Dustin Byfuglien looks to be pissed off in more ways than one these days.
After a slow start to the season in the physical department (and in his game overall), the Winnipeg Jets heavyweight defenseman regained his train-wreck-causing self over the past week, putting his signature beating on some unfortunate souls that drifted into his path of destruction.
Exhibit A: Philadelphia Flyers forward Michael Raffl:
Raffl makes a play on the puck, then gets leveled by Byfuglien. pic.twitter.com/ub4ai0jui2
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) November 17, 2017
Exhibit B: Philadelphia Flyers forward Jordan Weal:
Dustin Byfuglien throws an elbow at Jordan Weal. pic.twitter.com/XgwPQ7mbqF
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) November 17, 2017
Even his own teammates aren’t safe from the carnage.
In his obliteration of Weal in the above clip, you can see Jets forward Kyle Connor becoming an innocent victim of the collateral damage.
Jets captain Blake Wheeler made mention of Big Buff’s angered demeanour during their homestand last week, and as they say in Winnipeg: angry Buff is the best Buff.
Indeed, but since Byfuglien arrived in Winnipeg with the rest of the former Atlanta Thrashers in 2011, fans have also seen the other side of his game - a productive one.
At the moment, however, all fans want for Christmas is Byfuglien to find the back of the net.
This season, goal-scoring has been non-existent from the 6-foot-5, 260-pound Minnesota native, who has chipped in for 10 assists in 20 games.
It took Brent Burns 21 games to score his first goal of the season for the San Jose Sharks, a marker that came -- mercifully for the man who has scored 56 goals over the past two seasons -- on Friday night.
Byfuglien plays in his 21st game of the season on Saturday night, ironically against Burns’ Sharks in San Jose. Perhaps Santa will come a month early.
Byfuglien has had no shortage of chances recent with 16 shots in this past four games and nearly scored twice in a 4-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.
Fair warning to Santa: you don’t want to piss off Dustin Byfuglien.
Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck