If there is one aspect of hockey that the general populace seems to understand the least, it's fighting. And after a slew of recent injuries incurred during legal fights on the ice, the perception of one of the game's oldest traditions won't be getting any better.
Philadelphia Flyers forward Todd Fedoruk was carted off the ice in a stretcher after an intense bout with New York Rangers heavyweight Colton Orr, while the Atlanta Thrashers lost forward Jon Sim indefinitely after Sim suffered a broken bone in his face in a bout last week. These incidents have prompted league disciplinarians to argue that it might be time to put a stop to fighting in hockey.
The idea, which was ill-received by players and coaches, was also shot down by league commissioner Gary Bettman.
"My view on fighting hasn't changed," Bettman said in an interview with the Canadian Press on Monday. "We've never taken active steps from eliminating fighting from the game."
Bettman enunciated fighting's intrinsic place in the game, insisting that the league has no place in regulating it beyond the usual penalties assessed.
"I think fighting has always reached whatever level is appropriate in the game and has been a part of the game," Bettman said. "And I don't have a problem with that."
When it comes to on-ice brawls, the focus of this inquiry solely lies with the safety of the players, and not the perception of the fans. During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, many said hockey's fan base would grow if fighting were banned from the ice, but the idea never received serious consideration, as a motion would have to go through the players union and the board of governors, where it would undoubtedly meet serious opposition.
As for actual hockey, it's time to start looking at the playoff picture. In the East, Ottawa and Buffalo have punched their tickets, while Nashville, Anaheim and Detroit have clinched berths out West. The race to the postseason will reach a crescendo over the next few days, as many teams have hit their stride.
The contest for the President's Trophy, given to the team with the best regular season record, and the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference will have hockey fans drooling during the last two weeks of the season.
In the President's Trophy race, Buffalo, Detroit and Nashville remain deadlocked at 103 points, with Anaheim trailing closely behind at 100. Buffalo could be the favorite, as it has one more game remaining than the rest of the competition and is returning some key injured players to the ice at just the right time.
That said, the Predators and Redwings have been the two hottest teams, and will face off in Nashville tomorrow night. Buffalo will have a tougher time with games remaining against New Jersey and Pittsburgh, two teams that have been tough to beat in the second half.
In the Eastern Conference race, Carolina, Montreal and the New York Islanders sit tied at 84 points, with Toronto at 82. The Canadiens have one less game to play but sport a hot goaltender in Jaroslav Halak, while Montreal may have its fate in its own hands with two left against the Rangers and one with Toronto.
The Islanders face the toughest schedule this week while Carolina might have the easiest. But the stakes probably prove highest for the Hurricanes as the defending Stanley Cup champions don't want to miss the playoffs the year after hoisting the Cup.
