NEW VIOLENCE

I stopped watching the NHL -- and caring about it -- around the time of the strike. I'll tune in for the Olympic tournament, but otherwise the hockey highlights on Sportscenter earn a vacant stare. Not this clip, though. Riley Cote's big left to the dome of Andre Roy might be the punch of the year, in any sport.

Comments

[Rob D]

A couple other angles to add:

Because Cote's sister Jaime had been diagnosed with MS eight years ago, Riley was involved with fundraising and awareness stuff at the rink last night... classic

In Roy v. Cote round one in the first period, Riley had busted a knuckle on his left hand punching the glass in a wild miss. After this brief second scrap he had to get tended to in the locker room before serving out the five minutes.

Third period, round three never materialized although the footage of Roy completely losing his mind on the ice during a stoppage (skating the length of the entire Flyer bench challenging anyone to fight) and then on the bench (requiring Tortorella to scream at, grab, and sit him down) is even more compelling video should it ever be posted... terrific up-close footie. He wasn't just yelling over at the Flyer bench, he was making the finger-drawn-across-his-throat gesture, pointing at people, all kinds of histrionics. After coach sat him down he kinda sat there staring at the ice hyperventilating with a murderous look. There was no way he was getting back on the ice late in the third period tied 2-2 (and then down 3-2) and this was the last meeting of the teams this season.

I like watching hockey and really this is the last brand of entertainment keeping me subscribed to cable.

I can't believe I just typed all this but I suppose there are worse things to get excited about.

[Tony D]

Baseball players could learn a thing or two from that brawl. There's nothing worse than baseball fights.

[Pop Cesspool]

This is what I dig about it: I'm no boxing expert, but in this case, it's obvious that Cote totally used the extra energy that comes with sliding across the ice. It doesn't always happen in hockey fights.

If you look at his *right* foot, it slides at least a full 12 inches while he's gathering-up that big left-hand bomb. And then he also plants his *left* foot just as his left shoulder is following through. And while all that is going on, his right foot never leaves the ice.

The cherry on top is the little combo that he throws at the very end, once he's on the inside. It almost looks like one of those flurries you see in MMA fights.