Showing posts with label phoenix coyotes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label phoenix coyotes. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Keith Yandle's puzzling comments


I had to post this video because I couldn't believe my ears the first time I heard it, this is down right silly. The comments by Keith Yandle are almost black helicopter conspiracy theory stuff -  you can't make it up -  it's right here. You can almost imagine secret agents repelling out of a small black helicopter onto the ground in Yandles backyard.

Wow! Wait, What? I mean talk about being classy in the post game comments, the Phoenix Coyotes lost the game and the series against the Kings because they were a step late to the puck all series long, the Coyotes had no answer for the Los Angeles Kings speed trough the neutral zone. One of the strong points that I saw for the  Kings was the way they played a high pressure game, the Kings' fore-check was relentless they were all over the Coyotes every game.

The Coyotes sound like a bunch of whiners

I will be the first one to admit that I hate it when my favorite team loses - that's sports - that's the way the puck bounces sometimes. Last night, the Phoenix Coyotes would have been better off to congratulate the Los Angeles Kings and move on. Instead, the Coyotes failed to take the high road and used their post game press conference/interviews as an opportunity to sound off and blame the officials for the results of their series. In my opinion, the Coyotes came off last night as a bunch of entitlement whiners. I think their post game comments other wise taint an amazing season by the Coyotes.


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Can Mike Smith be fined for his post game comments?

After listening to Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith's post game comments the first thing that came to mind was, the NHL could levy a fine against Smith for his post game comments about the officials. 

I will be the first one to admit that the NHL on ice officiating has been really poor during this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, but everyone has has had to play through it. In this series, the Kings were the better team, the Coyotes had no answer for the Kings speed through the neutral zone. The Kings also played a high pressure game and gave the Coyotes little in the way of offensive chances maybe Smith should give credit where credit is due.  There is a time to just say congrats to the other team and move on with your life and not look like a whiner. 

You can listen to the audio of the post game interview, you will hear that Smith was highly critical of the on ice officials in this game and series. I always said, win with class and you lose with class as well. 

"It's even more disappointing," Smith said. Not only did we get beat by them [Kings]... "We got beat by the officials too." 

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Dustin Brown hit on Michal Rozsival


I think this is the next hit that will probably get a look from the NHL Department of Player Safety. This hit has also generated a lot of discussion on twitter at the end of the game.

I also expect, L.A. Kings forward Dustin Brown will get a call from the Senior Vice President of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan. Whether that hit deserves a suspension is another thing.

I do believe that the NHL has to review this hit, even though there was no penalty called on the play. I think that  Michal Rozsival who had been diving and flailing around on the ice minutes before when he was tapped by a Kings players stick, probably led to there being no call on the play. If you cry wolf enough times who is going to believe you when you really get hurt, right?

If you look at second angle of the hit, it looks worse than the first clip that you saw at game speed. I also think that Jess Myers has a point with his tweet below.
Just for the record I would not want to be in Brendan Shanahan's shoes, I don't think it's an admirable position, not after this post season.

One person pinged me this to me on twitter -  he doubts that Shanahan has the stones to suspend the Kings Captain for game 1. I guess we will find out - does Shanahan have the stones - he has proven already that he has the balls to suspended two superstars players in  Claude Giroux and Nicklas Backstrom during the earlier rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. These actions leads me to believe that he might have the stones to do so. I wouldn't want to be in Brown's shoes right now.

Either way I really don't care, do you think that this hit deserves a suspension, fine or nothing at all. Personally, I just hope the Devils and Rangers series can fill the void until next Wednesday when the Stanley Cup Finals start.

Former Phoenix Coyotes tough guy seems to think that Dustin Brown will be suspended for his hit on Michal Rozsival and this is what he tweeted tonight.


