I’m not a hockey fan, so don’t know anything about the players or even team names. But i just saw i trending. Maybe these 2 teams are rivals, but im wondering why the refs are allowing them to fight. Unlike the NBA, refs always get into the middle to stop any punches but NHL is different. Its not cool for kids to watch, but I’m entertained LOL
I am a huge hockey fan. Let’s go, Predators!
Yes, the fights are fun for fans, but they happen for a reason. Hockey is fast-paced and dangerous. Highly skilled players are targeted, and it’s not difficult to cheap shot a hit and put a valuable player on the injured reserve list. Enforcers are players whose main job is to bring a physical presence and protect their teammates. Fights most often happen as a response to a questionable hit. If you are the type of person who wants to rough up another player, you may think twice about it if that team has a big dude who will punch your face in for being dirty.
It’s also a morale thing. Sometimes when a team is getting pounded and underperforming, a fight will ignite and inspire the rest of the team to continue that energy. Sometimes teams simply hate each other due to rivalry or history, and their players are more likely to take offense to something.
Love it or hate it, it is a cultural norm in the game. The NHL made moves years ago to try to phase it out, but it seems lately to have come back with a vengeance. I’d personally rather see fighting than cheap-shotting, as injuries very rarely result from a fight.
Plus, if you really hate a player, it’s so satisfying seeing them get punched in the face.
Weird seeing a fellow Preds fan in the wild of the fediverse! Only thing I miss about reddit is r/predators, lemmy just doesn’t have the numbers for niche communities.
Just wanted to add it’s not always a big dude doing the face punching. Go watch some videos of Jordin Tootoo in his heyday. Dude was tough as fuck and didn’t back down from anybody.
I had the privilege of watching Tootoo ravage someone live and in person a few times, haha. I was just talking about him the other day as an example of small but serious. I miss the Tootoo whistles.
It’s so great to find another Preds fan on Lemmy! So glad we broke the streak last night against the Blues, and I’m becoming cautiously excited about the playoffs. I went down to Nashville when we lost in the finals in 2017 and am still recovering from the feels.