GARTH'S CORNER: MMA On Ice

Toronto owns Barfalo, yet again.

The point to remember in all of this is that Buffalo lost in regulation

The point to remember in all of this is that Buffalo lost in regulation
- Zezel

Or the point that it's the preseason and no one gets a point in the standings...

Or the point that it's the preseason and no one gets a point in the standings...
- slyther

that too

that too
- Zezel

Glad there's a rekindled cross border hatred on ice. Season should be fun and/Orr, John Scott entertaining...

Toronto owns Barfalo, yet again.
- jbold

Toronto certainly doesn't own anyone at anything, and hasn't for a very long time.

Slow down there champ. Toronto doesn't own anyone at anything, and hasn't for a long time.
- sambarugh

Soon we'll own the Bills too

Devane's forearm shiver to drive Tropp's head through the ice as Tropp going to the ice was bush league in addition to the fact that Devane is 6'5" and Tropp is 6'. Devane should have been going after Scott or Kessel should have gone after Tropp. Devane's actions are deplorable (forearm driving Tropp's head through the ice knowing that his helmut is off). A fight is a fight but Devane crossed the line. Kessel forgot he was playing hockey instead of baseball. This is going to be a fun series to watch this year.

I sure hope Kevin gets around to writing 10-20 pulitzer prize-worthy words about this on/before Tuesday.

Devane's forearm shiver to drive Tropp's head through the ice as Tropp going to the ice was bush league in addition to the fact that Devane is 6'5" and Tropp is 6'. Devane should have been going after Scott or Kessel should have gone after Tropp. Devane's actions are deplorable (forearm driving Tropp's head through the ice knowing that his helmut is off). A fight is a fight but Devane crossed the line. Kessel forgot he was playing hockey instead of baseball. This is going to be a fun series to watch this year.
- btesmer

I don't have a dog in this fight, but it was clear to me that Tropp dropped his gloves before Devane so he has no one to blame but himself. He got himself in that position and needed to take his medicine once he started the fray.

As to why Carlyle had Kessel line up next to Scott on the ensuing faceoff, I have no idea but it was clearly a dumb move. While Kessel clearly should have done more than wet himself and swing his stick, it was pretty bush of Scott to go after him in the first place given that the previous mismatch was started by the smaller guy. This was not a "payback" situation for Scott to go after a Leaf 1st liner, and it will be interesting to see if Scott and Orr "hook up" in their next tilt.

Any way you look at it, the Leafs are still garbage. That's my intelligent and insightful opinion.

Were we watching the same game? Kessel was never fair game for Scott. Not even close. Devane may have pounded a smaller guy but that smaller guy asked for the fight. That doesn't mean that Scott gets to jump the Leafs best player. Speaking of phone calls from the NHL, Rolston should get one of his own. There's absolutely no reason Scott should have been on the ice right after Tropp got KO'd, Rolston was obviously looking to make something happen. It did, congratulations.

And 6 - 7 swings? Really? 2, maybe 3.

Devane's forearm shiver to drive Tropp's head through the ice as Tropp going to the ice was bush league in addition to the fact that Devane is 6'5" and Tropp is 6'. Devane should have been going after Scott or Kessel should have gone after Tropp. Devane's actions are deplorable (forearm driving Tropp's head through the ice knowing that his helmut is off). A fight is a fight but Devane crossed the line. Kessel forgot he was playing hockey instead of baseball. This is going to be a fun series to watch this year.
- btesmer

Obviously he wasn't trying to drive his head into the ice, that just tends to happen when a guy goes down during a hockey fight. You've got all your weight braced against the guy you're fighting and if he goes down suddenly you're likely to end up on top of him. This is exactly why the league wants guys to keep their helmets on. Surely this isn't the first time you've seen that happen?

Were we watching the same game? Kessel was never fair game for Scott. Not even close. Devane may have pounded a smaller guy but that smaller guy asked for the fight. That doesn't mean that Scott gets to jump the Leafs best player. Speaking of phone calls from the NHL, Rolston should get one of his own. There's absolutely no reason Scott should have been on the ice right after Tropp got KO'd, Rolston was obviously looking to make something happen. It did, congratulations.

And 6 - 7 swings? Really? 2, maybe 3.
- Jeffmt

Enjoy your suspensions. Scott did his job and pissed everyone off.

Enjoy your suspensions. Scott did his job and pissed everyone off.
- TheSabresTaco

That's really Scott's job? Going after first liners? If that's what he's on the ice to do then the Sabres are a scumbag organization.

