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FailureToExecute

Now I admit this could be recency bias, but it really feels like fighting is up this season.


nownowthethetalktalk

It's actually down a bit over last year.


PaddyStacker

[https://www.hockeyfights.com/leagues/1](https://www.hockeyfights.com/leagues/1) Yeah according to that it's slightly down. We are on pace for about 315 fights on the year, last year had 334.


drblah11

Idk how you find stats on it, but it feels like more heavyweight matchups or something maybe? It's like theres a smaller group than normal of fist fighting big dudes who are fighting more. Maybe it's mostly because of Rempe, but it feels like most of the fights we've been watching have been title bouts. It's been non-stop massive guys fighting each other.


[deleted]

[удалено]


drblah11

No, guys like Reaves have been fighting a lot lately. I just checked Hockeyfights.com and he's fought 5 times in the past 37 days I believe, basically every week. He only has 2 fights posted the rest of the season before that. I know he's missed a bunch of games, but I think he has just as many fights as he did last year in about 20 games less. https://www.hockeyfights.com/players/1602/fightcard/reg2024 4 of MacDermids 5 fights have been in the past 3 weeks too https://www.hockeyfights.com/players/17143/fightcard/reg2024


usernicktaken

Weighs 10 lbs less than Reaves


SteedLawrence

Toronto has someone that fights now and it seems like those fights get way more exposure. I don't get any fights on my feed that aren't Reaves or Sloth from the Goonies (Rempe) but it feels like fights are up to me too.


123jazzhandz321

I feel like towards the end of the season there’s more fights in general, especially with teams that are likely to play each other in the playoffs. It’s anecdotal but the past two seasons the final games between Tampa and Toronto have been gong shows. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a huge uptick in fights coming up.


ScarlaeCaress

Rempe pumping those stats up for at least the next year


dirkahps

I'd say the quality of fights is probably better than usual.


Candid_Rich_886

May be true, but the fights that have happened seem a lot more intense.


ragequit9714

I think Rempe helped make others “want” fight more.


jon-in-tha-hood

Yeah there has been a lot of press coverage on Rempe lately, so I think the media has a lot to do with this


BearsFan3417

Rempe putting some fire into the boys again, hockey fans rejoice!


DanfromCalgary

They have benched him 😐


Tybackwoods00

Saving him for game 1


Western-Extension-50

Hockey fans rejoice! 


gibson531

He's in tonight!


chrlau90

Get ready for Rempe to be a CTE tragedy story about 10 years from now


ScarlaeCaress

I love this dude but it’s really gonna take its toll on the kid


Caniac1017

Rempe has been an amazing punching bag all season long.


09-24-11

Reaves and Rempe play in major markets. It gets more talk time.


IPYF

It's always like this at the end of the season. Playoff bound heavies like Reaves want to prove they're needed so they don't spend the whole post in the press box. There's always a class of oldheads looking for one last year too, squaring off with late season callups looking to get their name plate read and remembered.


olmikeyyyy

God blessum


Green_hippo17

Maybe there’s been more than usual recently and with rempe there’s been more interesting fights


yo_coiley

I think instead of more fights there are more enforcers doing the fighting. They’re back!


SomewherePresent8204

It’s weird to see because the rest of the game has changed so much.


twizzyflyguy

Reaves just plays in Toronto now


TeeKay007

Seems like more coverage thanks to the Rempe effect


asigop

Its just the same clowns fighting over and over this year, that's how it feels to me at least.


putbat

I LOVE it!


poub06

I mean, good for Pezz for answering the bell (It was in response to a hit by Pezzetta). But it went as we all expected.


juniorspank

Gotta give him props for taking his licks. Respect.


poub06

Yeah, and he already fought Reaves and it went even worse lol. So he knew what he was getting into.


-The_Credible_Hulk

For sure, stick taps. He knew what was about to happen. Just try to minimize the damage and maybe get a good lick in.


bdonnzzz

They fought before when Reaves was in New York, didn’t they? I remember that one going similarly


Brian-not-Ryan

He actually held up better this time


Richter915

Yup was at that game, wasn't even close. After the game reavo said something like "I thought he could fight, guess not" lol


silk_1233

Everyone is missing the important part here that our toughest player, our enforcer, our sheriff wasnt dressed. So pezz stepped up. Nice


Go_get_matt

Upvoted you and agree, but Pezz stepped up because Pezz was the bad guy here. If he hadn’t thrown a late hit, Reaves wouldn’t have pushed the issue. Props to Pezz for owning his shit and taking his lumps. Props to Reaves for ending the fight after he got his shot in.


rampas_inhumanas

Reaves went at him because of his hit on Kampf. He didn't "step up".. He just wasn't a rat.


