http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Friday, October 15, 2010
Some were surprised when Penguins defenseman Deryk Engelland leveled Toronto enforcer Colton Orr with a mighty right hand Wednesday.
Those who have seen him in action, however, saw proof of what they knew: Engelland is among hockey's toughest.
Ben Lovejoy, who could wage a battle with Engelland to be the team's sixth defenseman when everyone is healthy, sounds more like Engelland's agent when describing his value.
"You saw in that fight just how tough Deryk is," Lovejoy said. "I've played with him for three years in the minors, and I've seen him lose one fight. And he just doesn't win fights: He kicks the crap out of people."
PITTSBURGH - OCTOBER 13: Deryk Engelland #5 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colton Orr #28 of the Toronto Maple Leafs exchange punches during a first period fight that resulted in Orr leaving the game on October 13, 2010 at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)Toronto had scored two quick goals to take a 3-2 lead in the second period Wednesday, and Engelland felt the game was slipping away. He found himself on the ice with Orr, among the league's most feared fighters.
"I had been waiting for a chance," Engelland said. "I felt like we needed a spark, so I asked him if he wanted to go."
Sloppy most of the game, the Penguins controlled play from that point on. To a man, they credited Engelland's courage to fight Orr and his subsequent knockout, which sent Orr to the locker room for the rest of the game.
Those who have played alongside Engelland with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton weren't surprised.
"Deryk is kind of funny," left wing Eric Tangradi said. "Off the ice, he's the calmest, most genuine person. But when he fights, he's a scary man."
Tangradi said he has never witnessed Engelland back down from a fight, which he believes can make toughness contagious among the Penguins.
"We needed that," he said. "Deryk fears no man. When he got into that fight and knocked him down, we were jumping up and down on the bench."
Engelland embraces his role as a defenseman who is more than willing to fight. While most of the league's heavyweights are forwards, Engelland is giving the Penguins' blue line uncommon toughness. Not since Chris Tamer have the Penguins deployed a defenseman so capable of handling the league's best fighters.
"It's a part of my job," Engelland said. "I was fortunate to get a lucky punch."
Engelland was smiling when he said that because there was nothing lucky about the punch. He has been knocking out some of the best fighters the minor leagues have to offer for years. Now in the NHL, Engelland throws punches like a man who wants to stick around, who doesn't want to endure another bus ride.
"He will fight anyone," Lovejoy said. "He's just so tough. I always knew he was tough, but I didn't know he was that tough."
Dan Bylsma noticed.
"He took it upon himself," the Penguins coach said, "to give us a spark."
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