(click picture to view fight)
1/09/07 Eric Godard vs Derek Boogaard
On January ninth, the Calgary Flames promoted forward Eric Godard from the their AHL affiliate; the Omaha Ak Sar-Ben Knights and reassigned center Carsen Germyn. While Germyn has played very well for the Knights, Calgary was looking for more grit with the Minnesota Wild coming to town.
Last time these two teams met, Wild forward Derek Boogaard threw his weight around without hesitiation or retalitation. With forward Darren McCarty hurt and the Flames top scorer; Jarome Iginla on IR, the Flames did not want a repeat performance. Thus Godard was brought up to keep Boogaard in check.
Eric Godard had been a force last season playing for the New York Islanders. It was after a fight with the Rangers Colton Orr, that Godard started to falter. It was found out that Godard had suffered a broken nose and a concussion in his fight against Orr and it plagued him the whole second half of the season. His fighting not only became less frequent, but his showing in fights was poor as well. His apparent loss to non fighters Hal Gill and Mike Komisarek as well as losses to Eric Boulton and Colton Orr was a point that Godard's job as enforcer for the Islanders were numbered.
This became true when the Islanders did not re-sign Godard, and then bringing in ex Calgary Flame, Chris Simon. Godard coincidentaly ended up signing with Calgary and started the season with Omaha.
With Godard playing for Calgary, he realized why he was brought up. There was an apparent dust up with Boogaard in the opening warmups on January ninth, thus all but putting the stamp on an apparent flare up once the game started. That flare up became a reality at 1:26 of the second period, as Boogaard switched sides to line up against Godard on the faceoff.
Once the puck is dropped, both Godard and Boogaard drop the gloves and quickly grab each others jerseys. Boogaard throws a punch that misses, as Godard tries to free up his hand. Boogaard throws a big shot that hits but Godard comes right back with two shots. Their hands are free as Boogaard tries and keeps Godard outside. Both guys are throwing punches, most of them aren't landing. They briefly tie up. but Boogaard pushes Godard away and hits him flush on the side of the face. Godard throws two punches that seem to come up short as Boogaard comes right back with another nice shot. Boogaard throws three more punches and Godard answers with another. Boogaard really looks strong and has Godard on his heels, but Godard comes back in with an uppercut and delivers two shots to the side of the head. The second punch sends Boogaard reeling and Godard all of a sudden has the upper hand. Godard delivers what seems to be the killer blow as Boogaard goes down to a knee. Godard hits him three more times and another punch sends Boogaard to the ice with Godard on top.
Huge win for Eric Godard in his return to the NHL against what has been a huge thorn in the side of NHL Heavyweight enforcers. That being Minnesota's Derek Boogaard.
To the view the fight in question, please click on the picture at the top of this page. You may also discuss this fight and this article by visiting this thread in the forum. You may also vote on the winner of this fight here.