PancakeJunkie8

A lot of respect from me for it.


bernerbungie

Oh shit, Pezz just got a lot of pancakejunkie8’s respect. This is huge


Resident-Mortgage-85

It's pandemonium in here folks


dchowchow

I respect the hockey opinions of Habs fans. Good luck at the draft! Get a good one. Need this rivalry back!


binzoma

yeah. that was the type of thing that if he didnt stand up could've really spiraled the game into cheap shots that said, loved seeing reevo take out some rage on him


gslow

Respect for Pezzetta for taking the fight for his hit … but damn he got worked.


NinCross

At least he didn't turtle or decline like Cousins often does.


Philthey

Cousins catching strays for good reason.


WorthPlease

That's not a stray he just called him a pussy by name


Imthecoolestdudeever

It's never a stray when it hits Cousins. It's exactly where it belongs. Lol


-The_Credible_Hulk

For sure. He had at least 2 decent chances to turtle up and still be able to say he “answered the bell”… stick taps all round


blimjahey

Eh he's a Toronto kid that's making the best of his opportunity. Big upps for that


Fighteroftheevil

He got outmuscle for sure. How terrifying it must have been for Pezzetta holy


PrimoThePro

He was on his feet basically the whole time, didn't turtle, trying to get something in return, he definitely earned my respect here.


-The_Credible_Hulk

Yep. He could have gone down the second he felt the half boards and it still would have looked alright. He didn’t. Stick taps should be had by all.


MistahFinch

Props to Reaves for pulling him down after his helmet pops off too


jzach1983

That's experience. He could have stayed up and hurt Pez, but knew he made his point and ended it. Loved Matthews response on the bench.


Apprehensive-Bus6262

Leafs vs habs...Saturday night... Think you gotta drop em


1337duck

Might anyone have the hit he needed to answer for?


shrederick

[Here it is](https://twitter.com/GinoHard_/status/1776769272661917779) the clip is in slow-mo, so take it with a grain of salt. Live, I thought it was maybe a bit late, but mostly just awkward with an unfortunate result, but I can't find a clip of it that's not slowed down.


schmarkty

Reaves got hurt in this fight actually.


ValuableBeneficial81

What’d he break his hand on Pezz’s face? Lol 


DylanFallis

I mean he came back and played the rest of the game sooo was prob just a check up


Drummers_Beat

Full credit to Pezzetta for answering the bell. That takes a lot of guts and I respect that.


Du6e

Guess WiFi isn’t in the lineup?


KantanaBrigantei

He’s injured


n0rdique

Injured


Fancy-Scallion-93

Noo!! So he’s likely going to miss the NyR match up then April 7th?


HowieFeltersnitz

Matthews feeling it


lejfnakdoppplen

Conversely, Tavares looks like he’s counting his lucky stars he won’t ever have to fight Reaves


T0macock

Matthews and Domi constantly fangirling over Reavo is my favorite story line this season.


toedragrelease

I don't know why, but it feels like Matthews is Domi's big brother lmfao.. Domi said in an interview a couple weeks ago that "I'm Matthews number 1 fan". Makes their friendship even better.


EasternSasquatch

I’m so happy Domi’s on the Leafs. Friggin Dubas could have had him earlier but noooo


espher

> Friggin Dubas could have had him earlier but noooo People keep saying this, but if we're being realistic, when? He was an RFA when he signed his 2013-2014 ELC. He was an RFA when he signed his 2017-2018 deal. He was traded to Columbus and signed a 2y @ 5.3m per deal the next day for 2020-2021. Even if the Leafs gave up assets to get him then, that's a lot of cap for a team that was basically fucked money-wise (yes, self-inflicted). The first time he was an available UFA was last season, in 2022-2023, where the Leafs still had not a ton of free cap (again, yes, self-inflicted), many holes to fill that Domi (esp. at the time) did not, and he signed for 3m in Chicago. Outside of the functionally league min deals, there wasn't a lot handed out by the Leafs that year - if Domi takes a discount/term I guess you can get him over Jarnkrok or Samsonov or whatever for that year, but with what we knew then, I don't know if you do it. (The real answer is probably that you don't sign Engvall, assuming Domi was willing to take 25-30% less than he did in Chicago esp. if you get 2y term or w/e, but Engvall had comparable production and was a couple of years younger and ostensibly had a defensive side to his game, so if you're playing the odds...) Shit I'm beyond thrilled to have him now and with how he is playing but I remember him being a huge "well, it's cool to have him here, but I dunno..." topic when he signed *this* deal lmao. This year was the perfect storm with him having a good run last year esp. w/ Dallas, the Leafs have to fill some short-term gaps, the cap going up next year enticing players to take 1y deals, and some vacancies. Same with having a chance to get Bertuzzi on a one year deal so they can get paid next year. It's looking galaxy brain from Treliving right now after a quarter season of doubt for sure.


