Jeff Quirin: It’s the little things that kill..| Reaction to King Hit + Petro Update Thoughts on the Blues loss to the Kings in game one of their Western Conference Semifinals matchup. Reaction to the Dwight King hit on Alex Pietrangelo and his status for Monday's game.

Get well soon Petro.

-Dwight King

It might just be me, but I really don't think the contact of this hit is nearly as bad as a lot of people are making it to be. It looked to me like King was going to take Pietrangelo into the boards for a pin, like you said, but Piets went down. It's obvious he wasn't diving or embellishing. It seemed like he wasn't braced for the contact, and although you can say you shouldn't ever expect a hit from behind, taking an arm in the numbers and getting pinned is a standard defensive play. This one obviously went wrong, King got the penalty he deserved and may be suspended. If it were up to me I would say no suspension, but based on the previous decisions this postseason I would say one or two games for at the least appearance of attempting consistency.

It really is unfortunate that Pietrangelo got hurt on the play, but these statements I'm reading on other threads that King is a goon and has no place in hockey are pure garbage. If Pietrangelo goes into the boards on his feet this wouldn't even get a second look. King deserved a penalty for sure, and if he gets suspended so be it, but I really don't see him purposely trying to run Pietrangelo. That said though, even though he didn't mean to hurt him, I don't feel intent should factor into discipline, so if King gets suspended I wouldn't be surprised or upset.

It might just be me, but I really don't think the contact of this hit is nearly as bad as a lot of people are making it to be. It looked to me like King was going to take Pietrangelo into the boards for a pin, like you said, but Piets went down. It's obvious he wasn't diving or embellishing. It seemed like he wasn't braced for the contact, and although you can say you shouldn't ever expect a hit from behind, taking an arm in the numbers and getting pinned is a standard defensive play. This one obviously went wrong, King got the penalty he deserved and may be suspended. If it were up to me I would say no suspension, but based on the previous decisions this postseason I would say one or two games for at the least appearance of attempting consistency.

It really is unfortunate that Pietrangelo got hurt on the play, but these statements I'm reading on other threads that King is a goon and has no place in hockey are pure garbage. If Pietrangelo goes into the boards on his feet this wouldn't even get a second look. King deserved a penalty for sure, and if he gets suspended so be it, but I really don't see him purposely trying to run Pietrangelo. That said though, even though he didn't mean to hurt him, I don't feel intent should factor into discipline, so if King gets suspended I wouldn't be surprised or upset.
- PancakesPenner

Oh you're not the only one. I'm sorry Petro got hurt, but that was nowhere near "vicious," as some were calling it. It was a reckless play that deserved to be a double-minor penalty. The fact that some were calling for a suspension is hysterical, really.

What you fail to mention is how terrible Pietrangelo played what turned out to be the game winner. Maybe he wasn't feeling right after the King play but he totally was out to lunch on that goal. Shattenkirk got caught but Peitrangelo did nothing to help him and was so soft against Brown.

What you fail to mention is how terrible Pietrangelo played what turned out to be the game winner. Maybe he wasn't feeling right after the King play but he totally was out to lunch on that goal. Shattenkirk got caught but Peitrangelo did nothing to help him and was so soft against Brown.
- 12,9 and 22

Derp.

Derp.
- BerglundsGrundle

He shouldn't have been out there then. Cost his team.

He shouldn't have been out there then. Cost his team.
- 12,9 and 22

Was told "no more changes" by the official he was still on the ice trying to show the blood to. Can't exactly blame a player who just took a blow to the head for trying to show the official something they forgot to check for, then doing what the official told them.

It might just be me, but I really don't think the contact of this hit is nearly as bad as a lot of people are making it to be. It looked to me like King was going to take Pietrangelo into the boards for a pin, like you said, but Piets went down. It's obvious he wasn't diving or embellishing. It seemed like he wasn't braced for the contact, and although you can say you shouldn't ever expect a hit from behind, taking an arm in the numbers and getting pinned is a standard defensive play. This one obviously went wrong, King got the penalty he deserved and may be suspended. If it were up to me I would say no suspension, but based on the previous decisions this postseason I would say one or two games for at the least appearance of attempting consistency.

