There’s no doubt that the anti-fighting crowd will be out in full force following this one. Asham will probably even get a fine for that celebration, even though it’s tough to say he would have done the same thing if he knew the extent of Beagle’s condition. After all, he’s always been a stand-up guy and he tapped his stick in respect from the penalty box as Beagle got off the ice.
Personally, I’ve been on the anti-fighting train for a while. Enforcers have no point in the NHL, in my opinion. They’re a waste of a roster spot. But the Asham vs. Beagle fight is precisely the type of fight that does still belong in the NHL. Asham was unhappy with what Beagle did in that scrum right off the start there, and he asked Beagle to pay for his actions. Beagle obliged… and well, that’s part of it.
It’s not just two fighters beating each other up to beat each other up. This fight served a real purpose, and yeah, the results were not pretty for Beagle. But it’s a fight. Both parties mutually engaged and Beagle’s inexperience showed. He opened up and Asham caught him in the mouth. That’s what happens when fists are thrown at the face. There’s no doubt Beagle learned his lesson, too.
Few things teach lessons like forcing another man to pull out his own teeth.
