I didn't say I hoped for injury or brain damage. I'm saying that hits like that are a part of the game. Backes should know better than to put himself in a position like that.

- rogerjspain

Hits like that lead to injury or brain damage though

They weren't even close to the same hit. There is a reason Toews skated off favoring his shoulder and wasn't doing the baby deer walk. If you can't figure out why you need to return to a Grade Health class and learn some anatomy.
- Ben37

No two hits are exactly the same, but to say that the two 'weren't even close' is a pretty sizable overstatement. As the blog after the Orpik hit was titled, 'Punish the Act Not the Result'. Toews was in the exact same 'vulnerable' position. The fact that he made it up seeing straight was extremely fortunate and I think it's very hypocritical of the league not to have suspended Orpik for his hit on Toews and peg Seabrook with 3 playoff games. WAY TOO SIMILAR OF A HIT TO HAVE THAT WIDE OF DISCIPLINARY DISCRETION.

I'm not really defending the Seabrooks hit, I'm calling out the league for their stark contrast in rulings.

Stupid play. Chicago loses the series, because the Hawks play like a bunch of Zorches, AND I have to watch that idiot, Ryan Miller hoist the (frank)ing cup because of it.

Gonna be a quick out for the Hawks this year.

Gonna be a quick out for the Hawks this year.
- docmorgan

They miss the Canucks.

No two hits are exactly the same, but to say that the two 'weren't even close' is a pretty sizable overstatement. As the blog after the Orpik hit was titled, 'Punish the Act Not the Result'. Toews was in the exact same 'vulnerable' position. The fact that he made it up seeing straight was extremely fortunate and I think it's very hypocritical of the league not to have suspended Orpik for his hit on Toews and peg Seabrook with 3 playoff games. WAY TOO SIMILAR OF A HIT TO HAVE THAT WIDE OF DISCIPLINARY DISCRETION.

I'm not really defending the Seabrooks hit, I'm calling out the league for their stark contrast in rulings.
- PuckAndSticks

Vulnerable should have literally nothing to do with the equation. A player being vulnerable doesn't mean he can't be hit.

The only thing that matters is if the player delivering the hit is guilty of an infraction(s).

If the player drills a vulnerable player in the nature Seabrook did (interference, charging, contact to the head) that is a big problem. The 3 infractions Seabrook was guilty of is what the focal point should be.

If Backes is vulnerable and has the puck, drill him 10x out of 10, just do so without committing an illegal check.

No two hits are exactly the same, but to say that the two 'weren't even close' is a pretty sizable overstatement. As the blog after the Orpik hit was titled, 'Punish the Act Not the Result'. Toews was in the exact same 'vulnerable' position. The fact that he made it up seeing straight was extremely fortunate and I think it's very hypocritical of the league not to have suspended Orpik for his hit on Toews and peg Seabrook with 3 playoff games. WAY TOO SIMILAR OF A HIT TO HAVE THAT WIDE OF DISCIPLINARY DISCRETION.

I'm not really defending the Seabrooks hit, I'm calling out the league for their stark contrast in rulings.
- PuckAndSticks

So if a player cuts into the middle with his head down and a defender hits him shoulder through chest and blows him up is it dirty? The puck carrier put himself into a vulnerable player. This is the goddamn NHL, by the time players have made the NHL they have had the idea of "Keep Your Head" drilled into their minds for 20 years. Why? Because if you put your head down and get caught, it's no ones fault but your own.

And the fact that Toews made it up seeing straight while Backes didn't is because Orpik his Toews shoulder to shoulder while Seabrook hit Backes shoulder to face.

It's sad that even Toews said the hit is clean, but the Hawks fans still scream bloody murder.

So if a player cuts into the middle with his head down and a defender hits him shoulder through chest and blows him up is it dirty? The puck carrier put himself into a vulnerable player. This is the goddamn NHL, by the time players have made the NHL they have had the idea of "Keep Your Head" drilled into their minds for 20 years. Why? Because if you put your head down and get caught, it's no ones fault but your own.

And the fact that Toews made it up seeing straight while Backes didn't is because Orpik his Toews shoulder to shoulder while Seabrook hit Backes shoulder to face.

It's sad that even Toews said the hit is clean, but the Hawks fans still scream bloody murder.
- Ben37

I remember these same hawk fans going insane over a couple Torres hits. Hell one was on poor seabrook and the head wasn't even targeted

Backes is the new Mike Smith. We have seen this act before. A player lays on the ice waiting for the call. I don't like that the trainer told him to act injured, he was fine while he was on the ice.
Orpik's hit was worse as he jumped after the hit. Seabs drove through Smith II, like you are supposed to do. The big bad Blues cannot take a hit. When did this league become a no-check league?

Backes is the new Mike Smith. We have seen this act before. A player lays on the ice waiting for the call. I don't like that the trainer told him to act injured, he was fine while he was on the ice.
Orpik's hit was worse as he jumped after the hit. Seabs drove through Smith II, like you are supposed to do. The big bad Blues cannot take a hit. When did this league become a no-check league?
- powerenforcer

Backes was out cold... couldn't stand and his eyes were messed. Dude got a shoulder to the face then sandwich to the boards. Cant fake that.

Also, Seabs got elevated after the hit occured, initial hit was skate on ice (right skate) followed by both skate off the ice. As a Hawks fan I agree that 3 games was extreme (considering penalties that are handed down), but you cant disregard the head hit to a player without the puck.

Stupid play. Chicago loses the series, because the Hawks play like a bunch of Zorches, AND I have to watch that idiot, Ryan Miller hoist the (frank)ing cup because of it.
- laughs2907

Backes is the new Mike Smith. We have seen this act before. A player lays on the ice waiting for the call. I don't like that the trainer told him to act injured, he was fine while he was on the ice.
Orpik's hit was worse as he jumped after the hit. Seabs drove through Smith II, like you are supposed to do. The big bad Blues cannot take a hit. When did this league become a no-check league?
- powerenforcer

Did you watch both hits without the rose coloured glasses?

How is Orpik's hit worse if he jumped after the hit?

The idea for launching your body in the hit is to, not become airborne before the hit, it doesn't matter what happens after primary contact. As much as the receiving player might be destroyed by the contact, his knees, ankles and legs won't be involved in the contact, something that is usually catastrophic when two players collide.

As a comparison.... Orpik did not make primary contact with the head and did not extend his elbow or forearm towards Toews. Seabrook launched his body in a torpedo like hit and the arm of Seabrook hits Backes in the head primarily. The Player Safety dept. has to call it this way, they have to have black and white guidelines. If you look at the hit any other way... well of course you'll disagree.

Backes is the new Mike Smith. We have seen this act before. A player lays on the ice waiting for the call. I don't like that the trainer told him to act injured, he was fine while he was on the ice.
Orpik's hit was worse as he jumped after the hit. Seabs drove through Smith II, like you are supposed to do. The big bad Blues cannot take a hit. When did this league become a no-check league?
- powerenforcer

Act injured? What the (frank) is wrong with you? Did you not see him stumbling around when he got up?

Act injured? What the (frank) is wrong with you? Did you not see him stumbling around when he got up?
- FinAddict

I see someone who gets slashed in the wrist limp off the ice. I don't by Backes and his act.

Did you watch both hits without the rose coloured glasses?

How is Orpik's hit worse if he jumped after the hit?

The idea for launching your body in the hit is to, not become airborne before the hit, it doesn't matter what happens after primary contact. As much as the receiving player might be destroyed by the contact, his knees, ankles and legs won't be involved in the contact, something that is usually catastrophic when two players collide.

As a comparison.... Orpik did not make primary contact with the head and did not extend his elbow or forearm towards Toews. Seabrook launched his body in a torpedo like hit and the arm of Seabrook hits Backes in the head primarily. The Player Safety dept. has to call it this way, they have to have black and white guidelines. If you look at the hit any other way... well of course you'll disagree.
- nelson911

If you watch the hit from the corner camera, you see that once Seabrook makes contact, the level of contact never rises above that level, unlike Orpik who after contact with Toews his arm is higher than that initial contact. And where is his forearn, right at his head, makes contact at the same time as the shoulder, so in fact head was initial point of contact.

If you watch the hit from the corner camera, you see that once Seabrook makes contact, the level of contact never rises above that level, unlike Orpik who after contact with Toews his arm is higher than that initial contact. And where is his forearn, right at his head, makes contact at the same time as the shoulder, so in fact head was initial point of contact.
- powerenforcer

Nah

Toews wasn't even hurt he was faking it

I see someone who gets slashed in the wrist limp off the ice. I don't by Backes and his act.
- powerenforcer

I didn't know people as biased as you existed.

Nah

Toews wasn't even hurt he was faking it
- FinAddict

Correct, he wasn't hurt, as in concussed. He didn't lay on the ice to draw a penalty like Backes did.

I didn't know people as biased as you existed.
- PancakesPenner

Why was he up and in Seabrook's face way defore the training staff got to him? If he was hurt he would have not been able to get back up on his own. I don't by his act.

Why was he up and in Seabrook's face way defore the training staff got to him? If he was hurt he would have not been able to get back up on his own. I don't by his act.
- powerenforcer

So he got up and in Seabrook's face because he wasn't hurt, but stayed down and acted hurt to draw a penalty at the same time? I see. Are you drunk?

So he got up and in Seabrook's face because he wasn't hurt, but stayed down and acted hurt to draw a penalty at the same time? I see. Are you drunk?
- PancakesPenner

Reverse the events and it happens all the time. A player stays on the ice until a call is made and then gets up and skates away.

Reverse the events and it happens all the time. A player stays on the ice until a call is made and then gets up and skates away.
- powerenforcer

Whatever you say bud. You are literally the only person who thinks Backes was faking anything.

as a person that doesn't have a dog in this fight whatsoever, Backes was NOT faking anything. Look at the glaze in his eyes when he got up. Watch him fail at communicating. That man had his bell rung.

he looked like everyone I've ever seen or played with that took a violent shot to the head a little too hard.

I understand that the Blackhawks have lost two back-breaking games, but I really don't see why it is a foregone conclusion to a number of posters that they should start making tee times for next weekend. They have gone to OT in both games, have home ice in their next two and oh yeah, this is the same group that won the Stanley Cup last season. Seabrook being out will hurt the Blackhawks. But if Backes is out (or out of sorts) for the next few games, I see it as a wash at worst for the Blackhawks... They're not in a good shape by any means, but a lot of you seem to have a real short memory.

as a person that doesn't have a dog in this fight whatsoever, Backes was NOT faking anything. Look at the glaze in his eyes when he got up. Watch him fail at communicating. That man had his bell rung.

he looked like everyone I've ever seen or played with that took a violent shot to the head a little too hard.
- Hesh_

Could not agree more. He was in a completely different realm.