Don't pretend you'd be fine with it if it was Orr and Hodgeson or Vanek. Buffalo fans would want Orr out of the league.

Kessel kicks the crap out of Flynn, what a joke. Phil Kessel beat someone up going to be a long year for the Sabres.

Toronto certainly doesn't own anyone at anything, and hasn't for a very long time.
- sambarugh

Learn to make the playoffs.

from the I thought I would never say this department
good for phil

That's really Scott's job? Going after first liners? If that's what he's on the ice to do then the Sabres are a scumbag organization.

Don't pretend you'd be fine with it if it was Orr and Hodgeson or Vanek. Buffalo fans would want Orr out of the league.
- Jeffmt

I will say this. If you want to send a message, you go after someone that will make your team react. I don't like what Scott did at all, but the orchestrated goon-that-can't-skate versus the goon-that-can't-skate-or-string-a-complete-sentence-together solves nothing. It's really not entertaining either.

Devane's weight wasn't braced against Tropp - Tropp's helmut is knocked off, not taken off. There was intent on Devane - he did not have to drive his forearm through Tropp's head - Devane knows what he was doing. These guys live on their skates. Devane outweighs Tropp by at least 40lbs -

What a one sided load of crap this blog was, I liked Garths blogs but this was written angry and without proper/unbias perspective. Tropp started the fight with Devane, bad decision no forearm intent that bs. After making it 4-3 John Scott was put on the ice? Looks like building on the momentum and tying the game wasnt important, its preseason maybe it isnt but what exactly was Scott supposed to do out there and more importantly why did Leafs coaching not put out a tougher line even though none would match the toughness or size of Scott. Clarkson dumb move, thanks, tied up all that money for that bonehead reaction. Nov 15 and 16 should be exciting.

Obviously he wasn't trying to drive his head into the ice, that just tends to happen when a guy goes down during a hockey fight. You've got all your weight braced against the guy you're fighting and if he goes down suddenly you're likely to end up on top of him. This is exactly why the league wants guys to keep their helmets on. Surely this isn't the first time you've seen that happen?
- Jeffmt

When was the last time you were on skates fighting someone 40 - 50 lbs heavier? Devane knew what he was doing - I did see Phil put his glove up toward Scott's face before he started "backing off". It is not a part of the creed (tough guy going after a first liner) but when you run your mouth like Kessel does, there needs to be accountability. Ott runs his mouth but will back it up....Kessel? I don't think so. Then again, maybe that is why we lose our key players. The game was in Toronto and your coach has the last line change...why would Kessel line up against Scott? Why would your coach put a player in this type of position? Regardless, Kessel's first swing maybe forgiven, but the 2nd swing when Scott is engaged with 2 other Leaf's and then a spear? The actions speak for themselves - Scott did what he is there for and he reacts to Kessel's hands going toward his face. Kessel's actions/behaviors over the years speak for themselves.

I will say this. If you want to send a message, you go after someone that will make your team react. I don't like what Scott did at all, but the orchestrated goon-that-can't-skate versus the goon-that-can't-skate-or-string-a-complete-sentence-together solves nothing. It's really not entertaining either.
- buffalofan19

That's more of an indictment of their place in the game in general. I agree, my toughest guy fighting your toughest guy really doesn't mean anything at the end of the day. Your toughest guy going after my best player has a huge impact. It's not the type of impact we can have in the game though. What if skilled players suddenly became fair game? Now they can't do what we love watching them do because they have to deal with goons who want to mug them for payback over something someone else did. So now we need more goons to protect our players from the other goons and we're just taking talent out of the game.

When was the last time you were on skates fighting someone 40 - 50 lbs heavier? Devane knew what he was doing - I did see Phil put his glove up toward Scott's face before he started "backing off". It is not a part of the creed (tough guy going after a first liner) but when you run your mouth like Kessel does, there needs to be accountability. Ott runs his mouth but will back it up....Kessel? I don't think so. Then again, maybe that is why we lose our key players. The game was in Toronto and your coach has the last line change...why would Kessel line up against Scott? Why would your coach put a player in this type of position? Regardless, Kessel's first swing maybe forgiven, but the 2nd swing when Scott is engaged with 2 other Leaf's and then a spear? The actions speak for themselves - Scott did what he is there for and he reacts to Kessel's hands going toward his face. Kessel's actions/behaviors over the years speak for themselves.
- btesmer

Examples please?


Here, let me go first....