The Fifth Liners

This year was one to forget for San Jose Sharks as they crawled home only 11th overall in the Western Conference. For the first time in over a decade, the Sharks failed to make the play-offs. This lapse in form also led to sacking of Todd McLellan as Head Coach. What exactly went wrong? Well not having a clear leader seemed to affect the direction on the team. Long time leader, Joe Thornton had the 'C' removed from his jersey in the off-season. Copying Montreal, the Sharks went with four alternates instead. While the Habs made it work, production seemed to slow at the SAP Arena. Joe Pavelski was top scorer with over 70 points and the other big four Logan Couture , Brent Burns , Thornton and Patrick Marleau all contribute around the 60 point mark. But outside of these guys, the higher points score was 36 points. The Sharks need to find a way to round the side more, because right now it is just a party of five. Former Devil's boss, Peter De Boer has been installed ...

Brendan Shanahan delivered a lot on the ice during his glorious 21 year NHL career that took in stints with the New Jersey Devils, St Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers, New York Rangers and most famously the Detroit Red Wings (where he won three Stanley Cups). But it appears that his legacy is spreading further in his new role as Director of Player Safety. Since his appointment in 2011, Shanahan has taken a hard line on player safety and if someone crosses over with an illegal hit, then the infamous 'Shana-ban' will be enforced. Raffi Torres has twice been on the receiving end as his horrendous hit on Martin Havlat whist playing for Phoenix landed him with a 21 game ban (the longest of the 21st century so far!) and last year whilst a San Jose he his illegal check on LA King's Jarret Stoll landed him with a ban from the playoff second round! Many would use this assignment as a cushy job to keep them in the hockey world, Shanahan however has been praised for his involvement...

I'd almost forgotten about  John Scott's challenge on Loui Eriksson  that earned him some quality time with NHL disciplinarian-in-chief Brendan Shanahan.  The seven game ban was given because of the illegal check to the head, injury and Scott's no history of supplemental discipline. Because no history is somehow worse than a history of bad hits.  Scott has already missed three games and will give up $26,923.05. This is more bad news for the Buffalo Sabres, who are currently last in the league, having only won two of fourteen games. 

Mike’s question this week focuses on last Sunday’s mass brawl that occurred between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Buffalo Sabres when a war of words between John Scott and Phil Kessel sparked an all out brawl. But as it is an unwritten rule that enforcers fight enforcers,   the question being asked here is “Did Scott break the code? And does it even matter?” This subject has ignited a furious debate among hockey fans- many believe so far that Scott didn’t just break the fighting code, he pulverised it! This incident led to Scott being given an instigator penalty along with five minutes for fighting, a 10-minute misconduct as well as a game misconduct. Kessel for his part received a match penalty for attempt to injure. Almost the two squad present served either minor or major misconducts for this fight and new Leaf David Clarkson is facing a lengthy ban for leaving the bench to join in! The physical difference between Scott and Kessel is significant seeing at the Sab...