NHL Player Safety ‏@NHLPlayerSafety 1m
Montreal forward Brandon Prust will have a hearing today for interference for his hit on New York forward Derek Stepan.

Shocked, I'll be more shocked if it's more than Quintal giving Prust a Swedish massage
- cranford93

Somebody tweeted last night that the league wouldn't suspend Prust because that guy in charge of suspensions Brendan Shanahan was an a$$hole.

The funny part was that Shanahan re-tweeted it and didn't even make a comment on it!

Honestly I'd rather beat them with him on the ice
- cranford93

I just want to see the Rangers beat them. I could care less who is on the ice. Plus, Prust's face makes me ill so I'd prefer to not see his cro magnon jawline anymore than I have to.

Honestly I'd rather beat them with him on the ice
- cranford93

Yup, I mean seriously what should he get logically, 1 game for a potentially dangerous hit. Stepan is fine, didn't result in an injury. Doesn't change the missed call.

Normally the league doesn't look at 2 minute interference calls


- cranford93

Looks pretty clearly he was aiming for his head. He might have hit more chest, than head, but he leaped up and threw his shoulder towards his head.

In today's game this warrants a suspension.

Normally the league doesn't look at 2 minute interference calls


- cranford93

if nash could have buried that 2-1 after that hit, place would have went crazy

Somebody tweeted last night that the league wouldn't suspend Prust because that guy in charge of suspensions Brendan Shanahan was an a$$hole.

The funny part was that Shanahan re-tweeted it and didn't even make a comment on it!

- TheMessiah94

From what I understand, as bad as he was as at handing out suspensions, he has a great sense of humor.

Normally the league doesn't look at 2 minute interference calls


- cranford93

How does the ref behind the play not see that??? He's 50 feet away and looking right at it!!!

The 5 minute major for interference penalty was written exactly for a play like this. Prust goes out of his way to hit Stepan as hard as he can AFTER Step chips the puck off the boards and takes 3 strides towards the middle of the ice. At this point, Stepan is completely unexpecting contact. Some people say he should keep his head up, YEAH WHEN HE HAS THE PUCK. Can't even call it incidental open ice contact, Prust targeted him, bent his knees and extended upward throwing the hit as hard as he can through Stepan. I can't honestly say it was a head shot, Prust tried to keep it clean, but he did go for an all out hit. If Stepan had stayed skating straight and Prust came across and rode him in the boards out of the play, then you could argue Prust was finishing his check in the skating lane he and Step were both traveling in. Its Steps change of direction and multiple strides after that make this a conscious choice which borderlines intent to injure.

Should have been a Major Interference Penalty which is automatic Game Misconduct. Refs blew that call, so the game spirals out of control. Carcillo never would have seeked revenge, we would have rolled all 4 lines instead of mixing everything up. Prust would be out.

I don't usually blame the refs or any 1 incident for the outcome of a game, but this one really factored in. Tokarsky was unbelievable, but a missed 5 min Major Powerplay, a hurt center, a non ejected Canadien, a powerplay for the retaliation charge, an ejected Ranger, I mean thats a lot of ramifications because of 1 missed incident.

All that said, we still dominated. I'm not worried at all, if we keep playing like this and Brass comes back Sunday, we should be fine. They still have no answer for our speed.

I just want to see the Rangers beat them. I could care less who is on the ice. Plus, Prust's face makes me ill so I'd prefer to not see his cro magnon jawline anymore than I have to.
- MidnightMarauder

Admit it, you have a Prust Rangers jersey in your closet, don't you ?

Admit it, you have a Prust Rangers jersey in your closet, don't you ?
- MadCap2008

You got me, have his jersey in every color, plus the Winter Classic version.

Yup, I mean seriously what should he get logically, 1 game for a potentially dangerous hit. Stepan is fine, didn't result in an injury. Doesn't change the missed call.
- mdw7413

Screw suspending Prust. These 2 idiot referees should be suspended for the rest of the playoffs. They are an abomination, not only in this series but throughout the playoffs. None of them have any feel how to call a game.

