Sharks Gameday: Best. Fight. Ever.

by Mike Chen on Mar 26, 2009 11:08 AM PDT

San Jose Sharks (48-14-11) at Nashville Predators (35-30-8)
5 PM PST

Remember way back when Brad Staubitz broke Jordin Tootoo's face? You don't? It went a little something like this.

Punch!
Ow!
Punch!
Ow!
Punch! (Blood splatter)
Ow!

Repeat in rapid-fire succession for about ten seconds.

Never mind that the Preds are in a furious playoff fight or that the Sharks might reclaim first place with a victory tonight; tonight, I'm pretty sure all eyes will be on Tootoo and whatever he does to try to exact some vengeance on Staubitz.

In terms of the lineup, Patrick Marleau is back while the Preds will be without Geico spokesman David "Caveman" Legwand.

So easy that David Legwand can do it!

And on a really random note, great interview with our favorite Russian goalie over at Puck Daddy (Corey Perry, you're now called out). You might have caught my Kukla's feature called Puck Rock where I interview different hockey players and personalities about their music obsessions or what instruments they play. I don't think Nabby will ever be featured on it:

Sometimes it's Bryan Adams, Tatu, Russian or American rap

Prediction: Sharks win, Brad Staubitz is awesome. That is all.

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

(Corey Perry, you’re now called out).

Here’s Nabokov:

Yeah, right… He is… You know in America this is called ‘a crybaby’ and he is exactly that.

I dunno, Mike. I think “crybaby” is about the nicest insult that Perry has gotten recently. Even on my posts he’s been called a whiny bitch, but I tell you — I’d much rather have a crease-crashing Perry than a perimeter version.

Let’s see how Perry responds in the 2 games remaining (plus maybe more?). We may get some crybabying out of Nabokov yet.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Mar 26, 2009 11:22 AM PDT reply actions

I laughed out loud at the “crybaby” comment that I read right before coming over here.

Amazing how Puck Daddy and Chesnokov consistently serve up far better interviews from players than “real” journalists, that think advanced statistical analysis is bunk and want to keep bloggers in their mama’s basements where they belong. Just continues to further push me away from any sort of mainstream media. I’m proud of the fact that I haven’t turned my TV to ESPN in a solid 2 years or so now.

by IAmJoe on Mar 26, 2009 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I just watched the Staubitz/Tootoo video like 5 more times. Makes me laugh every time I see it. Mirtle has a story up about how Nashville is saying that Staubitz went all MMA and intentionally elbowed Tootoo during the fight, doing the real damage.

http://www.fromtherink.com/2009/3/26/811422/the-staubitz-tootoo-scrap

Discussion there. I’ll just repost my main comment here as my thoughts on it. Also, sitting here watching carefully to see the precise moment when someone smashes an elbow into Tootoo’s face completely made my day. Fuckin asshole.

Watching specifically for the elbow, it looks like Staubitz connects real solid with an elbow at the 0:36 mark, but its in the course of trying to throw a series of punches. Then Staubitz continues delivering fast punches to Tootoo’s face, switching between left and right. I don’t see anything suspension worthy here. If he led with the elbow in the first place, then yeah, its dirty. But he’s punching, he’s punching, and Tootoo is ducking under them, and then he tries to punch his lowered head, and Tootoo raises his head then, and his elbow just goes into his face. File this one away under "shit happens".

by IAmJoe on Mar 26, 2009 11:56 AM PDT reply actions

I’m with you, IAmJoe. It’s a general problem I have with hockey and YouTubes. Slow it down enough, and everything can look brutal and intentional. And increasingly, it seems that hockey fans are getting accustomed to whining about one freeze-frame or another, neglecting the speed at which hockey is actually played.

It might be helpful to get Tootoo’s perspective, but who needs that when everybody is convinced they are right?

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Mar 26, 2009 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions

That is definitely true. In an era of slow-mo and ever growing mythologies of the superhuman things athletes can do, people forget how insanely fast and often frantic things can be in sports. In my experience, thinking about something during action means that 1) you’re too late and he just blew by you, 2) you’re becoming vulnerable yourself, because you’re not reacting, you’re thinking. Sports are not about thinking, its about reacting. Especially as fast as those punches were getting thrown in real time, I’m sure Staubitz didn’t stop and think “Hey, if I pop him with my elbow…” he was just thinking “ohshitpunchpunchdammitpunchpunchshitpunchpunch”. There are also certainly times where you do stupid things, as a reaction and not as a rational thought. Far too often, people seem to think that there is some sort of super duper down-to-the-millisecond thought process going on with athletes in general.

by IAmJoe on Mar 26, 2009 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't think that is a fight anyone will forget ...

for some time now … hilarious!! I still get a kick out of watching it. Wait. Is that wrong of me to say?

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?

by ang6666 on Mar 26, 2009 12:14 PM PDT reply actions

I still get a kick out of watching it.

Great, now the Nashville papers will be whining about kick-fighting…

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Mar 26, 2009 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions

So Perry refuses to comment about it, and Nabokov throws insults, but Perry’s the crybaby… okay then.

I think the guy who leaves it on the ice is less of a crybaby.

Nobody cares about your opinion.

by brokenyard on Mar 26, 2009 1:33 PM PDT reply actions

Edit: may have spoken too quickly, I had not seen the OC Register piece

I was referring to the XM Radio interview, but I guess their both being crybabies.

Nobody cares about your opinion.

by brokenyard on Mar 26, 2009 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions

they’re

Nobody cares about your opinion.

by brokenyard on Mar 26, 2009 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions

I wouldn’t worry about correcting grammar on this issue. Nabokov can’t read anyways.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Mar 26, 2009 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions

I wouldn’t worry about correcting grammar on this issue. Nabokov can’t read anyways.

Bravo Earl.

by Mike in OC on Mar 26, 2009 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks for letting Nashville win. Blah.

hooked on quack

by tu madre on Mar 26, 2009 9:12 PM PDT reply actions

For fuck sakes. Stupid sharks.

Don't bRuin your life. Make love with a Trojan

by Morbo on Mar 26, 2009 9:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Atleast the Coyotes beat Edmonton.

hooked on quack

by tu madre on Mar 26, 2009 9:34 PM PDT up reply actions

And that really was the big game of the night.

At least now all 5 teams on the bubble have 8 games to play, and the Ducks marginally are ahead of the bubble. It’s not a huge comfort, but if everyone plays identical 8-game finishes, the Ducks end in seventh. For better or worse, the Ducks control their own fate. A scary responsibility, though, that’s for sure.

http://www.battleofcali.com/

by Earl Sleek on Mar 26, 2009 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions

What assholes. On the one hand, at least this hurts their chances at a Prez trophy. And on the other hand, there are five fingers.

Nobody cares about your opinion.

by brokenyard on Mar 26, 2009 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Pacific Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
San Jose Fear The Fin	52	30	16	6	66
Los Angeles Jewels From The Crown	55	26	19	10	62
Phoenix Five For Howling	55	26	21	8	60
Dallas Defending Big D	54	28	23	3	59
Anaheim Anaheim Calling	54	21	24	9	51