Going Down Fighting

Can I just start off by first saying I hate the San Jose Sharks? Bunch of regular season performers who can never do anything in the playoffs. Joe Thorton, you could score 300 points in the regular season and I wouldn't give a fuck, because you can't even score 10 in the playoffs when it matters. So, really, I can't say that I'm all that surprised or upset by the Sharks railroading the Penguins. It's California, it's early in the regular season, it's about as expected as a chubby kid getting some chocolate.

There is one player I have respect for on the Sharks, and that's Jody Shelley. But, more on that later.

How good has Mike Rupp been since signing with the Penguins? He hits like a train, has more goals already than he did last season, and has no problem dropping the gloves. In a game that the Penguins were on the ropes on early, Mike Rupp chased Brad Staubitz up and down the ice, poking at him with his stick, probably questioning his sexual prowess, perhaps bringing to light that Staubitz' mom isn't that classy, SOMETHING to get the guy to go.

This came less than a minute after the Sharks went up 2-0 on a ridiculous power play goal. Douglas Murray shoots the puck after the whistle is blown, Matt Cooke gives him a bump for shooting the puck and Cooke gets a penalty? Ridiculous.

Anyway, Rupp tries to get the team going with a solid scrap. Don't even pretend like that didn't happen, I got some documentation right here!


[AP]

So, OK, maybe it looks like they're dancing rather than fighting. But, my dear readers, don't even THINK that Rupp isn't out dancing Staubitz. The Penguins did play some inspiring hockey after that, but after Boyle's goal, a little bit soft by Fleury, the Penguins sorta had the life sucked out of them.

Which brings us to our boy named Jody. The boy has to be one of the toughest SOBs I have ever seen play hockey. Though, with not one, but TWO girl names, the kid was probably fighting in the nursery right after he was born. Johnny Cash, tell 'em.



If you don't like the Original Man in Black, you can just fuck right off. Jay McKee is a crazy person. After a shift where the Pens were getting some dignity back with some rough play by Matt Cooke and Mike Rupp, Jay McKee loses his head and goes after Jody Shelley for seemingly no reason. This comes after already taking a penalty. Now, earlier in the year, you'll remember me going ballistic for McKee getting an instigation penalty against the New York Islanders. Here, this is well deserved. I have no idea what McKee is doing and he's lucky he doesn't get hurt after Shelley throws him to the ice with his head smacking. Really, just a stupid play by a veteran who has been playing incredible hockey for the Penguins so far this season.



Stupid.

Shelley goes to the box for fighting, McKee goes to the box with roughly 15 years of penalties. Shelley comes out, and guess who finally comes calling for a fight? Eric Godard. Remember him? I kind of do.

There is a problem, however, with this fight. When you are fighting late in a game that doesn't matter you have to win the fight convincingly to shut the crowd up. Eric Godard, while a total beast, does not win this fight. I have to say though, Eric Godard's toughness, after this fight and the fight with Brashear earlier in this season, cannot be questioned. The man gets hit on the button a few times and keeps getting up begging for more like some sort of skating Rocky Balboa.



Godard takes an uppercut and doesn't even appear stunned by it. I said it about Brashear, I'll say it about Shelley, normal men are dead after taking those punches. Despite all the shots Godard takes and responds to, the chant at the Shark Tank is still "SHELLEY! SHELLEY!" at the end of this fight. It's good to see you drop the gloves again though, Eric, I have missed you, sir.