NHL Team Captain Hockey Fight

Boom goes the dynamite.

Hockey fights are frowned upon by the NHL and by some people not involved in the hockey universe. But they sometimes are just a part of the game. And sometimes used for motivation.

Thursday night, the captains of two NHL teams, guys who don't normally get into fisticuffs, dropped the gloves and had one of the biggest fights seen in some time.

Colorado Avalanche team captain Gabriel Landeskog and Winnipeg Jets captain Andrew Ladd mixed it up in front of the Avalanche goal and the two brawled for a good minute or so.

The game to that point had been a dull affair with nothing much happening.

It ended up with the Avalanche getting the overtime win in a shootout.

Here's your Pier Sixer from our friends at HockeyFights.com:

Morning Wrap: Coyotes Center Scores Game Winner For Avalanche

((ht: nhl.com))

Talk about a crappy way to lose a hockey game. This one may take the cake.

The Colorado Avalanche got a 4-3 overtime win Tuesday night vs. The Arizona Coyotes. The reason they got the win--

Coyotes center Martin Hanzal deflected a pass by Colorado's Daniel Briere into the net, past Coyotes Goalie Mike Smith.

Game over.

Briere gets credit for the goal even though he wasn't trying to score and Hanzal holds his head in shame.

Your highlights from NHL.com:

Moore And Bertuzzi Settle Out Of Court

((HT: Sportsnet/Grange))

Michael Grange is reporting that Steve Moore and Todd Bertuzzi have agreed to an out-of-court settlement a little less than a month before their civil trial was set to begin.

Here's the incident that started it all- 10 years ago...
((HT: Hockey Webcast))


Bertuzzi apologized, but he eventually pleaded guilty to criminal assault causing bodily harm for the hit and was sentenced in 2006 to one year probation and 80 hours of community service.
((HT: BCTV))


Moore then filed a multi-million dollar civil suit against Bertuzzi and the call to settle the case was called after mediation in early August.

He, contrary to what Bertuzzi wished in the press conference above, has not fully recovered- as put forth in the anniversary back in March.

Game Sevens Times Three Finish Round 1

((HT: NHL/NBCSN/CNBC))

It's what this time of year is all about... other than the tanning and vacations...

Game Sevens make late night viewing all good...

And the NHL last night had three Game Sevens to close out the first round...

First stop was New York City for the Rangers and Flyers...
And when the fourth line is contributing (see: Dan Carcillo), it's going to be a good night for you. But, these days, Carcillo is in Ranger Blue and not Flyers orange...


Game Two went for a while...

Because there's only one thing better than a Game Seven...
It's a Game Seven that goes to overtime. Minnesota escapes the first round since 2000 with an overtime win at Colorado. Avs head coach Patrick Roy was pleased with his team's efforts this season. But he was obviously, disappointed with the premature finish of the season...


The larger question for Minnesota in Round Two is the status of Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper- who had to leave the game in the third period, yielding to Ilya Bryzgalov. Bryz made one save for the rest of the game, but that's all that needed to be made as the Wild take on Chicago...

The late game, probably, is the end of the lifespan of Todd McLellan in San Jose. The Sharks had a 3-0 lead in the series against Los Angeles. But the Kings rediscovered their defense in and around goalie Jonathan Quick and became the fourth team in the history if the NHL playoffs to come back from a 3-0 series deficit to win a series, 5-1 in Game 7...


That sets up Chicago and Minnesota and the Freezeway Series between LA and Anaheim...

Stanley Cup Playoffs: What Is This About Taking People Out Below The Waist...???

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

One was sad and the other was sad...

If you get where the HQ is going...

First is the one that drew people's ire...

Colorado and Minnesota series... and it was all around Matt Cooke again...


Tyson Barrie left the game against the Wild after a knee-on-knee hit from Matt Cooke and will miss four to six weeks with a medial collateral ligament injury. Cooke received a two-minute minor for kneeing, but has been offered an in-person hearing by the NHL department of player safety.

The HQ knows where that is going and a lot of people are calling for Cooke's head...

The other was just flat out disappointing...

Stars and Ducks...

Stephane Robidas was part of the fabric of the Stars for a long time. But he was traded to the Ducks at the deadline. This series has, admittedly, been tough on him facing his old mates. The first game back in Dallas had an injury that was eerily similar to the one that got him on the shelf the last time back in November...


