Nellany draws first blood on eve of Chiefs/Killers rivalry matchup

GM Nellany draws first blood on the eve of the Killers-Chiefs rivalry matchup

December 12th, 2011

“In a rivalry matchup like this, the team that draws first blood normally has an advantage the whole week,” Deer Park GM Mike Nellany told a reporter late last night. “We’re going to draw first blood.”

Nellany did just that on Monday morning when he called Fort Drum GM Steve Stryska a “scrub”.

“I called him a scrub,” said Nellany. “He’s a scrub, plain and simple.”

The Killers-Chiefs rivalry is one of the most storied and well known rivalries ever in the Amazing Fantasy Hockey League. Both GMs have plenty of history to build upon. They experienced two ferociously competitive trash-talking sessions, with each GM claiming victory once. They even, once upon a time, came close to blows in the parking lot, gang style, outside of the John Jay hockey rink in Deer Park.

“There’s just something special in the air when we play against the Killers,” said Chiefs defenseman Andrew Ference. “They don’t like us and we don’t like them.”

The intensity level during this week’s matchup is expected to be very high as both clubs are battling for the top spot in the American Conference.

“All week it’s going to be a slugfest back and forth – figuratively,” Killers forward Chris Neil told reporters after today’s pregame skate. “We’re a couple points out of first place. We’re not going to let them stop us.”

This cross-river battle will likely will be won between the pipes, with Fort Drum goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff and Deer Park counterpart Henrik Lundqvist in the spotlight.

Lundqvist has been sensational this season, posting a 2.08 goals-against average with a .932 SV%, and it appears he’s taken his play to another level.

“To me, why he’s playing well is that he’s in control of his head and his emotions,” said Chiefs forward Scott Hartnell, who will most likely be the centerpiece of the rough stuff against the Killers this week. “Henrik’s very focused. I haven’t seen him get up or down.”

Meanwhile, Kiprusoff has been stellar in Fort Drum, posting 14 wins and two shutouts. Despite his 2.40 GAA, he has single handedly won matchups for Fort Drum this season.

“He’s always at level 10 for matchups vs. the Chiefs”, said Killers forward Chris Stewart. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he outplays Henrik this week.”

Blast from the past:

12/14/2010: Chiefs-Killers up the trash talking

3/7/2011: Chiefs-Killers ready to add another chapter to rivalry

3/10/2011: Chiefs vs. Killers matchup gets ugly