Phaneuf shouldn't have fought him right then and there but a little later on, he should have done something to spark the team. If that meant beating the hell out of Prust at another time, then so be it. But the Leafs were, as Carlyle said, flat and it's Phaneuf's job as a leader to do something to wake the team up. That's what leadership is. Leading by example. Phaneuf doesn't do that. In fact, when the Leafs play bad, he's usually the one leading the charge of bad play.

Phaneuf, instead of sparking his team, did the complete opposite. He was trying to land a big hit all game and missed every single one putting himself out of position. The simplest of passes turned into turnovers or giveaways that ended up in the back of the net.

The Leafs beat the hell out of the Habs last time but this time, they lost without a fight, both figuratively and literally. Consistently inconsistent.
- Two_For_Truth

When I read your posts it becomes clear that you have never played a game of hockey in your entire life.

There is no reason for Dion to fight Brandon Prust. He's a fourth line agitator who goes out and does just that. You take Phaneuf, ho plays 26 minutes a night off the ice, just to throw some fists with someone who doesn't even matter? NO YOU DON'T. Not then, and not later in the game. If Dion is going to make an impact, or stand up for his team, what he can do is take on someone who matters, and get them off the ice as well.If he's going to drop the mitts, you do it with pacioretty, someone who is meaningful to the team...

In regards to sparking the team - A huge hit would have sparked the team, and thats what he was trying to do. Fighting for the sake of you ego, that would have been selfish. You can spark a team in other ways than fighting. Let someone else challenge Prust.

Please for the love of god, and for the sake of my sanity, stop posting non sense you don't understand.

And what if Phaneuf loses the fight? That's inspiring to the team, seeing your captain go to the box, having lost against a nobody.

And what if Phaneuf breaks his hand in the fight? Or gets his orbital bone smashed?

Then he's out more than a few shifts, and the Leafs lose their best d-man.

Star players should not fight enforcers. Ever.

That's why we have (frank)ing 4 of them on roster.
- Feeling Glucky?

If you fear losing you'll win no battles.

yes
- AdamFrench

When?

Simple question.
- Leeman4Gilmour

He had the whole second period after the 5 minute PK.

And what if Phaneuf loses the fight? That's inspiring to the team, seeing your captain go to the box, having lost against a nobody.

And what if Phaneuf breaks his hand in the fight? Or gets his orbital bone smashed?

Then he's out more than a few shifts, and the Leafs lose their best d-man.

Star players should not fight enforcers. Ever.

That's why we have (frank)ing 4 of them on roster.
- Feeling Glucky?

Then we get to see Gardiner again. We could have used his skating ability last night. We are lacking speed on our back end.

- AdamFrench

Well for today you share the same Birthday as my niece Nicole, she is a leap year baby.

If you fear losing you'll win no battles.
- david22

THIS IS SPARTAAAAAAAA

Oh so they're only allowed to fight if they're ahead.

Great plan.
- Two_For_Truth

Ahh, good old fashioned UG, no point to make, so he resorts to putting words in people's mouths.


Good job there skippy.

THIS IS SPARTAAAAAAAA
- robin_steele264

Game of thrones actually

Oh so they're only allowed to fight if they're ahead.

Great plan.
- Two_For_Truth

But it's a better plan to give the Habs a powerplay?

Then we get to see Gardiner again. We could have used his skating ability last night. We are lacking speed on our back end.
- PrinceLH

Great trade-off.\

In regards to sparking the team - A huge hit would have sparked the team, and thats what he was trying to do. Fighting for the sake of you ego, that would have been selfish. You can spark a team in other ways than fighting. Let someone else challenge Prust.
- Fatty-Patty

The huge hit he never landed but that put him out of position for a bunch of 2 on 1s is some how better than fighting a guy to spark the team. You sure you've played hockey before?

Fighting in the last 5 minutes is an automatic suspension.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Fighting in the 2nd period is an automatic suspension?

Okay. New rules.

And what if Phaneuf loses the fight? That's inspiring to the team, seeing your captain go to the box, having lost against a nobody.

