Toews goal against the Wild

#488188615 / gettyimages.com

Exhibit A: This is what they mean by going hard to the net. Getting to the blue pain. I thought this goal was a back breaker. The much maligned, and rightfully so, Minnesota Wild goalie Ilya Bryzgalov makes a beautiful initial save on Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa. That play would have been great, but the poor defensive effort by the Wild defenders allowed Jonathan Toews to crash the net and cash in on the rebound at the side of the net.

Marian Hossa out for game three against the Bruins

Never boring in the leadup to a Stanley Cup Final game. However, this news on Hossa thickens the plot more than most.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) June 18, 2013

This is some interesting and shocking news... Marian Hossa is out for game three of the Stanley Cup Finals. Former B.C. Eagle forward Ben Smith takes his place in the line up... Smith has played one game for the Blackhawks this season.

#Blackhawks Ben Smith goes in for late scratch Marian Hossa, who apparently got hurt in warmups
— Pat Leonard (@NYDNRangers) June 18, 2013

Ben Smith in the lineup. Does. Not. Compute. For Boston College B's fans. #WeareBC
— BC Interruption (@bcinterruption) June 18, 2013

Blackhawks vs Kings; Blackhawks lead series 3-1

The L.A. Kings lose for the first time at home during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Chicago Blackhawks make L.A. Kings all-world goalie Jonathan Quick look human, the goal by Hossa was an absolute blast, in fact, Quick is probably still looking for the puck.

Scoring for the Blackhawks: Bryan Bickell (8), Marian Hossa (7) and Patrick Kane (3) find the twine and score big goals for the Blackhawks. Scoring For the L.A. Kings: Slava Voynov(6) and Dustin Penner (3).

Bryan Bickell is an unrestricted free agent in the offseason and has had a big 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs scoring (8g-3—11pts), you would think that he’s going to be getting a big raise in the offseason. According to capgeek.com Bickell is  making $541,667.00

Canucks’ Jannik Hansen concerned about stain on his record

Orca logo, 1997–2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cry me a river, don't do the crime, if you don't want to do the time. This is why people hate/despise the Vancouver Canucks. You're responsible for your actions on the ice.

Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun --- Through 129 AHL and 286 NHL games, the Vancouver Canucks winger liked to think he had earned a reputation as a hard-working, honest player who played the game the right way.

So Hansen was more than a little disappointed about the one-game suspension he served Thursday night for his hit two nights earlier on Chicago forward Marian Hossa.

Sure, the $7,297.30 Hansen forfeited for sitting out Thursday night's game hit him right in the wallet, but Hansen said he's more concerned about having that mark on his record.

"Of course, you know that you are a repeat offender now if something happens again," he said after participating in Thursday's optional game-day skate at American Airlines Center. "You are trying to play an honest game and play the right way and not step too far over the line and it's unfortunate. But that's the way it is right now."

Other than the video that the NHL posted on its website, Hansen said he received no further explanation for the suspension.

Hossa: "(Hansen) said he was reaching for the puck. I didn’t buy it. When you reach for the puck you don’t hit s'one that hard in the head."
— Tracey Myers (@TramyersCSN) February 21, 2013

Related articles

• Canucks' Jannik Hansen suspended one game for head hit on Blackhawks star Marian Hossa (vancouversun.com)

NHL goes light on Jannik Hansen

I am tired of watching the NHL Department of Player Safety go light on players that should be suspended for multiple games, this was a situation, that I believe warranted a 2-3 games suspension. By going light on Jannik Hansen you pretty much guaranteeing he's going to be a marked man in the next game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Vancouver Canucks.

In summary, there is "no" justification for that dirty, bush league hit, and I don't care what anyone says,you can not defend that dirty hit either. I don't care what Jannik Hansen is doing. Everyone knows that Marian Hossa has just returned from a concussion and you can connect the dots, the Blackhawks are the best team in the Western conference. This was a definite attempt to injure another player.

Jannik Hansen hit to the head of Marian Hossa

During last night's game, Vancouver Canuck forward Jannik Hansen hit Chicago Blackhawk forward Marian Hossa's in the head  with this dirty hit. This play needs to be reviewed by the department of players safety. There is no doubt that this hit and should have been more than a two minute minor penalty, in my opinion.

Rule 48 - Illegal Check 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.

Jamal Mayers vs. Raffi Torres

This is one of the things that I like about the NHL. The players sort things out on the ice and settle things like men.

Last season, during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Raffi Torres steam rolled Marian Hossa with a dirty and dangerous hit. Hossa suffered a concussion and Torres was suspended for 25 games.

Torres appealed the suspension, and the NHL reduced his suspension to 21 games. Torres is now back playing with the Coyotes after serving his long ban.

I guess you could say that we all knew that this day would come, and the first time that the Phoenix Coyotes played the Chicago Blackhawks, Torres would have to answer the bell against the one of the Blackhawks players. The hockey code demanded it. 

 Torres didn't turtle, he answered the bell, and did quite well against Jamal Mayers.

Gary Bettman reduces Raffi Torres suspension

s/t to George Malik of Kuklas Korner. This action by Gary Bettman really makes my blood boil. Raffi Torres is a multiple time offender and was given the correct number of games, now Bettman decides to reduce the Torres Suspension by 4 games.

From TSN’s Darren Dreger: It appears that Raffi Torres won’t serve the 25 games he was slated to sit out for concussing Marian Hossa:

Sources say Gary Bettman has reached a decision on Raffi Torres suspension appeal.

Expected to reduce suspension by 4 games. 12 down to 8. ... Torres was suspended 25 games after a hit on Chicago’s Marian Hossa in game 3 of 1st round of the playoffs. ...

To be clear, my math shows Torres had 12 games remaining in suspension. Reduction by 4 and 8 games remain next season

So the NHL is saying by reducing this suspension that they don’t care about “Player Safety.” If not, what statement are they trying to make? You have a player in Raffi Torres that is the poster boy of what is wrong with the NHL. Torres is a dirty player that skates all over the ice taking runs at players and many times making contact with the head.

Chris Neil will not meet the Shanahammer

I think this is the right decision, it looked like a good hit, Boyle had just released the puck and Neil kept his elbows down and didn't leave his feet to lung at the Rangers forward. In my opinion, the Chris Neil hit on Brian Boyle was a good legal red light hit. The New York Rangers coach John Tortorella was not happy with the hit last night and compared Neil’s hit on Boyle to the Raffi Torres hit on Marian Hossa.

Katie Strang, ESPN --- Well they have the blueprint," Tortorella said in his postgame news conference. "It's the exact same hit as Torres' -- a different part of the ice -- but he launches himself, head shot, (the) puck's at the goal line, and he's hit. So, the blueprint's there.

I'm sure he's a repeat offender, too. Not much research to be done there."Neil is not a repeat offender, however, a critical distinction between Neil and Torres. But Boyle suffered what could potentially be a very serious injury, a fact that will be taken into consideration when the league review the play. 

Related articles

• Senators top Rangers 2-0, take 3-2 series lead
• Chris Neil concussed Brian Boyle on hit that followed 'Raffi Torres blueprint' according to Rangers coach
• Rangers' Boyle concussed after hit from Neil
• NHL Playoffs: Senators shut out Rangers to take 3-2 series lead

The Coyotes response to the Torres Suspension

Phoenix Coyotes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is what the GM of the Phoenix Coyotes had to say about his player Raffi Torres being suspended.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA --- Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney has issued the following statement regarding Coyotes forward Raffi Torres’ 25 game suspension that was announced today by the National Hockey League.

“I want to thank Brendan Shanahan and his staff for their thorough review of this incident," said Maloney. “The ruling is very severe for Raffi and our Hockey Club. Raffi plays a hard, physical game yet this contact crossed the line on what is acceptable in our game today. We hope Marian Hossa makes a full and speedy recovery as we all enjoy watching him perform. The Club accepts the NHL's decision and will focus on our game tonight.”

Related articles

• Raffi Torres suspended 25 games for hit on Marian Hossa (with video)
• Raffi Torres Suspension: Coyotes Agree Hit 'Crossed The Line'
• VIDEO: Raffi Torres Suspended 25 Games For Hit On Marian Hossa
• Raffi Torres suspended 25 games by NHL for Hossa hit
• Coyotes' Torres Suspended 25 Games for Hossa Hit

Torres disciplinary ruling to be announced Saturday

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.

Related articles

• Raffi Torres, "I just felt like it was a hockey play"
• Torres to meet with the Shanahammer
• NHL's Bettman: Suspension criticism 'gamesmanship'
• Raffi Torres Suspension: Ruling From NHL Will Come On Saturday
• Raffi Torres decision on Saturday, as NHL mulls 'whether to assess further supplemental discipline'

NHL's Bettman: Suspension criticism 'gamesmanship'

NHL Commisioner Gary Bettman in 2007. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this one. I mean seriously, you can’t make this stuff up; this is the ultimate display of buffoonery in action. Does Gary Bettman not get it? This is why many people, fans, coaches and players look at the NHL commissioner and the NHL League front office as a gong show.

 NEW YORK (AP) - NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman calls teams' complaints about player suspensions during the postseason "gamesmanship."

Bettman said Friday that criticism of the league's disciplinary decisions as inconsistent simply reflected clubs disliking rulings that hurt them. He used the one-game suspension of Washington center Nicklas Backstrom for an illegal cross-check as an example. Bettman says of the Capitals' disagreement: "That doesn't mean anything; they didn't like it."

Bettman says he has confidence in league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan. The commissioner spoke at an Associated Press Sports Editors meeting shortly before Shanahan was to hold a hearing with Phoenix forward Raffi Torres. Torres is suspended indefinitely for launching himself into Chicago's Marian Hossa on Tuesday.

Nine players were issued suspensions through the first eight days of the playoffs.

The reason the team’s management, the players and fans of various NHL teams are upset is that they see the current state of affairs in the NHL to be disgusting. I don't mind the rough stuff and the after the whistle stuff because it adds to the drama and the rancor, however, when a a player drive another players head into the glass and only get a $2,500.00 fine, you have to think that something is wrong here. Then other players get a random one game or a three game suspension, it's like the Wheel of Justice is back in the NHL.

Then we have star players getting off without even getting a fine for acts that would get other players a two to three game suspension.

Related articles

• NHL's Bettman: Suspension Criticism 'Gamesmanship'
• Bettman: Teams' complaints on suspensions 'gamesmanship'
• Nicklas Grossman injuried by Malkin Elbow.
• Bettman calls complaints about player suspensions 'gamesmanship'
• NHL's punishment must be swift and severe for Raffi Torres hit on Marian Hossa