During the Slovenia-U.S. game of the preliminary round of the 2008 IIHF World Hockey Championships, current Phoenix Coyote Keith Ballard viciously attacked the Kings' Anze Kopitar with a punishing check into the boards, sending Anze's helmet flying.

Now, I'm all for hits in the corners, because that's how hockey's played. But this game really didn't matter much in the grand scheme of things. This is why I was very hesitant having Kopitar play this off-season in the World Championships.

This buffoon ballard probably felt that he'd make a name for himself by taking out the young Kings star. He probably thought as he skated back to the bench that he'd be getting high-fives from teammates, telling him he did a good job.

But this idiot forgot one thing... two things actually. Two of Anze's teammates, Dustin Brown and Patrick O'Sullivan, are also on the U.S. team. And you can better damn well believe that those two guys won't forget what Ballard did.

Of the past two seasons, I've seen so many Kings/Coyote suckfests at Staples. You better believe I'm going to catch the first game next season.

Staples will run red with Ballard's blood! Enjoy this picture, because that'll be the last "highlight" you'll see from Mr. Ballard.