, we divulge...

It is time to open up the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Without further delay, here we go.

Courtesy of David in the United Kingdom:

“What are you best stories from the covering the Leafs as close as you did a few years back?”

Hi David, thanks for the question.

There are a number of things that stand out.

While he was far from a household name during his time in Toronto back-up goalie Mikael Tellqvist was very popular among his teammates and a sincerely nice person. Many times “Telly” just wanted to sit and talk about anything but hockey. Tellqvist was a self-admitted game show addict and absolutely loved “Deal or no Deal”. He even admitted to me once that when he wasn’t starting and sitting on the bench he would play along to the in-game trivia they would show on the video scoreboard at Air Canada Centre or any other arena.

When he did play there was little debate about whether or not he was a back-up. In the 2005/06 season Tellqvist had a 3.13 goals against average and a save percentage of .895. But having said that “Telly” did have his moments of glory. The one game that really stands out took place in Boston on November 17th, 2005. Tellqvist had got shelled pretty bad by Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals in his previous start. But on that one night in Boston Tellqvist was outstanding, making 31 saves as the Leafs beat the Bruins 4-1. (By the way, the goal scorers that night were Nik Antropov, Eric Lindros, Darcy Tucker and Mats Sundin.) Because Tellqvist played so well he was being interviewed by Paul Hendrick after the game and was the last player to enter the dressing room. I was with the rest of the traveling media waiting outside when Tellqvist walked by us and entered the room. The second he walked in all you could hear was the rest of the team yelling “Telly” at the top of their lugs and celebrating his victory. It was one of those moments were it wasn’t about the fame and the money, it was about competition and being happy for a teammate who stepped up and had a big game.

Towards the end of that 2005/06 season the relationship between Head Coach Pat Quinn and General Manager John Ferguson Junior had completely fallen apart. As it turned out Quinn was weeks away from being fired by JFJ and eventually replaced by Paul Maurice.

Whatever ability the two had to co-exist ended in late March when the Leafs lost two games in three days in Montreal. It was a quirk in the post lock-out schedule that had the Leafs playing the Habs at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Thursday, March 23rd, and then again on Saturday, March 25th.

Mikael Tellqvist started both games and the Leafs proceeded to get pounded 5-1 on Thursday and then 6-2 on Saturday. During the loss on Saturday night Jason Allison broke his hand in a fight with Mathieu Dandenault. Now that year under Ferguson he had a rule that he, only he, could update the media on player injuries. Sure enough that Saturday night in Montreal Quinn walks into room after the game and starts telling the assembled media who got hurt and the nature of their injuries. The whole time JFJ was standing outside the room unaware what Quinn was doing. I always thought of it as Quinn deciding to himself that if he’s going to out, he’s going to go out his way.

Just over a month later Quinn was fired and that led to the wildest news conference I have ever been a part of. John Ferguson Junior stood up on the podium and was hammered with questions over Quinn’s firing and the direction of the team. Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun roasted JFJ on a spit that afternoon and Howard Berger got into a screaming match with a news reporter during the question and answer period.

The other thing that always amazed by working on the Leafs beat is just how well their fans traveled. It didn’t matter what city we were in you could always guarantee that there would always be a healthy contingent of Leafs fans in the opposing building. Not long into Paul Maurice’s tenure as Leafs Coach the team had a road game in Columbus. It was Friday, October 20th in 2006 and Doug MacLean was still the GM of the Blue Jackets at the time. The Leafs won that night 4-2. The goal scorers were John Pohl, Mike Peca, Kyle Wellwood and Bryan McCabe. Andrew Raycroft made 23 saves for the win. What made the game special was the legions of Leafs fans who made the drive to Columbus and helped filled the building that night. I even ran into a die-hard outside the Leafs team hotel wearing a Dave Keon sweater.

In my experience I found Buffalo and Montreal to be the best cities for the sheer volume of Leafs fans who would make the road trip to see them play. Going to Montreal for a Saturday night game needs no explanation. It is one of the finest cities in North America and say what you about the Canadiens, Saturday night at the Bell Centre is something all hockey fans should experience at least once. While Buffalo might not be as exotic as Montreal, a Leafs versus Sabres tilt on a Friday night at what is now called the First Niagara Center is no less exciting. For many Leafs fans it is easier and a lot cheaper to get tickets to a Leafs and Sabres game in Buffalo. That means the fans that go and real die-hard fans and it makes for an incredible atmosphere in the building.

