Bruins and Flyers

This is one of the better NHL Hockey games that I have watched in a very long time, it was an impressive offensive exhibition there were 12 goals were scored. I also think that these are the two teams that are going to be fighting it out for the Eastern Conference title for a trip to the Stanley Cup finals. You heard it here folks. On a side note; if you watch closely on the Nikolai Zherdev goal you will see that he was offsides.

Wheel of Justice rules; Jody Shelley suspended 2 games for hit on Adam McQuaid

I have read that Jody Shelly while one tough hombre is not a dirty player… When I read that he apologized on the ice, I thought that was a class act. Honestly, with Colin Campbell being as erratic as he is, there really is no way of knowing what to expect when the NHL disciplinary makes his rulings…I think a two game suspension is about right.

NHL.Com ---- Philadelphia Flyers forward Jody Shelley has been suspended for two games and fined by the NHL for his hit on Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid on Saturday.

Shelley was given a five-minute major for checking from behind and a game misconduct 5:08 into the second period after shoving McQuaid while both players were racing for the puck. McQuaid, who just missed hitting the boards head-first, remained on the ice for several minutes before finally being helped off by teammates.

Shelley will forfeit $11,827.96 in salary, which will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

"I mean, I kind of got my hands up, braced myself a little bit, so it ended up not being as bad as I guess it could have been," McQuaid told reporters after the game.

Shelley apologized to McQuaid at the time of the incident and in the hallway outside the dressing rooms. The 24-year-old defenseman did return to the ice in the third period.

"You know, he was saying to me, I could hear him on the ice saying that he didn't mean to, so I guess, I'm not sure if maybe I don't know if he hit a rut or what happened, but he was saying he didn’t mean to," McQuaid said. "When I was coming off the ice, (Shelley) was waiting for me there. He said he was sorry and he didn’t mean to, so I just kind of got to take what he says."

What leverage do NCAA teams have?

Bruce Ciskie from the FANHOUSE blog has a really good article on how the NCAA and the NHL need to come to an agreement on deadline to which they will no longer pursue signing their draft choices that are on college teams. I think it's a great idea but I don't think division I college hockey teams have much to bargin with when it comes to NHL hockey teams. Where and what is the leverage?

After a ton of speculation, Chicago signed former Minnesota defenseman Nick Leddy to an entry-level deal July 27. Yes, Chicago has suffered through a salary cap crunch, and they need bodies. But there is no reason to allow these late signings to continue.

The NHL and NCAA need a defined partnership. No, that wouldn't stop CHL teams from poaching, but it would allow for a better working relationship between the NHL and college hockey, a growing entity in the United States that continues to produce more and more professional talent.

More specifically, there needs to be a deadline after which NHL teams can no longer pursue NCAA talent. It might encourage more NHL franchises to send their draft picks to the major junior ranks, but it also gives both sides a defined date to work with. However, any partnership needs a compromise. In this case, the NCAA must get rid of the rule that prevents kids from taking part in training camps.

Any drafted player should have the right to participate in NHL training camp -- at least on weekends, when they don't have to worry about attending classes. Giving NHL teams the ability to invite college players to camp would at least give them another vehicle to evaluate these players, even if they aren't going to be allowed to sign them.

I like what Bruce is saying here and I agree that NCAA hockey players should have the ability to go to their training camps and if they are not signed they should be able to return to their college hockey team without penalty as long as they haven't signed a contract and recieved a signing bonus.

I also have another question that I thinks needs to be asked; do certain NCAA division I hockey teams have a credibility problems with some of the NHL teams and their general managers?

Sunday morning links

I can't believe all of the interesting hockey news that is out there this morning. It's a little over a month and a half before NHL training camps start on September 17th. The Regular season opens on October 7th 2010.

Here is an interesting story on Boston Bruins forward Mark Savard; Bruins Must Take Time Before Deciding on Whether to Trade Marc Savard [NESN] In my opinion trading Savard is a very bad idea.

Former Michigan Wolverine goalie Marty Turco is a free agent this summer after not being resigned by the Dallas stars and he won't be a Flyer, but would've loved to be one... [Pro Hockey Talk] I would have to think that Turco is going to be picked up by a team that needs to solidify their line up.

According to Marty Turco's agent; Agent: Marty Turco could have new team in 7-10 days. [ESPN.COM] It will be interesting to see if Turco signs with an NHL team this week. Rumor has it that Turco could be on his way to Chicago if the Blackhawks don’t resign their goalie Antti Niemi who just won his arbitration case.

I am sure that Redwing77 is pleased to know that the SJ Sharks have signed Devin Setoguchi to one-year deal [Pro Hockey Talk]

From the ESPN Bruins Blog; Wheeler: I wanted to be in Boston [ESPN.COM]

I think if I can just assert myself more physically, especially on the forecheck and things of that nature, it’s going to create a lot more opportunities for myself and the guys I’m playing with to get more offensive opportunities. Sometimes it’s about less is more, and when you kind of take a step back from things, it’s a little bit easier to notice where you may be able to improve on things.”

He also realizes he needs to let it rip more as he barrels down the wing. With Wheeler’s size, he should be able to get solid scoring chances from the wing.

"It's about getting comfortable with shooting farther away from the net," Wheeler said. "Anytime you put a shot on net anywhere from the top of the circles in, it's going to be a pretty good look. It's getting that mentality and getting comfortable with letting the puck go like that. It should really help me. I think I've been more of a passer in my first two years. I'd like to close the gap. I think working on that will really help."

Wheeler, Bruins avoided a fight in arbitration [Boston Globe]

There is a good chance that former Fighting Sioux hockey defenseman Rick Wilson could end up being the Wild's assistant coach. [Russo's Rants]

Here is another story on former Fighting Sioux defenseman Rick Wilson possibly being the Wild's new assistant coach. [Red Star and Sickle]

Gophers lose home-and-home series with Texas [Star and Tribune] It appears that the sticking point was the Big Ten Network.

"The Texas game is no longer on our schedule due to a contract impasse concerning video rights," Maturi, who negotiated with the Longhorns "for months," said Tuesday via e-mail. "... We had an agreement. Unfortunately, with our commitments to the BTN [Big Ten Network], there were issues we could not come to agreement on."

We keep hearing how the Big Ten Network is a big time money maker and what might be driving the Big Ten Hockey Conference discussion but in this situation the channel probably cost the Gophers a big pay day at the gates.

According to Tim Howe at the Fargo Hockey Examiner former Grand Forks Central High Goalie Seth Lang has the inside track to be the Force third goalie, if one is taken. [Fargo Hockey Examiner] According to people that were at the Force tryout this past week, say that Lang was every bit as good as Fighting Sioux recruit Zane Gothberg who was also at the try out camp.

Bruins have a 50-50 chance...

I give the Boston Bruins have a 50/50 chance of winning the hockey game tomorrow night against the Broad Street Bulleys. Looking at the numbers the Bruins are 9-9 in game sevens.

WILMINGTON — The Bruins are about to play in their 19th Game 7 in team history on Friday night against the Flyers. It will be the 15th Game 7 on home ice and the second time they have been taken to a Game 7 after leading a series three games to none (1939 against the Rangers was the last time). It is the fourth time they have been taken to a Game 7 after holding a three games to one advantage (1939 Rangers, 1992 Sabres, 2004 Canadiens).

The Bruins hold a 9-9 record overall in Game 7s and are 9-5 at home. They are 2-2 when the game is decided in overtime, such as last season in the semifinals against Carolina. The Bruins have lost three straight Game 7s after winning their previous six and this will be the first time they face the Flyers in an ultimate game.

Coach Claude Julien is 1-2 lifetime in Game 7s while Flyers coach Peter Laviolette is 2-1. Julien’s lone win came over the Bruins when he was the coach of Montreal in 2004. Steve Begin (2-0), Mark Recchi (4-3) and Dennis Seidenberg (2-1) are the only Bruins players to have winning records in Game 7s while captain Zdeno Chara is 0-4

Chara will not be suspended.

Here is the explanation on why Big "Z" will not be suspended for game six. As some of the pundits have said the Gaustad slash (at the end of this video) is probably the reason why Chara will not receive any additional discipline from the NHL.

Darren Dreger TSN - The Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres were informed by the NHL on Friday night that Boston captain Zdeno Chara will not be suspended for the end of game instigator he was assessed in the Bruins' 4-1 loss to the Sabres.

However, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli had to formally submit a written request to Terry Gregson, the NHL's director of officiating, to have the instigator rescinded.

Two instigator penalties during the Stanley Cup playoffs results in an automatic suspension.

Chara was not involved in any in-game incident prior to his retaliation which under Rule 47.22 provides the criteria for Colin Campbell, the NHL's Director of Hockey Operations, to lift the automatic suspension which coincides with this penalty.

"(Rule 47.22)

Instigator in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time (or Anytime in Overtime) - A player or goalkeeper who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at anytime in overtime, shall automatically be suspended for one game. The Director of Hockey Operations will review every such incident and may rescind the suspension based on a number of criteria. The criteria for the review shall include, but not limited to, the score, previous incidents, etc. The length of suspension will double for each subsequent offense. This suspension shall be served in addition to any other automatic suspensions a player may incur for an accumulation of three or more instigator penalties.When the one-game suspension is imposed, the Coach shall be fined $10,000 - a fine that will double for each subsequent incident. No team appeals will be permitted either verbally or in writing regarding the assessment of this automatic suspension."

Donny Brook at the end of the Bruins and Sabres game.

The reason that Zdeno Chara goes after Paul Gaustad is that he slashes Chara as he skates by. Holy Cow! You've got to love playoff hockey. While the Sabres may have won tonight's game the Bruins have two games to win the series clinching game. Mark it down, the Sabres are not going to win this series.

R.J. Umberger on the Captials.

Check out what former OSU Buckeye R.J. Umberger had to say about the Washington Captials last night.

Blue Jackets left winger R.J. Umberger had some rather frank words to say about the Washington Capitals after a 3-2 Capitals win over the Blue Jackets tonight in Nationwide Arena:

Umberger is not known as a smack talker. He probably didn't think his words would incense the Caps' fanbase or members of their front office. Typically, he's brutally honest, even blunt.

Here's what Umberger said:

“I don’t think any team in the West would be overmatched by them,” Umberger said. “They play the wrong way. They want to be moving all the time. They float around in their zone, looking for breakaways and odd-man rushes.

“A good defensive team is going to beat them (in the playoffs). If you eliminate your turnovers and keep them off the power play, they’re going to get frustrated because they’re in their zone a lot.”
[Blue Jackets Extra]

Leafs owe their GM huge effort vs. Bruins

Here is an interesting article from the Star on the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke. The man has went through a lot and is taking a beating over the Phil Kessel trade that sent two first round draft picks to the Boston Bruins. Kessel has had a rough go of it against his former team getting a measly assist in five games.

From a human point of view, of course, it's been an awful year for Burke, who stood behind his 21-year-old son Brendan last fall when the young man decided to publicly declare his homosexuality, and then buried Brendan this past winter after a terrible accident that killed his son and an 18-year-old friend.

He not only kept doing his Toronto job through that nightmare, but he led Team USA into the Vancouver Olympics as well, answering questions every day along the way while fighting back the urge to burst into tears at the mention of Brendan's name.

He has hung in there better than the Leafs. Well, now's a chance for the Leafs, to a man, to win one for their boss, a GM who has been known throughout his career as an executive for whom players like to play. As mentioned, beating the Bruins won't change the fact Boston owns the Leafs' top pick in the June draft.

And having Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin going head-to-head in a high profile OHL playoff series – even NHL.com is covering it – certainly brings the commodities the Leafs sacrificed into even sharper relief.

Kessel, then, might want to deliver an inspired effort. For five years, this 22-year-old from Madison, Wisc., has been alternately praised and panned. It was once suggested that if he'd been eligible for the 2005 draft, Kessel would have competed with Sidney Crosby for top billing.

Instead, he slipped in the rankings amidst widespread criticism of his game and personality and was taken fifth overall in 2006. In Boston, he struggled enough to be benched in his first-ever NHL playoff spring, but then rebounded well last season after a 35-goal campaign by scoring six goals in 11 playoff games with a bum shoulder that required surgery.

This is a player who has inspired either admiration or sneers for years, but Burke staked his reputation on the belief Kessel will be a star in Toronto.

On Saturday night, Kessel would be well-served to deliver a performance indicating an appreciation for that.

This season, Kessel has not fared well against his former Bruin teammates, who have seemed to delight in making his life miserable after he essentially declared he didn't want to play with them any longer. He has one measly assist in five games, three of them Boston victories.

Saturday night on national TV is the final chance Kessel will have this season to shine in the spotlight. To prove he has been worth all the fuss.
[The Star]

NHL; Legal versus illegal...

If you haven't seen this video that describes what is a legal hit and what is consider an illegal hit, here is the Video from the NHL. This video is pretty straight forward on what types of hits are allowed and not allowed. If I interpreted this right the bush-leaguer hit by thug/had Matt Cooke on Marc Savard would now be a illegal hit.

Wirtz wanted Ovechkin out for season

I saw the game in question, the hit on Campbell was a bad hit, there could have been a more meaningful, meatier and longer suspension for Alex Ovechkin but NHL fans should know by now that NHL stars like Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby don’t get 5-10 games suspensions or longer because there are separate and different rules for superstars than there are for the tough guys and goons in the NHL. The NHL isn’t going to take their money makers and suspend them for long periods of time because they put asses in the seats. That is the brutal reality. If Derek Boogaard or Milan Lucic had did what Ovechkin did to Brian Campbell the NHL would have had the book thrown at them.

I believe that there should be the same rules for Sidney Crosby, Milan Lucic and Colton Orr. Do the crime you do the time.

Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz believes Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin knew what he was doing when he injured Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell on March 14, and Wirtz believes Ovechkin should have been suspended for the rest of the season.

Ovechkin was suspended two games for the hit, which resulted in a fractured clavicle and rib. Campbell is expected to miss seven to eight weeks.

During a taping of an upcoming Crain's Business of Sports video, Wirtz said the suspension should last as long as the injured player is sidelined.

"If any one of our great players put Ovechkin out for the season, he should be out for the season, too," Wirtz told Crain's. "Make it commensurate. [ESPN.COM]

One of the longest fights in NHL history.

According to Hockeyfights.com this is one of the longest fights in NHL history; Cam Janssen versus Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond. It made me tired just watching it.

Cam Janssen and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond were tireless Saturday night, trading punches back and forth in one of the longest fights in NHL history. It went back and forth, one punch at a time for two and a half minutes.

More Cindy Crosby antics

I am so sick and tired of Sidney Crosby's antics, I mean really. Crosby is a great hockey player and one of the best in the game but watch the video, Crosby cross checked Henrik Zetterberg about four times. In my opinion Crosby deserved a good beat down for that and good for Jimmy Howard for stepping up.
[Stick Salute]

Steve Downie hit on Sidney Crosby

[Click to see video]Here is the latest hit to cause a stir around the NHL. Forty seconds into the game Lightning hack Steve Downie takes a run at Sidney Crosby’s knees. Not one of Sidney's teammates challenged Steve Downie to a fight, check out the game box score, Downie was given a roughing minor.
It is unacceptable to let a player of Downie’s ilk take a run at one of the best players in the NHL and not challenge him.

The league has fined Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Steve Downie $1,000 for taking down Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby during Sunday's game. Downie said he spoke to league disciplinarian Colin Campbell on Tuesday morning. He said there will not be a suspension.

"He called it a dangerous play," Downie said.

The play happened early in the first period when the two got tangled up and Crosby fell awkwardly with his right leg pinned underneath Downie. Downie said there was no intent to injure. There was no penalty on the play, and Crosby played the rest of the game.

Downie, who has worked very hard this season to not take stupid penalties, did not want to speculate on if his reputation, based on past actions, might have played into the decision, saying he just wants to move on. But he did say, "If he (Crosby) didn't fall in an awkward position, it wouldn't even be talked about." [Tampabay.com]

Managers urge NHL to fast-track head shot regulations

After watching that gutless puke Matt Cooke end Marc Savard’s season with a dirty but legal hit, I wonder if this isn't such a bad idea. Someone is going to get killed on the ice with a vicious head shot. I think one thing the GM's might want to also do while they are at it, is get rid of the instigator rule to help police the game and respond to dirty acts such as the one above.

In the face of mounting public criticism, a group of general managers is pushing the NHL to adopt its proposed new rule on hits to the head before the end of the current season.

