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

Vancouver's Hansen faces hearing for hit on Hossa

Vancouver Canuck forward Jannik Hansen hit Chicago Blackhawk forward Marian Hossa's in the head with this dirty hit and he needs to be suspended by the National Hockey League for this dirty hit, there is no defending this hit. Like I said in a previous post, this is a clear violation of the NHL’s rule 48. Vancouver Canuck forward Jannik Hansen needs to be suspended for this dirty hit, and there is no defending this hit.

NHL.COM --- Vancouver Canucks forward Jannik Hansen faces a hearing with the National Hockey League Department of Player Safety Wednesday afternoon for an incident in Tuesday night's game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Hansen was assessed a two-minute minor for roughing Marian Hossa at 1:10 of the third period. Hossa left the game and did not return.

Chicago defeated the Canucks, 4-3, in a shootout.

I do hope that the NHL Department of Players Safety does the right thing and suspends Hansen for this hit. These are the types of hits are that hockey is trying to eliminate, there is no reason for Hansen to hit Hossa in the head on that play.

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.

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.

Is Marian Hossa a curse?

I was thinking about this yesterday after the Blackhawks had won their game against the San Jose Sharks and you have to wonder if Hossa's fellow Blackhawk teammates are looking at him and going no, not that guy again.

CHICAGO — Marian Hossa is either blessed, or cursed.

We’ll find out soon enough when the Chicago winger makes his third straight trip to the Stanley Cup final with his third different team.

Having lost in Game 7 with Detroit last year and Pittsburgh the year before that, Hossa is hoping (actually he’s long past the point of hoping and has moved on to agonizing) that this time he will finally close the deal.

“It’s a great feeling coming to the finals again, definitely,” said the 31-year-old ex-Ottawa Senator. “This time I want to finish in a much more positive way than the last two years. That’s my goal. It’s a huge accomplishment (winning the West), but we don’t want to stop here.”

It will help Chicago’s chances greatly if Hossa actually scores a goal or two in the final, a fact that’s not lost on a sniper searching far and wide for his trigger finger.

“I am frustrated, trust me,” said Hossa, who has two goals in 16 playoff games so far.