Doesn't look good for Shawn Thornton

I going to predict that that this isn't going to end well for Boston Bruins tough guy Shawn Thornton. Now, it's just a matter of how long the suspension is going to be... That discussion will happen on Monday.

Again, it doesn't matter that Brooks Orpik caught Loui Erikkson with a questionable, late, high-hit early in the game. The hit in question sent the Bruins forward to the locker room with a concussion. That's his second concussion of the season. None of that matters.

The Department of Player Safety won't look at that, when they make their decision on Monday. What they will look at; Thornton attacked a guy while he laid on the ice. That's not acceptable behavior in any league.

Shawn Thornton has a hearing and will not be traveling with the team to Toronto ^CS— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 8, 2013

s/t puck daddy... Shawn Thornton said this, in an ESPN interview recently.

DOES THE CODE STILL EXIST? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU TAKE PRIDE IN/ABIDE BY?

I take a lot of pride in that. I do. People could probably criticize that I’m a little too honorable, I suppose, in some instances. I've been a firm believer my whole life that what goes around comes around. If you’re one of those guys that suckers someone when they’re down or you go after somebody that doesn’t deserve it or isn’t the same category as you, that will come back and bite you at some point, too. I also take a lot of pride in the fact that I can play 8-12 minutes a night. I’ve had to work extremely hard on that part of my game to bring more to the table than just fighting. That’s part of my game, but I can do a lot more.

There's some good news for Boston Bruins fans. NHL announces Pittsburgh forward James Neal to have a phone hearing Monday with the NHL's Department of Players Safety. A phone hearing means that Neil won't be suspended more than five-games.

Lastly, I was reading the one of the local Pittsburgh Newspapers and this is what they have to say on the matter. James Neil doesn't sound very contrite for his bush league kneeing incident on Brad Marchand.   For the record, Neil has been suspended before.

Rob Rossi, Trib Live -- About four minutes passed before Penguins captain Sidney Crosby tripped Bruins winger Brad Marchand near the Boston bench. Neal skated past and clipped Marchand in the head with his knee.

“I was skating by him,” Neal said, noting he had not seen a replay of his hit, which resulted in a minor penalty for kneeing. “I hit him in the head with my leg or my foot or my knee or my shin area; I don't know. He went down. I guess I need to try and avoid him.

“I need to be more careful and get my knee out of the way. I'm not trying to hit him in the head or injure him or anything like that.”

Marchand said he “could not comment” on Neal's hit.

Bylsma said Neal “didn't make an attempt to get out of the way on Marchand.”