You know, I love this time of year. Not just because of the sprinklings of snow and the Christmas lights and the general holiday cheer (aside from the stampeding-crowd mentality and rabid consumerism at any of your nearby shopping malls, that is), but because by now the regular NHL season has been in full swing for two months, and things are getting interesting both in the sportsbook and on your TV. Granted, nothing so interesting as this, but what can you do with all the concern this season over concussions and injuries and possible death on ice:

(hey, unintentional tie-in to my last blog post — check out the soundtrack!) Now that there, ladies and gentlemen, is a hockey fight — actually, hockey fights, plural. Sure, it’s a bit of an oldie (Chara on the Sens!), but man oh man, it just keeps giving. Makes me feel sort of bad for the linesmen. The spirit of the Hanson Brothers lives on! (and I think it’s only appropriate that one of the commentators sounds like Jerry “The King” Lawler)

Even if, as I mentioned earlier, the general spirit of Hockey Fight In Canada (and elsewhere) is being intentionally toned down, there’ll still be plenty of action with the NHL lines tonight. The biggest matchup on the board is between two of the biggest teams in the league: the Ducks vs Sharks odds are here. Should be an easy enough pick; although the Ducks are literally flying this season, the Sharks have been taking a nasty bite out of all their opponents and currently stand at 14-0-2 at home. Insanity.

Anybody else remember when the Ducks were owned by Disney and had that stupid logo? Yep. (Though apparently it’s the top-selling logo of any of the teams, so what do I know)

As for me, I’m gonna be tuning in to the Islanders vs Penguins, maybe alternating with Tampa Bay vs Montreal. Gotta see if the Lightning are gonna bite back at Melrose, after all. Don’t get me wrong though, not much will be distracting me from this tonight:

Go get `em, Sid!