Anton Volchenkov suspended four games for elbowing Brad Marchand

Brendan Shanahan bans Anton Volchenkov for four games, for his elbow on Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand.

NEW YORK – New Jersey Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov has been suspended for four games, without pay, for elbowing Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand during NHL Game No. 591 in New Jersey on Wednesday, April 10, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 15:11 of the second period. Volchenkov was assessed a five-minute major for elbowing and a game misconduct (Rule 45).

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Volchenkov will forfeit $91,891.88. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

For a full explanation of the Department of Player Safety's decision, complete with video, please click on the following link:

I know there are some that are some fans that are applauding Volchenkov’s actions, but the fact remains that Marchand has concentrated on playing hockey this season and has scored (16g-17a—33pts) in 38 games for the Bruins this season.

Anton Volchenkov's dirty elbow on Brad Marchand

This is a dirty, bush-league hit and it’s a violation of the NHL’s rule 48. The Head is targeted; it’s pretty cut and dried. I am going to be very surprised and disappointed if Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov isn’t given a 3-4 game suspension for this dirty and unnecessary hit on Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand.

Seriously, there is no defending this hit. I don’t care what you think of Brad Marchand, this is not acceptable. These are the types of hits we’re trying to eliminate from all levels of hockey. Volchenkov is a repeat offender. Volchenkov was given a five minute major for elbowing and a game misconduct.

I expect the Brendan Shanahan and the Department of Player Safety to be giving Mr. Volchenkov a call tomorrow and I expect that Volchenkov will be getting suspended by the National Hockey League. What do you think?

Again, I predict a 3-4 game suspension.

No update on Brad Marchand from the Bruins. Claude Julien said he hadn't spoken to the doctors before he spoke to the media.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) April 11, 2013

Phone hearing for Volchenkov this morning, FYI...
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) April 11, 2013

Brayden Schenn is the first player suspended

Well that didn't take lone. Just three days into the lockout shortened 2013 season, Philadelphia Flyers forward Brayden Schenn is the first player suspended by Brendan Shannahan. Actually, I have no problem with the suspension and this suspension should set the tone going forward.

After 247 days, the @nhlshanahan account is back in use. The lockout is officially over!
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) January 23, 2013

Brandon Prust suspended for Game 4

The New York Rangers forward Bandon Prust was suspended for his elbow on New Jersey Devils forward Anton Volchenkov at the 2:31 mark of the second period of yesterday's game.

I predicted that this play would warrant a suspension from the National Hockey League Department of Player Safety yesterday. The NHL has set a precedence if you hit someone where the head is the principle point of contact you will be suspended, it no longer matters if you're a repeat offender or not. In this case, Prust is not a repeat offender - yet he will become the 13th player to be suspended by the NHL during this season's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Rangers forward Brandon Prust has no one to blame but himself on this play and I just don't think you can really defend this hit. A player is responsible for his actions on the ice at all times and I think that going forward all of these hits need to be punished consistently.

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Tortorella Responds To “Headhunter” Charge From DeBoer

John Tortorella (Photo credit: Robert Kowal)

It looks like the smug one; New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella can actually say more than 36 words during a press conference, albeit this was a pregame press conference. This is what Torts had to say about the Prust hit as well as what he thought about the New Jersey Devils. There seems to be no love lost between these two teams.

Dave Lozo, NHL.com --- On Sunday, Rangers coach John Tortorella responded to that comment by defending Prust and accusing the Devils of embellishing calls and setting illegal picks during their power plays.

"He's probably one of the most honest players," Tortorella said, before launching into a a big chunk of gamesmanship. "I look at (Dainius Zubrus') elbow to (Anton) Stralman. I look at (Zach) Parise launching himself at (Michael) Del Zotto. Maybe if our players stay down on the ice, we'll get something. We tell our players don't stay down on the ice, get up.

"The picking on the power play. If we want to start discussing officials with the media, I've got a long list here. That's a set play by Jersey -- picking so we can't get to (Ilya) Kovalchuk to block his shot. There's some gamesmanship right there, huh?"

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Rangers' Prust to have hearing Sunday

Rangers forward Brandon Prust has a hearing today with the department of player safety for his hit to the head of Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov. After the game, New Jersey Devils head coach Peter DeBoer was not happy with the hit. "Headhunting," DeBoer said. "Plain and simple."

NHL.COM --- New York Rangers forward Brandon Prust will have a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety on Sunday morning after connecting with the head of Anton Volchenkov during a 3-0 win against the New Jersey Devils in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday.

Volchenkov was carrying the puck along the boards and chipped it out of the zone when Prust landed an elbow to the back of Volchenkov's helmet in the second period. Volchenkov was down on the ice for almost a minute afterward, but was able to continue playing. No penalty was called on the play.

 

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• (Video) Brandon Prust Elbows Anton Volchenkov

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(Video) Brandon Prust Elbows Anton Volchenkov

How many games do you think that Rangers forward Brandon Prust be suspended for this dirty elbow on New Jersey Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov? There was no penalty called on the play but from vantage point on the coach, this appears to be a chicken wing elbow by Prust on Volchenkov and a violation of rule 48 - as I interpret this from reading the rule book - to quote Brendan Shanahan, "this is an illegal hit to the head."

48.1 Illegal Check to the Head – A hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the head is targeted and the principal point of contact is not permitted. However, in determining whether such a hit should have been permitted, the circumstances of the hit, including whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was avoidable, can be considered.

In closing, I expect that Brandon Prust will receive at least a one game suspension for his hit to the head on Volchenkov. I think the NHL has to suspend Prust because the NHL has set a precedence finally, after getting it wrong during the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

While it's true Prust doesn't have a history of being a dirty player or does it appear that he has ever been suspended or fined by the NHL, neither had Claude Giroux at the time of his suspension in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Zac Rinaldo hit on Dainius Zubrus

For what ever reason the Philadelphia Flyers were going after  Dainius Zubrus in this series and last night Flyers littled used forward Zach Rinaldo caught Zubras with this hit in the Flyers end of the ice, in my opinion this was a questionable and a border line hit, some might say that it was dirty.

Also, what the heck was Max Talbot doing in this video?

Personally, I seen worse hits that were dirtier in this years Stanley Cup Playoffs - but that doesn't make this hit any better. The Flyers are out of the playoffs, so I don't expect anything to come from this hit, Zubras also returned to the game.

Former NHL Official Kerry Fraser had to say this on the Rinaldo hit.

A bit of a pattern develops here when Zac Rinaldo took out Dainius Zubrus, another payback recipient, with a low bridge hip check (video link) just above the knees. While kneeing was initially reported on the call, interference appears on the official score sheet as Pierre Maguire of NBC correctly pointed out at the time. This was a needless and dirty play.  The puck was in the opposite corner of the rink as Zubrus cut around the net and was low bridged by Rinaldo. I can appreciate the fact that the refs would not want to put the game on the line by assessing a five-minute major penalty for clipping even though Zubrus appeared shaken up on the play and was attended to.