Ryan Garbutt's going for the puck was not intentionally causing the re-break, but it still is disappointing...
Trevor Daley feels for his old teammate...
((HT: Will Martin))

Overtime, Overtime... Did We Mention Overtime...

((HT: NHL/NBCSN/CNBC))

There were a few games that ended in regulation last night in the Stanley Cup Playoffs...

And some went into the next day...

The Blues and Blackhawks, the HQ figured, would go for a while... and it did... they went into the third overtime before the first game of the series was decided by Alex Steen...


Then, down 4-2 in the third period, the Colorado Avalanche got a lot of help from Paul Stasny at the end of regulation and in overtime to give the top seed in their bracket a 5-4 overtime win...


In other games that didn't go quite as long, the Rangers and Sharks also got first-game wins Thursday night.

Three games tonight: Montreal-Tampa Bay, Detroit-Boston, and Dallas-Anaheim

Steve Moore Can't Believe It Has Been 10 Years...

((HT: Sportsnet))

Scotty Morrison caught up with former Colorado Avalanche winger Steve Moore on the tenth anniversary of Todd Bertuzzi pile driving him into the ice
((HT: HockeyWebCaster/Sportsnet))


Bertuzzi would initially apologize in front of the Vancouver media...


And Moore still can't believe things haven't been solved...

Moore suffered three fractured neck vertebrae, facial cuts, and a concussion...
Bertuzzi was suspended for the remainder of the 2004 regular season...

The civil suit Moore has pending on Bertuzzi is set to be addressed in September

Varlamov Appears In Court

((HT: The Denver Channel/7News))

Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov appeared in a Denver court this morning to answer the kidnapping and assault charges that were brought against him by his girlfriend of four years...

Here's a copy of the arrest warrant...

Semyon Varlamov Arrest Warrant

Kieran Nicholson and Sadie Gurman of the Denver Post were in the courtroom and found out details of the arrest as Varlamov's bond was set at $5,000.

His girlfriend, whose name is redacted from police reports, said Varlamov kicked her in the chest and knocked her down, then stomped on her while she was on the ground. He grabbed her by the hair and dragged her out of her bedroom and held her face to the floor, according to the affidavit and arrest warrant. He also grabbed her by her arms and shook her and pushed her down again, she told police.

The girlfriend had been concerned about Varlamov's behavior because she says he had been drinking. It is also reported in the arrest report that Varlamov said "if this were Russia, he would have beat her more."

Here's the look from inside the courtroom this morning...


Right now, JS Giguere is set to start in goal for the Avalanche for their next game. Varlamov's attorney is claiming his client will have his day in court to prove the innocence that his agent, Paul Theofanous, is reinforcing with anyone willing to listen...

Like he would do something else...???

Varlamov Turns Himself In On Domestic Violence Charge (UPDATED)

((HT: KUSA-TV))

Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov turned himself in to Denver Police detectives for domestic violence related charges.

Varlamov has been charged with third-degree assault (a Colorado Class 1 felony) and second-degree kidnapping (a Colorado Class 4 felony) from an incident Tuesday with someone whom he had an "intimate relationship."

Denver Police are saying Varlamov turned himself in around 6 p.m. local time. He is in the Denver County jail with no bond (since you can't bond out on assault charges in Colorado), and will be in court Thursday morning.

The Avalanche sent out a statement:

"The Colorado Avalanche organization is aware of the allegations concerning Semyon Varlamov. At this time, and until the conclusion of this investigation, the Avalanche organization will have no further comment on this situation."

From Ryan Parker and Nick Groke at the Denver Post:

The kidnapping charge is a Class 4 felony, punishable by to two to six years in prison, according Colorado statutes. Class 4 felony kidnapping is defined by taking someone and moving them to another place without their consent.

The assault charge is a misdemeanor.

Varlamov will remain in jail overnight because he cannot post bail due to the assault charge.

Here's what Varlamov has been up to, according to the attorney of the accused...
((HT: CBS4 Denver))


And here's the indictment:

Semyon Varlamov Arrest Warrant

Varlamov's bond was set at $5,000.