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Monday, May 21, 2012

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Coyotes' Hanzal suspended one game


The National Hockey League has acted swiftly and suspended Phoenix Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal for boarding Kings forward Dustin Brown during the third period of last nights game. For his efforts Hanzal will miss Thursday night's game in Los Angeles, California between the Kings and the Coyotes.
NEW YORK -- Phoenix Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal has been suspended for one game for boarding Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown during Game 2 of the teams’ Western Conference Final playoff series Tuesday in Phoenix, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 11:01 of the third period. Hanzal was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for boarding.
As with any suspension there are going to be fans that aren't happy with the suspension or think the suspension should be longer and isn't tough enough. I actually think Brown is lucky he wasn't hurt during the hit.
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Mike Smith does his best Ron Hextall impersonation


You know the announcers are right, this isn't new to the NHL and Ron Hextall would be impressed with Phoenix Coyotes goalie Mike Smith  and his chop of the Kings forward Dustin Brown.

I think when a goalie does this type of a bush leagues move it opens him up to reprisals. While I don't condone this move by Smith - sometimes this tactic works because it sends a message to other forwards - in essence Smith is telling the Kings that the Phoenix goal crease is not a place to be fooling around and you might want to watch yourself while you're around the crease area.

Penalties assessed: Smith was given a two minute minor for slashing and Dustin Brown was given a two minute minor for diving. Personally, I think the diving penalty that was assessed to Brown was a horrible call.
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Coyotes' Hanzal has Disciplinary hearing today


Phoenix Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal has a hearing today with the NHL's department of Player Safety and after looking at the video – I would imagine that Hanzal "should" get at least a one or two game suspension for this brutal hit on Kings forward Dustin Brown.

Now that I said that and based on how inconsistent Brendan Shanahan has been during the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff  – add to the fact that Hanzal isn't a repeat offender – the Department of Player safety "could" go easier on him and give him a the maximum fine.
NHL.COM --- Phoenix Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal will have a disciplinary hearing Wednesday with the NHL Player Safety Department following a boarding incident in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday.

Hanzal was penalized when he pushed the Kings' Dustin Brown from behind into the boards at 11:01 of the third period. Hanzal was assessed a five-minute major for boarding and a game-misconduct.
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Two more bad hits from last night's game


At the 11:o1 mark of the third period Phoenix's Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal's drove the Kings forward Dustin Brown into the boards with push check. Hanzal was given a major penalty and a game misconduct for this play and could end up with a hearing with the Department of Player Safety for this hit.


The Coyotes forward Shane Doan was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for this hit on the Los Angeles Kings forward Trevor Lewis at the 16:29 mark of the second period of last night's game. On this play I believe the refs made the right call even though Lewis did turn towards the boards at the last second; the refs had no choice to give Doan a major penalty on this play.
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Sunday, May 13, 2012

Derek Morris goal from center ice


In tonight's Western Conference Final game between the Phoenix Coyotes and  Los Angeles Kings game, Coyotes defenseman Derek Morris scored an improvable goal on Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick from center ice. Quick has been almost unbeatable through two rounds in the playoffs. This just proves that there is nothing bad about a shot on goal.
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Sunday, May 06, 2012

Rostislav Klesla suspended one game.

Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Rostislav Klesla was suspended one game by the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety for this hit on Nashville Predators forward Matt Halischuk.

While I don't have a problem with the suspension per se and Klesla is a repeat offender that has been suspended in the past for a clipping infraction; it does seem that the NHL is picking and choosing the players that it wants to suspend - the NHL has no qualms about suspending a third or fourth line player - or suspending a fifth or sixth defenseman, however, the NHL doesn't want to suspended a star player when they commit an egregious act and I can think of a few hits or infractions from star players that could have been dealt with in a more punitive manner.
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Saturday, May 05, 2012

A tale of two hits


There were two hits on the ice this weekend that have gotten a bit of scrutiny. 

The first one is the hit that Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Rostislav Klesla put on Nashville Predators forward Matt Halischuk. Klesla was given a two minute penalty on the play and has a hearing on Sunday with the National Hockey League's department of player safety.

With the inconsistency with the National Hockey League’s Department of player safety there is no clue what kind of a suspension or fine we can expect in this situation, Klesla is not really a known superstar so we could expect a one or two game suspension.
This was the hit that Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin put on Rangers Dan Girardi. Ovechkin was given a charging penalty on the hit. I don't think the Ovechkin hit is overly egregious and since he's a super star the league is very reluctant to suspend him so don't count on Ovechkin getting suspended and frankly I don't think as suspension is warranted in this situation. 

Girardi had this to say about the hit: "He hit me in the head first," Girardi said. "I think it was the right call. I'm not sure what it was, whether it was charging or interference or whatever, but my head's there, and he hits it. But I think he was just playing the game hard. I don't know."
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Saturday, April 21, 2012

Raffi Torres Shanahammered - suspended 25 games


The NHL has spoken, they have made an example out of Raffi Torres, they have thrown the book at him. The NHL has also set a precedence, the question is, will the NHL be consistent in their ruling?. While I think that Torres deserved at least a 5-10 suspension this suspension is almost to the point of being excessive. My first question is, would the NHL give the same suspension for a star player? I am going to say not.
NEW YORK -- Following are statements from National Hockey League Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan in announcing the 25-game suspension assessed to Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres:

"This is a violation of three NHL rules – interference, charging and illegal check to the head."

"In addition to the fact that three separate NHL rules were violated with this one hit, two other factors were critical in determining the appropriate length of suspension:

"First, this violent and dangerous hit caused a severe injury.

"Second, Torres not only is a repeat offender as defined by the CBA, his extensive Supplemental Discipline history consists mainly of acts very similar to this one – including two this season."

"Despite knowing that Hossa no longer has the puck, Torres decides to finish his check past the amount of time when Hossa is eligible to be bodychecked. That is a violation of the Interference rule."

"While we acknowledge the circumstances of certain hits may cause a player's skates to come off the ice, on this hit, Torres launches himself into the air before making contact. This is a violation of the Charging rule."

"The position of Hossa's head does not change just prior to or simultaneous with this hit. The onus, therefore, is on Torres not to make it the principal point of contact. By leaping, Torres makes Hossa's head the principal point of contact. That is a violation of the Illegal Check to the Head rule."
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Friday, April 20, 2012

Torres disciplinary ruling to be announced Saturday

Marian Hossa during pre-warm-up at HP Pavilion...
Marian Hossa during pre-warm-up at HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This ruling by the NHL seems to be a bit of a head scratcher. Makes you wonder what kind of a ruling is coming down the pike tomorrow. I still think that Raffi Torres is going to get long suspension for his brutal hit on Marian Hossa.
NHL.COM --- National Hockey League Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan will announce Saturday whether the NHL Department of Player Safety will assess further supplemental discipline to suspended Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres.

Torres was suspended indefinitely Wednesday, pending an in-person hearing held today at the NHL's New York Office, for a hit on Chicago forward Marian Hossa 11:42 into the first period of Game 3 of the teams' Western Conference Quarterfinal series in Chicago on Tuesday, April 17.
On the surface this decision would seem like a slam dunk, Raffi Torres is a repeat offender that has been suspended twice in the last 13 months. To me this case seems to be an easy 5-10 game suspension. Shanahan could easily suspend this guy and make it hurt, but maybe there is more to it than meets the eye.  Only thing I can think of is that NHL Vice President of Player Safety, Bredan Shanahan is consoling with other hockey minds from around the NHL.
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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Torres to meet with the Shanahammer

IMG_5555.jpg
IMG_5555.jpg (Photo credit: bridgetds)
Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres has his day in court. The fact that the hearing is in person in the NHL's New York office does not bode well for Mr. Torres because the NHL is about to make an example out of him.
NEW YORK -- Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres has been suspended indefinitely, pending an in-person hearing Friday, April 20, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today. The hearing, which had been planned for today, was deferred at the request of the player and the National Hockey League Players' Association.
You can expect that Brendan Shanahan is going to take Raffi Torres to the woodshed and this one going to hurt and it’s going to be easy for Shanny, Torres did it to himself and he has no one to blame but himself.

Torres is a villain; he is also a poster boy of what is wrong with the NHL in the minds of many fans. Torres is also a Matt Cooke type player, and also a repeat offender that hasn’t changed his game when the game has started to evolve.
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