Yeah Bollig's hand is bandaged up pretty good from one of those uppercuts to Jackman.
- PhatJoeSki

Let me be clear, before we get too far down the "Gotcha" hole . . .

What I heard was, the least well kept secret inthe world, that Bollig, does indeed have a wounded flipper—BUT, he was, I'm told, ready to go in this game for the sole purpose of inflicting damage to Torres.

Remember, in spite of the now, umm, over-reported fact that Bollig is not Pavel Bure (sarcasm intended), he has power in both hands. And IMO, even one-handed, he is going to hurt Torres more than Mayers likely will.

Guys who do Bollig's job "play through pain" regularly.

Enjoy while you can boys your goalies are not good enough to get out of Rd1
- Bones

With Goldilocks playing like he has in the two Hawk games, the Coyotes might not make round 1.

Bolig is still sporting a bandaged hand from his last bout in Calgary, I dont thing he was capable
- RiffHard

Again, good source who has been right about many things, told me this AM, Bollig wanted to go.

Let me be clear, before we get too far down the "Gotcha" hole . . .

What I heard was, the least well kept secret inthe world, that Bollig, does indeed have a wounded flipper—BUT, he was, I'm told, ready to go in this game for the sole purpose of inflicting damage to Torres.

Remember, in spite of the now, umm, over-reported fact that Bollig is not Pavel Bure (sarcasm intended), he has power in both hands. And IMO, even one-handed, he is going to hurt Torres more than Mayers likely will.

Guys who do Bollig's job "play through pain" regularly.
- John Jaeckel

I'm sure Bollig will be relishing the possibility of trying to tango with Torres at the UC later in the season, the only question is whether Torres would ever drop 'em again.

Again, good source who has been right about many things (and is closer to this story in a couple of ways than anyone I know), told me this AM, Bollig wanted to go.
- John Jaeckel

I'm sure Bollig will be relishing the possibility of trying to tango with Torres at the UC later in the season, the only question is whether Torres would ever drop 'em again.
- prd797

Bollig's HARD AS PHUCK but i wouldn't assume he'd 'destroy' Torres. Raffi did pretty good in that tilt last night and just missed KO'ing Jammer with one haymaker.

"Bollig who is nursing a banged up hand, was chomping at the bit to get at Torres . . . Bollig was extremely disappointed, but reluctantly understood."

Apparently some Hawk players wanted him out there for that purpose too.

Just passing it along.

Bollig's HARD AS PHUCK but i wouldn't assume he'd 'destroy' Torres. Raffi did pretty good in that tilt last night and just missed KO'ing Jammer with one haymaker.
- philco28

Torres is a reasonable match for a 38 year old Mayers. Not for Bollig, even with 1 1/2 hands.

The only guy roughly Torres' size (who is a LOT tougher than Torres in a scrap) I ever saw go with Bollig was Tootoo, and we know how that turned out.

"Bollig who is nursing a banged up hand, was chomping at the bit to get at Torres . . . Bollig was extremely disappointed, but reluctantly understood."

Apparently some Hawk players wanted him out there for that purpose too.

Just passing it along.
- John Jaeckel

Would have been his first meaningful fight this year. Every other fight has been staged and he usually gives the guy a "good fight" tap at the end. I feel like those fights do very little for the team.

A fight like Keith's, Mayers, coming to the aid of a player, etc...are the type of fights that should take place. Not the staged crap.

Torres is a reasonable match for Mayers. Not for Bollig, even with 1 1/2 hands.

The only guy roughly Torres' size (who is a LOT tougher than Torres in a scrap) I ever saw go with Bollig was Tootoo, and we know how that turned out.
- John Jaeckel

The Tootoo fight was BEE'U'TEE'FUL


Would love to see BB tuneup Torres. Hope we get to see it.

Torres is a reasonable match for a 38 year old Mayers. Not for Bollig, even with 1 1/2 hands.

The only guy roughly Torres' size (who is a LOT tougher than Torres in a scrap) I ever saw go with Bollig was Tootoo, and we know how that turned out.
- John Jaeckel

Tootoo is a crazy man. The dude is smaller than I am, but scraps like a heavyweight every game. He must do a line of blow before each shift to withstand that. He's gonna take one in the dome one day and that'll be all she wrote.

Would have been his first meaningful fight this year. Every other fight has been staged and he usually gives the guy a "good fight" tap at the end. I feel like those fights do very little for the team.

A fight like Keith's, Mayers, coming to the aid of a player, etc...are the type of fights that should take place. Not the staged crap.
- HawkFan27

I disagree. See paulr's comment above about the value of payback. You talk to guys who play, most disagree with your point.

I DO agree that Mayers sort of decisioning Torres is dissatisfying. If it is known around the leagur that running a Hawk star will get you pummeled by a guy like Bollig, I think there is a deterrent effect.

Let me be clear, to Torres' credit, he knew he had to man up for what he did. Guys like Kronwall won't. But, for guys like Tootoo, Carcillo, Pinizzotto, Bissonette, etc., they must man up for stuff like that.

Is it perfect, no. Is it still part of the game for a reason? I think so.