It really is unfortunate that Pietrangelo got hurt on the play, but these statements I'm reading on other threads that King is a goon and has no place in hockey are pure garbage. If Pietrangelo goes into the boards on his feet this wouldn't even get a second look. King deserved a penalty for sure, and if he gets suspended so be it, but I really don't see him purposely trying to run Pietrangelo. That said though, even though he didn't mean to hurt him, I don't feel intent should factor into discipline, so if King gets suspended I wouldn't be surprised or upset.
- PancakesPenner

Said this in Barry's blog, but the reason it was a dangerous hit was because Petro was about 3 feet from the boards. If you're going to pin somebody against the boards, he has to be up against them. The other issue with the hit is Petro never actually touched the puck, he was still reaching to make a play on it and has hit without ever having a chance to touch it.

All that said, the major for the blood in the game plus a 1 game suspension at most would be appropriate IMO.

I'm hoping the Blues players aren't thinking about retribution like the majority of the fan base as they've seemed to play some of their worst hockey once they lose discipline (see last night as an example) and struggle to get it corrected.

MacDonald got boarded in the game too, but I think he may have put himself in the position and there wasn't much Brown (?) could have done to stop his momentum. That was based on seeing it live, so I'm not positive about that. Players shouldn't turn towards the boards for refuge from a check.

wow, just watched the hit, how is that NOT suspension, nailed him right in the numbers just in that perfect distance from the boards, where his head hits the boards and forces the neck to bend at a really bad angle, he had position and was waiting for the puck to come around, King, should have continued skating and taken position on the board, instead he decided to drill someone from behind head first into the boards and the puck wasn't even there. He gambled and lost, that was a pretty bad hit.

wow, just watched the hit, how is that NOT suspension, nailed him right in the numbers just in that perfect distance from the boards, where his head hits the boards and forces the neck to bend at a really bad angle, he had position and was waiting for the puck to come around, King, should have continued skating and taken position on the board, instead he decided to drill someone from behind head first into the boards and the puck wasn't even there. He gambled and lost, that was a pretty bad hit.
- MikeyOz

I watched this hit several times today. King was skating around petro but petro was skating with him. It looked to me that it wasnt even a hit, King pushed him away and into the boards. Should have been a 5 min major at worst. There will be no fine or suspension. It is obvious there was no intent

Said this in Barry's blog, but the reason it was a dangerous hit was because Petro was about 3 feet from the boards. If you're going to pin somebody against the boards, he has to be up against them. The other issue with the hit is Petro never actually touched the puck, he was still reaching to make a play on it and has hit without ever having a chance to touch it.

All that said, the major for the blood in the game plus a 1 game suspension at most would be appropriate IMO.

I'm hoping the Blues players aren't thinking about retribution like the majority of the fan base as they've seemed to play some of their worst hockey once they lose discipline (see last night as an example) and struggle to get it corrected.

MacDonald got boarded in the game too, but I think he may have put himself in the position and there wasn't much Brown (?) could have done to stop his momentum. That was based on seeing it live, so I'm not positive about that. Players shouldn't turn towards the boards for refuge from a check.
- Jackman

3 feet from the boards. Try 8-10'. Petriangelo was just bending down to reach for the puck, which is why he went down the way he did. Yes, it was a penalty, yes he probably should've gotten 4 minutes, but there was CLEARLY no intention. Which is why it was called the way it was. Also, you didn't want a 5 minute major, that would've meant the Kings could score as many times as they wanted without the penalty expiring.

MacDonald got boarded in the game too, but I think he may have put himself in the position and there wasn't much Brown (?) could have done to stop his momentum. That was based on seeing it live, so I'm not positive about that. Players shouldn't turn towards the boards for refuge from a check.
- Jackman

My friend and I have been discussing this a lot lately. Back in the 90s if you were going for the puck near the boards you were automatically looking over you shoulder and putting yourself in a position protect yourself from a hit. Over the last few years players have been getting away from preparing for hits and instead positioning their backs to players whenever they head toward the boards knowing that if they get hit it will usually be a boarding penalty. I dislike how players are using the possibility of a boarding call to protect themselves from forecheckers instead of putting themselves in a position to not get hurt when they get hit.

Im not saying this happens in every boarding penalty or that this has anything to do with the boarding call on King. But throughout the season both of us have been yelling at the TV over a boarding call where the checker couldnt have done anything differently and the player with the puck puts his numbers right between him and the boards.