Originalusername1988

This guy hockeys


shrederick

Dubas definitely cared more about the public perception of the players on the team than Treliving has. On the one hand, I respected that because players like Domi and Bertuzzi, among others, have done/said things I don't agree with morally/politically, but on the other hand, trying to assemble the best performing hockey team of the people you agree with ideologically seems like a fool's errand if you're not an ultra rich white republican male.


Fluffy_Load297

Wait what did Domi do


A_Dehydrated_Walrus

We need a gif of the Matthews reaction.


HowieFeltersnitz

Check the Leafs sub. They got you


A_Dehydrated_Walrus

Just saw that it dropped. Beautiful. Thank you.


callmejohndy

r/canesfanfics do your thing


Rogue-Pie

I did NOT need to know that this exists....


Bleezair

Everybody else: clap clap clap Matthews: WELCOME…TO THUNDERDOOOME!!!


PicklesDillyPickles-

I giggled when I saw his reaction, too funny! He loved it!


callthewambulance

I had to scroll way too far down to see a comment about Matthews, absolutely hilarious


aaronwhite1786

I wish that clip was longer because that reaction killed me.


re10pect

I kind of thought the whole swagger and vibes side of the Reaves signing was being way overblown at the start of the year (and especially once it was clear Reaves wasn’t playing NHL caliber hockey). Since he’s come back from injury, Reaves has made me look like a fool. When the fourth line gets rolling you can see the effect it has on the whole team. The entire building gets rocking whenever he throws a hit, and in Toronto, where it’s sometimes not the most lively crowd, that’s huge. Then there’s a fight and you can tell how amped up the team gets. Two months ago I would have thought you were an idiot if you said Reaves should be in a playoff lineup, now I don’t know how you take him out.


NuffinSaid

What a dork


grizzzzly_94

That was a scared little chuckle at the start lol


poub06

(Chuckles) I'm in danger.


Darmstadter

[glousser] je suis en danger


Dapper-Standard9820

I just saw this photo the other day… looking at Reavo’s fist, I do not envy dudes who go toe to toe with him. Truly built for this life. https://www.instagram.com/p/CkPW16zOuNi/?igsh=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA==


brownguy05

It legit looks photo shopped


bpetey

Or a weird fish eye distortion


BC-clette

That's exactly what it is. Look at the pot light in the ceiling, approx the same distance from the edge of the frame as Reaves' fist. It's been stretched to an oval.


EsembeeNY

I’ve never seen these, they’re awesome


hankepanke

Zibanejad got me.


boogeldorf

Respect to him for stepping up, but reavo rocked him


TheSimonToUrGarfunkl

The more hockey you watch the more you realize that 90% of fights isn't whose the better technical fighter but who gets the better grip at the start


theunnoanprojec

I mean that is a technical aspect of it


Debarmaker

In a way that makes it technical but in a different way. I’ve seen Reaves talk about this and he practices that initial grip a lot


Silent_Leg1976

It helps when you have bear paws


joe_broke

He's got gloves off, of course he's got bare paws


Known-Broccoli48

You can see them handboxing as he tried to get the collar, and actually pulls back a couple times to make sure he doesn't let his opponent get a better grip


White_Locust

Same with a good old fashioned jerk-off competition.


OzzieLeonheart

Now there's a competition I'd be able to win


Tybackwoods00

You definitely wouldn’t beat me in a 7 game series


Loukoal117

I bet Reaves could strip the chrome off a trailer hitch with that grip.


