.png)
The ice headlines have been taken over by broken code of conducts; monster hits leadin' to scraps; and aggressive personal warfare. What's up with all this hostility!? I like it...
They need an advanced system to keep the ice frozen as we flip the page to December. The Wild and Oilers canned their head coaches, and now all of a sudden are winning games. Corey Perry gets terminated from the Blackhawks causin' outlandish stir and another controversial moment for a franchise polluted by controversy. To top it off, the Tkachuk Bowl created a wave of wanting smoke across the league. The hits? Full meter. Fights? Duh!
The Tkachuk Bowl, Brady vs Matthew, was an all out sh**-show for the referees tasked. For puck fans, especially the ones who adore scrappiness, it was glorified noise. The Tkachuk boys are two of the feistiest players in the world of hockey, both have been in three separate 1-v-1 tilts this season & Brady is third in the league in PIM, being labeled NHL's wolverine. In my book, that is. Brady has no chill, and I love it. He's who Max Domi, thinks he is. The anticipation for the "Tkachuk Bowl" between the Panthers (Matthew) & Senators (Brady) was rapid high on the noise meter. By games end, the rivalry between the two Atlantic squads has elevated itself to one of the best rivalries in hockey right now.
The agenda for the Tkachuk bros was apparent right off the first puck drop. Instigate. Brady being one of the best in the world at it, went to work & so did his brother. Keep in mind, the Panthers rank 3rd in total penalty minutes on the campaign, and the Senators rank 5th. Both teams are in the top 10 in total hits as well. We knew how this thing was going to go, just maybe not to the extent that it did. We had some LOUD checks with the Sens finishing the game with 28 hits & the Panthers finishing with 23. It was the penalties that really defined the game: 15 by each team with the Panthers havin' 83 minutes in the Sin-Bin & the Sens havin' 84. 30 penalties in one game... just unreal! I know what you're thinking, 15 power-plays each!? No. The count ran high because of a brawl that resulted in all 10 players (on the ice) being assessed 10-minute misconduct penalties.
The game was chirpy throughout, but the tension really started to build off this illegal shot to Matthew Tkachuk's head from Zack MacEwen:
video via Sportsnet//X
MacEwen received a match penalty & got a fat fine from the league for the shot. The tension was thick after as spectators knew it was a matter of time that the eldest Tkachuk would strike. Which is exactly what Matthew did as he brought matters in his own hands (no pun) droppin' the gloves with Jake Sanderson:
video via Sportsnet//X
Easy pickins for Matty; easy-easy. However, the tilt win wasn't enough satisfaction for the Panthers & it wasn't the tip of the iceberg in regards to the tension between the two. The madness came to a head when Dmitry Kulikov & Ryan Lomberg went AFTER Brady Tkachuk the moment he came back on the ice after sittin' in the sin-cage for a cross-check... you already know the onslaught had that cat Brady lickin' his chops:
video via Sportsnet//X
It's wild to see all 10 players on the ice be assessed 10-minute misconduct penalties. Ref Garrett Rank just wanted that game done with, he knew the tension wasn't ending right there that night. Brady Tkachuk had just about the same penalty minutes (16) that he did time on the ice (16:45) as he loves to spend time in the Sin-Bin, that sinner he is. When a reporter questioned his and the Senators emotions, he had this to say:
You can argue that they don't play better with the emotions, as they got spanked by the Panthers 5-0. He is right about the care and grit. It's in the Tkachuk DNA. Again, this is their agenda when they play. Physiological warfare. The Tkachuk bros were more than likely on the celly with each other the night before going over ideas to make the game a bloodbath. You can't tell me anything different; just look at their smirks and competitiveness:
video via Sportsnet//X
I love it. Total speculation, but it seems that Matthew is asking Jake Sanderson (seated next to Brady) "who's your daddy". I may be wrong, but I am rolling with it! Those Tkachuk men are in their element, aren't they? Pure stars they are as both guys have electrified the sport in their own ways since arriving to the NHL. The tension between the Panthers and Senators will only have time to thicken as they have time to wait prior to playing the other three games against each other this season. I already can't wait for the February 20th meeting... hopefully the score on the board is closer.
In a slight surprise, Red Wings have agreed to a one/year deal with 35-year old Patrick Kane. The contract is worth a prorated $2.75 million, meaning he’ll make just over $2 million through mid-April, making Kane the 6th-highest paid forward in Detroit. The three time Cup winner and future hall-of-famer picked Detroit over a handful of other interested squads, including his hometown Buffalo Sabres, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the reigning Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers.
Kaner adds to his epic jersey collection with the addition of his third original-6 thread (CHI & NYR), like he is collecting infinity stones. The move for GM Steve Yzerman and the Wings is an interesting one as they add a needed veteran sittin' at an impressive 12-7-3 to start the campaign, as many expected them to be down the standings more in the Atlantic. Spending just $2Ms for Kane isn't a crazy risk. I mean, he is arguably one of the best goal scorers we have seen in the 21st-century at winger. Not a risk when considering his age, either. Plenty of aged players play well deep into their years. Age doesn't mean squat in hockey. Not an issue; the issue is Kane's injury prone vibes.
Kane returns to the ice in quite fascinating fashion after having hip resurfacing surgery. "Showtime" Kane is attempting to become only the third player ever to come back to the NHL after having the invasive hip operation, following defenseman Ed Jovanovski and center Nicklas Bäckström. The surgery, which tennis star Andy Murray also had, involves dislocating the upper end of the thighbone, trimmin' it, cappin' it and removin' cartilage before putting it back in place. Super extensive procedure, to play hockey after it; is wild to imagine. Mad respect, cha heard. He wasn't himself in New York last year because of the hip, maybe the surgery will resurrect him. Yzerman is bettin' on that, and it's not an unsafe bet.
Will Kaner bolster the Red Wings lineup? One that could use a solid veteran spacer? I think he can; I love the move to bring in Kane for Detroit. For $2M why not? If he stays healthy- then he will help this team. He will bolster both the third and fourth lines. Desires of the right side, he best would fit with the fourth line. Adding Kane on the second power-play unit could be a card to play as well. Daniel Sprong and Kane could be a solid wing duo; the chemistry is already there with Sprong givin' up the number 88 without hesitation. Cool nod by Sprong, respect.
Kane follows a similar path to the player he’s chasing for the U.S. scoring record: Mike Modano, who played 20 seasons for the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars before finishing his career with the Red Wings. It's a very well known occurrence seeing aged stars come to Hockeytown for a quick stint (or brought in). Must be a retirement ritual. There has been a SLEW! Marian Hossa. Daniel Alfredsson. Chris Chelios. Brad Richards. Frans Nielsen. I could keep going! Hockeytown is a feeling, and everyone tries to find a way to feel it. I like the move for the Wings and I am excited to see 88 back on the ice in the NHL. Good for him.
Wow, do the Islanders enjoy puttin' their fans in a sweat-storm or what! Islanders' last 8 games have been decided by just one goal. They have gone 4-4 (4-1-3) in those games addin' three more overtime/shootout losses to tack onto their 2-6 record in extra time this season. On a good note, they are 2-1 in OT/SO since November 18th after going 0-5 up to that date. Mathew Barzal stepped up to secure a big one the other night:
video via NYIslanders//X
Close games are the theme of the Islanders' season thus far. Kind of like how it was for Calgary last year, just at a quicker rate. In the Isles 22 games played, 13 of those games came down to one goal. New York is 6-1-6 in those 13 games as they lead the league in overtime/shootout losses. Something they want to improve if they wish to remain in front of the pack in the race for the playoffs. The Flames missed the playoffs by just two points after leading the league with 17 OTL last season. Those games are more important than ever now for the Islanders.
Cale Makar has been a straight game-breaker for the Avs as they have turned their ship back around to place themselves atop the higher echelon of Chel once again. Colorado has won 7 of their last 10 with Makar playin' stellar across the board. Makar has points in 9 of the last 10 games and a point in 12 of the 14 games played in November. His vision; passing; and defense has made him as elite of any skater goin' right now.
Makar ranks first in both assists and plus/minus across the ENTIRE league. He has four games with 3 assists including three in a row last week. Makar is displayin' magic on the power-play as well ranking in the top 5 in total power-play assists. He is literally doing it all, provin' to be the top defenseman in the league (sorry Hughes fans). Not only is he a magician spreadin' the puck and ice, but he is also a juggernaut for the Avs ranking among the top 12 in total time-on-ice in the league. He's been a straight monster in November after a slow start to the season in October.
It's safe to say that the Avalanche go where Maker goes. When he is playing this good, so are his teammates around him. A maestro at creatin' scoring options and dishin' the puck. He keeps playing like this and we will be considering him as a MVP nominee come the halfway point of the season. Embrace this dude Makar's uncanny ability to electrify the ice:
video via citchmook//X
A slow Friday with just two games on the schedj, but the weekend slate is packed full with some solid matchups. You already know what I will be doing. Bruins takin' on the Leafs (Saturday). Avs travel to LA to take on the Kings (Sunday). Ahhhh, so much noise! Tune into the action and leave here with this stunning goalie goal by Tristan Jarry:
video via BradyTrett//X
Follow our Socials and my personal Twitter:
Twitter: @SpittinCap & @djp_spittincap
IG: @spittin_cap
Make sure to click the heart and leave a like... share for others to read
Opinion. Fact. Or Straight Up Cap.
Comments