Derek Dorsett boards Nate Prosser; then Fights Him

There are some fans that don't like fighting in any level of hockey, I am more fussed about dirty, dangerous, unnecessary boarding and checks from behind. I am more concerned about hits like the one Dorsett put on Nate Prosser.

First Derek Dorsett was in the game to cause havoc at the end of a lopsided game, no one is going to confuse him with Sidney Crosby or even Brad Marchand. Second, the boarding penalty was a dangerous hit and should have been a major penalty, in my humble opinion.

Props to Prosser challenging Dorsett. The one-dimensional Dorsett has played in 32 games scoring (2g-4a—6pts) he’s a minus 5 and has logged 100 penalty minutes. Dorsett alone has been in as many fights as the entire Minnesota Wild hockey team.

Alex Burrows Gets Lucky

First, Alex Burrows hit on Johnny Gaudreau was dirty bush-league hit, but what do you expect from a clown like Burrows? Second, Burrows is lucky he wasn't given an instigator penalty. If I was the on-ice official, Burrows would be sitting tomorrow night.

Third, Calgary's Kris Russell had the opportunity of a lifetime. Burrows challenged him to a fight. Russell should have lit Burrows up like a pinball machine.

(1) Upon standard review mandated by Rule 46. 22, NHL has determined that VAN's Alex Burrows shall not be suspended for Game 4 vs. Calgary.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 20, 2015

(2) Incident deemed "not related to the score, previous incidents in the game or prior games, retaliatory in nature, "message sending."
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 20, 2015

I keep hearing how some fans are offended about what transpired last night. This is why I like the playoffs, there's so much drama and energy in the games. You have villains and you have the scrums and dustups.

Game-Ending Brawl Costs Flames Coach Bob Hartley 50,000

I guess you could say that Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley got his money's worth. At the end of last night's game between the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks, there was a massive line brawl between the two teams.

Line brawl aside, the Canucks won the game 4-1.

Needless to say, the NHL was less than impressed with the incident and Hartley has been fined $50,000 by the league for his team's antics. Somewhere, former Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella is smiling from ear-to-ear.

NEW YORK – Calgary Flames Head Coach Bob Hartley has been fined $50,000 for his responsibility for the incident that took place with 1:17 remaining in regulation of the first-round playoff game in Vancouver on Friday, April 17, the National Hockey League announced today. The fine was issued in accordance with By-Law 17.3 (a) for conduct prejudicial to or against the welfare of the League.

In addition, the National Hockey League announced that the game misconduct penalty assessed to Calgary Flames defenseman Deryk Engelland for instigating a fight in the last five minutes of regulation has been rescinded.

Hartley was fined $25,000 for a similar incident during the 2013-14 regular season.

The fine money goes to the NHL Foundation.

Check out this impressive box score of the incident in question. That's a lot of penalty minutes.

Diver Down: Jannik Hansen embellishes slash by Milan Lucic (Video)

Players that dive disgust me and Vancouver Canucks forward Jannik Hansen is one of those players that embellishes to draw calls.

While some will claim that David Pastrnak's stick hit Hansen in the face. It didn't. I took a screen shot of the video. Neither players' stick hit Hansen in the face. The stick of Pastranak tapped Hansen in the chest, nowhere near Hansen's face.

Time for the NHL to Embarass the Divers

#57060815 / gettyimages.com

s/t Pro hockey talk... I really like the idea of exposing and publically humiliating the divers in the NHL. I am all in on that idea. In fact, let's have a wall of shame and expose the frauds weekly that cheapen the game of hockey.


I have a great idea. Let's have an end of the season dishonor award for the frauds that get caught diving and embellishing the most. I would suppose the players union won't let this happen, but if you don't want to get called out and publically humiliated, stop flopping and diving all over the ice. It's really that simple.

Dan Rosen - NHL.com -- The players in the session, including Ottawa Senators center Jason Spezza, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman John-Michael Liles, led an impassioned discussion on enforcing the diving/embellishment rule (Rule 64.1), [Colin] Campbell told NHL.com. He said the players want to distribute a list of divers around the League so it can be posted in all 30 dressing rooms and be delivered to the on-ice officials.

“They want to get [the list] out there,” Campbell said. “They want the player to be caught, whether it’s on the ice by the referee or by us on video. They are all tired of diving. The object is to make them stop eventually and, by doing that, they can get it out there around the League, embarrass them. The referees will know it, too, so the divers don’t get the benefit of the doubt.”

According to Elliott Freedman of SportsNet.ca the NHL seems to be moving away from exposing the divers and frauds. Again, diving to draw a penalty is cheating and poor sportsmanship.

The first example the NHL showed in its diving video was Tomas Plekanec’s head-snap in the Eastern Conference Final. The league wasn’t so sure about publicly naming those warned or fined, but the players pressed for it. Montreal’s centre is going to be closely watched at the start of the season

Related articles

• Enforcing the NHL's New Diving Rule

Ryan Miller's New Goalie Mask

If you haven't seen it yet, sweet mask.

Exclusive first-look at the new #Canucks mask of @RyanMiller3039 #fancy #IsItOctoberYet pic.twitter.com/5MxmYKyOLg
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) September 3, 2014

Hockey News: Steve Moore/Todd Bertuzzi settlement proves NHL can’t justify culture of revenge

The Steve Moore and Todd Bertuzzi settlement has been reached. I thought this article was worth a read. For those that don't read the Hockey News, they're very anti-fighting and I refer to them as the Anti-Fighting Cabal.  That being said, this was an ugly incident.

Adam Proteau, The Hockey News -- Perhaps they’ll be able to shovel enough money toward future plaintiffs to convince all of them to settle prior to a trial as Moore has. But what keeps owners and league brass awake at night is the lingering fear lucrative payouts won’t protect them forever; that they’ll be called to account in public and under oath; and once that happens, all their empty chatter about “tradition”, “our game” and “the code” will be exposed for what it is: insular, anachronistic, indefensible bunk.

The biggest tragedy/irony of the Bertuzzi/Moore narrative is that both of its main actors were broken by it – Bertuzzi never was the same player – yet hockey and the NHL carried on unscathed despite creating and cultivating the conditions that led to it. The truth is, the game was broken long ago, and in a way that led directly to the events that took place when the Canucks and Avs squared off on March 8, 2004.

The money that’s been paid to Moore does nothing to fix that fissure. Sadly, all it does is leave open the possibility there will be more Todd Bertuzzis, Steve Moores and legal showdowns to come.

The Steve Moore/Todd Bertuzzi lawsuit is over, & @Proteautype says it shows the NHL can't defend its revenge culture: http://t.co/XwkPHG4TBt
— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) September 5, 2014

Another reason to stay in school

#481395699 / gettyimages.com

Here's a perfect example of why college hockey players shouldn't be in a hurry to leave college and play professional hockey. Even if they're a first round draft choice.

Four years after leaving college, former Minnesota Golden Gopher Jordan Schroeder has played in a mere 56 NHL games and scored an unimpressive (6g-9a—15pts). I know that hind sight is 20/20, but I do  wonder if Schroeder would still leave school early, knowing what he knows now? Stay in school and finish that degree.

VAN will not be qualifying Jordan Schroeder or Zac Dalpe. Both go to UFA.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 30, 2014

Lambert, "Stop your complaining about diving already"

Today, Ryan Lambert of Puck Daddy fame has a blog post about diving. I always love those writers and fans that tell us to stop complaining about the on-ice officials. Moreover, I also love the people that tell us to stop complaining about player embellishment.

People seem particularly aggrieved these days by “the head snap,” that is, when a stick or a glove gets somewhere up near a guy's face, he throws his head back. Tomas Plekanec famously did this in Game 4, after everyone talked about how both teams had “embarrassed” the refs by embellishing for calls in Game 3. The reason why is simple: They'd been able to do it to great effect in the past, but because the officials were on the lookout for it, they spotted it in Plekanec's case. The guy who gets caught is always the one who gets vilified, and the quote-unquote hilarious hashtag “#Plekanecing” quickly made its way around social media (spurred on by, who else, Bruins media hacks). The reason for this is that it's hard to take a picture of throwing yourself on the ice with the force of 10 atomic bombs because a guy's stick tapped the back of your skate (#Marchanding), and that people's memories are short (#Boychuking).

I am sorry, but diving and embellishment has gotten way out of hand in all levels of hockey. It doesn't matter if you watch the NHL, College or youth hockey. Hockey players are flopping all over the ice to get calls and draw penalties. Face it, diving is poor sportsmanship and it cheapens the game of hockey. We don't want the NHL resembling soccer.



Seriously, I don't know too many hockey fans that want to see any more displays like these two examples. I posted two videos of Vancouver Canucks frauds Alex Burrows and Ryan Kessler. These two are the epitome of diving. Burrows is known around the NHL as being a head snapping embellishing clown. Lastly, Lambert a known Boston Bruins hater, is again using his blog to troll the Boston Bruins fan base, but none of us should be shocked by that.

Related articles

• Tomas Plekanec Called For Embellishment, Kicks Off #Plekanecing Movement On Twitter
• (Video) Tomas Plekanec embellishment, Brian Boyle two minutes

Ducks Kings Series 20 Years in the Making

Well they are separated by 30 miles and have been division rivals for the last 20 years, but this would be the first time that the Anaheim Ducks and the LA Kings would ever meet in the playoffs. 

