Hockey Rant

It's that time of year again where everything that used to be important in my life moves to second place. Hockey, specifically the Sens, is taking over. From trade speculations to jockeying for playoff positions, my time for work and studying is diminishing, not that I mind either.

On Thursday night, I might have seen one of the best games of the year. With big hits, controversy, shouting matches, fights, goalie fights, overtime, lots of scoring, and a shootout, the Senators versus Sabres had just about everything a person could want in a hockey game.

The TSN turning point was when Chris Neil laid out Chris Drury. The game was good until that point, but it had taken a more interesting flavor. Immediately, Buffalo retaliated to the hit. Lindy Ruff, on the very next shift, sent out onto the ice all of his goons to take on, arguably, the Senators most skilled players. This led to, amongst other things, a goalie on goalie fight, a treat for a fan of the rough stuff.

Lindy Ruff was fined $10,000 today for his actions. Ruff wanted to protect his star players and argued that Chris Neil’s hit was a deliberate attempt to injure. After a review from the NHL, Chris Neil’s hit was deemed legal and Ruff’s continuous cries make me want to drive to Kanata and punch some sense into him.

There is a “code” in the NHL that tough players are supposed to lay-off the skilled players. Ruff complained that Neil, or the Sens, wasn’t following this “code”. With that being said, Drury had his head down and was fair game. According to the “code”, you would send someone after Chris Neil to send him a message that they don’t appreciate their players being run. Lindy Ruff was a hypocrite by sending his goons over the boards to attack the Sens’ elite. Ruff’s “an eye-for-an eye” mentality makes the NHL seem juvenile and barbaric to the social elitists that want to take fighting out of the game.

Fighting sells the game, despite arguments to the contrary. I believe I witnessed, this season, the two best games of the year. The first game is, obviously, the Senators versus Sabres. The second game would be the Penguins versus Philly. In that game, Sidney Crosby had recorded 6 points in an 8-4 win over the Flyers. The Philly game was great because of the magic that Crosby displayed. In the NHL, this would have been their “ideal” game to market the game.

However, there was no hype for the next match-up against Philly like there is hype for the back half of the home and home series between Buffalo and Ottawa. You can be sure that the American media is at least keeping an eye to see what happens in this next game. I doubt that anything will occur, but you can be sure that there will be many more people interested in seeing the outcome now that they have something to talk about.

That was a bit of a rant in case you didn't notice.