Screw suspending Prust. These 2 idiot referees should be suspended for the rest of the playoffs. They are an abomination, not only in this series but throughout the playoffs. None of them have any feel how to call a game.
- TheMessiah94

Officiating has been deplorable, in these playoffs, unfortunately it will only get worse as the years go by.

The amount of robotic officials are increasing while the referees, that have a genuine feel for the game, are decreasing. Long gone are the days of the Paul Stewart type of referees; the games are being officiated by spineless drones that have no idea how to make gut calls.

Screw suspending Prust. These 2 idiot referees should be suspended for the rest of the playoffs. They are an abomination, not only in this series but throughout the playoffs. None of them have any feel how to call a game.
- TheMessiah94

Yeah, they should have some sort of review for refs. I can think of only a few games this entire playoffs, and i've watched almost every team, where I thought the refs called a good game. Most games, its like a crap shoot.

The 5 minute major for interference penalty was written exactly for a play like this. Prust goes out of his way to hit Stepan as hard as he can AFTER Step chips the puck off the boards and takes 3 strides towards the middle of the ice. At this point, Stepan is completely unexpecting contact. Some people say he should keep his head up, YEAH WHEN HE HAS THE PUCK. Can't even call it incidental open ice contact, Prust targeted him, bent his knees and extended upward throwing the hit as hard as he can through Stepan. I can't honestly say it was a head shot, Prust tried to keep it clean, but he did go for an all out hit. If Stepan had stayed skating straight and Prust came across and rode him in the boards out of the play, then you could argue Prust was finishing his check in the skating lane he and Step were both traveling in. Its Steps change of direction and multiple strides after that make this a conscious choice which borderlines intent to injure.

Should have been a Major Interference Penalty which is automatic Game Misconduct. Refs blew that call, so the game spirals out of control. Carcillo never would have seeked revenge, we would have rolled all 4 lines instead of mixing everything up. Prust would be out.

I don't usually blame the refs or any 1 incident for the outcome of a game, but this one really factored in. Tokarsky was unbelievable, but a missed 5 min Major Powerplay, a hurt center, a non ejected Canadien, a powerplay for the retaliation charge, an ejected Ranger, I mean thats a lot of ramifications because of 1 missed incident.

All that said, we still dominated. I'm not worried at all, if we keep playing like this and Brass comes back Sunday, we should be fine. They still have no answer for our speed.
- xcheckmajor

Instead of Montreal playing with 11 for the rest of the game it was us

Officiating has been deplorable, in these playoffs, unfortunately it will only get worse as the years go by.

The amount of robotic officials are increasing while the referees, that have a genuine feel for the game, are decreasing. Long gone are the days of the Paul Stewart type of referees; the games are being officiated by spineless drones that have no idea how to make gut calls.
- MidnightMarauder

What I find annoying is their tendency to focus on 1 type of infraction per game.

It's like they purposely say "tonight, forget interference calls, let's just call hooking". And the the next game, all they call is tripping AND diving penalties.

Officiating has been deplorable, in these playoffs, unfortunately it will only get worse as the years go by.

The amount of robotic officials are increasing while the referees, that have a genuine feel for the game, are decreasing. Long gone are the days of the Paul Stewart type of referees; the games are being officiated by spineless drones that have no idea how to make gut calls.
- MidnightMarauder

The interference call on Gallagher was atrocious too, Mac was going down to block the shot, they have no feel for the game, the NHL plucks these guys from skating with the stars

What I find annoying is their tendency to focus on 1 type of infraction per game.

It's like they purposely say "tonight, forget interference calls, let's just call hooking". And the the next game, all they call is tripping AND diving penalties.
- Pecafan Fan

Was just going to say that. Its like they have a spread sheet before every game that comes from up high, and tells them what to watch for.

What I find annoying is their tendency to focus on 1 type of infraction per game.

It's like they purposely say "tonight, forget interference calls, let's just call hooking". And the the next game, all they call is tripping AND diving penalties.
- Pecafan Fan

Get used to it thought because all of these new officials look and call the game the same way.

The old guard is virtually gone and now the league is left with young referees looking to do whatever they can to look good to the big bosses in the NHL. They all seem petrified to make a tough judgment call and with the advent of the "War Room" the league has made it easier for these officials to all follow the herd. Individual critical thinking doesn't exist anymore.

Was just going to say that. Its like they have a spread sheet before every game that comes from up high, and tells them what to watch for.
- mdw7413

So, so annoying. Bet the players have no idea what or when a call will go against them.

Get used to it thought because all of these new officials look and call the game the same way.

The old guard is virtually gone and now the league is left with young referees looking to do whatever they can to look good to the big bosses in the NHL. They all seem petrified to make a tough judgment call and with the advent of the "War Room" the league has made it easier for these officials to all follow the herd. Individual critical thinking doesn't exist anymore.
- MidnightMarauder

One thing I'd like to see more, is the linesmen step up and say when player X deserves a penalty. I'm not sure, but I think they are allowed to do that, but they rarely, if ever do.

The interference call on Gallagher was atrocious too, Mac was going down to block the shot, they have no feel for the game, the NHL plucks these guys from skating with the stars
- cranford93

It absolutely works both ways. Montreal has been called for some bogus penalties in this series, without a doubt.

But I find it really hard to believe that four officials could all miss how blatantly late Prust's check on Stepan was. Yet, Carcillo bumps Prust and there was zero hesitation on that one.

Subban also got away with a myriad of penalties last night yet he never sat for a second in the penalty box.

But on the same hand, McDonagh slashed Gallagher, pretty obviously at that, and the refs didn't even flinch.

Officiating is an absolute disgrace in the NHL today.

One thing I'd like to see more, is the linesmen step up and say when player X deserves a penalty. I'm not sure, but I think they are allowed to do that, but they rarely, if ever do.
- Pecafan Fan

The league needs to empower the linesman to make a call when both blind officials fall asleep on the job.

Get used to it thought because all of these new officials look and call the game the same way.

The old guard is virtually gone and now the league is left with young referees looking to do whatever they can to look good to the big bosses in the NHL. They all seem petrified to make a tough judgment call and with the advent of the "War Room" the league has made it easier for these officials to all follow the herd. Individual critical thinking doesn't exist anymore.
- MidnightMarauder

I think the officiating sucks because it isn't consistent, but isn't what you said above what we should be striving for (i.e. consistency from game to game/night to night) ? I thought many of the "old guard" sucked, BTW.

It absolutely works both ways. Montreal has been called for some bogus penalties in this series, without a doubt.

But I find it really hard to believe that four officials could all miss how blatantly late Prust's check on Stepan was. Yet, Carcillo bumps Prust and there was zero hesitation on that one.

Subban also got away with a myriad of penalties last night yet he never sat for a second in the penalty box.

But on the same hand, McDonagh slashed Gallagher, pretty obviously at that, and the refs didn't even flinch.

Officiating is an absolute disgrace in the NHL today.
- MidnightMarauder

Unfortunately, after the refs probably realized they blew that call, you knew if someone breathed on Prust they were going to call it. They didn't want the game to get out of their control. And that's another issue where the refs make things worse by involving themselves when they shouldn't. All they had to do was let Carcillo and Prust fight, and that would have been the end of it.

I think the officiating sucks because it isn't consistent, but isn't what you said above what we should be striving for (i.e. consistency from game to game/night to night) ? I thought many of the "old guard" sucked, BTW.
- MadCap2008

The new refs are terrible 99.9% of the time.

The old refs weren't much better either but at least a lot of them had a better feel for the game and didn't miss this many blatantly obvious calls on a consistent basis.