Fighting speaks volumes in the NHL. The events of the local match in New York sparked widespread discussion last week. When the puck was dropped on the ice in the opening set, old grudges began to be resolved with the strength of no less than eight players. Otherwise, throughout the season, fist bumps have been seen, which have caused the hockey people to present views for and against puck fights.
According to the Hockeyfights.com website, there have been 303 fights in the NHL this season. Last season’s reading was 334 and the previous season’s was 331. So the fights are not disappearing anywhere.
No, although medicine offers research data on the connection of repeated concussions to chronic brain injuries. And no, although many former fighters have told stories about the stress caused by constant fighting, painkiller and drug addictions, not to mention mental health problems.
– I’ve been here the entire time as the opposite bank. When I’m coaching and preparing young players for the world, I’d be doing my job poorly if I didn’t also prepare them for the fact that there’s an aspect to the game. The NHL is an entertainment business and fighting is part of that. Certain dudes get a cult reputation through it, Ismo Lehkonen start.
– What are my motives and opportunities to change that culture? There, the code dictates that if a soul is tackled or there is a bit of an ugly tackle, it will result in hipat. As a European, you don’t have to participate in them, but sometimes you may have to protect yourself. It is my job to help the youth in that game.
Lehkonen wouldn’t feel sorry for others or worry about their health on behalf of others.
– It benefits us that we are being shouted at from the outside, Lehkonen asks.
Who surprised?
The Dallas Stars have undeniably played the most intact regular season of all the teams. Tähtipaita’s longest losing streaks are four and three matches, both of which have only been experienced once. The team, which operated with an unimaginable consistency throughout the season, has suitably accelerated the pace towards spring, as the balance of the previous ten games is 9–1.
– What they have done has been convincing, and they haven’t even had to put anything special on the table. They have had a clear goal all along to ensure a playoff spot and home advantage in time. It can be seen as a disciplined, even nihilistic approach to the game when the offensive game is not rolling. This team has the patience to play goal games, Lehkonen praises.
– The head coach Pete DeBoer has made them realize that one-way hockey cannot be successful. That after a long exchange, we’ll see who can still come down.
One of Dallas’ biggest strengths is the balance of the players. Roope Hintz leads the team’s first line, but the fireworks of recent years are not from the Nokian and his chain friends (Joe Pavelski, Jason Robertson) was available. However, it hasn’t hurt, because it has been found in the background by Wyatt Johnston led by a lot of fire support.
– It’s an important message for them that there will be power from all sides. It’s not just about the Hintz chain anymore. Johnston has hit a semi-reckless 30 lockers on the season. Downstairs Heiskanen and Thomas Harley have been very effective. This team is very well balanced.
Who cheated?
Philadelphia’s surprise had time to play around 70 games, until the house of cards collapsed in an ugly way. The Flyers, who have been locked in a direct playoff spot for a long time, have lost nine of their previous 11 games. At the same time, the fire-souled head coach by John Tortorella a constant whirlwind has roared around.
When the coach threw the captain of the stands, when he got nervous to the media. The fiasco has been crowned by an unimaginably weak goalkeeping game. Samuel Ersson, Felix Sandström and recently flown from Russia as emergency aid Ivan Fedotov have all been far from top level.
After the first keeper Carter Hart left for the Canadian side to answer charges in the much-hyped sex crime scandal involving the Canadian national team, Philadelphia has won 11 of 33 games. The seemingly final collapse was seen the other night in Montreal: 2-9.
– A bit sad. They dragged on the borders for so long and now it feels like the spare tanks have been used up. The load became heavy and the goalkeepers were unable to give any oxygen. There was a total blowout mentally and physically, Lehkonen sees.
Lehkonen says that he appreciates Tortorella, which has a traditional world of values, but does not absolve it of responsibility either.
– In hindsight, you can wonder if he gave that team too much love. Some may not have understood it. The culture was certainly corrected, but will this end leave too many scars? There, tiredly, they started waving the white flag. We will soon see what kind of changes the club management will make. Tortorella’s fate depends a lot on the first 20 matches of the coming autumn.
Goal of the week
We pick Carolina as the goal of the week Andrei Svetshnikov air blower.
– That went through like fake money. I take my hat off to those who are able to do this at full speed. When going full speed, it’s not a circus trick.
What next?
Big news started to hit the airwaves late on Wednesday, when according to the American media Daily Faceoff, the NHL is preparing to move the Arizona Coyotes, who have drifted into a weak slump, to Salt Lake City. According to DF’s information, the NHL has prepared two match schedule bases for the upcoming season, one with Arizona and the other with Salt Lake City.
For years, Arizona has always been a disgrace in the NHL. It is still that, for example, with its university arena, which draws around 4,000 spectators. Many have been hoping to move the club to another place for a long time, and Lehkonen is no exception.
– The club doesn’t even have a proper home arena. Going to that old barn was bad humor to begin with. Maybe the NHL thought through Vegas that hockey could be taken to the desert, but nothing will come of it. There are several better cities that would very much like an NHL club, says Lehkonen.
– I hope we will see more clubs in the league in the future. You could bring one to America, another to Canada. As a big fan of Canadian hockey, I see a lot of potential here.