Of Spezza, Sharks and Jim Hart

What's this? The Cardinals into the Super Bowl? Sacre bleu. And without Terry Metcalf gaining an all-purpose yard, or Jim Hart finding Jackie Smith once for a big play.

Sadly, it ends in two weeks at the hands of the Steelers. How did Pittsburgh beat Baltimore yesterday? By being even more physical and intimidating than the brawny Ravens. It was not a day for the faint of heart, watching one Ravens player after another taken to the locker room right to the end when Willis McGahee was carted off the field.

Live by the sword, die by the sword (and by the rookie quarterback).

REUTERS

Sens turnaround starts about here.

The weekend also included:

The sense that the current plight of the Ottawa Senators may be worth it if it prompts Jason Spezza to play with the urgency and fire he did against Montreal Saturday night. Spezza was a house-afire out there, and simply looked like a totally different player.

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People are going to point at Mats Sundin when it comes to the state of the plummeting Vancouver Canucks, and that's fair. When you attract that much attention, people will notice. But if Kevin Bieksa can skate backwards and doesn't get beat by Kris Russell, and if Roberto Luongo can stop Jason Williams on a shootout, the 'Nucks maybe don't lose to Columbus on Sunday night. That said, in a storyline familiar to Leaf fans, Sundin missed in the shootout. Didn't even hit the net.

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AP PHOTO

Drew Doughty: Young Kings can fly.

If you're a Leaf fan that wants to get a sense how a careful, patient rebuilding effort can piece together a promising roster over time, watch the L.A. Kings some time. Its a lineup that includes Jack Johnson, Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Peter Harrold, Wayne Simmonds, etc. etc., all deployed effectively these days by underrated coach Terry Murray.

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If you're a Leaf fan and can't wait as long as it has taken in L.A., just consider that it was just over three years ago that the Boston Bruins traded away Joe Thornton and essentially got nothing for him that lasted other than winger Marco Sturm. The B's, at that time, seemed to be a nightmare going nowhere, and now look at 'em.

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Just wondering. When, or who, was Bryan Colangelo's last home run in terms of personnel? Turning Jermaine O'Neal into Shawn Marion shouldn't make the smell of the lousy deal made to get O'Neal in the first place go away.

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AP PHOTO

Pumped over Wings-Sharks.

Detroit-San Jose is now the NHL's best rivalry. Saturday night's 6-5 Sharks win was a classic, all accomplished, somehow, without a fistfight. Of the many impressions left from that game, one was that Detroit's blueline didn't look very sharp at all. Nicklas Lidstrom isn't having the year he usually does - so far - and that may leave Detroit in need of defence help before the playoffs.

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How cool is it - at least for tennis enthusiasts - to have a Canadian singles player actually seeded at a Grand Slam event for the first time in a long time? That honor falls to Quebec's Alexandra Wozniak, seeded No. 30 at the Aussie Open, which began yesterday.

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Cameron Wake has left B.C. to sign with the Miami Dolphins. And not a single other CFL team is sad about it.

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Amazing, really, how the fighting debate has taken off again in hockey in the wake of Don Sanderson's death. Those in favour of fisticuffs are clearly on the defensive, which means as usual their only verbal strategy is to call people who disagree with them names like pansy and granola eaters. Yawn. Just imagine for a second an NHL that didn't carry all the controversy that fighting brings with it, but instead was able to somehow free teams to make more trades again and thus attract more attention that way.

Comments

[Paul]

Spezza is a lazy hockey player. Two stupid penalties to start the game, putting his team down. The game was dull, lacking speed and passion.

Mind you, his shoot-out attempt was the fastest I've ever seen him move!

[Guido]

Sanderson was in a non fighting league -- I don't get why fighting is even the issue here at all. What should be the issue is tighter chinstraps - maybe even football style tightness.

I saw a bit of the Van/Col game and I actually thought Sundin looked pretty good, showing some good hands moving the puck out of his zone. But the shootout was awful, not sure why he even tried to go to the opposite side. The funniest part was seeing Wellwood and Sundin as the #1 and #2 shooters -- I guess Vancouver management never noticed that the Leafs stunk in the shootout last year.

[Not a fan...]

Wow... you really don't have ANY facts behind your points, do you?

If you are going to criticize Mats for missing in the shootout, I'd like to think you have the actual numbers to back that up. I seem to recall him making way more than he missed.

As the previous poster said... Spezza is lazy. He's a floater, and doesn't know how to spell "D". As such, he'll never be an elite player.

You media people who abuse Don Sanderson's death to take fighting out of hockey make me sick. I'm not for or against it, but I am against people like you abusing it. How about we work on no touch icing first... more NHL hockey players are seriously hurt by that... is that kid from Minny even playing again yet?

Don't count the Cards out yet... you "experts" said they wouldn't beat Atlanta... and they did. You (the media) said they had no chance in Carolina... and they did. You said they couldn't possibly beat McNabb... and they did.

A warm weather Superbowl against a banged up Steelers team? If Ward is out, it's anybody's game.