LA, who came into the series rattling off four straight wins to eliminate the San Jose Sharks, came into the series on a mission to keep on rolling. A big part of that success was goaltender Jonathan Quick. Quick struggled in the first game of the first round, but would improve his numbers in every single game of the series against San Jose. In the Kings five game winning streak they are currently on, Quick has looked like the Quick of the 2012 Stanley Cup team. If this trend continues, I'd expect the Kings to sneak their way into the Cup finals. 

As for the quack attack, they came into game one off of a very hard fought six game series against the Dallas Stars. However, they are starting to turn into the Vancouver Canucks in these playoffs with all of their goalie drama that is occurring as of late. With Fredrick Anderson getting pretty much all the game play in the first round, usual number one, Jonas Hiller, is left on the sidelines leaving the fans scratching their heads. One would assume that Hiller would be the guy for the Ducks in the playoffs, especially since he has the most experience. That was not the case in round one, but he would get the call for game one in round two. Hiller would play decent in this game stopping 33 out of 36 shots faced, but the Ducks would lose on home ice and look for revenge tonight in game two. 

Both of these teams have  big bodies who like to be physical, a good amount of skillful players, and excellent puck moving defensemen, but the key difference in this freeway series is the goalies. Quick is on a different level than both Anaheim tenders and will be the deciding factor in LA taking this series. 

I expect the rest of this series to be very fast, very physical, and no love lost between these longtime rivals. It is still very hard to believe that this is still the two franchises first ever playoff match-up in the 20 year existence of the Anaheim (Mighty) Ducks. It's playoff series like this that make already existing rivalries that much greater, the hate between players much stronger and the same can be said between these two very passionate fan bases as well. 

(Video) John Tortorella being called "Mike" by reporter

John Tortorella being called Mike by a reporter... Love him or hate him, he's colorful.

Vancouver Cancuks So true

Lol pic.twitter.com/06RdDhCT37
— Brendan Shanahan (@NHLSafetyShan) April 5, 2014

This tweet is funny, but indicative of the Vancouver Canucks fans.

(Video) Alex Burrows Hit on Ryan McDonagh

This is why people don't like the Vancouver Canucks and Alex Burrows. The game is over, there's 40 seconds to go in the game. There's no way that the Canucks are going to get two goals past all-world goalie Henrik Lundqvist and Burrows decides that its a good time to take a run at  Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh almost starting a brawl. Now, if watch the video you will see that Canucks forward Zach Kassian already had McDonagh tied, nothing illegal with that play. Burrows comes in high on a defenseless player that can't defend himself.

There's no punishment coming from the NHL for this hit. This is why the Rats need to be held accountable in the NHL. I would like to see the NHL get rid of NHL Rule 46.12.

46.12 Instigator in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time (or Anytime in Overtime) - A player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at any time in overtime shall be assessed an instigator minor penalty, a major penalty for fighting, and a game misconduct penalty, subject to the conditions outlined in 46.22.

19:16 VAN Alexandre Burrows Elbowing (maj) against Ryan McDonagh
19:16 VAN Alexandre Burrows Game misconduct against Ryan McDonagh

Canucks' Burrows should not expect an NHL hearing for this hit on Rangers' McDonagh last night. Watch: http://t.co/qHohe1S38Z @sportsnet
— Hockey Central (@SNHockeyCentral) April 2, 2014

#NYR No supplementary discipline expected for Vancouver's Alex Burrows' hit on Ryan McDonagh last night.
— Katie Strang (@KatieStrangESPN) April 2, 2014

NHL Players Safety, 'No Hearing for Nino Neiderreiter for his check on Alex Burrows

(1 of 5) Niederreiter makes full body contact. While there is contact to head, refer to rule 48 points (i) & (ii).. pic.twitter.com/ta3lqfGDgi
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 27, 2014

I told the Canucks fans that were chirping me on twitter last night that his hit was not a suspendable hit. I was told to re-read Rule 48. Yet, I was right… I wonder where those Vancouver Canucks fans are today?

@goon48 go watch the replay again and take off your team coloured glasses
— Scotia (@Scottkanold) March 27, 2014

Minnesota Wild forward Nino Niederreiter will not have a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player safety for his check on Vancouver Canucks forward Alex Burrows. Nor should he.