The one player I enjoyed talking to the most on a daily basis during my time on the Leafs beat was Wade Belak. Wade a truly decent human being and had time for everyone. He was the funniest player on the team and on a day when nobody else was in the mood to talk, Belak was always there with a quote that would help you make your deadline.

Needless to say I was shocked and saddened when I heard about his passing. I miss Wade Belak and I hope he is somewhere up in hockey heaven, sitting in a dressing room and cracking jokes.

Keep the questions coming in to shermanfirefly7@gmail.com

ClubberSpeak: The Kadri Files

((HT: Jim Lang Blog))

It's Thursday, and he's prolific...

And it's all based on this...
((HT: NHL on TSN))


In the third period of Wednesday night’s loss to the Wild Leafs forward Nazem Kadri was given a match penalty and kicked out of the game after he hit Mikael Granlund.

Which raises the question; what happened to hitting in hockey?

Now I am not talking about “Matt Cooke” type cheap shot elbows to the head. I am talking about good, hard bodychecks.

There is no doubt it was a hard hit by Kadri; but a hit worthy of a match penalty? Not a chance.

Kadri’s elbow was down and his stick was down and he made contact with his shoulder. I see dozens of hits every week in the NHL that are worse than that and they don’t result in a match penalty.

Now earlier in the game Kadri collided with Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom in the crease and Backstrom had to leave the game with a concussion. Kadri was given a interference penalty on the play. So you are left to wonder if the match penalty for the hit on Granlund was a make-up call for not given him a harsher penalty for running into Backstrom.

Hockey is still a contact sport. Hitting is still a part of the NHL. I agree with the league-wide initiative to remove blatant head shots from the game. There is no place for that in the modern NHL. But the hit Kadri laid on Granlund is the kind of thing that has been in the game forever and I hope it never goes away.

I can only imagine Scott Stevens watching a tape of that hit and laughing his ass off when he heard that it was worthy of a match penalty.

The bigger question for players is the reality that refs around the league will interpret what is a hit worthy of a match penalty far differently than the next guy. So the hit that is fine on Tuesday night in Edmonton might result in you getting kicked out of the game Friday night in Chicago.

Now there comes word that Kadri is facing a hearing this afternoon at 1:00PM ET for running over Backstrom, and not the hit on Granlund.

I am fine with that. Much like quarterbacks in the NFL, the NHL has to do whatever it can to protect goalies. But if that is indeed the case why did Kadri receive only a two minute minor for running into him? And you wonder why players get confused as to what is a suspendable offence and what isn’t? Brian Gionta was never suspended for taking out James Reimer. In this case there seems little chance Kadri won’t receive some kind of suspension for his hit on Backstrom.

Hence the confusion by players and Coaches as what is worthy of a suspension and what isn’t.

The bottom line is that the Leafs will likely be with-out Kadri for at least one game and maybe more on a team already razor thin at centre. The timing is awful as the Leafs are in Buffalo Friday night for the first of a home-and-home with Ted Nolan and the new-look Sabres.

Jay McClement led all Leafs forwards Wednesday night with 23:37 of ice time. His previous high this year was the 21:33 he logged in the Leafs loss to Columbus back on October 25th. McClement better have a good pre-game nap Friday because is sure to log some serious ice -time this weekend.

Lost in the Kadri ejection and pending suspension is the fact that David Clarkson has all of one assist in the eight games he has played since coming off of his suspension. With all of their injuries and the Kadri situation the Leafs desperately need Clarkson to break out of his funk and start producing.

ClubberSpeak: Man Down!

As a part of our family, Jim Lang has been in front and behind the mic on both radio and television. He's been a writer and muser- and the HQ is happy to say that we're adding his thoughts and excellent penmanship to our ranks- as long as he will have us...

Here's his latest work... and you can catch up with his previous work at jimlangblog.com
But we'll be adding his new stuff here as well...

