Cote the Killer
For the most part, Riley Cote's won-lost record hasn't exactly been what Flyers fans are used to from their enforcers. He's listed in three of Newsday's top 10 fights for this year, but didn't exactly win any of them. But the one thing that has to endear Cote the screaming masses is that he isn't afraid of anyone, and he keeps brawling and brawling. Philly loves a winner, but we can also get behind an underdog like no other.
Riley has fared a bit better of late, winning a few battles and some fans along the way. Last night, on MS Awareness night at the Wachovia Center, Cote dropped the gloves twice with Andre Roy. Keep in mind, Cote is one of the biggest reasons the Flyers are having an MS Awareness night, as his sister has MS. Way to fight for that cure, Riley.
In the first scrap, Cote's hand caught the glass and he was cut on the knuckles, but he stayed in the game long enough to battle Roy again, and boy was it worth it. Here's Round 1, and Round 2 plus a clip of Roy crying up a storm is after the jump. Also, after getting off to another feeble start, the Flyers won the game, 3-2, on the strength of 2 goals by Jeff Carter (on fire with 7 points in 4 games) and one by Danny Briere.
The best part was when the Comcast Sportsnet camera caught Roy on the Lightning bench jawing at Cote. You could see him making a throat-slashing gesture and screaming "FUCK YOU! YOU'RE A DEAD MAN! YOU'RE A FUCKING DEAD MAN!" Tough talk from a dude who got dropped like a bag of dirt (in that second scuffle, anyway).
Aaaaah, hockey fights. [lights cigarette]
Posted by: Clare | Friday, March 07, 2008 at 08:20 AM
that 2nd fight was awesome!!!
Posted by: andy | Friday, March 07, 2008 at 08:27 AM
@Clare, i was trying to get the Comcast footage, but RedLasso's misbehavin...
Posted by: Matt P. | Friday, March 07, 2008 at 08:32 AM
Cote could have pummeled the shit out of him. Would have been like a MMA fight.
Posted by: Zack | Friday, March 07, 2008 at 08:43 AM
They were nice fights. Shame we don't play them again.
Posted by: Justin | Friday, March 07, 2008 at 09:14 AM
Yeah, Roy was about as pissed off as I've ever seen anyone ever. I would have loved to see a third round, but happy to get the win.
Posted by: Not a fan of five | Friday, March 07, 2008 at 09:52 AM
I saw the highlights on Sportscenter this morning and after they showed the first fight I was groaning. But right after they showed the second one and I let out an audible "Oooooh!" when Cote straight dropped him.
Posted by: Mike | Friday, March 07, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Wow, both fights were stellar but you gotta be proud of Cote for his 3-punch knockdown in round 2. I don't think I've seen a guy get dropped that fast in hockey in a long time.
BTW, I thought that those 2 announcers were just about the best I've heard in a long time- at least in terms in calling the fight ;)
Posted by: Mike'M | Friday, March 07, 2008 at 10:34 AM
cote caught roy in both fights with multiple lefts. he may want to write that one down...
Posted by: jd | Friday, March 07, 2008 at 10:50 AM
They replayed that 2nd fight on the scoreboard screen a TON afterwards. Like 5 or 6 more times. It was awesome.
One of the best games (of about 10 or so) that I've seen in person all year.
Posted by: Tartan69 | Friday, March 07, 2008 at 01:04 PM
I was at the game too and the whole time Roy was jawing from the bench, they continued to play different angles of him getting dropped in 3 punches. They had to show 3 minutes of footage in a row and he was getting irate!
Posted by: Gaze | Friday, March 07, 2008 at 02:16 PM