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The Blueprint

April 23, 2012, 11:19 AM ET [210 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Count me as a guy who stands firmly behind John Tortarella and those who are passionate about
suspending Chris Neil for his on ice shenanigans. How much is enough with this guy? His act is getting old, in a hurry.

Neil's hit on Boyle came six hours after Raffi Torres was suspended 25 games for destroying Chicago's Marian Hossa with an eerily similar hit.



Chris Neil is a frequent offender. It amazes me that he hasn't been suspended more often in his NHL career than he has been. He's got a rap sheet and a reputation. His opponent's know it, the media knows it, the league are aware of his past. He's wreck less. He's dangerous. He's a guy with a jones for smoking his opponents with late hits while they are not looking. Matt Cooke used to play that way, operative word "used". People around the NHL love to bag on Pat Kaleta for his propensity to cross the line with his hits. However, he's been held to a higher standard by the NHL and his coaches. Kaleta has been suspended and he's told me directly that he understands that he has to make corrections in his personal game to be of more value to his team. Raffi Torres used to play that way. He won't be playing any time soon for that reason. Neil acted up again Saturday night when he cold-cocked Ranger forward Brian Boyle. Where's the justice? Where's the supplemental discipline? Isn't the exact type of hit that the NHL has been trying to eliminate from its players for the past two seasons?





Did Boyle have the puck on his stick? Was he in a prone position? Did Boyle see Neil lurking? Was it absolutely necessary for Neil to attempt to decapitate Boyle with a careless, late hit?


Chris Neil's intent, whether he admits it or not, was to separate Boyle's head from his torso. Could Neil have changed his course to avoid making contact with Boyle?

I can understand why Neil and the Sens wanted to get rid of Boyle. He was a HUGE pain in the ass for the Senators. He scored three goals in the first three games of the series, two of them game winners. He harrassed and made life miserable for young Karlsson and the Sens in the first five games of the series. Do it cleanly, within the context of the rule NHL book. Beat the man with hockey, not with punk ass cheap shots. While Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik have been sleep walking against Ottawa, Boyle had answered the bell admirably for his team. He was there inspirational leader.

Here's Boyle's body of work in the Ottawa series:

- Tallied a goal in each of the first three games of the series (three goals over the span), and has tallied eight goals and 10 points in the last 14 games including the final nine games of the regular season

- Is tied for the NHL lead in playoff GWG (two) and sixth in playoff goals (three)

- Leads the team in playoff goals and is tied for first in playoff points (three)

- Tallied the GWG and tied for the game-high with five shots in 18:55 of ice time in Game 3

- Tallied one goal, four shots and four hits in 17:38 of ice time in Game 2

- Tallied his first career playoff point with the GWG, was credited with six hits and two blocked shots, and won a team-high, 13-25 faceoffs (52%) in 17:49 of ice time in Game 1


It must be true that there is no honour amongst thieves.

Neil tracked Boyle, waited for the Ranger forward to roll across the trolley tracks, then proceeded to bury him with a high hit.

After the game, Tortarella pronounced Boyle "concussed and out" for tonight's elimination Game 6 in Kanata. The team has since confirmed that Boyle does in fact have a concussion and he will indeed be parked until further notice.

No penalty was called on the Neil hit. The NHL has chosen NOT to review it.

Par for the course in this farce of a post season where the lack of respect for one's opponent and the inconsistency of supplemental discipline have been the order of the day.


Neil's no stranger to this kind of incident.



Back in the day, Neil smoked Chris Drury with a similar hit. This isn't Neil's first time running afoul of the boundaries of respect for one's opponent.


Watch James Neal's suspension video produced by Brendan Shanahan, and tell me what makes Neal's hit on Couturier any different than Neil's hit on Boyle.



I'll do you one better, watch Neil on Boyle again, and then measure it against the Raffi Torres assassination of Marian Hossa




Was Chris Neil's hit on Boyle "intentional"? I say yes, however, the league has another opinion. Unfortunately, there's matters more than mine. However, would you go so far as to call Neil's actions on Boyle "wreckless"?


In my opinion, Chris Neil deserves at the very least a one game suspension for his wreck less hit that left Boyle concussed.

Didn't young Hagelin get three games suspension for his hit on Alfredsson?


I'm not advocating taking hitting out of hockey, I love a clean open ice hit. I love board battles. I even love the fights. What makes me sick to my stomach is that Chris Neil is being held to a different standard than James Neal and Raffi Torres.

Where's the consistency?

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The Rochester Amerks must win on home ice tonight, or else.

The Marlies lead 2-0 in their best of five series vs. the Amerks, who've lost Games 1 and 2 by the same 4-3 score.

They have to find a way to deny D'Amigo and the Marlies access to pucks in the third period.



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