Keegan Lowe might be my new favorite player on the Carolina Hurricanes. The young Defenseman has the NHL pedigree, being the son of Defenseman Kevin Lowe, of the 1980's Edmonton Oilers. Keegan was a Third Round Draft Pick by the Carolina Hurricanes and played in his first NHL game in the Hurricanes 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.
At 18:51 of the first period, he was battling with Flyers star Forward Vincent "Vinny" Lecavalier in front of the Hurricanes net when they decided to drop the gloves. Lecavalier obviously did not like the way he was being shoved around by the rookie. They decided to drop the gloves and Keegan Lowe won the fight decisively. Lecavalier is not one of the better known tough guys in the NHL but he will drop the gloves.
Vincent Lecavalier came after Lowe hell bent on evening the score between the two of them later in the game and I do not like the way Lecavalier went about it. Lowe's back was to Lecavalier and he was sliding along the ice going after a puck and trying to keep it in the Hurricanes zone. Lecavalier threw three or four punches before Lowe ever got his gloves off. The Flyers used the phrase Lecavalier "is a true warrior." He might be but that would be the last phrase I would have used to describe him jumping a rookie from behind. He should have challenged him face-to-face if he wanted a rematch. Lecavalier should have been given an Instigator Penalty and should have been shown the door. I was disappointed that Lecavalier did not follow "the Code" among NHL players.
As it stands, Lowe already has 2 of the Hurricanes 15 Fighting Majors this season and I have said from the beginning of the year that the Hurricanes needed an element of toughness missing from their team and they had a tendency to get pushed around a little more by the more physical teams and it might be too late this season, but Lowe is showing the Hurricanes brass what he can bring to the table.
