Leafs @ Capitals - Jan. 3rd, 7:00pm - TSN4, TSN 1050

[Nik]

Exactly this.  Also, given that Komarov has been on the Leafs for years and they haven't exactly ripped up the league by any stretch, he doesn't have much of a leg to stand on in giving the "there, there" pat after scoring a goal.  I could understand if the Leafs were a juggernaut team that frequently demolished opponents and had all the swagger that came with that, but it's the freakin Leafs, they've stunk for over a decade.  Even if the Leafs were a great team, I'd hate to see players goading the opponent, it's so childish.  Be a professional and go out and win.  Leave the taunting and stupid antics to legends like Sean Avery.

To that end, if you're going to be a jerk about something probably best to save it for when the game's over. I'm not as a rule a superstitious person or anything but it's hard not to see Komarov being responsible as anyone for the goal that actually cost the Leafs the game as some sort of karmic payback at work.

The Leafs right now aren't good enough to be full of themselves.

[Bullfrog]

To that end, if you're going to be a jerk about something probably best to save it for when the game's over. I'm not as a rule a superstitious person or anything but it's hard not to see Komarov being responsible as anyone for the goal that actually cost the Leafs the game as some sort of karmic payback at work.

The Leafs right now aren't good enough to be full of themselves.

It wasn't right, but it was a spur of the moment thing. It looked to me like a normal reaction turned bad. That is, it's a hockey player's instinct to push when an opponent comes near, but I think he then decided to turn it into a taunt (bad choice.)

I'd say it's actually quite easy to not see that as karmic payback; unless you believe in hocus pocus of course.

(annoying pedantic aside: technically-speaking, it would only be karmic payback if Komarov was being punished for something he did in a previous life.)

[Frank E]

If you watch the video, it looks like Orpik nutted Komarov right before the goal.

[Tigger]

If you watch the video, it looks like Orpik nutted Komarov right before the goal.

Sure does, or at least he tried to. It was the perfect time for a pat on the back in that case and beside, it's kind of what Komarov does, generally speaking.

[Nik]

It wasn't right, but it was a spur of the moment thing. It looked to me like a normal reaction turned bad. That is, it's a hockey player's instinct to push when an opponent comes near, but I think he then decided to turn it into a taunt (bad choice.)

I'd say it's actually quite easy to not see that as karmic payback; unless you believe in hocus pocus of course.

I'm actually a Hocus Pocus agnostic.

But yeah, I think it's something that's worth pointing out as not something to do but it can more or less end there. Like you say, not right and a bad choice, but that's about as strong as I feel about it. The overriding message here is; Hey Leo, don't be a dingus.

[Potvin29]

If we think Komarov lit a fire under the Capitals (even though they were the better team before and after that), does that mean we have to accept that fights can pump up a team and influence results?

[Nik]

If we think Komarov lit a fire under the Capitals (even though they were the better team before and after that), does that mean we have to accept that fights can pump up a team and influence results?

I don't know who you think has made that case here(my somewhat facetious and incorrect reference to karma not being anywhere near the same thing) but sure. Provided you're someone who understands  what "can" means.

Thinking otherwise would, to me, seem to indicate someone who thought they'd definitively cracked human psychology down to its every last decimal point.

[Bullfrog]

If we think Komarov lit a fire under the Capitals (even though they were the better team before and after that), does that mean we have to accept that fights can pump up a team and influence results?

I can accept that a fight can potentially help energize a slumping team. That's about as far as I'm willing to take it though.

[Bullfrog]

It wasn't right, but it was a spur of the moment thing. It looked to me like a normal reaction turned bad. That is, it's a hockey player's instinct to push when an opponent comes near, but I think he then decided to turn it into a taunt (bad choice.)

I'd say it's actually quite easy to not see that as karmic payback; unless you believe in hocus pocus of course.

I'm actually a Hocus Pocus agnostic.

But yeah, I think it's something that's worth pointing out as not something to do but it can more or less end there. Like you say, not right and a bad choice, but that's about as strong as I feel about it. The overriding message here is; Hey Leo, don't be a dingus.

Yeah, I hear you. My reaction was equal parts "that's kind of stupid" + "that's kind of funny" + "he probably shouldn't have upset the poor Capital's player" + "hey look, they're playing again."

[herman]

http://oilersnation.com/2012/1/11/does-the-momentum-boost-from-fighting-help-teams-win-games

Jonathan Willis looked into the post-fight effects on the game. It was cited by LeafsGeeksPodcast in a recent r/leafs thread about Martin feeling special after Matthews told him he pumped him up with the fight vs Ott.

[bustaheims]

http://oilersnation.com/2012/1/11/does-the-momentum-boost-from-fighting-help-teams-win-games

Jonathan Willis looked into the post-fight effects on the game. It was cited by LeafsGeeksPodcast in a recent r/leafs thread about Martin feeling special after Matthews told him he pumped him up with the fight vs Ott.

I loved this:

given that the best fighters might win at most ten fights in a season, the direct benefit is probably on the order of having the equipment guys make sure nobody's playing with an illegal stick.

It sums things up nicely.

[Frank E]

http://oilersnation.com/2012/1/11/does-the-momentum-boost-from-fighting-help-teams-win-games

Jonathan Willis looked into the post-fight effects on the game. It was cited by LeafsGeeksPodcast in a recent r/leafs thread about Martin feeling special after Matthews told him he pumped him up with the fight vs Ott.

I loved this:

given that the best fighters might win at most ten fights in a season, the direct benefit is probably on the order of having the equipment guys make sure nobody's playing with an illegal stick.

It sums things up nicely.

Listen, you told me the other day it was all about the little incremental things...

[bustaheims]

Listen, you told me the other day it was all about the little incremental things...

There's incremental, and then there's incremental . . .

[Heroic Shrimp]

If we think Komarov lit a fire under the Capitals (even though they were the better team before and after that), does that mean we have to accept that fights can pump up a team and influence results?

I can accept that a fight can potentially help energize a slumping team. That's about as far as I'm willing to take it though.

Imagine having TWO goons on the 4th line.  Such a team would surely be unbeatable!

[louisstamos]

If we think Komarov lit a fire under the Capitals (even though they were the better team before and after that), does that mean we have to accept that fights can pump up a team and influence results?

I can accept that a fight can potentially help energize a slumping team. That's about as far as I'm willing to take it though.

Imagine having TWO goons on the 4th line.  Such a team would surely be unbeatable!

*has flashbacks of Orr & McClaren*