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CALGARY — One could argue David Backes was ticking names off a pre-Olympic to-do list.
With a string of fights against Team Canada forwards, the St. Louis Blues power forward was maybe sending a message that things are going to be rough come February in Vancouver.
First it was a slugfest against Chicago’s Jonathan Toews Jan. 2, and he followed it by duelling Anaheim’s Corey Perry Jan. 7 and then Columbus star Rick Nash Jan. 12.
Mixed in there was a shoving match with San Jose’s Dany Heatley, and it seems like there’s a motive.
But the 25-year-old Minneapolis native and Team USA forward said it’s not what you think.
“My face might take a beating, but if I can get them off the ice for five minutes, it may need to happen,” Backes said with a laugh before Monday’s visit to the Saddledome to play the Calgary Flames.
“It’s almost worth me going after an American guy so I can put to rest all this ‘hunting Canadians’ talk.
“It’s all in fun and there’s a bit more buildup into the Games, which are going to be an awesome experience.”
Backes didn’t get a chance to take on Flames captain Jarome Iginla because he was scratched with a lower-body injury.
Playing with an edge is what got Backes named to the U.S. team and he won’t change at that tournament.
Although Backes can put the puck in the net, which is evident from his 31 goals last season, he can mix it up and set a physical tone, which is what U.S. GM Brian Burke was looking for in his secondary forwards.
“With the way Burkey likes to construct teams, the player he tends to gravitate towards, my style seems to fit right in,” Backes said.
“I’m glad to be on the team. We have a great group of guys, a lot of balanced skill, tenacity and grit. We have a bunch of guys who can do a lot of things. We’ll see what happens when we get to Vancouver.
“There are more skilled guys than me (in the U.S.), but we have a balance. If I’m playing with (Ryan) Kesler and (Dustin) Brown, that’s a line some of the other team’s top units will want to stay away from the way we grind and get under some guy’s skin.
“We’re going there to win. We’re not going there just to have a good showing.”
Backes only has 10 goals in 49 games this season, but he feels he’s contributing in more ways than just scoring.
Still, he wouldn’t mind rediscovering the scoring touch with those hands that have thrown a few punches lately.
“The situations haven’t been the same as last year,” Backes said. “A lot of it was Johnny on the Spot type of goals and I was able to bury them. This year, I’ve fallen behind the pace but there were not as many chances.
“The ones I did get, I haven’t been able to bury as much. The combination has me at fewer goals but I’ve been trying to contribute in other ways and concentrate on the process of playing good hockey and the results will come.”
ian.busby@sunmedia.ca