The group wants NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to bring the proposed rule, which calls for a minor or major penalty plus an automatic review by the league for any hit in which the head is the target, to the competition committee for a quick review. If the committee grants the necessary approval, the GMs want the governors to give the final approval in a fax vote in order for the rule to be put into force immediately, sources told The Globe and Mail. [Globe and Mail]

Where are they now... Tyler Bozak

Since it is Final Five week, I figured I would pass along a story that I found on line. Former DU star Tyler Bozak is making a good impression with the Toronto Maple Leafs. I can only imagine what kind of a team DU would be if Bozak was still in the line up. Bozak is playing with former Minnesota Golden Gopher and Boston Bruin Phil Kessel.

OTTAWA–Leaf rookie Tyler Bozak is making a name for himself these days as a speedy centre with playmaking skills.

But a year ago, the pivot who has found chemistry with Phil Kessel, was making his name in the NHL for his interviewing skills. As a highly touted forward with the University of Denver, Bozak was entertaining NHL offers while winding down his NCAA career in 2008-09.

Making the difficult decision wasn't easy, since he was already balancing school and hockey. He needed a plan after 27 NHL teams came to see him in a span of two months. In the end, it boiled down to two teams – the Leafs and Ottawa Senators.

Ovechkin suspended two games for Campbell hit

I would have to say that I am surprised that it wasn't longer. Campbell is going to be out for a long time with a broken collar bone. If this had been Derek Boogaard this would have probably been 5-10 games.

NHL.COM - Alex Ovechkin was suspended for two games without pay by the National Hockey League on Monday for his hit on Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell early in Sunday's game in Chicago that reportedly has ended Campbell's regular season.

NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell ruled that it was a "reckless" hit by Ovechkin, who received a five-minute boarding major and a game misconduct on the play that occurred 12:16 into the first period.

Ovechkin, now considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, forfeits $232,645.40 in salary, based on the number of games in the season (82), rather than the number of days (193). The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Ovechkin hit on Brian Campbell

This is the hit that everyone is talking about in the NHL today, I was watching this game and it was kind of a buzzkill. I wonder if the league will suspend Ovechkin or not. Collin Campbell has proven in the past that there are different standards for different types of players.

GMs to recommend banning blindside shoulder hits to the head

I believe this is the first step in the right direction, for the NHL. The OHL already bans head shot already, why not the NHL? In International Ice Hockey Federation play their opinion is that; “there is no such thing as a clean hit to the head." The NCAA bans hits to the head, there is at least a two minute penalty for shots to the head.

The NHL's general managers will recommend the adoption of a new rule to ban blindside hits to the head by a player's shoulder.

So far, this recommendation was made by an eight-man committee of GMs at their annual meetings and it will be placed in front of the entire 30 general managers on Wednesday morning. The proposal will be subject to further review and tweaking but it appears a formal recommendation for a new rule will be made when the meetings end Wednesday afternoon.

“We’re going to fine-tune it,” said San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson, who is a member of the eight-person committee. “It’s going to go back to the bigger group for our thoughts.”

The new rule will also subject offenders to supplementary discipline in the form of suspensions. Repeat offenders will probably face lengthy suspensions.

However, since the details remain subject to further changes by the GMs, who could conceivably even shelve the proposal, no one wanted to say exactly what the proposed rule is other than it will address blindside hits to the head by a player’s shoulder.

The formal recommendation will go to the NHL's competition commitee and the governors for approval this summer. The new rule will probably take effect next season [Globe and Mail]

Hab's hack Maxim Lapierre Suspended 4 Games

Props to KuklasKorner. Habs player Maxim Lapierre was given a four game suspension for this hit. I can't believe that there wasn't a penalty called on the play and the ref was right there.

TORONTO (March 5, 2010) – Montreal Canadiens forward Maxim Lapierre has been suspended for four games, without pay, for a late hit on San Jose Sharks forward Scott Nichol during NHL game #949, last night, the National Hockey league announced today.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Lapierre will forfeit $14,248.72. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

At 1:50 of the third period, Lapierre knocked Nichols into the end boards with a late, careless hit. Nichol was injured on the play and did not return to the game. No penalty was assessed on the play.