Bolts Keep Collecting Caps Castoffs

Per TSN, the Lightning have traded defenseman Matt Carle and a third round pick to Philadelphia for Steve Eminger, Steve Downie and a fourth round pick.

Mmmm... Downie

Remember our buddy Tim Clownboy of the Hurricanes, err, River Rats? Check out what he's been up to, via Canes Country:

"The AHL should be looking into a suspension for Albany River Rats captain Tim Conboy, who was assessed a fighting major, instigation and unsportsmanlike minors, a game misconduct for instigating and a game misconduct for "persisting in a fight," following a high-sticking incident and fight with Steve Downie during the Phantoms' 3-0 win Saturday afternoon.

"I’ve never heard of [persisting] in a fight before," said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. "The report I got was that [Conboy] bit Downie on the hand. He had blood and teeth marks on his hand."

Here's the video (dude's a friggin' maniac):

Another Week, Another Flyer Cheap Shot

In the wake of Flyer Steve Downie's suspension for a high hit on Ottawa's Dean McAmmond comes the below cheap shot from Philly's part-time tough/spare part Jesse Boulerice.

I'd expect a big suspension - into the double digits - and I think that it might even be in the upper teens as the League likes to make bigger examples of more expendable players (and given that it's the second straight Flyer to act up, maybe they want to send a message to the team as well, though I know this is something no one in the organization condones). And don't forget that ten years ago, Boulerice was suspended for an entire year by the OHL for a stick-related incident.

Anyway, take a look and play this round of "Guess the Suspension" in the comments (and before answering, I might suggest you check out one of my favorite blog posts ever, from Battle of Alberta on the reason(s) for suspensions).

Update: Boulerice gets 25 games.

Downie And Out

I figured I'd post the Steve Downie hit on Dean McAmmond from last night, in case you missed it.

Obviously it's a dirty hit for which Downie should be suspended, and understandably McAmmond's teammates are upset. But isn't Sens tough Brian McGrattan's declaration that "he'll get what's coming to him the next time we play them, for sure" a bit too reminiscent of Brad May's infamous "There's definitely a bounty on [Steve Moore's] head... It's going to be fun when we get him"?

Well, they "got" Moore, alright. And the NHL "powers that be" had better watch this one closely going forward.

Anyway, here's the hit: