Troll??? MUCH???
- rugdnit

He's right, to an extent.

He crushed him. I imagine a suspension is coming. Looks like he left his feet.
- micah555

He left his feet after initial contact, driving through the hit. Little late?

- pker2theend[/img]

It's funny cause it's true.

Just bcuz ur teams baby girl got wrecked by brown, doesn't mean it's automatically suspendable .. Dont compare the two
- kngfann222

Are you trolling?

Of course it is, but so is every other penalty. I don't think the referees would choose to call the penalty unless it was very blatant if the rule was in place for a d-zone faceoff with no line change.
- Couv19

Actually, the judgement in 'all other penalties' is different than with something as cut and dried as a puck over the glass or icing.

First, icing isn't a penalty so the rules allow for more judgement by the ref's on it.

Second, the judgment in other penalties is whether or not the event occurred, not whether or not it was on purpose. In the case of, say, a high stick to the face, it doesn't matter whether or not it was intentional. It's a penalty, you have to control your stick.

It's a subtle difference and judgment is applied different as per the rules of the game. Judgment of intention plays into very few rules, and in most cases (intent to injure) it has to be pretty blatant. I don't see the use in trying to apply a judgment that doesn't exist for other penalties to this one. It would muddle things worse than thy already are.

Lu was "playing so well"? How low have we set the bar? Was he decent: sure. Was he great: no. You can't let in 7 goals in 2 games and claim a great performance. There was room for improvement and Schneider letting in 1 late goal = improvement. If Lu let in, say, 1 and 2 in the first two games and they sat him for Schneider I'm with you. Otherwise the selection seems pretty obvious. No controversy required here.

And with respect to the AM1040 crew, they each talk shop 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. I've always thought they trumped up more controversy than necessary but yes, that is my opinion.
- AlexF

The fact is that the nucks don't play well in front of Lou... Why should they? They never know who is going to show up for them. How many times have they been caught overcompensating? Game 2 was a prime example... Kopitar picks the puck off and 3 nucks chase after him. Nobody shoulder checks to pick up Brown. Whether or not Lou makes the save is 50/50. In this case he made the save... and who was there to pick up the juicy bounder? Brown... all alone... nobody shoulder checked. Fact is this team is on their heels with Lou back there. If the writing isn't on the wall... It should be. It's pretty obvious.

Just seen the hit .Was not as bad as Keiths elbow but because Shanny has Torres on speeddial it with be lengthy .

Just seen the hit .Was not as bad as Keiths elbow but because Shanny has Torres on speeddial it with be lengthy .
- VANTEL

Hossa is being taken to the hospital. It will be lengthy indeed.

nice tits.
- rugdnit

Please provide high-res avatar file.

Hossa is being taken to the hospital. It will be lengthy indeed.
- AlexF

reminds me of Rome's hit a bit. A bit late but had him lined up when he had the puck and was just finishing his check.

reminds me of Rome's hit a bit. A bit late but had him lined up when he had the puck and was just finishing his check.
- hifi.

Left his feet, principal contact is the head, almost a second late, that's not finishing a check. That's trying to take someone out of the game and it's got to stop, players have GOT to start easing up on guys. It's fine to say keep your head up, but you can't always be aware of everything going around you at the speed the game is played, especially in the playoffs when everything is in another gear from the regular season. Call me a pansy, but I'm seriously afraid if something isn't done to take open ice hitting out or at least tone it down, someone's going to be paralyzed or worse. This isn't beer league hockey where you can barely skate and knock into a guy in the neutral zone. This is the NHL where the players top out at 6' tall, weigh around 200-220 lbs and have equipment that's almost like police body armor. Why can't the NHL adopt rules like the NFL where any hit to the head, whether intentional or not is an AUTOMATIC fine and suspension and have an escalating scale for repeat offenders. It's time for the NHL and NHLPA to hammer out a clear framework for supplemental discipline that includes clear amounts of suspensions for infractions. Start at 1 game for a head hit, add 1-2 for lateness of hit/type of infraction (charge/interference/boarding) and add a game for injury that corresponds to an independant doctor's assessment so that there's no milking an injury to keep a suspended player out longer. Do that and we'll see the NHL get cleaned up in a hurry.

Detroit Pittsburgh and Vancouver all on the brink of elimination Go Flyers I guess

Detroit Pittsburgh and Vancouver all on the brink of elimination Go Flyers I guess
- LeftCoaster

Yep... I'm picking Nashville to win the Cup over the Flyers this year. And good on Weber, he's been the best overall defenseman in the league the past 2 years and no Norris trophies to show for it, a travesty since he should have won last year and will lose to Karlsson this year.

Detroit Pittsburgh and Vancouver all on the brink of elimination Go Flyers I guess
- LeftCoaster

If we lose I'll be watching a lot less hockey but in terms of support, it'll be for the most exciting teams to watch. So I'd have to agree, the Flyers fit that billing. Ironically the Florida-NJ series has also been a decent viewing, though clearly not at the PHI-PIT level.

The West has been flat out boring hockey for the most part.