A special stick tap to Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun for tipping me off to a really cool sports website, http://www.mangameslost.com.

On the site you can keep track of all of the man games lost due to injury on any team in all four major North American pro sports leagues and all of the top soccer leagues around the world.

Maple Leafs fans are too well aware of the rate of attrition that is going on right now in the NHL. With injuries to Dave Bolland and Tyler Bozak the Leafs are woefully thin at centre.

But the Leafs are 10-5 and they will get no sympathy from others teams around the league, especially the 4-10 and 2 Oilers.

As of November 3rd the Oilers were at the top of the list with a whopping 87 man games lost to injury. In comparison the Leafs have lost 44 man games to injuries while the Flames have only lost 33 man games.

Are injuries an excuse for losing? No they are not.

Injuries are a fact of life in professional sports. No team in any sport will go through a season without experiencing some kind of injury to a key player. How that team deals with it speaks volumes of the depth of the respective organization and the character within their dressing room.

A case in point is the Anaheim Ducks. As of November 3rd the Ducks had lost 71 man games to injury. The Ducks are also one of the best teams in the Western Conference. That is a testament to the job Ducks General Manager Bob Murray has done stocking the organization with depth at all levels.

In total the Leafs currently list three players on the Injured Reserve. The Ducks have five players listed, the Oilers have six. (Dallas Eakins can’t buy a break this year. Poor guy.)

The Leafs did receive some good news Wednesday with the report that defenceman Mark Fraser is finally ready to return the line-up. Whether or not he is in the line-up for Friday’s game against the Devils remains to be seen. But at least some help is on the way.

I found it interesting that in the 2010/11 season the Canucks were sixth in the NHL with 360 man games lost to injury. Despite this they still made it all the way to the seventh game of the Stanley Cup Final.

So I encourage you to spend a little time and check out the website. Any hockey fan who loves the excellent site capgeek.com will enjoy mangameslost.com as well.

See...???

We told you he was good...

Orr-Parros Scrap Ends Badly (UPDATED)

((HT: NHL on CBC))

The Montreal Canadiens brought in George Parros for muscle and he ended up squaring off against Colton Orr, for what seems like the elevendy billonth time on the ice.

The guys know each other. They know the styles...
Just sometimes it doesn't end well...
Like tonight...

This was their first scrap...


But the rematch ended this way at 2:34 of the third...


Parros was taken to hospital for further examination, and the Canadiens announced following the game that he was alert and conscious. It was part of 115 total minutes of penalties on the night...

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Parros was diagnosed with a concussion, and thankfully, that's it...

Christine Simpson anchors postgame coverage
((HT: Sportsnet))


Here's CBC's take with Ron McLean anchoring. It's a good healthy debate on player safety and the role of fighting in the NHL. ((HT: CBC Sports))

A Good, Old Fashioned Line Brawl

((HT: Leafs TV/NHL))

In the exhibition season, no less...

There's no secret that Toronto and Buffalo don't really like each other... and the exhibition season is no different...

Here's the output of an out of control third period...


"I just saw everyone fighting and I wanted to defend my teammate, I guess," Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier said.

By the end of the game, 239 minutes in penalties were handed out.

The larger question is just how many games David Clarkson will get for jumping the bench to get involved...

Here's analysis from "Hockey Central" at noon...
((HT: Sportsnet))

Game 7: Nothing Better (Unless We're Talking Toronto)

It was the first time that a team came back in the third period and won a Game 7...

And there's a certain amount of the population that was waiting for the city of Toronto to end up in flames after the meltdown in the final period of the season. The Maple Leafs can learn from this experience (of being up 4-2 with 90 seconds to go) or be paralyzed for the next decade or so...

The HQ will be interested in the fall out...

Here's Bergeron's second of the night- and the game winner- and the series winner...
((HT: CBC/NHL))


And the NBC version with Dave Strader and Brian Engblom
((HT: CNBC/NHL))


Now, the Eastern Conference will have Pittsburgh vs Ottawa and the Rangers and Bruins in the semis...

The Reimers And Phaneufs Will Still Be Breaking Holiday Bread

((HT: Sportsnet/CBC))

At least, the HQ doesn't think so...

It was Phaneuf's attempted kill shot of the Bruins Nathan Horton which resulted in the game-winning goal in last night's Leafs loss in overtime to Boston.

As is CBC's custom, the "Hockey Night in Canada" crew had a camera fixed on Leafs' goalie James Reimer's wife, April, and his mother. Sitting in the row above them was Dion Phaneuf's fiancee- Elisha Cuthbert.

The goal led to the following exchange of glances after the game-winner...

According to April Reimer, all's good in the hood...
She claims that someone else in their section said something rude and THAT led to their exchange of looks- each other reacting to the third party in question...

Well, there you go...

Mark Fraser Takes One Between The Eyes (UPDATED)

((HT: CBC/NHL))

This isn't pretty... and the HQ doesn't have an update yet on Fraser's condition...


The Leafs have needed Fraser's sandpaper this series and they're shorthanded enough already. James Reimer even looks like he's hurting a little bit after the second period barrage from the Bruins...

More when we know more...

2200 UPDATE: From CBC's Andi Petrillo and her Twitter

Scott Oake elaborated early in the overtime to Jim Hughson that during the overtime intermission, Fraser was spotted leaving the building in street clothes under his own power, presumably to hospital...

After the game, Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle said in his post game presser that Fraser was sent to hospital for a CT scan to see if there were any broken bones in his forehead.

"Toronto Stronger" Or Not...

((HT: @nicklachey_10))

Stay classy, Leafs Fan...

This was a sign outside the ACC for Game 3 of the Bruins-Maple Leafs series...

And unless your city just got bombed... this has no place being created or seen...

Since the HQ knows a lot of Leafs fans, we know this is not a thought of the majority- just someone who was far from clever...

Boston Strong Personified At Bruins Game 2

((HT: NESN/NHL))

The Boston Bruins are honoring those close to their city every home game the Bruins have during the Stanley Cup playoffs unedr their "Boston Strong" banner...

Last night, a Marathon runner who lost both his legs in the bombing was the honoree. Jeff Bauman, a worker for Costco, got to come out and wave the flag before the game with the Maple Leafs...

And it was cool...

Here's the ceremony...
"I want to thank everyone for their amazing support for me and all those injured and their families," Bauman said in a statement. "I'm making great progress and I thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. "Please continue to respect our space at this time," he said. "I want to thank the Bruins players and organization for the generosity and support for all those impacted. Like all those in Black and Gold, I can't wait to see them on another quest for the Cup."

Trade Day In The NHL: Luongo Stays And His Contract Sucks

((HT: Sportsnet))

Martin Erat requested a trade out of Nashville and got it...
Jason Pominville was moved out of Buffalo to Minnesota to improve them...
Ben Bishop was moved from Ottawa to Tampa...
Marian Gaborik waived his no-trade to go from the Rangers to Columbus...

And those were the highlights of the day as it picked up steam after lunchtime... but the biggest event was the one that didn't happen. There was a deal in place for bringing in Miikka Kiprusoff to the T-Dot, but he didn't want to leave Calgary. He'll probably retire after this year with one year left on his deal.

There was talk of the Vancouver Canucks taking leave of one of their goaltenders- Roberto Luongo- once and for all. But it never went down... and Luongo, thank those of us who had to sit through the day, for being honest about what didn't happen.

Here's the highlight soundbite from his post-deadline talk...

Let the race begin...

Toronto vs. Buffalo: Hockey on Undercard to Fight

Nothing like a good hockey game in between a fight.

That's basically what happened Thursday night when the Buffalo Sabres got a hard-fought 5-4  Shootout win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

And we say hard fought, we mean HARD fought.

The highlight of the evening to many: A Fight/Dance featuring a fight between Buffalo's John Scott and Toronto's Frazer McLaren who "Oh, by the way" have some history together. The undercard featured Colton Orr of Toronto and Patrick Kaleta of the Sabres.

That was triggered after Orr cross-checked Kaleta with his stick on a face-off.

Orr left for the evening--he was ejected.

Here is your carnage from our friends at hockeyfights.com: