Chimera hit on Marchand

I apologize for the quality of the video, I do not have a steady hand, nor do I have a video recorder to tape the plays that I would like. This was the hit in question by Washington Capitals forward Jason Chimera on Boston Bruins forward Bard Marchand as you can seen by the video that the Little Ball of Hate was not hit in the head. What caused the cut to Marchand's face is unknown.

Related articles

• Marchand Not Happy With Chimera's 'Cheap Shot'
• Boston Bruins not panicking over Game 5 against Washington Capitals
• Boston Bruins Win Big Physical Game Against Washington Capitals, 4-3
• Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand could be moved down depth chart in Game 5 against Washington Capitals

Kesler and Lapierre told to zip it.

Vancouver Canucks center Maxim Lapierre during a game against the Colorado Avalanche on March 16, 2011. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I couldn't resist with this one. The most unlikable team in the NHL has told a few of their players to quit yapping. You can't make this stuff up. I guess the coaching staff for the Vancouver Canucks figured out that the rest of the NHL was tired of the Canucks antics.

Mark Spector, Sports Net --- "Ryan and Alex rarely at any point have shown that aspect -- they toned it down last year and that’s externally driven," said head coach Alain Vigneault.

Translation: "We told them to quit yapping and they have complied."

On the other hand ...

"Max has done it on a couple of occasions and has been told to shut up and play. And that's what we expect from him," said Vigneault.

Vigneault’s count of "a couple of times" is generous. Lapierre is truly the mouth that roared, seemingly unable to skate to the bench at shifts end without jabbering at an opponent.

Why this line combo, at this point in the series?

Derek Stepan hits Chris Neil

This was from yesterday's Rangers and Senators game. Very nice check by the former Wisconsin Badger and Rangers forward Derek Stepan on the Senators forward and tough guy Chris Neil. It's a text book body check.

Related articles

• Chris Neil will not meet the Shanahammer
• Anderson Blanks Rangers, Ottawa Takes Series Lead
• Kyle Turris helps Sens tie series with Rangers
• Chris Neil concussed Brian Boyle on hit that followed 'Raffi Torres blueprint' according to Rangers coach

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

(Video) Chris Neil's Hit on Brian Boyle

This is the hit that has everyone buzzing tonight. Senators tough guy Chris Neil hit the Rangers forward Brian Boyle with this hard hit. Rangers head coach John Tortorella was unhappy with the check after the game and said that Boyle is concussed.

Alexander Ovechkin elbows Patrice Bergeron in the head

The Washington Capitals star forward Alexander Ovechkin's is known for playing on the edge and there is nothing wrong with that. Unfortunately, Ovechkin is also know for his questionable and sometimes dirty hits and in today's game Ovechkin was able to connect with a sneaky dirty elbow on  Patrice Bergeron's head.

Edit: If you go back and watch this video, you will see that Ovechkin hit Bergeron twice in the head.

Ovechkin's elbow caused Bergeron to miss most of the third period. With his previous concussion history, one has to wonder if Bergeron is suffering from another concussion. Don't expect the league to look at the Ovechkin elbow on Bergeron because Ovechkin is a star player.

Just for the record Alexander Ovechkin is a repeat offender and he has been suspended three times by the National Hockey League for hits that were deemed dangerous.

Related articles

• 
  
• Caps Practice Recap: Michal Neuvirth Returns In Back-up Role
• Pratfall alert: Alex Ovechkin falls backwards over the boards (VIDEO)
• Bergeron With Gresh & Zo: 'Doesn't Really Matter Who You're Put Out There With'

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

Raffi Torres Shanahammered - suspended 25 games

The NHL has spoken, they have made an example out of Raffi Torres, they have thrown the book at him. The NHL has also set a precedence, the question is, will the NHL be consistent in their ruling?. While I think that Torres deserved at least a 5-10 suspension this suspension is almost to the point of being excessive. My first question is, would the NHL give the same suspension for a star player? I am going to say not.

NEW YORK -- Following are statements from National Hockey League Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan in announcing the 25-game suspension assessed to Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres:

"This is a violation of three NHL rules – interference, charging and illegal check to the head."

"In addition to the fact that three separate NHL rules were violated with this one hit, two other factors were critical in determining the appropriate length of suspension:

"First, this violent and dangerous hit caused a severe injury.

"Second, Torres not only is a repeat offender as defined by the CBA, his extensive Supplemental Discipline history consists mainly of acts very similar to this one – including two this season."

"Despite knowing that Hossa no longer has the puck, Torres decides to finish his check past the amount of time when Hossa is eligible to be bodychecked. That is a violation of the Interference rule."

"While we acknowledge the circumstances of certain hits may cause a player's skates to come off the ice, on this hit, Torres launches himself into the air before making contact. This is a violation of the Charging rule."

"The position of Hossa's head does not change just prior to or simultaneous with this hit. The onus, therefore, is on Torres not to make it the principal point of contact. By leaping, Torres makes Hossa's head the principal point of contact. That is a violation of the Illegal Check to the Head rule."

Related articles

• Raffi Torres Suspension: Ruling From NHL Will Come On Saturday
• Raffi Torres Suspension Decision Coming Saturday; Marian Hossa To Miss Game 5
• Raffi Torres: NHL Won't Reach Verdict on Coyotes Star's Punishment Yet
• Raffi Torres decision on Saturday, as NHL mulls 'whether to assess further supplemental discipline'
• Raffi Torres Suspension: NHL Needs to Make an Example Out of Coyotes Winger

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

Flyers Grossman out with concussion, no hearing for Malkin?

Pro Hockey Talk

As you saw from the video in the previous post; a sneaky elbow by Penguins super star forward Evgeni Malkin on the Flyers defenseman Nicklas Grossman has landed the Flyers defenseman on the shelf and he will be unable to play in tonight's game five between the Flyers and Penguins. What puzzles me is that the NHL has been silent on the hit and it doesn’t appear that there is going to be a supplemental disciplinary hearing for the Malkin.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nicklas Grossman will miss Friday night's Game 5 against Pittsburgh with a concussion. Grossman sustained the injury in the second period of a 10-3 loss in Game 4 on Wednesday and could be out indefinitely.

Grossman did not travel with the team to Pittsburgh. Erik Gustafsson will take Grossman's spot in the lineup. The Flyers are already without Marc-Andre Bourdon, who went down with an upper body injury in Game 1.

The Penguins will be without defenseman Paul Martin, who will miss his second straight game with an undisclosed injury. Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma says Martin's ice time will be split between Simon Despres and Brian Strait.

It’s event’s like this that make people stop and scratch their heads. Why isn’t Malkin going to have a hearing on this hit? There seems to be one set of rules for super stars and one set of rules for tough guys and goons.

As you can see by the picture on the right and the video that this was a blatant and sneaky vicious and unnecessary elbow by Malkin to the head of Grossman.

Flyers beat writer Sam Carchidi from Philly.com when asked about the Malkin hit said, “what I'm told, the league did not investigate.”