The ‘enforcers’ are there to protect the stars, especially if some of the officials swallow their whistles. Some tough guys have talent. Some, can barely carry the puck.

There are plenty who belong to the ‘goon’ squad, who’s sole purpose is to start a fight to provide a ‘spark’ to a team that may be slumping. (So, I guess there’s a point to that type of fighting, too.)

Many people complain about the scraps, but nobody goes to buy beer when one starts, as far as I can tell. The violence of ‘pro’ wrestling far surpasses anything the NHL can put on display, even on its’ worst nights.

When part of the game involves body contact which might involve checking a player into the glass, fighting is going to happen.

However, there’s no room for the awful boarding body checks that are taking place when one player slams another while his back is turned, forcing the body-checked player viciously into the glass/boards. This is terrible, and the league needs to crack down on this. And, players now need to remember to never have their back to a play — turn so your shoulders are closer to the glass/boards, not your head. If there’s only a meager 2-minute penalty for such a body check, they’d better start to protect themselves. (Or, maybe you send the ‘enforcer’ to take care of the situation the referees are not taking care of!)

Also, goalies seem to be sitting ducks these days. Every game — it never fails — an onrushing forward smashes into a goalie at full speed. Both players usually wind up in the net, which is now resting against the boards. This never happened years ago. You barely touch a goalie, it was an almost automatic interference penalty. Now, a goalie is upended at least once a game, and the officials are silent.

I personally think it’s open season on goalies BECAUSE the net is now so easily knocked off its’ magnets. before, when the net was anchored on small pipes in the ice — you would NEVER see plays deliberately designed to attack the goalie. A forward, or a goalie slamming into the net, which was pretty rigid — probably would be injured. Now, in an effort to PREVENT injury, the net is dislodged if the goalie backs into the crossbar. Forwards feel it’s full speed ahead, because, hell — neither of us will be injured, and no penalty will be called.

More injuries are caused by the two actions I’ve just described than two guys who are slipping around, grabbing each other, barely connecting on any punches.

OK, Hawks and Jackets are on…see ya..