(2 of 5) (i) In spite of some head contact, NN hits squarely thru the body. He does not "pick" the head.. pic.twitter.com/024CC92yyS
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 27, 2014

(3 of 5) ..as a result of poor timing, poor angle of approach, or unnecessary extension upward or outward.. pic.twitter.com/YBDcArYVX6
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 27, 2014

(4 of 5) (ii) We believe that some head contact on this otherwise full bodycheck was unavoidable. pic.twitter.com/AenUwn3Ve4
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 27, 2014

(5 of 5) The reverse angle shows this most clearly. pic.twitter.com/ASF9sqUBYY
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 27, 2014

Tough Road Trip Ahead for Minnesota

After last night's head shaker, the Minnesota Wild now find themselves leaving home on what could be their toughest road trip of the season. On this trip, the team will make stops in St. Louis, Phoenix, LA, and their last stop is at the Madhouse on Madison against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Tonight two huge points are on the line as the green and white invade Scottrade Center in St. Louis to play the first place Blues. In the two teams last meeting at Xcel, Minnesota would rally for one point as they would fall in the shootout. However, many positives would come from this game. One, this proved that the Wild are capable of skating with the top dogs in the NHL. Two, they are able to overcome adversity coming from behind, tying the game in the third, and sending it to overtime and eventually the shootout.

Tonight's game may be a little different though. Minnesota, who just played last night, is coming into St. Louis after a 5-2 loss against the Vancouver Canucks.  Yes they would throw 31 shots on goal, but had major struggles to capitalize on premium scoring chances, and had a few costly turnovers. I would expect Ilya Bryzgalov to get the call in St. Louis tonight as the Wild look to get the much needed two points and remain the top wild card team.

After tonight, Minnesota travels to face a Phoenix team who sits just three points behind the Wild for the top wild card spot. This is probably the biggest game of the season for Minnesota, and a must win in regulation. The Coyotes are a team that not many talk about, so there is no pressure on them making their season a lot less stressful on this team.

From the desert the Wild will travel to Hollywood as they face-off against the LA Kings at Staples Center. Minnesota really has not done too well in LA in recent history, but need to change history in order to keep their playoff push strong. LA is also the new home to the first ever Minnesota Wild draft pick Marian Gaborik. Although Gabby would have many injury problems towards the end of his time in Minnesota, New York, and Columbus, he is always a threat to score when he is on the ice and makes this LA offense that much more lethal. The Minnesota defense is going to have to be at the top of their game or LA will blow this one wide open.

Finally, from LA Minnesota travels to the Windy City to play the Chicago Blackhawks. These two teams have had a lot of history in the last two seasons, including last year's playoffs, and look to have another tight battle on the ice. Minnesota has found some success playing in Chicago this season and lets hope they can continue to have it.

The road doesn't get much easier as the season draws to a close for Minnesota, but this tough end of season schedule might be just what this team needs to prime themselves for the playoffs. It is looking like right now the Wild will be playing the winner of the Pacific Division, provided no major changes in the standings between now and the second week in April.

Minnesota Wild: Nino Niederreiter hit on Alex Burrows (Video/GIF)

Minnesota forward Nino Niederreiter was given a two-minute minor for interference. As you can see Nino hit Alexandre Burrows with a legal shoulder-to-shoulder check. There was no interference either. This is a blown call.

The line - Nino Niederreiter Interference - 2 min against Alexandre Burrows

Minnesota Wild: Sweet Military Appreciation Jersey's

At tonight's game? These #mnwild camo jerseys auctioned off at section 121 benefiting @DefTheBlueLine #mnwildmilitary pic.twitter.com/ixVwagqkbH
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) March 4, 2014

These are sweet jerseys.

Vancouver Canucks: Daniel Sedin Injury (Video)

Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin was injured on this play today. Sedin had to be helped off of the ice. I didn't think the hit was malicious or dirty. If Sedin is gone for any length of time it would have a huge impact on the Canucks who are God-awful right now. The Canucks are in the Wild Card race, they're tied with Dallas and Winnipeg for the final Wild Card spot.

(Video) Keith Ballard no goal

There no reason this goal shouldn't count. This is obviously a blown call by the on-ice official. There's no reason why this goal shouldn't count. Some how the on-ice official thought that Wild forward Erik Haula made incidental contact with Canucks goalie Eddie Lack. Video shows that there was no contact.

I just interviewed Mick McGeough. He admits ref Brad Meier blew the call. "Good screen. Met the criteria for a good goal." #mnwild #nhl
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) March 1, 2014

Richard Sherman on hockey

I thought this was interesting.

Barry Petchesky, Grantland -- (Richard) Sherman then referenced the Flames-Canucks line brawl on Saturday:

"There was a hockey game where they didn't even play hockey, they just threw the puck aside and started fighting. I saw that, and said, 'Oh man, I'm the thug? What's going on here?'"