Friday Fights: Fight of the Year?

HockeyFights.com and I are proud to bring you the eighth installment of Friday Fights. Last week’s article was lost into the land of poor quality fights. One of the lowest rated weeks in my memory. But onward and upwards, and into a week with 11 fights on the docket to work with. Now that’s more like it. Those 11 fights bring our total of fights this season up to 94. This now has us on pace for a new low in the number of fights in a season, below the 300 mark for the first time since Hockeyfights started tracking them in it’s stats in 2000.

In this installment, we see a new contender for the fight of the year, some veterans hug it out and one cold night in December, everyone gets mad.

Show me the tilts.

December 2nd was a busy night. Five total fights that night, with this one kicking us off (as well as number two on the list). The two guys squared off and did an awful lot of spinning and posturing. Then the Wayne Train came into the station and just unload, swinging from the hip and for the fences. Unfortunately one of his punches went wildly astray and he went down, because it looks like Millar was just biding his time until he could respond with his own salvo. Great bout nonetheless.

Josh made his dad, Dave, proud as punch in this one I’m sure. I feel like this is one of those fights where it could have gone even longer had it not been for the two guys engaging mid-fight after a spin, in such an awkward fashion. With McLeod’s arm across Manson’s chest it was just a weird end to an otherwise spirited affair.

These are the moments that make me miss the old days of hockey. I am not one to wax poetic, I know the NHL is a different world now. Bettman has taken his time in systematically dismantling the toughness and giving rise to the pest. But in this one you had a solid 8 round bout between two guys. Stewart went in hard and fast against the bigger younger man in MacDermid. Then just as it seems MacDermid was shifting hands to eventually fall, he pops back as good as he got (if not better). One final punch for Stewart and both guys collect themselves, and give each other some respect for going.

Just two guys who do their job, and get paid to be tough.

Is there anything more beautifully awkward and elegant and tough all at the same time? This was actually the second time the two teams had the goalies go for it. Vernon had won the other time. Roy got the best of Osgood in this one. Just two guys, living up to one of the best rivalries in the late 90’s.

This is where we normally feature the one fight that probably deserved two minutes for occurring, rather than a major. Or a player that needs to be put on blast.

Fan (Hi mom!) of my series will note that I have started giving the finger wag more to players than actual fights. But that trend gets bucked today.

Dion Phaneuf and Corey Perry did the dance that two veterans need not do. I mean, it seemed like the refs were kind of baiting them to go. They finally obliged, a hug fest combined with a tie up and they each got a mercy five for fighting.

If you want to see all the fights from the week, and indeed the season, you have only to visit us over at HockeyFights.com

So that’s the fights that were the fights. What say you citizens of the Nation? Did you like my picks? Did I miss a fight you thought was better or worse? Do you have a suggestion for the classic fight you want to see next week? Hit me up on twitter @TheNationDan or send it in the comments below.

Square up and protect your head.