Colin Fraser: Scrapper Extraordinaire!
Wow, I take back everything I said about Colin Fraser not being a good choice for enforcer. Fraser made it quite obvious in two scraps that he is more than equipped to be team agitator in tonight’s Hawks/Avalanche match-up (which resulted in a 3-2 Blackhawks win in OT, of course). I renew my irritation, however, at the overpenalizing of fighting. A 5-minute major penalty for a little roughing that doesn’t even draw blood is excessive.
Also, on a goal scored by Cam Barker in the opening minutes of the third period (on which Colin Fraser assisted) Barker made a sweet deke, as did Patrick Sharp in the 3rd round of the OT shootout for the game winner. You know, there isn’t a lot of mention of the deke, but I think if the Blackhawks employed it more, they might fake out the opposing goal tender for more goals. Just a thought.
And poor Kris Versteeg. What a bad night he had. He just couldn’t get a break. Steegy got handed two weird penalties — one for slashing, though we all thought it was goal-tender interference, which also would’ve been a bogus call, and one for actual goal-tender interference. Neither of the penalties was deserved, or even actual. Meanwhile, the refs were missing hooking calls like hooking didn’t even exist. Geesh, why can’t the NHL hold a conference on bad refereeing? Seems just as important a topic as fighting or so-called “dirty” hits.
And blast! I keep forgetting to write a post about Dave Bolland’s back surgery. Bolly will be out 3-4 months. Get well Dave, take lots of pain killers, and get back soon!