Not Quite The Dirtiest Hockey Hit Ever, But...

((HT: FS Detroit/NHL/Puck Daddy))

Now, we have Cody McLeod driving Niklas Kronwall into the boards...


Third time this week, if you include the KHL hit we just posted...

And that's not a good thing...

Here's the Colorado point of view, thanks to Kukla's Korner...
((HT: Sportsnet))

Patrick Roy's Fire Exists Even In Game 1 (UPDATED With Fine And Reax)

So, you win your first game as Colorado Avalanche head coach fairly easily, but the game doesn't just "end" with players skating off the ice to their respective locker rooms...

This happens...
((HT: Prime Ticket/Fred Murtz))


Roy thought that, just before the goal, Nathan MacKinnon was knocked down by Ducks defenseman Ben Lovejoy with what Roy said was a knee-on-knee hit. No penalty was called.

"I was not very happy," Roy said. "First of all, I mean, to see a defenseman knee our guy. I mean, that was a knee-on-knee hit. That should have been a penalty in my opinion, and I certainly didn't like that. When it's 6-0, I don't think this game needs that type of cheap shot. But after that there was some talk from the coaches, I guess. But at the same time, what should I do? He put his fourth line on the ice. I'm not going to go with my first line. I went with my fourth line and, that's it. I was matching all night long, by the way."

Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau disagreed... of course...

"It was a little trip and maybe they should have called it, but they let it go because of the score," Boudreau said. "He was barking at me because I was yelling at him to quit yelling at our players. I didn't notice it as much as I noticed it then. The last game we were in here [for a preseason game] it was a big thing by the referees telling him it's going to be a long year if he's going to be yelling at everyone like that. There was no need for it.

"He's not 25 anymore; he's watched every NHL game I'm sure since he retired. He played for some of the greatest coaches and even though he was in the net and didn't hear a lot of them, I'm sure he knew what was going on."

Remember... they play three more times... and it looks like Roy's time behind the bench will be a trip...

So to speak...

PM UPDATE: Roy was fined $10-grand for his plexiglass shove-fest...

Here's Roy's response- and other coaches as well...
((HT: Sportsnet))

You Can Go Home Again: Patrick Roy Hired to Run and Coach Avalanche

True story:

Hockey legend spends the last 8 of his 18-years as one of the greatest goaltenders that ever lived high in the mountains of Colorado.

Retires after his team loses in the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs and enjoys it for 3-years.

In 2005, he becomes the owner, vice-president and general manager of the Quebec Ramparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey Legaue.

In 2007, he gets in trouble for throwing punches in the direction of an opponent, faces assault charges and gets rid of them by apologizing, but only afterwards to accuse the media of conspiring against him.

In 2008, his son gets in trouble for cross-checking an opponent after a play had been whistled dead. The son was suspended for 15-games.

And in 2013, May 23rd to be exact, you are Patrick Roy, new head coach and Vice President of Hockey Operations.

Yes, in many ways, you've come full circle.

Avalanche Fire Coach Joe Sacco

So the NHL is winding down their regular season, and in fact for several teams, the season is over.

One of those teams, the Colorado Avalanche wasted no time in firing head coach Joe Sacco Sunday afternoon.

The Avalanche were the worst team in the West during this strike shortened season going 16-25-7 and amassing only 39 points. Or a mere 16 points away from a playoff berth.

Sacco got the job in 2009 and made the playoffs that 1st season, but the Avalanche haven't sniffed post season play since then.

Okay, How About 24...???

((HT: NBCSN/NHL))

Okay...

Who among us had Dan Carcillo in the pool for the game-winner...???

That's what the HQ thought...

In a night where, seemingly, the Chicago Blackhawks were on their heels against Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov, it took two goals in the third period to get the 3-2 win. Carcillo's goal happened with less than a minute to go in regulation and the streak reaches 24/30...

The Flyers are still five away and questions remain as to whether or not the Hawks will get past the half-way point of the season (think about that for a second...we're at the half-way point in the season and the team HASN'T LOST IN REGULATION) without a loss with injuries to Hossa, Shaw (last night), and Sharp (last night)...

But until then...
Enjoy...
And, since it's Doc Emrick, the HQ knows you will...
Cue "Chelsea Dagger..."