I’d encourage everyone to read the definitive book on the code in hockey entitled: The Code: The Unwritten Rules Of Fighting and Retaliation in the NHL That book was an endless source for me and changed the way I watch hockey.
We all know that hockey has the elements of supreme coordination combined with violence and hard hitting collisions. The officials cannot stop it all and the participants on the ice still must police their game. It’s why we watch and there is a grace and elegance about it.
You are probably asking yourself, “PB, grace and elegance in fighting?” Yep, that’s what I’m positing. In fact, there are inherent rules that are followed regarding what is acceptable behavior and what is not. The veterans pass this lore down to the younger players so that they play the game, “the right way.”
What set off the physical destruction in Monday’s night foray was this cheap shot hit by none other than this idiot from the flightless fat birds:
(Stick tap to the NHL Archives for posting this. I think something is going to happen with that guy’s wayward elbowing behaviors.)
Cookie monster’s elbow came up, and rammed Yandle’s head right in the glass. Clear to me.
Plus, cookie monster’s done this before – knocked out several players; you can look it up for yourself on YouTube. The problem was he didn’t want to answer for it. If would have fought, it would have been the end of it. Since he didn’t want to, the Coyotes had guys running around causing issues of their own.
Then, when OEL ran Malkin (sort of), and the scrum took place, the only people on the ice to answer for that action and the action precipitated from that other guy’s hit on Yandle was Pyatt and Engelland. If the muppet would have manned up and fought someone – anyone, Yandle even, it wouldn’t have gotten this far.
To top it off, the score was already 5 – 0 before the third period fight; there was no need for him to run at Yandle like that. Pretty ridiculous.
What’s astonishing to me is that Shane Doan got three games for his “transgression” earlier this season. Cookie monster should get more because he never learns. It cheapens the game and we get a more dangerous environment.
According to the Code, cookie monster caused a series of events to take place. Yes, he was called for boarding, but it was a cheap-ass hit. He needed to answer for it. Since he didn’t, and it looked at the time no one else from the flightless fat birds could or would clean up after him, especially the muppet himself, the Coyotes tried to take matters into their own hands.
Which, they should have plainly ignored. Hockey players though are a proud group so when the Coyotes “ran” at them in the third, Engelland and Pyatt had to settle it.
There’s a negotiation that takes place between agitators and enforcers. Engelland knew that his dance partner was off the ice and did not want to engage. That’s the problem that cookie monster causes for his team and when the flightless fat birds were up 5 – 0, he could take any liberty he wanted.
There are three solutions from the Coytoes’ perspective; any one or a combination thereof would apply:
- Don’t engage when they didn’t have the right personnel.
- Make sure Bissonnette is in the lineup in the future.
- Don’t let the score run up to 5 – 0.
There’s a time and a place for everything on the ice. Maybe someone should give OEL the book so that he can get the north american game?
Original Story:
http://onefansperspective.com/2010/12...
