Spezza and Neil "fight" in practice

Hmm; I wonder what's going on now ...

As per tsn http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=294295



A day after their 3-2 overtime win over the New York Islanders, the Ottawa Senators seemingly brought that game intensity to practice where Chris Neil and Jason Spezza got into a skirmish.

The two forwards had a dispute during Friday's practice that saw Neil give Spezza a two-handed slash to the back of the legs, which led to Spezza returning the favour. When Neil dropped his gloves, teammates stepped in to stop it before the incident escalated.

After practice, head coach Cory Clouston downplayed the confrontation.
"That's all right," Clouston stated. "That's just intensity...they'll shake hands and make up."

When asked about the exchange with Neil, Spezza didn't know what caused it, but said he was glad that it didn't go further.

"I don't know what happened,” Spezza said. “Sometimes teammates get into it, it's no big deal.

"As soon as he dropped the gloves it was time to get out of there though"
This isn't the first time Neil has gotten into it with teammates at practice. In the past, he's had similar run-ins with Magnus Arvedson and Martin Havlat.

The incident wasn't the only news to come out of practice.
Clouston also switched up the first and second lines, by swapping Nick Foligno and Daniel Alfredsson, because there was "not enough production from our top two lines."
Jesse Winchester and Ryan Shannon were both back on the ice, but neither will play Saturday against the Atlanta Thrashers.

- With files from TSN's Ottawa reporter Brent Wallace.

TheAvatar wrote:

- With files from TSN's Ottawa reporter Brent Wallace.

Wallace is a regular Bill Kurtis.

Roid rage ?

Hoags wrote:Roid rage ?

I don't think that's a rampant problem in Ottawa. I can't think of anyone on the roster that bulked up really quickly, is injury-prone and has a grotesque jawline.

Hoags wrote:Roid rage ?

wrong type of drug, but that was a supposed issue and that was a couple of seasons ago, there used to be some quite partiers in the lockerroom and their drug of choice was the blow, not roids. If it was true, I believe all the problematic guys are gone.

That's good, there's intensity, Spezza is frustrated (as he should be) and Neil's showing why the Sens org. sunk 2 million a year into him. He's a leader and he'll get emotions stirred up if he doesn't like what he sees.

I love Alfie on line 2 with Fisher and Kovalev. Alfie truly is the straw that stirs this team, it's still 100% evident. Spezza needs to continue to work hard, good things will come for him eventually. Foligno I haven't been impressed with in the least this early season, so hopefully a small change will do him good.

Seems a little silly for this to be happening 3 games into the season, and after winning 2 in a row... and the day after an OT win.

Unless it's something personal or one of them was goofing off during practice... who knows....

Is it wrong that I love this? Obviously something set someone off, but Spezza gave Neil props by saying "As soon as he dropped the gloves it was time to get out of there though".

Now, if this happened all the time, it could be a problem, but I've never seen a "family" where this doesn't happen from time to time.

wprager wrote:Is it wrong that I love this? Obviously something set someone off, but Spezza gave Neil props by saying "As soon as he dropped the gloves it was time to get out of there though".

Now, if this happened all the time, it could be a problem, but I've never seen a "family" where this doesn't happen from time to time.

Family squabbles are a fact of life. Even these guys managed to get along:

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1118352/the_bigot_family/

shabbs wrote:Seems a little silly for this to be happening 3 games into the season, and after winning 2 in a row... and the day after an OT win.

Unless it's something personal or one of them was goofing off during practice... who knows....

Spezza's playing...average and Neil is probably prodding him to be better. Or Spezza fought for positioning in front of Leclaire and Neil and him started pushing.

It's one of a possible hundred things. It's all good.

I dont like that kind of attention very early on the season. Especially when we're winning and we could use the positivity

Leave it to Spezza to turn a very positive week into something so stupid.

meh I just take it as the guys are actually fired up about this season, something like this probably wouldn't have happened pre-Clouston as nobody on the team gave a flying F.

Neil slashed Spezz, how is that Spezza's fault?

Tuk Tuk wrote:Neil slashed Spezz, how is that Spezza's fault?

Clearly he made that goofy laugh and Neil scolded him for it.

Much like the "door knob" rule.