![\"Logan](\"https:\/\/news2.watchtowatch.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3230a7f3-f50a-45b2-84e2-393c532f46e8.jpeg\")
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Logan Stankoven<\/strong> got into the first fight of his career after a brawl broke out between the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes in the first period of Tuesday\u2019s game. Nic Dowd ignited the melee after crashing into goaltender Frederik Andersen behind Carolina\u2019s net.<\/p>\n After failing to corral or hold back Brandon Duhaime, the 5-foot-8, 165-pound Stankoven skated from the other side of the net and grabbed\u00a0Martin Fehervary<\/strong>\u00a0(third man in,\u00a0rule 46.16) as the Capitals defenseman wrestled Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake down to the ice.<\/p>\n Both players landed punches and bloodied each other before being sent to their respective penalty boxes. While some might be shaken by the prospect of violence and hand-to-hand combat, Stankoven seemed giddy about the experience.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, I really enjoyed it,\u201d Stankoven\u00a0said per The Hockey News\u2019 Ryan Henkel. \u201cYou can\u2019t be afraid of getting in there and getting your hands dirty sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n He added\u00a0to WNCN\u2019s Sara Holland, \u201cI\u2019ve never had a fight in my life, but I think things change over time, and I think people change. And I think when you see a teammate down like that and they try and push us around, I\u2019m not going to stand for that. Just tried to jump in there, and next thing you know, gloves are off. And yeah, I thought it was a great fight. \u201d<\/p>\n The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Feheravary held a massive size advantage in the tilt, standing 6 inches taller and weighing 50 pounds heavier. Though Fehervary has little experience fighting, dropping the gloves only twice before with Niko Mikkola of the Rangers and Dylan Cozens of the Sabres.<\/p>\n Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind\u2019Amour suggested postgame that the previously fight-less Stankoven was the most physical player on the ice for his team during the scrum.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a tough one because that was the line that was out there,\u201d Brind\u2019Amour\u00a0said. \u201cYou know, he might be the toughest guy we had out there with those groups. But he\u2019s not gonna back down. We know that.\u201d<\/p>\n As for Stankoven, while he was very sure he enjoyed the fight, there was one thing he wasn\u2019t certain about.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure if you can call this a rivalry or not,\u201d he\u00a0said.<\/p>\n As the 2025 NFL season intensifies, Geno Smith has made one thing abundantly clear: he\u2019s not interested in the off-field chatter, the opinions of critics, or the narratives being spun by the media. <\/p>\n Smith has faced his fair share of criticism throughout his career, with his time with the Seattle Seahawks and now his tenure with the Raiders providing plenty of moments for pundits to weigh in. After a series of inconsistent performances, there\u2019s no shortage of narratives being built around his future in the NFL. But Smith isn\u2019t concerned with the noise \u2014 he\u2019s determined to prove himself on the field.<\/p>\n A New Focus: One Play at a Time<\/strong><\/p>\n For Smith, it\u2019s all about his next opportunity to lead his team to victory. Despite a rough start to the season with the Raiders, Smith is focused on putting the past behind him and moving forward. His statement is a clear indication that he\u2019s choosing to focus on what he can control \u2014 his performance, his leadership, and the results on the field.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve learned to block out the distractions,\u201d Smith continued. \u201cAt the end of the day, it\u2019s about what happens when you step onto that field. The rest doesn\u2019t matter. I\u2019m here to play ball, and that\u2019s where my focus is.\u201d<\/p>\n This mindset comes at a critical juncture for Smith. The Raiders are looking for consistency from their quarterback, and Smith knows that he needs to step up and lead this team. With a solid supporting cast around him and a coaching staff committed to his success, Smith is ready to show the world that he\u2019s capable of more than the ups and downs he\u2019s been labeled with in the past.<\/p>\n The Opportunity Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n Week 11 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in Smith\u2019s season. As the Raiders face a tough opponent, the quarterback\u2019s ability to block out the noise and deliver on the field will be crucial. With his statement, Smith is making it clear that he isn\u2019t going to be defined by the criticism or the narrative that surrounds him. His focus is laser-sharp, and he\u2019s determined to let his play do the talking.<\/p>\n For the Raiders, Smith\u2019s commitment to his role and his no-nonsense approach could be the spark they need to get back on track. His leadership will be key to executing the game plan and finding success in the high-stakes moments. And for Smith, his chance to prove himself on the field has never been more important.<\/p>\n No More Excuses<\/strong><\/p>\n At this point in his career, Geno Smith has nothing left to prove to anyone except himself. He\u2019s already overcome plenty of obstacles, and now it\u2019s all about taking responsibility for his role in the offense and leading his team with conviction. The past is behind him, and the future is in his hands. Smith has the chance to rewrite the narrative \u2014 and he\u2019s doing it with one clear focus: football.<\/p>\n As the Raiders head into the second half of the season, the pressure is on. But with Geno Smith\u2019s mindset firmly on the field, the distractions of the outside world won\u2019t be a factor. The only thing that matters now is what happens when he takes the snap. No distractions, no excuses \u2014 just football.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Logan Stankoven got into the first fight of his career after a brawl broke out between the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes in the first period of Tuesday\u2019s game. Nic Dowd ignited…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7006,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t