October 15, 2008 10:31 AM
Bertuzzi follow
Todd Bertuzzi, who probably remains the No. 1 villain among Colorado hockey fans, scored two goals against the Avalanche on Tuesday, including what proved to be the winning goal.
Former Avalanche forward Steve Moore, who was attacked by Bertuzzi four years ago, still hasn't played since and his career is effectively over.
Got this e-mail from Josh Graham after Tuesday's game and decided to share it here:
"I don't know which makes me more upset, that the Avalanche let Todd Bertuzzi beat them with two goals, or that now going into the 4th season, nobody on the Avs has taken Bertuzzi to the wood shed for the Steve Moore incident. Not once! Not so much as a bone-rattling check. I don't care that most of the players might like Bertuzzi as a guy, or that maybe they weren't fond of Steve Moore, you simply can't have a situation where the fans are more passionate over this incident than the players are.
"Say what you want about how gutless Darren McCarty's jumping Claude Lemieux from behind was, McCarty's act of retribution gave the Red Wings back a swagger that carried them to two straight Stanley Cups. The Avalanche have been a nice team for too long and have lacked that same swagger. In fact I dare say, like Strother Martin said of the Charleston Chiefs, they're playing like a bunch of... well, anyway.
"I've been a fan of hockey for almost 30 years and certainly don't condone goonery but it's time somebody on the Avalanche at least let their fans know that they are not OK that Bertuzzi committed such a heinous act to one of their own next time Bertuzzi is in the Pepsi Center. Somebody - Scott Parker, Cody McCormick, I know Ian Laperriere isn't afraid to give up 40 pounds to Bert, but come on - needs to at least challenge this guy to a fight, face to face, and stand up for the logo on your chest."
Well, Josh, can't say I disagree with you, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for retaliation.
October 15, 2008
12:04 PM
cowboycoffee writes:
Darren McCarty challenged Lemieux face-to-face, twice, & kicked his butt. And the whole thing started because Lemieux broke Kris Draper's face by GUTLESSLY slamming him into the half boards from behind.
duh.
October 15, 2008
4:01 PM
Frosty writes:
I would love to Parker go after Bertuzzi and see how that gutless coward who only attacks from behind reacts when someone who matches his size wants to go with him, I bet he runs to bench as fast as he can, as a gutless coward will.
October 16, 2008
12:22 PM
mmmark writes:
Hey cowboycoffee. Go back and watch the film. it's true Mccarty challenged Lemieux on two occassions after the Draper hit. But to say Mccarty kicked his butt is laughable. Neither fight was a big deal. If either one of them connected on more than 3 shots each I'd be surprised. And just to let you know, just because a player ends up on top of another player after the fight is done, doesn't mean the player on top won the fight.
October 17, 2008
11:11 AM
HockeyFan writes:
What started the McCarty-Lemieux brawl from March 26, 1997 was an on ice incident from Game 3 of the 1996 Western Conference finals between Slava Kozlov and Adam Foote. It was Kozlov that gutlessly drove Foote's head face first into the glass opening a cut that required 18 stitches to close. This was not part of a clean check to the boards during the course of play. Koslov had his hand on the back of Foote's head and literally slammed it into the glass. This penalty was not called by the officials which lead to Lemieux's retaliation on Koslov later in the game. Koslov was cut by an Avalanche player's stick and was later punched in the back of the head by Lemieux. It was this sucker punch that then lead to some pretty nasty off ice comments between Scotty Bowman and Lemieux while Lemieux was with his wife and young family. From that point on events between players and coaches on both sides escalated out of control. The teams had played each other three more times before March 26, 1997 without incident but the bad feelings were present the whole time. I’m not saying who was right and who was wrong. I’m just trying to point out that when people talk about the McCarty-Lemieux brawl they never go back far enough to the incident that started it all. Hockey players have a very long memory and when the NHL officials miss a call, the players take “justice” into their own hands. It’s this exact mentality that lead to the Bertuzzi-Moore incident. Search on a New York Times article "NHL PLAYOFFS; Colorado's Lemieux Suspended For a Game" for a more detailed account and time line of the Avalanche-Red Wings feud.
December 4, 2008
7:22 PM
Get Real writes:
Laperriere doesn't have the guts to fight Bertuzzi. I remember how he avoided Minnesota's Derek Boogaard last year after the Boogeyman called him out. Laperriere might talk a little trash, or throw a cheap shot or two...THAT would be more his style. On the other hand, Parker v. Bertuzzi...Aves fans would pay a premium on their tickets to see that slugfest...