GARTH'S CORNER: Slap On the Rist

1st time Polak has ever been suspended

"Hours before his hearing, the NHL Department of Player Safety hanging judge gave Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Roman Polak, a multiple offender, a two game suspension without pay for boarding Columbus Blue Jackets forward Oliver Bjorkstrand on Wednesday night. Bjorkstrand suffered a concussion."

Polak has never been suspended. I would assume as well, that Guentzel also has a concussion.

From my perspective, the Ristolainen hit was far more dangerous than the Polak hit. Look at it this way, when Polak initiated the hit, he was shoulder to shoulder with Bjorkstrand. Bjorkstrand quickly turned and Polak got him from behind. That is not defending the hit, and I'm not saying he didn't deserve two games, but that hit was partially the responsibility of Bjorkstrand putting himself in a dangerous spot.

Now, the Ristolainen hit. Let's say that Guentzel gets the pass as intended, the result is exactly the same. He is going to get flattened by Ristolainen and injured. He is not even in a dangerous position when it happens, he is just exiting the zone. There is nothing that Guentzal could have done (besides look specifically for Ristoloainen to be coming towards him as he exited the zone) to avoid that hit.

So let's recap:

Bjorkstrand knows that Polak is behind him, turns towards the boards just as Polak initiates the check, puts himself in a bad position, and gets hit from behind. Polak gets 2 games.

Guentzal has no idea that Ristolainen is coming for him, and no mater the outcome of the play (whether he receives the puck or not) is going to get hit and injured on the play. Ristolainen gets ????

The fact of the matter is, you have one player suspended for a hit where the player injured knows the player is behind him, and is being pressured by that player, and another player having a hearing where the player was totally unsuspecting. It'll be interesting to see what he gets, but I don't think 2 games is out of the question.

True, but he has had a few reviews in the past year or two hasn't he? Thought I remember him plastering someone from behind and having a hearing.

Geez, I wonder if Garth would be taking the same stance on the hit if Eichel was on the receiving end of it? No chance.

Some objectivity would go a looooong way toward your readship and even credibility, Garth. You should try it sometime!

1. Did Guentzel ever have the puck?........... No
2. Was the hit late?.......... Very
3. Could Ristolainen see Guentzel was in a vulnerable position?......... Absolutely
4. Did Ristolainen have time to avoid or at least let up on the hit?.......... Definitely
5. Result of the illegal and unnecessary hit?.......... Severe, possibly season ending for Guentzel

This type of hit and the result of it is precisely the type of garbage that the league needs to get rid of and take a harder line on. This hit deserves five games, minimum.

Ristolainen has his back turned at the moment of impact.


- Garth

How is this even relevant or what does this even mean?

From the embedded video its clear Ristolainen was looking at Guentzel. He even said: "I tried to give him a little bit of time to be aware and when I was getting my eyes toward him, I tried to look at that puck."

Yes his back was turned, but he clearly saw who and where he was going for the hit.

2. Was the hit late?.......... Very

- As_I_See_It

How could the hit be late? The guy never had the puck.

Garth, please give it a rest already. We get it. Ristolainen is a saint who received adequate punishment with the 5-minute major and the game misconduct, and anyway, Crosby speared O'Reilly in the groin so Guentzel probably had it coming. Bottom line: The hit was late, dangerous and resulted in injury. Ristolainen clearly deserves at least a 2 game suspension for his hit on Guentzel. Now whether he gets that or not is another question as the NHL Department of Player Safety isn't exactly known for the consistency of its disciplinary punishment.

Guentzal has no idea that Ristolainen is coming for him, and no mater the outcome of the play (whether he receives the puck or not) is going to get hit and injured on the play. Ristolainen gets ????
- BruHAWK

Well, I think a key point here is that if the pass does not get broken up and Guentzal receives the puck, the hit is legal and there is no penalty.

The only reason this was a penalty was because a pass was broken up less than one second before the contact.

Well, I think a key point here is that if the pass does not get broken up and Guentzal receives the puck, the hit is legal and there is no penalty.

The only reason this was a penalty was because a pass was broken up less than one second before the contact.
- JetpackJesus

If he does receive the puck, the check is certainly legal, but equally dangerous. Whether he receives the puck or not, he is getting hit and getting injured.

More like a slap on the ........

How could the hit be late? The guy never had the puck.
- VT001

Players get hit all the time without the puck and don't need to have had the puck for it to be considered "late." The development of the play shows that Guentzel never had the puck and Risto had more than enough time and space not follow though.

Risto suspended 3 games. Can't wait for Garth's next blog complete with the rather large crocodile tears no doubt.

Now we have to endure a third Garth blog on the subject, this time on the length of the suspension.

I have to wonder, if the pass did connect, if the hit would still be too early. It looks like it would have been. A half a second later and the timing would been ok and Guentzel would have been looking straight ahead. Also, Guentzel never looked down - he turned his head back quickly to look at the positions of the Pens players (to anticipate a pass - something all players do). Sorry, the hit was dirty.

True, but he has had a few reviews in the past year or two hasn't he? Thought I remember him plastering someone from behind and having a hearing.
- RhinoFan

Never even been fined. So if he hasn't been suspended and he hasn't been fined then he's a repeat offender only in the sense that he's been penalized on the ice more than once in his career. I don't think that's what Garth meant.

BullSH1T call.... no way that deserves 3 games..... way to go NHL just proves more and more you fools have no idea what your doing.

And yet you continue to field the quality of ref's night in and night out... what a joke.

Was a clear-cut suspension. Reckless hit on a player who didn't have the puck. Brandon Manning got two games for a bad hit in the Stadium Series game and that was deserved, too.

If he does receive the puck, the check is certainly legal, but equally dangerous. Whether he receives the puck or not, he is getting hit and getting injured.
- BruHAWK

Sure. But that's not Risto's responsibility. It's Sid's job to not send a suicide pass to his teammate. And it's Guentzal's job to keep his head up. An NHL player isn't supposed to avoid a legal hit because it might end up badly for the recipient.

I guess the question is, could Risto have done more to avoid the contact? I honestly don't know. In real time, the puck is deflected less than one second before contact. That's not a lot of time to react. And based on Risto's quotes, it sounds like he didn't even realize Guentzal never received the puck until he saw the replays after the fact. I don't know if that's true, but I have no reason to disbelieve Risto in light of his history of not being a dirty player. Maybe turning his back makes it worse in the league's eyes because it limited his ability to recognize how the play had developed and react accordingly? I guess I could see that.

In any event, I agree with the penalty assessed in game. The outcome was definitely unfortunate, but I don't agree with a 3-game suspension. Risto did not target the head. He did not leave his feet. He did not charge. He has no prior history. And the only thing that made the play illegal was something occurring beyond his control. Does his failure to react in time to a sudden change in circumstance warrant a 3-game suspension? I don't think it does.

Also, I've seen players do far worse and receive lesser (or no) punishment. But I guess that's the NHL's Wheel of Discipline for you. Round and round it goes. Where it stops, nobody knows.

Sure. But that's not Risto's responsibility. It's Sid's job to not send a suicide pass to his teammate. And it's Guentzal's job to keep his head up. An NHL player isn't supposed to avoid a legal hit because it might end up badly for the recipient.

I guess the question is, could Risto have done more to avoid the contact? I honestly don't know. In real time, the puck is deflected less than one second before contact. That's not a lot of time to react. And based on Risto's quotes, it sounds like he didn't even realize Guentzal never received the puck until he saw the replays after the fact. I don't know if that's true, but I have no reason to disbelieve Risto in light of his history of not being a dirty player. Maybe turning his back makes it worse in the league's eyes because it limited his ability to recognize how the play had developed and react accordingly? I guess I could see that.

In any event, I agree with the penalty assessed in game. The outcome was definitely unfortunate, but I don't agree with a 3-game suspension. Risto did not target the head. He did not leave his feet. He did not charge. He has no prior history. And the only thing that made the play illegal was something occurring beyond his control. Does his failure to react in time to a sudden change in circumstance warrant a 3-game suspension? I don't think it does.

Also, I've seen players do far worse and receive lesser (or no) punishment. But I guess that's the NHL's Wheel of Discipline for you. Round and round it goes. Where it stops, nobody knows.
- JetpackJesus

Its always on the attacker, always, he committed interference, him being turned around does not exclude him from causing a penalty and injury. If he was turned forward facing and let up, prolly no penalty and no suspension. Whether its unfortunate circumstances or not, it falls on, is it worth to try a hip or back check or whatever he was trying? it's legal but not in the case of interference.

Sure. But that's not Risto's responsibility. It's Sid's job to not send a suicide pass to his teammate. And it's Guentzal's job to keep his head up. An NHL player isn't supposed to avoid a legal hit because it might end up badly for the recipient.

I guess the question is, could Risto have done more to avoid the contact? I honestly don't know. In real time, the puck is deflected less than one second before contact. That's not a lot of time to react. And based on Risto's quotes, it sounds like he didn't even realize Guentzal never received the puck until he saw the replays after the fact. I don't know if that's true, but I have no reason to disbelieve Risto in light of his history of not being a dirty player. Maybe turning his back makes it worse in the league's eyes because it limited his ability to recognize how the play had developed and react accordingly? I guess I could see that.

In any event, I agree with the penalty assessed in game. The outcome was definitely unfortunate, but I don't agree with a 3-game suspension. Risto did not target the head. He did not leave his feet. He did not charge. He has no prior history. And the only thing that made the play illegal was something occurring beyond his control. Does his failure to react in time to a sudden change in circumstance warrant a 3-game suspension? I don't think it does.

Also, I've seen players do far worse and receive lesser (or no) punishment. But I guess that's the NHL's Wheel of Discipline for you. Round and round it goes. Where it stops, nobody knows.
- JetpackJesus

Of course, nothing is ever the Sabres fault. Garth is that you?

Bummer... he's gonna miss the push for the playoffs

Garth's next blog pun: The Rist is history

3 games, it's almost as though I know what I am talking about. Actually, I just analyzed the play and used common sense. Maybe those sabres fans who disagree with the suspension need to do the same.

Along with the obvious that he didn't have the puck, it was a dangerous hit and kind of looks like he left his feet. Ristolainen got what he deserved. If he's going to hit like that he has to take responsibility when it goes bad.

Oh garth, you are such a homer.

Garth's list of greasy Players:

Gudas
Marchand
Shaw
Crosby

So because Crosby gives o'reilly a shot in the balls, he is a greasy player to be grouped with the likes of the other three? Come on man. Get your head out of your butt.