I disagree. See paulr's comment above about the value of payback. You talk to guys who play, most disagree with your point.

I DO agree that Mayers sort of decisioning Torres is dissatisfying. If it is known around the leagur that running a Hawk star will get you pummeled by a guy like Bollig, I think there is a deterrent effect.

Let me be clear, to Torres' credit, he knew he had to man up for what he did. Guys like Kronwall won't. But, for guys like Tootoo, Carcillo, Pinizzotto, Bissonette, etc., they must man up for stuff like that.

Is it perfect, no. Is it still part of the game for a reason? I think so.
- John Jaeckel

I think you misunderstood (or maybe I am misunderstanding you).

I am saying that Bollig has not had one meaningful fight this year. They have all be staged crap. If he fought Torres, it would have been his first meaningful one this year.

A tough guy fighting a tough guy just to fight doesn't do a thing for a team. If there is reason and passion behind it, then it does wonders for the team.

Torres is a reasonable match for a 38 year old Mayers. Not for Bollig, even with 1 1/2 hands.

The only guy roughly Torres' size (who is a LOT tougher than Torres in a scrap) I ever saw go with Bollig was Tootoo, and we know how that turned out.
- John Jaeckel

I doubt Torres would have fought him, I'd bet Torres would have declined the invitation or turtled had Bollig decided to proceed without said invitation.

I think you misunderstood (or maybe I am misunderstanding you).

I am saying that Bollig has not had one meaningful fight this year. They have all be staged crap. If he fought Torres, it would have been his first meaningful one this year.

A tough guy fighting a tough guy just to fight doesn't do a thing for a team. If there is reason and passion behind it, then it does wonders for the team.
- HawkFan27

Respectfully disagree. Staged or not...there is usually a psychological edge to be gained if your tough guy beats the other team's up.

Funny sport indeed!

Smith in less than two games has surrender 12 goals, that is the same total the Hawks got in six playoff games.

Smith hasn't been good but the Hawks offense is much, much better.

In a dominant effort, Blackhawks unhinge Coyotes - My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/11UkhKg

On Twitter @AlCimaglia

Respectfully disagree. Staged or not...there is usually a psychological edge to be gained if your tough guy beats the other team's up.
- philco28

I'll disagree. I've played at a level where fighting happens (juniors) and there isn't much to it when two tough guys go at it just for the hell of it. Might be fun to watch, but doesn't help out much on the ice. Now, when someone on the team gets run, the other team takes liberties with one of your guys, etc and there is a fight...then that is when it gets your team going and it matters. In those fights, it doesn't even matter who wins (see Keith's fight the other night) but the team will get around that type of fight.

EDIT: Can't read.

Me too...way down deep in the sub-cockles

- philco28

TMI

Does anybody else think that Patrick Sharp needs to start putting the puck in the net?. I realize that he had a great 3-point outing last night but he could have easily scored twice. He had the goaltender beat at least twice and failed to bury the puck. Sharp has always been a streaky player but he is having serious scoring issues which is shocking considering how many great feeds he receives from Kane.

I'll disagree. I've played at a level where fighting happens (juniors) and there isn't much to it when two tough guys go at it just for the hell of it. Might be fun to watch, but doesn't help out much on the ice. Now, when someone on the team gets run, the other team takes liberties with one of your guys, etc and there is a fight...then that is when it gets your team going and it matters. In those fights, it doesn't even matter who wins (see Keith's fight the other night) but the team will get around that type of fight.
- HawkFan27

Agree with much of this...but everyone on a team knows who the tough guys are and when yours beats up the other team's....it can spur a team.

"Bollig who is nursing a banged up hand, was chomping at the bit to get at Torres . . . Bollig was extremely disappointed, but reluctantly understood."

Apparently some Hawk players wanted him out there for that purpose too.

Just passing it along.
- John Jaeckel

I was figuring Bollig had a bad hand...Thought he should have played vs the Canucks.

Problem Bollig is going to have is he takes too many punches. Tough kid and doesn't go down, but the head shots will take a toll.

Bollig isn't the best fighter because of that, the really efficient big guys don't eat a lot of punches.


In a dominant effort, Blackhawks unhinge Coyotes - My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/11UkhKg

TMI
- Beaver-Warrior

JJ - I'm with you on Shaw as I also questioned him and thought he was better at wing than center but he's improving every game at the pivot and is not starting to lead that line offensively as well. They just constantly move their feet.

Funny sport indeed!

Smith in less than two games has surrender 12 goals, that is the same total the Hawks got in six playoff games.

Smith hasn't been good but the Hawks offense is much, much better.

In a dominant effort, Blackhawks unhinge Coyotes - My Fox Chicago:http://bit.ly/11UkhKg

On Twitter @AlCimaglia
- Al

I was really hoping for Mike "DID SEE THAT SNIPER IN THE RAFTERS? " Smith was going to break his stick again against the pipes! I wanted him to just throw a complete tantrum on the ice after surrendering that 4th goal in the 1st...mainly just to show what kind of player he is and players they've got in the Phoenix locker room.