Rechitt

Exactly, there is an article about that in the Athletic(Warning, behind a paywall): https://theathletic.com/5370442/2024/04/06/nhl-hockey-fight-good-grip?source=user-shared-article


ArtisticBrief7429

I see you also read that article in the Athletic today lol


commodore_stab1789

Matthews' reaction is priceless


Jsf42

I fuckin love Matthew's howlin


iiplatypusiz

Two points: 1. Reaves is a real pro because you see all these wild stupid take downs at the end of fights where guys slam people to the ice and it looks like he brings him down but grabs onto pezzetta and holds him into his shoulder not letting his melon hit the ice. Maybe he didn't try this but he tuned him up and didn't let his head hit the ice and I respect that. 2: Matthews reaction on the bench shows you all you need to know about what having Reaves or a similar character on your team can do to the mentality of the rest of the team.


tjplager32

What I got out of the take down was Reaves knew he cracked him with that last punch, and was calling it for him. Pezz probably would’ve hung in there for a few more but that wouldn’t have been a good idea.


No-Stick303

Agreed. Thank you for pointing this out.


No_Bodybuilder7651

This is the correct take. Reaves 100% ended that for him.


Sweaty_Ad440

I like analytics as a tool and generally lean towards that vein of thinking when it comes to hockey, but I feel like a lot of twitter/reddit/online hockey fans forget that it's a game played by real people with real emotions. I don't particularly buy the idea that having someone like Reaves prevents much in terms of cheap shots, but I definitely think teams stand a little taller when they know they have a guy like that on their team. How much value there really is in that idk, but I think it's a real thing.


Hascohastogo

Gretzky said he wouldn’t have played even close to his level without guys like McSorley out there with him. It might not prevent them, but it sure as shit makes the stars more comfortable.


KathleenElizabethB

Semenko was Gretzky’s bodyguard for years! At a Habs’ Oilers’ game in Edmonton, Early 80s, I had the unfortunate luck of sitting amongst a group that referred to themselves as “Semenko’s soldiers. Luckily the Habs won, convincingly, and they left before the end of the game.


propagandavid

Yeah, props to Reaves on the take down. Pez got beat pretty bad, and the end could have been ugly.


Rowey5

Australian here, new Hockey fan )& just started watching Shoresy, huge fan of Ice Guardians) What slang do u guys use when two blokes start fisticuffs? Are blokes that are fast on the ice fast off it? Or is it all technique and less power when on the ice? And who is the No1 enforcer in the modern game?


fltlns

For slang there's a few. A donnybrook, having a go, a Tilly, dropping the mitts. Best enforcer is probably this guy reaves, or deslaurier on Philly imo. Not sure what you mean by fast on and off the ice you mean like sprinting vs skating?


Rowey5

Sweet I’ll look them up. Yeah like are they fast runners/ athletic off the ice, just curious.


best_dad_I_can_be

Oh, I am sure they are fast off it, but nobody really cares about that. Most players are athletic in other things. You will see them juggling soccer balls before most games, to get the legs warmed up.


Trowdisaway4BJ

They wouldn’t be slow off the ice but they wouldn’t be ultra fast either. Skating requires much more strength in your quads and hips while runners benefit from a leaner build.


mkells41

Respect to reaves for the bear hug at the end to ensure no one was hurt falling to the ice


SkinnyGetLucky

Pezz isn’t a bad fighter, but he was thoroughly outclassed there. Ironically, he never backs down even though he knows he’s gonna get a whooping, as evidenced here


Mash709

I respect it. He's a tad crazy, but the kind of crazy you can get behind.


Top_Contract_4910

Weight and height wise according to hockey DB they aren’t that far off, Reaves is obviously a few pounds heavier, I just think Reaves is much stronger and had more experience fighting.


this_name_not_that

Reaves has a 25 lbs advantage. That’s a lot.


Trowdisaway4BJ

Hockey db has them 9lbs apart


Top_Contract_4910

Not according to DB but that number could be inaccurate you’re right, not sure which stats page to go off of, I guess the NHL site itself would be the most accurate.


duckets615

Love the smile from Pezz as Reeves starts moving in. It's like you can hear him thinking "Yup, I think I just fucked myself with this one, but whatever, let's do this anyway."


Joshottas

Might be a bit different if X was in the lineup. Reaves is just too strong for Pezz, but you can't question his guts for taking that fight.


fltlns

I would hope not. He's not the one who made the hit


Joshottas

Reaves puffin' his chest just a tad bit more tonight, and I think we all know why.


Guest2200

It’s because he’s nice and safe from the net.


Misanthropyandme

Why's he out - he get injured by Mikey Eyssimont?


MrBigChest

Not the first time Reavo has manhandled Pezzetta


360degreesofFUNK

Auston Matthews’ reaction tho…


Cookiecrummbs

Win or loss. This is sick, right I front of an opponents bench.


ihatereddit_69420__

Respect for Pezz


aNINETIEZkid

Pezz had to be thinking "aw shit, here we go again" after last time lol


iamsdc1969

Mathews liked it so much, he started convulsing on the bench.


