Overall, I can definitely see that the players are going that '1% extra' across the board. I said to my husband after leaving the game last night that I think that was the most physical game I've ever seen Harley play. There were a couple times that Nil's even was very physical along the boards with a couple of players that were much bigger than him, not that that's hard, but you get my jist. Robo was much more physical and used his body more than I've ever seen him. It was nice to see them not shy away from it.
I like the tone they're setting early in the season that they won't let their beat players be picked on, and hopefully the message is received soon and the fights can scale back.
Imo, the hit from behind on Heskanin was boarding… and at least predatory with intent. The hit on Duchene may have been technically legal, but Middleton also was preditory with his intent to inflict maximum harm to a vulnerable Duchene.
Both were not called as penalties. But both were attempts to take key Stars out of play… and not just out of that play.
It’s a lowest denominator league when players are not protected by either the rules, or the refs. Seemingly the NHL is fine with key players being injured by borderline players/plays. Owners don’t seem to mind, as most of them don’t have stars, and thus are happy to cheaply even the playing field so to speak. Thus, I see 3 solutions:
-if a penalty is called then score on the PP. (The old Detroit team (Nill) response… mostly)
-retaliate with like borderline plays targeting opponents key players with intent.
-get big guys who can fight and who can inflict pain on opponents (who??? Good question). Just having a “fight” isn’t sufficient motivation… nobody likes a big guy with big fists trying to reorganize their face!
Whether you’re all-in on hockey fights or think they should go the way of the dinosaur, one thing’s clear: it’s a team thing. Though I’m sure it happens, it’s rare to see anyone say, yeah, our guy shouldn’t have done that. It’s fair for him to get punched. Fans take sides.
Obviously players do too. Maybe only one player per team is involved in a fight, but it’s generally on behalf of a teammate, and it’s all about the team.
To all appearances, Pete DeBoer forbade fighting, even angering fans (and probably players too) by saying, “We’re not built for that.” (We were built fine for that.) Taking the high road might be a good thing, but everyone knows it doesn’t always work out. And for the Stars, when it didn’t, it left the team both defeated and deflated, as a whole and as individuals, in moments that really mattered.
Glen Gulutzan accepting, embracing, even praising fighting squares up with his emphasis on “physicality” and “combat.” But it also further demonstrates his understanding of team unity and morale.
Players feel something when a teammate goes to bat for them. The team connection strengthens when one becomes “all for one.”
Fighting isn’t the only way to do this, but it’s one tool in the box. While I’m not a fan of fighting, I think Gulutzan and the Stars are wise to use it (prudently) as the tool that it is. When it comes to understanding what makes this team as good as it is, and potentially even better, Gulutzan seems to have a well-outfitted toolbox. It’s served the team well so far, and raised my expectations for the team’s ceiling this year.
The Texas Stars had a game-shifting fight in Game 3 against Grand Rapids last spring. Down 4-1, Cameron Hughes walloped a dude, pumped up the crowd on the way to the box, then scored 2 of the 4 goals Texas would need to put away the Griffins for good in the series in 2OT. However, that is the one game-changing fight I can recall in at least the last 10 years for Texas. Speaks to its rarity.
In game 3/82 with a lead, go for it in the moment. If he hadn't done it right away, there would be time to review the hit, decide it was clean, and choose to do nothing. Considering the utter lack of response in the past, immediate response is justified. It sends a message to the whole Stars' bench, and that's the message that needs to be received. And all of those penalty minutes and the Wild goal scored? Worth it.
Overall, I can definitely see that the players are going that '1% extra' across the board. I said to my husband after leaving the game last night that I think that was the most physical game I've ever seen Harley play. There were a couple times that Nil's even was very physical along the boards with a couple of players that were much bigger than him, not that that's hard, but you get my jist. Robo was much more physical and used his body more than I've ever seen him. It was nice to see them not shy away from it.
I like the tone they're setting early in the season that they won't let their beat players be picked on, and hopefully the message is received soon and the fights can scale back.
Imo, the hit from behind on Heskanin was boarding… and at least predatory with intent. The hit on Duchene may have been technically legal, but Middleton also was preditory with his intent to inflict maximum harm to a vulnerable Duchene.
Both were not called as penalties. But both were attempts to take key Stars out of play… and not just out of that play.
It’s a lowest denominator league when players are not protected by either the rules, or the refs. Seemingly the NHL is fine with key players being injured by borderline players/plays. Owners don’t seem to mind, as most of them don’t have stars, and thus are happy to cheaply even the playing field so to speak. Thus, I see 3 solutions:
-if a penalty is called then score on the PP. (The old Detroit team (Nill) response… mostly)
-retaliate with like borderline plays targeting opponents key players with intent.
-get big guys who can fight and who can inflict pain on opponents (who??? Good question). Just having a “fight” isn’t sufficient motivation… nobody likes a big guy with big fists trying to reorganize their face!
I appreciate your take on this. Here's mine:
Whether you’re all-in on hockey fights or think they should go the way of the dinosaur, one thing’s clear: it’s a team thing. Though I’m sure it happens, it’s rare to see anyone say, yeah, our guy shouldn’t have done that. It’s fair for him to get punched. Fans take sides.
Obviously players do too. Maybe only one player per team is involved in a fight, but it’s generally on behalf of a teammate, and it’s all about the team.
To all appearances, Pete DeBoer forbade fighting, even angering fans (and probably players too) by saying, “We’re not built for that.” (We were built fine for that.) Taking the high road might be a good thing, but everyone knows it doesn’t always work out. And for the Stars, when it didn’t, it left the team both defeated and deflated, as a whole and as individuals, in moments that really mattered.
Glen Gulutzan accepting, embracing, even praising fighting squares up with his emphasis on “physicality” and “combat.” But it also further demonstrates his understanding of team unity and morale.
Players feel something when a teammate goes to bat for them. The team connection strengthens when one becomes “all for one.”
Fighting isn’t the only way to do this, but it’s one tool in the box. While I’m not a fan of fighting, I think Gulutzan and the Stars are wise to use it (prudently) as the tool that it is. When it comes to understanding what makes this team as good as it is, and potentially even better, Gulutzan seems to have a well-outfitted toolbox. It’s served the team well so far, and raised my expectations for the team’s ceiling this year.
The Texas Stars had a game-shifting fight in Game 3 against Grand Rapids last spring. Down 4-1, Cameron Hughes walloped a dude, pumped up the crowd on the way to the box, then scored 2 of the 4 goals Texas would need to put away the Griffins for good in the series in 2OT. However, that is the one game-changing fight I can recall in at least the last 10 years for Texas. Speaks to its rarity.
Petrovic should've waited for Mifdleton's next shift then asked him go. Don't skate all the way down the ice draw the instigator then get beat up.
In game 3/82 with a lead, go for it in the moment. If he hadn't done it right away, there would be time to review the hit, decide it was clean, and choose to do nothing. Considering the utter lack of response in the past, immediate response is justified. It sends a message to the whole Stars' bench, and that's the message that needs to be received. And all of those penalty minutes and the Wild goal scored? Worth it.
Agree.