That being said heres to a speedy recovery for AP and hope he doesnt miss much time.

I don't care what anyone says. they can justify the hit all they want. But countless times over and over again the Kings injure or try to injure other teams good players. for instance when the sharks played the Kings back to back at the end of the season, there were at least 3-4 really dirty and unsportsmanlike like attempts to take out Logan Couture... In the Vancouver series there were like 4 or 5 charging, elbowing, and boarding calls, and now this. This team is pathetic.

I hope the Blues turn things around and send the kings back home where the belong

I don't care what anyone says. they can justify the hit all they want. But countless times over and over again the Kings injure or try to injure other teams good players. for instance when the sharks played the Kings back to back at the end of the season, there were at least 3-4 really dirty and unsportsmanlike like attempts to take out Logan Couture... In the Vancouver series there were like 4 or 5 charging, elbowing, and boarding calls, and now this. This team is pathetic.

I hope the Blues turn things around and send the kings back home where the belong
- thew2589

I saw both games against SJ and your take on those games are lies. Your just mad you couldn't play the puck from the bench against St Louis

I don't care what anyone says. they can justify the hit all they want. But countless times over and over again the Kings injure or try to injure other teams good players. for instance when the sharks played the Kings back to back at the end of the season, there were at least 3-4 really dirty and unsportsmanlike like attempts to take out Logan Couture... In the Vancouver series there were like 4 or 5 charging, elbowing, and boarding calls, and now this. This team is pathetic.

I hope the Blues turn things around and send the kings back home where the belong
- thew2589

Yea? Please provide us clips to prove that the Kings are dirty and.constantly trying to injure. Don't even get me started about the Sharks and the Canucks. Pathetic team? Who are you guys playing in the second round? I'm glad the Blues Killed you guys. If you wanna talk cheap and intent to injure. You need to go back and watch how your team played against St. Louis.


I hope Peitrangelo returns, because he is way better than Doughty and I enjoy watching him play.

I may be a diehard Kings fan, but I have to say...

Holy crap. You really wrote a good piece. I wish our Buzzer, Matthew Barry, could write half as well.

As far as the hit, I don't think King should be suspended, but he should have gotten a 4 or 5 on the play.

Oh and GKG!

I don't care what anyone says. they can justify the hit all they want. But countless times over and over again the Kings injure or try to injure other teams good players. for instance when the sharks played the Kings back to back at the end of the season, there were at least 3-4 really dirty and unsportsmanlike like attempts to take out Logan Couture... In the Vancouver series there were like 4 or 5 charging, elbowing, and boarding calls, and now this. This team is pathetic.

I hope the Blues turn things around and send the kings back home where the belong
- thew2589

Fail...

I don't care what anyone says. they can justify the hit all they want. But countless times over and over again the Kings injure or try to injure other teams good players. for instance when the sharks played the Kings back to back at the end of the season, there were at least 3-4 really dirty and unsportsmanlike like attempts to take out Logan Couture... In the Vancouver series there were like 4 or 5 charging, elbowing, and boarding calls, and now this. This team is pathetic.

I hope the Blues turn things around and send the kings back home where the belong
- thew2589

Homer Sharks fan

I don't care what anyone says. they can justify the hit all they want. But countless times over and over again the Kings injure or try to injure other teams good players. for instance when the sharks played the Kings back to back at the end of the season, there were at least 3-4 really dirty and unsportsmanlike like attempts to take out Logan Couture... In the Vancouver series there were like 4 or 5 charging, elbowing, and boarding calls, and now this. This team is pathetic.

I hope the Blues turn things around and send the kings back home where the belong
- thew2589

What a Joke. It's not about justifying a hit. It's reality, a place you clearly don't live in. I don't care about your homerisms. It doesn't matter if you hate the Kings or whatnot. The Kings for one reason or another have turned their play around and are playing good hockey especially now in the playoffs. Obviously, your a sharks fan, and you despise the Kings, whatever, but flat out embellishments of the truth makes you look foolish.

You want to talk about pathetic, how about reaching out with your stick from the bench and breaking up an outnumbered attack, and then lying about it 20 minutes later to the media. That's Pathetic.