Boogaard blasts Canucks after Ohlund’s slash on Koivu

Big NHLers with surnames starting with “B” have been dishing out verbal punishment as well as fisticuffs recently.

First, it was Toronto’s Wade Belak commenting on New York Rangers forward Sean Avery and the pre-game melee the latter instigated last Saturday: “If he keeps this up, someone is going to kill him. One day he’s going to say something the wrong way and he’ll be clubbed. And I’m not saying it will be by me, either.” (Somewhat contradictorily, Belak then added: “If [Avery] ever starts chirping about my family like that, he’ll get a stick over the head.”)

Now, it’s Minnesota enforcer Derek Boogaard weighing in on Mattias Ohlund’s two-handed slash on Mikko Koivu in Vancouver’s 6-2 win on Friday night. Ohlund received a five-minute major and a game misconduct with 3:54 left.

Here’s what Boogaard had to say.

On his initial reaction: At least a five-game suspension. It’s a two-handed baseball swing. That’s not good. He probably won’t be playing against us [on November 21 at Minnesota]. But you know, it’s a funny thing. We’ll see how everything plays out.

On whether he expects there to be “retribution” [after hesitating and chuckling]: No.

On his clash with Willie Mitchell a minute before the slashing incident: Their so-called agitators were taking liberties. As soon as I step on the ice, they just sort of spread out and scatter in their holes, almost. They don’t want to come near me or talk to me. But they think they can slash the stick and punch our skilled guys. I’m not going to stand for it.

On the question of sending a message next time out: Ohlund’s not going to do a thing. I’m not too worried about that. Maybe I can go and check Naslund or those Pinky and the Brain twins.