Capitals/Rangers: Knuckles and Bongos

by J.P. on Apr 11, 2011 1:00 PM EDT

Two years ago, we ran a post looking at the post-lockout pugilistic history between the Caps and Rangers. And as ~~we like to recycle content whenever we can~~ the two teams have grown increasingly less fond of each other since then, we thought it would be nice to take a stroll down fisticuffs lane to start to get in the right frame of mind for the best-of-seven series that starts Wednesday night.

So here's the list of all the fights between the Caps and Rangers since the start of the 2005-06 season (ranked as rated by you, the fans, at hockeyfights.com):

Combatants	Date	Rating	Winner
Matt Bradley vs. Aaron Voros	11/17/09	7.6	Voros
Donald Brashear vs. Colton Orr	2/11/09	7.6	Orr
Donald Brashear vs. Colton Orr	12/12/07	7.4	Brashear
Donald Brashear vs. Brendan Shanahan	12/30/06	6.5	Brashear
Donald Brashear vs. Colton Orr	12/30/06	6.5	Brashear
Matt Bradley vs. Aaron Voros	2/11/09	6.2	Voros
Chris Clark vs. Wade Redden	1/3/09	6.1	Redden
Donald Brashear vs. Colton Orr	2/10/07	5.5	Brashear
Matt Hendricks vs. Sean Avery	12/12/10	5.4	Avery
Brian Sutherby vs. Ryan Hollweg	2/10/07	5.2	Sutherby
Alex Ovechkin vs. Brandon Dubinsky	12/12/10	5.1	Dubinsky
Jason Chimera vs. Michael Sauer	2/25/11	4.5	Sauer
Donald Brashear vs. Colton Orr	11/11/06	4.5	Brashear
Mike Green vs. Brandon Dubinksy	11/9/10	4.3	Green
Alexander Semin vs. Marc Staal	1/3/09	4.1	Staal
Matt Hendricks vs. Michael Sauer	12/12/10	3.8	Sauer
Shaone Morrisonn vs. Colton Orr	12/30/06	3.6	Orr
Chris Clark vs. Jason Strudwick	12/3/05	NR	N/A

Finally, here are those top two tussles:

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Comments

Good job, buddy.

You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!

by EmilyB on Apr 11, 2011 1:03 PM EDT reply actions 11 recs

Well played

"Have you ever played?" "Yes, I was a goalie"

by MikeyGreen on Apr 11, 2011 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Two playoff series n 3 years, a couple of serious beatdowns this year…yeah, I’d say the hate is percolating nicely for these two teams.

Patron saint of quality footwear.

by fat_daddyo on Apr 11, 2011 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

good god man I finish reading the ups/downs and go back to the home page and find yet ANOTHER post. pace yourself, you need to keep up for 16 wins.

by Beakers Lab on Apr 11, 2011 1:13 PM EDT reply actions

Voros, Brashear, Orr, Redden, Clark, Shanahan… Heck of a lot of guys not around anymore. Rosters sure do change fast these days.

by Berube Doobie Doo on Apr 11, 2011 1:14 PM EDT reply actions

Madre de Dios. You weren’t kidding about lotsa content today. My jefe would like a word with the Editor staff.

by Yoshietree on Apr 11, 2011 1:16 PM EDT reply actions

guess what I’ll be doing the rest of the day, yeah that’s right watching all of these videos.

by vt caps fan on Apr 11, 2011 1:19 PM EDT reply actions

I understand why it’s hard to give the win to Semin on his fight with staal. But when you’re on your back getting slapped – you certainly DIDN’T win.

by aaw6848 on Apr 11, 2011 1:25 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Was going to say the same thing. I get the feeling there’s a heavy Rangers fan influence on that site.

So now I have an out of date handle tog go along with my half dozen out of date jerseys from various other sports. How long before it becomes retro?

by Flash in the Pan on Apr 11, 2011 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions

This may sound silly, but did Semin really “lose” the bongo fight? I don’t remember Staal getting that many shots in, and Semin did have to be on top (no pun intended) to lay the hits on him.

But still.. where did the lighter fluid come from?

by Ridley me this on Apr 11, 2011 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

Ha, I opened this thread expecting every post to be about Staal ‘winning’

Not every post, but yeah, no one ‘won’ that ‘fight’ and IMO, not Staal if you were forced to pick a winner.

by sk84fun_dc on Apr 11, 2011 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Semin embarrassed himself. It’s probably fair to call him the “loser”, making Staal the “winner” by default.

by Berube Doobie Doo on Apr 11, 2011 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Who got embarrassed worse? The slapper or the slappee?

by DrinkingPartner on Apr 11, 2011 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Nobody looks good.

