On Thursday night Ottawa Senators forward Chris Neil unbuckled Red Wings winger Johan Franzen's helmet and punched Franzen in the head before appearing to drive his head into the end boards. It was an odd, violent play - especially since Franzen was playing only his second game since returning from a concussion - and it earned Neil 14 minutes worth of penalties including a game misconduct.

After the contest, Franzen described Neil as a guy who waits until the game is decided and then "tries to be the hero, put his cape on and fly around."

On Friday afternoon, Neil addressed the incident with reporters. Neil accused Franzen of poking him in the groin with his stick prior to the incident, and fired back with one of the weirdest hockey quotes you'll hear this year.

"I’d take my cape off he took the yellow streak off down the middle of his back," Neil told the Ottawa Sun's Don Brennan.

So what exactly does Neil mean by "a yellow streak"? He explained:

"You know that streak? It means a gutless streak. When a guy comes across the blueline and pokes you in the groin with his stick in a 6-1 game and chops guys that’s a no brainer. He’s going to get it. "He doesn’t even try to defend himself. That’s the worst part about it. He’s saying, ‘Hit me, hit me.’ Yeah, I will hit you. That’s the bottom line. A good player like that and he can’t stick up for himself? It’s a joke. Especially when you play like that."

Thursday night's game was the fourth meeting of the season for Detroit and Ottawa, so Neil and Franzen are unlikely to face each other on the ice again this year unless their clubs meet in the postseason. Too bad.