[EJ McN]

I agree with Paul on Spezza's poor penalties and that the game was dull. Further Spezza tried to force the game all night, coughed up the puck a bunch and maybe created one, maybe two real opportunities. But then again, maybe a couple of toe drags at the blue line is enough to get people to think he played well.

[Peter]

sorry Damien, but where is LA in the standing? and where have they been ever since Gretzky left? i don't think that's a good model to follow... i rather see the Leafs go in the Boston way.

[drew]

Hey “not-a-fan” ... pretty quick to be critical of not having "ANY facts behind your point", and "I'd like to think you have the actual numbers to back that up" ... yet you go on to say "I seem to recall him making way more than he missed" ... how's 10 out of 25 tries??? seem like "way more than he's missed"??? I know that people like you are very quick to pounce on Damien because he is not a shill for the Leafs, but why not practice what you preach?? and, why do you read Damien??? looking for him to write a big "I apologize, the Leafs really are the best hockey team in the history of the sport" column??? Clearly you hate the man and everything he writes, so ... go away!! Start reading Joe Bowen and Jim Ralph blogs ...

[Rick Cottier]

The anti-fighting crowd are a bunch of opportunists. They shamelssly use Sanderson as a martyr for their cause, ignoring the fact that he woudl have been suspended for fighting in the league he was playing in, and using his tragic death to advance their cause, regardless of relevance or circumstance. Say what you will about Don Cherry, the man has respect and class, which is why he chose not to comment on fighting the week after Sanderson's death on Coaches Corner. Here's a couple adjectives to describe the anti-fighting media crowd: opportunistic, classless, self-serving.

[Hey Not a fan . . .]

maybe you should look up stats before criticizing someone else for not having ANY facts. Mats Sundin has a 40% shootout percentage - for those of you from the Don Cherry school of hockey statistics, that means he has scored 10 goals in 25 attempts. Do you see that little toolbar at the top of your computer screen? Use it.

Also, I do agree that no touch icing should be introduced at the NHL level, but we have seen a rash of injuries this year as a result of fights. Can't deny it. And now, someone has died. Yes, I know his helmet came off. IN A FIGHT!!!!!

[john]

FYI, turning Charlie Villanueva into $24 million in cap relief in 2010 was a "home run". What O'Neal does on the court (which is pretty good, if you see a game some time) is irrelevant. Look at what other teams are sacrificing to clear cap space for that summer, and maybe you'll get it.

[Kevin Allison]

TJ for O'Neal was not a lousy deal. Looking in the rear-view a guy like Wallace makes more sense now, but at the time, the team needed someone to compete with the Dwight Howards of the world (Bargnani's future was still up in the air). And, if you'd taken the time to notice, TJ Ford has been injured in Indiana, and is coming off the bench so it's not like the Raps got one put over on them.

[LOCKSTOCK]

If the leafs could end up with the sort of team that the Kings look to have(prospects aren't guarantees) than it might be a path that they should follow. I would like to see the leafs draft high this year and pick a season, be it next year, the year following or 20011 and only keep veteran players who are under contract until then. In the meantime, the buds should sign some veterans this summer to overpaying contracts and then, if they make the playoffs, that's great and we're back(back?) in business, and if not they are left with great trade value. I am sure that there are going to be a few veteran players who will be equivalent to picks/prospects if they are made available to contending teams around the deadline.

[chris]

You remember the glory days of the St. Louis Football Cardinals? You're old, Damien!

We all thought the Cardinals would be coloured toast when they went into Carolina. And look what happened. I'm not going to count them out just yet. Kurt Warner played arguably the best game of his career yesterday when all the so-called experts picked the Eagles to represent the NFC in Tampa. And Larry Fitzgerald is perhaps the best wide receiver in football. Pittsburgh might be the better team, but I wouldn't want to bet money against the Cards.

[Matt B]

Good points Damien. As yu said about the fighting issue, it all comes down to name-calling for the pro-fight side. Just look above at "Not A Fan"'s comment: even though he states he is not for/against fighting, he wants other issues dealt with first. No-touch icing hasn't killed anyone. Breaking a leg and cracking your skull are two different things (though both are bad). Chasing a puck is part of the game, fighting the crap out of each other is not.

[J]

According to nhlshootouts.com Sundin has 10 goals on 25 shots. Hardly "making way more than he missed".

Perhaps someone else should have looked up some actual numbers before they posted a comment.

[DamienCox]

Damien here. . .interesting comment from Rick Cottier above. . . see, what I think is interesting is how Mr. Cherry, in fact, used Don Sanderson's grieving father as a tool to advance the pro-fighting agenda. . .doubt anyone in the anti-fighting crowd would stoop quite so low.

[Jonathan]

Oh and a clarification: Turning O'Neal into Marion is NOT a good move, as you insinuated. The chance that it will be better in more than just the short run is slim to none, since none of the players available this off-season will likely get the team into serious contention.

