What's funny about that last sentence is how one could also apply it to the Canucks last 4 games. Not that I have a problem with everything they've done (liked the LA game), but the Canucks have recently been doing the same thing, goal scoring has been a problem them for all year, and team toughness has been a knock on them for...years. So maybe this result was inevitable.

Agree that Torts probably felt forced to make the switch, because while the Flames very well might not have tried to fight the Sedins, do you really want to start them and find out otherwise, or have an injury in a minor scuffle?

I'm assuming Torts went insane because Hartley refused to engage him after the brawl - Torts was yapping at him for 5 minutes non-stop and Hartley refused to even look his way. Guess he steamed all period and just couldn't let it go. I'd expect a fine coming his way at the very least, if not a suspension. Will be interesting to see if Hartley gets any trouble for the lineup.

I hate to jinx myself so early in the year, but playoff position is mostly decided. Not likely to catch the Ducks for 1st in the Pacific. Not likely to fall to 4th. So it's SJ first round, then winner of Ducks/WC.

67s.ound and m.c79 are having a great exchange on the Tweeter right now if anyone's interested - they're taking opposing viewpoints on the situation and it's refreshing to see two of the more intelligent dudes out there dissect something like this. Although when sound was talking about doing a pre-game deal with the coaches ("if you go after the Sedins, Sestito ends Monahan's career"), I think he's a li'l bit off, even if only from a logistics point of view.

FWIW, I'm inclined to agree with mc. I certainly don't want to assume the risk of starting skilled guys, assuming everything will be alright and then be proven horribly wrong, even if that chance is slim.

Wait, the FLOlyers actually signed SMason to 3 years, 4.1M per year?

hahahahahaha

Bumping this gif just because

This is a joke, right?

There's a very real chance Hartley told them to jump anyone on the ice so the Nucks bench goes bat**** crazy and gets a dozen ten game suspensions for jumping on the ice to protect twins or whoever.

Torts had no choice. Complete chicken**** move by Hartley. Not surprising at all, though.

And that's exactly it. I'm not going to be the first guy to find out. Which is why the onus in this situation is almost all on Hartley. Which makes his following reaction that you reference absolutely ridiculous...

I hope Hartley gets fined, because this was as premeditated as it gets. And the proof's in the pudding - Westgarth drops his gloves and lunges out at Bieksa almost the second the puck hits the ice. Even more damning, he latches onto the rookie after that, because he didn't get his scrap with Bieksa. "Well, I gotta dance with someone."

That was the most premeditated PPV wrestling event line brawl I've seen in a while, probably since the Rangers-Devils one (which Torts was front n' center for as well, heh). If I'm forgetting one, please remind me folks.

Hartley deserves punishment because he was the schemer behind the entire show. Torts definitely deserves punishment for acting a fool at the intermission. You simply can't do that. You just can't.

I'll tell you one thing though - Clint Malarchuk doesn't **** around. And if they let him get free, he would've turned Tortorella into the kid at the bus stop. I guarantee it. Watch the look on Malarchuk's face when he bursts out of the room. That's a man who's cheated death multiple times. Number of ****s given: negative bagillion. He was fired the **** up.

Had to YouTube what this fuss was all about.

Most ridiculous thing I've seen.

72o, why did WEBER play 28 minutes tonight? Is he finally going to stick at the NHL level?

Meanwhile, Habs have Francis Bouillon and Dog Murray occupying roster spots and are short on right handed d-men.

YOU'RE WELCOME

Malarchuk enters around the 22 second mark. He's made up his mind and he's had enough.

Equal parts hilarious and terrifying.

Maybe you didn't watch that brawl video too closely.

All of those were second fights during the same stoppage. Hence, Bieksa and Garrison got kicked out.

VEEBER played 28 minutes because Torts had no other choice.

Well those 28 minutes for Weber were the least among Canuck dmen that weren't thrown out of the game

Oh I didn't know they all got kicked out of the game. Makes sense.

Looks like he made the most out of the opportunity though. 1 goal, 1 shootout goal, 6 shots.

So with the lol goal in the Kangz game, the review system clearly blows. The war room has to watch those replays and say 'well this clearly shouldn't count and is not in anyway a good goal, but it isn't explicitly written in the rule book that we can overturn it, so we will let this non goal stand', yet they are all over overturning goals because of intent to blow. When does common sense prevail?

Or better yet. Why can't the review system work like in rugby so the ref skates over and asks "hey does that puck hit the netting from the shot" "yes so it's no goal, offensive zone faceoff" "k thanks"

In case you missed anything else I'll remind you we kicked your ass as well tonight.

.

Burrows just having a chat with O'Brien

I don't fully understand the game misconduct's handed out during that stupidity. The refs picked 8 of the 10 to give gamers to?

The other 4 fights are all classified as 2nd ones beyond first fight following a stoppage, so they're all game misconducts automatically. Seems like the refs should've given Torts a chance to choose which fight should be the first, since he got to keep Sestito (and McGrattan). Think he'd have much rather have kept one of Bieksa or Garrison.

ANOTHER STATEMENT GAME

Hartley & Torts are both clowns, gtfo plz

Rat: Weber seems kinda crappy from what i can tell

enough with your goonery, there's a real game on in Chicago

Not everything stays in Vegas

Woke up, re-evaluated the situation...

Yep, still embarrassed.

lol Toews

Wow. That's a rather unfortunate break by Towes to take a penalty like that. Tossed a broken stick into the crowd and take a penalty. How do these penalty rules ever show up in a real-life scenario like this?