Left his feet, principal contact is the head, almost a second late, that's not finishing a check. That's trying to take someone out of the game and it's got to stop, players have GOT to start easing up on guys. It's fine to say keep your head up, but you can't always be aware of everything going around you at the speed the game is played, especially in the playoffs when everything is in another gear from the regular season. Call me a pansy, but I'm seriously afraid if something isn't done to take open ice hitting out or at least tone it down, someone's going to be paralyzed or worse. This isn't beer league hockey where you can barely skate and knock into a guy in the neutral zone. This is the NHL where the players top out at 6' tall, weigh around 200-220 lbs and have equipment that's almost like police body armor. Why can't the NHL adopt rules like the NFL where any hit to the head, whether intentional or not is an AUTOMATIC fine and suspension and have an escalating scale for repeat offenders. It's time for the NHL and NHLPA to hammer out a clear framework for supplemental discipline that includes clear amounts of suspensions for infractions. Start at 1 game for a head hit, add 1-2 for lateness of hit/type of infraction (charge/interference/boarding) and add a game for injury that corresponds to an independant doctor's assessment so that there's no milking an injury to keep a suspended player out longer. Do that and we'll see the NHL get cleaned up in a hurry.
- DariusKnight

1. Rome and Torres were under a second late in delivering the hit.

@TSNBobMcKenzie: From the time Hossa loses possession of puck until contact, it was .83 seconds. In relative terms, that is considered "late."

@TSNBobMcKenzie: As a comparison, Aaron Rome's hit on Nathan Horton was .87 seconds.

2. I believe Torres left his feet as a result of the contact and from the quick replay I saw it did not appear as if the head was the principle point of contact.

3. You even said that the game is being played at a higher level in the playoffs and players cannot be aware of everything going on around them. Prior to Horton and Hossa releasing the puck Rome and Torres had them lined up and had already committed to the hit. They are forced to make a split second decision, literally. Not to mention the players are heading towards each other so the distance between them is obviously shrinking at an increasing rate.

4. I agree that hits to the head are getting out of hand and something needs to be done, first and foremost there needs to be some consistency in suspensions handed out. Despite the videos by shanahan there is no more consistency then before.

Halifax Mooseheads pulled off the comeback.

Left his feet, principal contact is the head, almost a second late, that's not finishing a check.
- DariusKnight[...]Call me a pansy, but I'm seriously afraid if something isn't done to take open ice hitting out or at least tone it down, someone's going to be paralyzed or worse.

Exactly right. Hossa was well out of the play already. There's no way Torres didn't know that, nor is there any way Torres didn't have time to let up. He was aiming to punish a player on a late hit. Ten years ago that's applauded, ends up on Rock'em'Sock'em etc, but it can't be acceptable anymore.

I'm sympathetic to some of the borderline hits from behind on a puck carrier. Game's fast and it's hard to know how a player is going to turn along the boards. The suspension to Bitz was probably about right. And Brown couldn't been handed 2-4 minutes, but that's probably it.

But the book needs to be thrown at egregious hits away from the puck like this one on Hossa, Kieth's elbow, etc etc... just no place in the game for that stuff anymore.

Anyone who thinks the Torres hit is dirtier than the Keith elbow or Weber turnbuckle is a (frank)ing moron. Torres had a skate on the ice until contact. Hossa had his head down. If Hossa didn't have enough time to bring his head up after dishing the puck, then why is Torres expected to have enough time to abort the hit? Slow motion replays are the worst thing to ever happen to hitting.

The only thing wrong with that hit is the recipient wasn't Duncan Keith.

Exactly right. Hossa was well out of the play already. There's no way Torres didn't know that, nor is there any way Torres didn't have time to let up. He was aiming to punish a player on a late hit. Ten years ago that's applauded, ends up on Rock'em'Sock'em etc, but it can't be acceptable anymore.

I'm sympathetic to some of the borderline hits from behind on a puck carrier. Game's fast and it's hard to know how a player is going to turn along the boards. The suspension to Bitz was probably about right. And Brown couldn't been handed 2-4 minutes, but that's probably it.

But the book needs to be thrown at egregious hits away from the puck like this one on Hossa, Kieth's elbow, etc etc... just no place in the game for that stuff anymore.
- snepts145

I am not saying the hit is ok, just it is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. When you are moving as quickly as they are and have under a second to make a decision on a hit you have already committed to it is hard.

There are hits along the boards that are substantially later and are just as dangerous, Ask Hamhuis.

Anyone who thinks the Torres hit is dirtier than the Keith elbow or Weber turnbuckle is a (frank)ing moron. Torres had a skate on the ice until contact. Hossa had his head down. If Hossa didn't have enough time to bring his head up after dishing the puck, then why is Torres expected to have enough time to abort the hit? Slow motion replays are the worst thing to ever happen to hitting.

The only thing wrong with that hit is the recipient wasn't Duncan Keith.
- DrChristianTroy

KARMA KARMA KARMA KARMA KARMA KARMA KARMA KARMA KARMA KARMA
hope Hossa is okay though

Anyone who thinks the Torres hit is dirtier than the Keith elbow or Weber turnbuckle is a (frank)ing moron. Torres had a skate on the ice until contact. Hossa had his head down. If Hossa didn't have enough time to bring his head up after dishing the puck, then why is Torres expected to have enough time to abort the hit? Slow motion replays are the worst thing to ever happen to hitting.

The only thing wrong with that hit is the recipient wasn't Duncan Keith.
- DrChristianTroy

This.

Slow motion really distorts the play.

@kbieksa3: Good re-group day today for the boys! Lots of team bonding... Got these guys right where we want them!!

Halifax Mooseheads pulled off the comeback.
- hifi.

We need that Nathan MacKinnon kid. His stats in that series vs Grigorenko were like man vs boy.