New Jersey Devils sparkplug Cam Janssen may not be the biggest guy in the NHL, but he's making quite an impact.
Despite being only six feet tall and 210 pounds, Janssen has impressed teammates and infuriated opponents with his brand of rough-and-tumble hockey.
"He's a beauty," Scott Gomez told the New York Daily News when asked about his Devils teammate.
"I think he's starting to put fear in the other team's eyes."
Earlier this week, Janssen went toe-to-toe with Ottawa Senators enforcer Brian McGrattan, who is nearly half a foot taller and 35 pounds heavier than the Devils forward.
Janssen, 22, was also a physical force in New Jersey's 2-0 victory over the Florida Panthers Thursday, dishing out several thunderous hits and winning a fight.
"It's all about him hitting," Devils goalie Martin Brodeur said of Janssen, who is in the midst of his second NHL season.
"It's not like he's a big guy who's going to scare people, but he makes damage."
In the first period of Thursday's game, Janssen nailed Mike Van Ryn with a bone-crushing, open-ice hit that sent the Panthers defenceman to the dressing room with an injured shoulder.
In the second period, Janssen skated across the ice and levelled veteran Gary Roberts along the boards. The hit enraged the Panthers, nearly triggering a brawl.
The Panthers' Steve Montador tried to exact some revenge in the third period, but ended up on the wrong end of a tussle with Janssen.
"I was just doing my job," said Janssen when asked about the hit on Roberts that sparked the fight.
"I don't think Cam was out of control or there was any premeditated stuff," added Devils coach Claude Julien. "We need him hitting and giving our team energy."
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