[wall©rawler™,]

Well lets take fighting out of the game. Then we'll have players like Hedman trying to put the lights out on players with his gloves on like he did to the Canadian kid in the WC, I forget who the player was that was taking the pounding, but I guess that wasn't a fight because neither ref seen it. And I also suppose its ok to whack an opposing player in the face with the blade of his stick accidently (stuff like this don't happen on purpose does it) as he's skating by. Lets face it, unless its Claude Lemieux, stuff like this in the NHL don't happen where this is a little bit of retribution to be had.
As for Sanderson, I think I read somewhere that this was his 3rd fight this year. If anything, they should make it mandatory that all helmets be properly fitted and strapped.

[jboy]

What so many are missing is that fighting today is not what it was 20-25 years ago. Darryl Sittler taking on Bob Nystrom, or Lanny Macdonal taking Gary Howatt, even most of Tiger Williams fights and Chris Nilan.....they threw their punches, and when a guy was done he was done. Yes some wild ones with Probert, and a the odd bench clearing, but in most cases a bloody nose if that.

Today guys are trying to knock the other guy senseless. And when one goes down, you can actuallly see the other guy trying to smash his head or face into the ice!! What is that all about?

And what is it with the forearm shivers?? The punch followed through with the forearm and elbow?? Nasty stuff. You see it all the time - saw Souray do it twice in a fight last week.

Fighting used to be just like getting a good body check - just try to get the better of the other guy, a little humiliation.

Hockey has always been tough, rugged, yes dirty. But something is different , and I think alot of people are seeing what I am seeing. When something makes you close your eyes, so you don't see someone's head get slpit open, or nose knocked into their earhole, fighting does need to be looked at.

The size of the player does make a difference. A 190lb player can take a punch from another 190lb player a lot easier than a 235lb player taking a punch from another 235lb player.

[Rick Cottier]

Very predictable response Mr. Cox. But Cherry mentioned that Sanderson's father called the other player and advised him to keep playing and fight if need be a full week after Sanderson's passing. He said nothing but a prayer for the young man the HNIC the week before and only commmented a week later, after you and others had taken your obligatory shots at Mr. Cherry in the wake of the tragedy. Sorry, but Cherry has more class in his pinky finger than you'll ever have.

[jimmy page]

Yes, you've got to envy the LA kings! After years of rebuilding, they have the exact same number of points - half way through the season - as the Leafs who dumped several big contracts and are in the first year of rebuilding. Oh well, the Kings have played 2 games less so they COULD be a whopping 4 points ahead. Now that's something to envy - possible finishing 22nd in the league instead of 24th.

[DamienCox]

Damien here, again. . .to Rick Cottier, I'm not sure I heard anybody take shots at Don Cherry in the wake of Don Sanderson's death. Sounds like you're imagining things as a way to somehow make those who believe fighting is a waste of time look bad, but by all means carry on. I've known Don Cherry for years, and while he and I hardly agree on anything, I would agree that he's a fellow who has the best interests of the game at heart. He and I just disagree on what those might be. I know you're not really interested in facts, but what Don said was that he talked to Mr. Sanderson at the funeral and said he was told that Mr. Sanderson believes fighting is a part of the game and should stay in the game. Point is, using the young man as a martyr for a sports/political agenda is worse than anything I've heard anybody in the anti-fighting crowd do. It is amazing that Cherry will go on week after week and lobby for no touch icing because of the injury factor but when a man is killed in a hockey fight, there's no equal concern or a demand that rules be changed.

[Cory Smith]

Damien, you're a piece of work. You just can't resist taking shots at fighting even when there is no reason to, i.e. the San Jose-Detroit rivalry and 6-5 game. Yes, Damien, there ARE good games without fights.
However, do you forget those Detroit-Colorado games? The ones that were worth watching simply because of an unrivaled hatred and ensuing bloodbaths that had fans in hysterics?
I don't want to see players get jumped and pummeled, and I can live without players taking 4 shifts and getting more penalty minutes when they drop their gloves. But there are MANY players who are quality athletes and can still fight when necessary. And as a fan, I enjoy seeing a good fight.
It's interesting. ONE player dies in a tragedy involving fighting and everyone jumps to react. What will happen when a player blocks a shot in his chest or neck and it kills him? Or what about a player whose career ends when taking a legal hit with his head down? Why are coaches and trainers allowed behind a bench without any protection when there are pucks flying around at incredible rates of speed? I would hate to see one of them take a clearing attempt off the temple. Then they might as well call the game from the booth like some NFL coaches or maybe we'll play this game with body armour.
Either way, Damien, it's time to climb off that soapbox and get over yourself. It's pathetic.

[Tabber]

Good to see the fighting proponents come out again! If Cory Smith would watch some games, or even highlights, he'd have seen coaches getting hit behind the bench - at least 2 this year that I can remember. And the no-touch icing? Nobody killed, but some careers cut short very abruptly, just like the collisions into the end boards are abrupt. But you can ignore everything that doesn't agree with your agenda, as you've always done, and keep on going oblivious to anything that doesn't fit with your world-view. Good luck to you all - seriously, I don't need my taxes going up to pay for your stupidity-induced health problems! Now let the name calling begin; as I say, stick with your strengths, and you've made abundantly clear where your strengths lie! At least I can take comfort in the fact that Darwinism will win out in the long run, I just hope not too many innocents are destroyed in the meantime.