Tiebreaker: Lawnmower Men vs Edgewater Spank Socks

1. RYPIEN, RICK  (07-08) vs NYSTROM, BOB  (85-86) – Nystrom

whenprobertwasking.com take: This is an interesting matchup. It features an end of career version of Nystrom against a young Rick Rypien. Now Rypien was a smaller, pound for pound style fighter. He had fast hands and switched seamlessly and could leave fighters overwhelmed and befuddled. Nystrom was one of the classic 70’s era fighters who had some of the greatest fights of the time. His all-out style of warfare and his sheer will to win helped make him one of the greatest fighters of his era. Nystrom begins jawing with Alexander Burrows in front of Vancouver Goalie, Roberto Luongo. A scrum develops as Both teams converge. Out of the melee, Nystrom and Canucks young toughie, Rick Rypien, are pulling free from the crowd. They are already latched together and working to get their throwing arms free. Rypien lets loose with lefts and catches Nystrom by surprise. He switches quickly, keeping the pressure on Nystrom. Thor by now is fighting extra determined and even at this stage of his career he can bring it. He unleashes a firestorm of right hands, which stop Rypien in his tracks and put the young scrapper in unfamiliar territory: On the defensive. He’s equal to the task, using his left arm like a boxer to block or deflect much of Nystrom’s assault. Nystrom pours it on, but Rypien is game and matches Nystrom blow for blow. They stop-almost by mutual accord-and begin grappling in close. Nystrom is not done despite the linesmen inching closer to end it. He fires off a few rights as the linesmen jump in. He still throws a few more at a tied up and exhausted Rypien who curses at him in return. Edge Nystrom.