Some of the biggest fans of Pavel Datsyuk’s fight last night were not limited to the Detroit area. According to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press Datsyuk’s fight really caught the attention of the Chicago Blackhawks but more specifically Patrick Kane and former Red Wing Marian Hossa.
“I texted him, no fighting tonight,” Hossa said with a smile this morning after the Blackhawks’ skate at United Center, where tonight the Red Wings take on the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks.
Hossa watched the Red Wings beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-0 last night a game that was highlighted by the out of the ordinary fight between Red Wing forward Pavel Datsyuk and Anaheim’s Corey Perry.
“I tell him, great job, well done,” Hossa said. “That was definitely – when I saw it first time, I was sort of frozen, like, watching the TV. That was something you don’t see often, Pavel fighting. I think he looks like he’s done it lots of times. He’s unbelievably strong, so I’m not surprised he hold up very strong.”
Patrick Kane also commented on the fight…
“I thought it was pretty cool to see out of him,” Kane said. “He didn’t back down from Perry. I know things got a little chippy, and it seems like he stood right up for himself. It’s good to see a player like that do that.”
Datsyuk is a former Lady Byng trophy recipient winning the award in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is presented each year to the National Hockey League “player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability”.
