In my utmost expert opinion...

If a player's stick is behind him and he lifts if up over his should to get it in front and in doing so, cuts a player.... that's 4.

Elbows should be no different.

And besides... these guys are professionals. They know where everyone is, how lively the boards are where are the turnbuckles.

No doubt this was intentional. A Good act, but intentional.

EVEN if it was not.... using the stick analogy, he is still guilty.
- Beatle_john

I agree with your assessment. But because he's a Ranger and they're fighting to get into the playoffs.....it's OK. Hell, they won't even look at the tapes. This one deserved two games.

I look at this incedent same as the cooke incident, cant prove intention = no suspension

Cooke is scum, he isn't head hunting like in the days of yore, but he is still a gutless dirtbag who hides behind his teammates.
- MidnightMarauder

He's too busy practicing stepping on achilles tendons, I'm thinking that the next person to get injured by Cooke is going to be a broken arm/wrist.

He is always evolving his game...

In my utmost expert opinion...

If a player's stick is behind him and he lifts if up over his should to get it in front and in doing so, cuts a player.... that's 4.

Elbows should be no different.

And besides... these guys are professionals. They know where everyone is, how lively the boards are where are the turnbuckles.

No doubt this was intentional. A Good act, but intentional.

EVEN if it was not.... using the stick analogy, he is still guilty.
- Beatle_john

This is exactly what I say in regards to Cooke's play, and this play is definitely intentional, he knew Neal was trying to get around on that side and he stops and throws his elbow around, even leaving his feet.

This is exactly what I say in regards to Cooke's play, and this play is definitely intentional, he knew Neal was trying to get around on that side and he stops and throws his elbow around, even leaving his feet.
- JCSabs06

Del Zotto was bracing for impact. It was reckless. It should have been a penalty. And I could see a fine as well. Definitely not a suspension.

I first saw that Cindy name for Crosby a year ago here on Hockey Buzz in a Flyers fan's comment during the 1st round of their playoffs last season against the Pens. Do you remember those results?

I am actually into that next decade's age group doing quite well; including still tending goal in competitive recreational hockey; and living in a home alone where their taxes we pay are more than you make in salary in a year by the way you post here. I accept your sympathy for my parents; not for the way you said it, but for the fact that they are deceased.

I did not & will not start a name calling match with you. YOU DID since you can't accept the hockey facts that I posted earlier to be accurate. So grow up here!
- RangerSaver

typical arrogant new yorker. its easy to support several teams when your city is so flushed with money, as you so aptly point out. pens have sold out now for seasons and do it with fans that are willing to spend precious income on games. pens fans expect their team to take that money and put it into the team, like they do now... hence the lower attendance when the team doesn't spend its money, like in the lean years prior to the crosby draft. this concept may be difficult for a big mucketymuck like yourself

Del Zotto was bracing for impact. It was reckless. It should have been a penalty. And I could see a fine as well. Definitely not a suspension.
- wolfhounds

I think it should have been a penalty, but I don't see the need for a fine. He was bracing for impact; I didn't see any intent of Del Zotto attempting to injure Neal, which I don't think warrants a fine or suspension.

On the other hand, my sympathy runs low for Neal after watching the head-hunting crap he pulled last year in the playoffs against Philly. He's a lot dirtier than people think. That being said, I do hope he's okay.

I agree with your assessment. But because he's a Ranger and they're fighting to get into the playoffs.....it's OK. Hell, they won't even look at the tapes. This one deserved two games.
- PrinceLH

hahaha yea cuz the league looooooooves the rangers.

He's too busy practicing stepping on achilles tendons, I'm thinking that the next person to get injured by Cooke is going to be a broken arm/wrist.

He is always evolving his game...
- JCSabs06

players like crosby,malkin,geno,giroux,etc (youre teams top guys) take alot more crap than your teams scrubs who dish out the punishment(thats whats keepig alot of them in the league), cooke included. dont act like your team has a bunch of saints!

hahaha yea cuz the league looooooooves the rangers.
- rangerdanger94

hey its old classy magooo himself, whom do you wish death upon today psycho?

Both elbows go up. Mdz is bracing for a cheap shot from a cheap player. A player known to avoid the play and go for head shots.

Why is Neal skating away from the puck? I dont think any nhl player can anticipate a half retarded, bib wearing Neal will skate into a players elbow.

The topic is actually pathetic. Neal should apologize to the fans, his teamates and the league. Chase the puck (to MDZ's left), and dont skate away from the play into a players elbow.

What a POS.

hey its old classy magooo himself, whom do you wish death upon today psycho?
- gravyboy33

hey bud.

wishing death upon the NCAA refs today.

hahaha yea cuz the league looooooooves the rangers.
- rangerdanger94

Of course they do. MSG runs the league. Explain to me how they can keep the MSG games in Super Definition only and not in High Definition for Center Ice, here is Canada? They want more money then the rest of the other teams and get away with sending an inferior signal to the Canadian distributors of Center Ice.

On another item. How do the Rangers get almost all of their games broadcast, outside of their home team region, in New York State? In the Buffalo area, the Rangers are on, but the Islanders and Devils get most of their games blacked out. How come the Rangers get special dispensation to do this? Easy? They control Bettman, who controls the league.

Of course they do. MSG runs the league. Explain to me how they can keep the MSG games in Super Definition only and not in High Definition for Center Ice, here is Canada? They want more money then the rest of the other teams and get away with sending an inferior signal to the Canadian distributors of Center Ice.

On another item. How do the Rangers get almost all of their games broadcast, outside of their home team region, in New York State? In the Buffalo area, the Rangers are on, but the Islanders and Devils get most of their games blacked out. How come the Rangers get special dispensation to do this? Easy? They control Bettman, who controls the league.
- PrinceLH

Don't have city envy. Toronto is a nice little city. Well, at least for Canada.

Don't have city envy. Toronto is a nice little city. Well, at least for Canada.
- Daman

better than you and your
crosby envy. cup much? 1975!

Of course they do. MSG runs the league. Explain to me how they can keep the MSG games in Super Definition only and not in High Definition for Center Ice, here is Canada? They want more money then the rest of the other teams and get away with sending an inferior signal to the Canadian distributors of Center Ice.

On another item. How do the Rangers get almost all of their games broadcast, outside of their home team region, in New York State? In the Buffalo area, the Rangers are on, but the Islanders and Devils get most of their games blacked out. How come the Rangers get special dispensation to do this? Easy? They control Bettman, who controls the league.
- PrinceLH

the rangers are not in the buffalo area. they are totally blacked out. i know this for a fact because i live in buffalo.

Was this worth a blog. NO. lol.

Before I go forward, I will begin my rebuttal by stating that I'm a ranger fan, but I'm non-biased on my decision of this. Playing the game as a defenceman & as a referee, this hit (& I say this both based subjective as a player, and objective as a ref) was 100% non malicious... Del Zotto knew that Neal was coming in hot so as a defenceman not only do you brace yourself for the hit (ala the arms coming up in the motion that he was throwing his back into the hit, similar to the way kronwall throws a lethal hip check**which we all love, let's be honest**) but there's no foregone conclusion, no standard example or criteria as I would say to suggest that it was a intentional elbow to the head. Yes, there was certain contact, yes, Neil was injured, (& also was crouched before initial contact) but how can any one of us make such a conjecture if we don't understand the common principles of playing this game at the the level these professional's play at? I base my argument there. & my closing statement, let's all remember this is hockey, it's not played on a court, or a golf course, nor is it played on a ball-field, injuries will occur, it just comes with the nature of the game. I wish for a speedy recovery to neil & the remainder of players injured on their team, as I hope to see you all healthy in the first round .. That is all for now..

Before I go forward..That is all for now..
- discojaws

Thanks

the 38% who said yes to a suspension in this poll just hate NY/hate the Rangers

you are an idiot if you think this was purposely done

So how does stating the Leagues and Shanny's bias make my opinion bias. Quite the conundrum. If I wasn't a canucks fan lets say a Winnipeg fan would me stating the same be bias? My opinion is towards the league not the rangers or the canucks. Bias no. If so then just being a hockey fan makes both our opinions bias and irrelevant.
- thundachunk

Ok fair enough though 'stating' the league's bias sounds
To me like agreeing that it is wrong, which is basically
Sharing it. BTW I am not Canadian and dont have some strange
Anti-Canucks Stance; makes no diff to me if you are a fan of Flin
Flon. Touchy touchy!

I think Dupuis took a run at Del Zotto for sure. I have no problem with it either. He's supposed to stick up for his teammates. I don't think Del Zotto intended to injure Neal but it was a reckless elbow to the face and should have been penalized and possibly fined. The injury was just unfortunate. And for all those watching in slow motion please stop.
- climbdenali12

This. Its pretty clear Del Zotto saw Nal as he's looking over his left shoulder in the beginning of the video....he threw the elbow to give himself him space and it unfortunately happened to connect with Neal in the head...so a very reckless play with intent...but hard to say the head was the target but its the kind of thing the NHL should be wanting to avoid....so should have been a major penalty and a fine.

Dupuis was clearly going after Del Zotto, and got the penalty he deserved. Fine by me. You throw an elbow like that and knock out a star player, you should be prepared for some retribution.

If Karma was real the Flyers wouldn't even be able to put a team on the ice. Funny how so many Flyer fans believe in it.
- Sell My Monkey

Really, this coming from the team that had Ulf Samuelsson, the knee to knee specialist!! Ended several careers!! Neely comes to mind!

Maybe the Penguins should have exacted some of their own revenge
- MikeyOz

Dupuis tried but whiffed

the 38% who said yes to a suspension in this poll just hate NY/hate the Rangers

you are an idiot if you think this was purposely done
- jimbro83

Freedom of speech = You're an idiot if you don't agree with me.