And what if Phaneuf breaks his hand in the fight? Or gets his orbital bone smashed?

Then he's out more than a few shifts, and the Leafs lose their best d-man.

Star players should not fight enforcers. Ever.

That's why we have (frank)ing 4 of them on roster.
- Feeling Glucky?

That Prust wouldn't come within 20 feet of.

This is why it's ridiculous to think Prust would have accepted any fight with Phaneuf.

"Hey, I couldn't help but notice that you guys look flat and uninspired. Would you like to break my face to pump you up?"

If you fear losing you'll win no battles.
- david22

There are bold sellswords and there are old sellswords, but there aren't many bold old sellswords.

That Prust wouldn't come within 20 feet of.

This is why it's ridiculous to think Prust would have accepted any fight with Phaneuf.

"Hey, I couldn't help but notice that you guys look flat and uninspired. Would you like to break my face to pump you up?"
- Leeman4Gilmour

Those 4 guys should be taking runs at skilled guys until Prust is forced to fight, or their team is pummelled into demoralization. That's their role.

And what if Phaneuf loses the fight? That's inspiring to the team, seeing your captain go to the box, having lost against a nobody.
- Feeling Glucky?

Well that's up to Phaneuf isn't it? Does he have what it takes to win the fight? No confidence in him?

And what if Phaneuf breaks his hand in the fight? Or gets his orbital bone smashed?

Okay, Phaneuf isn't allowed to block shots anymore. What if he gets hurt!

He's also not allowed to shoot anymore because he might hurt his own players.

Then he's out more than a few shifts, and the Leafs lose their best d-man.

He was playing like crap. They wouldn't have lost a thing if he was in the box for 5 minutes. Probably would have cut down on the giveaways if he was.

Star players should not fight enforcers. Ever.

That's why we have (frank)ing 4 of them on roster.

Phaneuf can fight if and when he needs to and last night was a situation where he should have fought. Prust isn't Probert here.

That Prust wouldn't come within 20 feet of.

This is why it's ridiculous to think Prust would have accepted any fight with Phaneuf.

"Hey, I couldn't help but notice that you guys look flat and uninspired. Would you like to break my face to pump you up?"
- Leeman4Gilmour

Seriously - is it so hard to understand this?

You want to pump up the team? Send Orr after Patchemupalready.

But it's a better plan to give the Habs a powerplay?
- Atomic Wedgie

Yeah, much better to play the rest of the game flat and uninspired while giving the puck away and getting out of position to land the big hit.

How about if DionP. fights Hartnell, but he's too afraid?
- Flyfreaky

Phaneuf doesn't fight anyone because apparently he might break his hand.. The man is no leader. It's pretty sad.

The huge hit he never landed but that put him out of position for a bunch of 2 on 1s is some how better than fighting a guy to spark the team. You sure you've played hockey before?
- Two_For_Truth

He went for one huge hit he missed and was caught out of position. If dion had tried to fight later on in the game it would have meant 1 of 2 things.

1) Prust does his job and gets Dion off the ice for 5 minutes.
2) Prust suckers dion into taking a stupid penalty and skates away

I'm sure I've played hockey, and to a decent enough level. You on the other hand, well, your HB posts speak towards your hockey ignorance.

prust=dime-a-dozen-meathead-waste-of-space
phaneuf=leafs best dman.

Is this really a discussion?

Those 4 guys should be taking runs at skilled guys until Prust is forced to fight, or their team is pummelled into demoralization. That's their role.
- Feeling Glucky?

Yeah, run their players and take more 5 minute majors!

Great plan!

Yeah, much better to play the rest of the game flat and uninspired while giving the puck away and getting out of position to land the big hit.
- Two_For_Truth

You really think a fight would light a fire under Kessel?

Really, Uggie?

There are bold sellswords and there are old sellswords, but there aren't many bold old sellswords.
- AdamFrench

I would like to book tickets to Winterfell for a visit then travel for a visit to see Daenerys for an afternoon and evening.

Yeah, I'm bored today.