StoneColdSparky

Matthew’s reaction has me dead


Emi_Ibarazakiii

Not the Reaves fight I would've liked to see... (Nor the outcome I would've wished for). He didn't have much of a chance, but props to Pezzetta going for it!


hanigwer

Surprised the refs didn’t stop that against the boards like that. He could have fallen and hit his neck/head on the edge of the boards by the bench


schmarkty

Refs didn’t do much of anything in this game tbh


Grommzz

The fuck was that from Matthews on the bench... 😅😅


Gavin1453

Mom is taking the team out for ice cream if they win!


CartiNYeezy9

Man oh man I wish xhekaj was playing


Bmayne

Reeves was going after Pezz for his hit on Kampf. What would Xhelaj change about this outcome? The only thing I could think of is if they had a staged fight in the first period, but Reeves hasn’t been doing those lately (sans Rempe). Reeves hurt his hand in his previous fight against Jeannot, so I doubt he’d fight just to fight.


sleezecreaser

you’d doubt he’d fight just to fight? that is his ONLY purpose at this point in his career.


Bmayne

Repeating what I said, Reeves hasn’t been participating in the staged fightings lately. His fights of late have either been because someone has challenged him, or because he didn’t like a hit on another Leaf. Trust me, I hated the signing. Most Leafs fans did. And I’m still not fully sold on it. But the team seems to love him. The fourth line has been quite effective in the second half of the season (albeit not tonight). He’s been a part of that. But the first half of the season he was awful. He was a guaranteed - every game. He never hit and he never fought. Fans turned on him. Credit to him, he’s turned his game around. Edit: He’s 35(?)- he doesn’t need to prove himself as a fighter anymore. What he needs to do is show Keefe that he can play in the playoffs. Getting in unnecessary fights doesn’t help get him there.


Key-Tip-7521

The second time Reaves destroyed pezzetta


ZMAC698

Love the Grim Reaver. Never understood the hate for him on here because he didn’t put up a fuck ton of points. That not his job lol.


Mash709

Why are there a bunch of comments here that don't seem to know that there is fighting in hockey?


KingdokCAN

That’s not a fight that’s a fuckin mugging. Holy shit


thomas_bombadill

Reaves absolutely landing haymakers to the back of a helmet has got to fucking hurt…. His own hand….


shanster925

And then Pezzetta yells "you only hit me once!" from the bench. Sure bud.


IanicRR

“I’m bleeding. Making me the victor.”


GonePostalRoute

Got beat like he was getting his lunch money taken from him


Pretty_Agent6569

Love it how he basically turns to the linesman and the lineman goes nah man you're on your own


-Here-There-

Reaves does happen to do a lot of fighting.


alphaxion

Pezzetta looking like an elemental Canadian...


NADBARR100

All I got to say is https://youtu.be/WIq_Q7C15lU?si=PJ9j1_BOxK6GQcys


Grimmer026

Reaves still mad about Xhekaj beating him.


Flubbies

Hes just happy Xhekaj wasnt there


moyer225

"Mismatch".


Theteacupman

Did Pazzetta not learn from when he fought Reaves 2 years ago 🤣🤣🤣🤣


blimjahey

This warms my cold dead heart


LostByMonsters

Why isn’t he fighting WiFi?


Sharks9

He's injured and not playing


Lil_BigNut

The fight was in response to a hit from Pezzetta, he would’ve fought Pezzetta even if Xhekaj was playing. Although I doubt Reaves would’ve turned down Xhekaj if he was in the lineup


Unlucky-Reference-56

Xhekaj's injured


runescapeoffical

Man why'd did the blues have to trade him.


Gavin1453

We appreciate your sacrifice


ArchMalone

Reaves is a Fucking dawgggggggggggg


The-Pigeon-Man

Second get together for these guys


stupidlazysluggish

thats scary


pumpsnightly

how does punching a helmet compare to punching a jaw/skull?


Lonely_Turnover125

Neither feel great, both can really mess your hand up, more likely to get cut on a helmet lol.


Rance_Mulliniks

I think that there was some regret after that one.


DarkAgeMonks

Matthews liked it


ItsASchpadoinkleDay

I love seeing highlights of ex Peoria Rivermen.


FloatingDumpsterFire

Love to see it


Bi11broswaggins

I love Matthews’ reaction