First Round Exit! (Clap Clap ClapClapClap) First Round Exit!

by Rob Parker on Apr 11, 2011 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed. Staal had to fold like a cheap tent.

by redpezrocket on Apr 11, 2011 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess the people who vote at hockeyfights put weight on orthodox punches that land.. staal got a few at the start..

by Sjomin on Apr 11, 2011 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

About as strange as Olympic scoring. Don’t the judges have to score the hits simultaneously from the white area on the front of the glove only?

This is waaay more fun.

by richdvn on Apr 11, 2011 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think it’s fair to say that Staal “won” – he did throw more punches, but he also ended up on the ice getting the bongos played on him (in large part due to a likely inadvertent Semin elbow). But Hockeyfights.com isn’t going to say Semin won that fight, they’ll give it to the guy who looked like he knew how.

by grapejoos on Apr 11, 2011 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s one of those situations where no one wins*, and everyone loses.

*Except the fans, that is.

Welcome to Japers' Rink, we're "elitist" as fuck.

by PrincessPowerful on Apr 11, 2011 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Brads may have lost that Voros fight, but I think Lundqvist was the real loser that night.

Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground

by RedBirdie on Apr 11, 2011 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

Every time I see that fight, it amazes me how much Bradley bled.

Dingos are involved. Best not to ask.

by alex_k on Apr 11, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

is this mine?

Pledge Drive 2010-2011: SO KIDS CAN!! Help build a playground

by RedBirdie on Apr 11, 2011 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions

That look and gesture he does to the ref is my favorite part of the fight. I just know he said something along the lines of “how do i look?”

Bruce Boudreau when asked about Brooks Laich's return to the lineup, he said: "He just adds another dimension to our team. If it was puzzle, he just fits that thing. He completes us."

Brooks Laich completing everything from teams to tires and everything in between.

by breaklance on Apr 11, 2011 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

He actually said, “Is this mine?”

As RB alludes to in the post with the pic.

Patron saint of quality footwear.

by fat_daddyo on Apr 11, 2011 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I would like to see final scores for the games in which those fights took place — because, yeah, even when Brads loses a fight, it seems like a win.

"I wake up in the middle night frustrated because we lost out in the first round and I want to see our players hoist the Stanley Cup." -Brooks Laich

by CapitalCentre on Apr 11, 2011 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions

So best hit to start a fight, Hunter on Beezer?

"My favorite fan base in D.C. Is United's. Period. The end." - Steinberg

by Bald Pollack on Apr 11, 2011 1:31 PM EDT reply actions

That 12/30/06 game must have been a doozy. Brashear-Orr, Brashear-Shanahan (!), Morrison-Orr.

"I don’t think too many guys try to talk to him and get him into the play ... if I can do that and it helps out our line then it’s what I’ll do." -- Jason Arnott on Alexander Semin

by patred48 on Apr 11, 2011 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

Pretty sure that was the game Brash got tossed for sucker punching someone after the Shanahan fight. Then Orr went right after Ovi, which resulted in Morrison and Orr dancing. Shanny was more than willing to go with Brash after the face off. I thought Shanny was going to die but handled himself well.

Just trying to capture the spirit of the thing...

by dcsportsfan1 on Apr 11, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

000

~~~ R0cK D@ R3D ~~~

by Chaz-Capapalooza on Apr 11, 2011 2:24 PM EDT reply actions 5 recs

Puck Daddy:

Star Power – 8
Secondary Plotlines – 5
Hate Factor – 6
Controversy Quotient – 5
Arena Atmosphere – 9
Game 7 Probability – 9
Beard-o-sity – 3

FINAL SCORE: 45

The star power is juiced by Alex Ovechkin(notes), whose quest for respect in the postseason is also one of the series’ top secondary plotlines, which mostly revolve around whether the Capitals can make Bruce Boudreau’s new system work or if he’ll be discarded after the season like an empty carton of Haagen-Dazs.

The Hate Factor and Controversy Quotients would be much higher if fashion icon Sean Avery(notes) were an active participant in the series. As it stands, the best opportunity for controversy will be if anyone lets John Tortorella near an open mic or a water bottle.

Two great atmospheres inside the arena for what could be a marathon series. But with Ovechkin denying his caveman roots by shaving for a razor endorsement, this series will lack in the foliage.

Guess they think it’s basically a given this series goes to 7. Hopefully it doesn’t. Also, I guess they haven’t heard of Karl Alzner.

Ah, beer. The cause of and the solution to all of life’s problems. - Homer Simpson

by jaytown99 on Apr 11, 2011 3:29 PM EDT reply actions

It is the Caps playing. It will go to 7.

Proud member of the Popsicle Division of the Cupcake Conference.

by Bman21212 on Apr 11, 2011 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Does everybody else have the same problem I do with the HockeyFights comments being in a completely random order? There doesn’t seem to be any reasoning to it and no way to sort them by date which makes them completely unreadable.

by HockeyGoalie29 on Apr 11, 2011 3:47 PM EDT reply actions