OK. If the referee thinks that the head was hit - 48.2 Minor Penalty - For violation of this rule, a minor penalty shall be assessed.

End of story. i love how people think you can play in the NHL and you will be able to not get hit in the head. It happens, a player is bent over, a taller player hits a shorter player, there are many situations where someone will get hit in the head. If we are going to cry and wring hands about it, then remove body checking from the game.

Bortuzzo's hit should be a teaching video on how to throw a hit in hockey. Lead with the shoulder, feet on the ice, not from behind or blindside.
- garbow

The follow through with the elbow is important, kids

How is a late hit to the head a textbook body check in 2014? Ironic a Flyers fan has to say this, but stop living in the 70s.
- BulliesPhan87

The "Primary Point of Contact" is Jagr's chest. when you get hit in the chest and your momentum stops abruptly, your head will snap forward and hit whatever stopped you. Bortuzzo did not target the head, but Jagr's head did get hit. You cannot eliminate people getting hit in the head playing contact hockey. you can eliminate "head shots" where players target the head but the hit on Jagr is a perfectly fine play.

How is a late hit to the head a textbook body check in 2014? Ironic a Flyers fan has to say this, but stop living in the 70s.
- BulliesPhan87

If the principle point of contact is not the head, but instead the body, however contact to the head is made in the process of the hit, is it a head shot?
That is something I have never been clear on when the NHL discusses these things.

The "Primary Point of Contact" is Jagr's chest. when you get hit in the chest and your momentum stops abruptly, your head will snap forward and hit whatever stopped you. Bortuzzo did not target the head, but Jagr's head did get hit. You cannot eliminate people getting hit in the head playing contact hockey. you can eliminate "head shots" where players target the head but the hit on Jagr is a perfectly fine play.
- garbow

lol okay

The "Primary Point of Contact" is Jagr's chest. when you get hit in the chest and your momentum stops abruptly, your head will snap forward and hit whatever stopped you. Bortuzzo did not target the head, but Jagr's head did get hit. You cannot eliminate people getting hit in the head playing contact hockey. you can eliminate "head shots" where players target the head but the hit on Jagr is a perfectly fine play.
- garbow

Astounding. Simply astounding the bias and Jagr hate some people have. I want one of those TVs where I can always see what I want to happen, as well.

Excellent blog, Gunner! I have a slightly different take regarding the following point you raised:

The league has outsourced its justice system to the players for decades, it doesn’t work.

I'm sure it's just the evolution of the NHL but the reason vigilante justice no longer works is that it's not longer permitted. The reason there are no longer enforcers is that it is a complete waste of a roster spot if said enforcer is not permitted to do his job. The league has by and large turned the page on gratuitous fighting, and that is a good thing. However, there is something to be said for how many fewer of these hits existed, and how much more respect players had for their NHL brethren, back in the days of the true enforcer. There is simply no threat whatsoever of having to answer for one's misdeeds. Therefore, it is absolutely on the league to crack down harshly on ANY illegal hit, regardless of resulting injury or target of the hit. To this point they have failed miserably to do so.

He was finishing his hit. Quit all the bleeding hearts saying it was a terrible hit.......Jagr was leaning down and took it on the chin. Keep your head up and this won't happen.

If you read the full rule, it takes into account the player putting himself into a vulnerable position ("a player is bent over, a taller player hits a shorter player", as you said). It is when a player deliberately delivers a hit aimed toward the head where the rule is enforced. Please tell me when delivering a hit targeted at the head is an acceptable, clean hockey play.
- jmatchett383

The head was not targeted. He hit Jagr in the chest with his shoulder.

If the principle point of contact is not the head, but instead the body, however contact to the head is made in the process of the hit, is it a head shot?
That is something I have never been clear on when the NHL discusses these things.
- usethe1-2-2

It's always a little blurred. But in the end, like Ryan said, the call is based on the results and not the intent.

The head was not targeted. He hit Jagr in the chest with his shoulder.
- garbow

You keep telling yourself that, and you may even start to believe it.

as an aside... I know I could solve this by buying a season pass... but I dont want to. I'm ok with ads... but how about some that dont continually crash the website and/or my computer.

Excellent blog, Gunner! I have a slightly different take regarding the following point you raised:



I'm sure it's just the evolution of the NHL but the reason vigilante justice no longer works is that it's not longer permitted. The reason there are no longer enforcers is that it is a complete waste of a roster spot if said enforcer is not permitted to do his job. The league has by and large turned the page on gratuitous fighting, and that is a good thing. However, there is something to be said for how many fewer of these hits existed, and how much more respect players had for their NHL brethren, back in the days of the true enforcer. There is simply no threat whatsoever of having to answer for one's misdeeds. Therefore, it is absolutely on the league to crack down harshly on ANY illegal hit, regardless of resulting injury or target of the hit. To this point they have failed miserably to do so.
- BOSS_TWEED

Just a follow-up, when the NHL doesn't crack down on cheap hits and head shots, the vigilante justice you get is usually way over the top when it does come (i.e. Thornton on Orpik).

He was finishing his hit. Quit all the bleeding hearts saying it was a terrible hit.......Jagr was leaning down and took it on the chin. Keep your head up and this won't happen.
- pugfart

His head didn't look down to me. He looked up to see if his pass got to the center of the ice.

I'm done with this one. I'll check back if/when Luke Schenn makes the same hit on Crosby.

I'm done with this one. I'll check back if/when Luke Schenn makes the same hit on Crosby.
- jmatchett383

I dont think Luke could catch Sid...

barely any love for MAF and his lead league leading 5th shutout. He's looks like a different goalie this year. Last night was the first time i've ever seen him look confident playing the puck behind the net.

His head didn't look down to me. He looked up to see if his pass got to the center of the ice.
- Streit2ThePoint

If his head was up then he wouldn't have been lying on the ice or so long afterwards. Might have been admiring his pass. Either way, he got hit & wasn't protecting himself. That fact can't be argued.

Glad I went to Sam's and stocked up on Tampons for this thread. Come on bad hits happen the game is played at an insane pace you have a split second to make a decision. And we have endured and complained about hits on Crosby but don't throw stones if you live in a glass house. Every fan of every team has seen something like this happen to their team and was upset then was completely fine when their team did it. The hollier than thou attitude of some of you dorks is annoying. This blog in general was annoying.

Let's go trades
- nh4442

Sutter and Pouliot for Yakupov, Petry, 2nd

There's just gotta be something that works with Edmonton. Petry is right handed and would make Martin expendable for future moves.

barely any love for MAF and his lead league leading 5th shutout. He's looks like a different goalie this year. Last night was the first time i've ever seen him look confident playing the puck behind the net.
- cap1681

Fleury looked great last night. But Bortz tho

Glad I went to Sam's and stocked up on Tampons for this thread. Come on bad hits happen the game is played at an insane pace you have a split second to make a decision. And we have endured and complained about hits on Crosby but don't throw stones if you live in a glass house. Every fan of every team has seen something like this happen to their team and was upset then was completely fine when their team did it. The hollier than thou attitude of some of you dorks is annoying. This blog in general was annoying.
- dbell646

-Get offended at "wussification"
-Make joke about needing tampon

lack of self awareness achieved, congrats

-Get offended at "wussification"
-Make joke about needing tampon

lack of self awareness achieved, congrats
- BulliesPhan87

I have pads if you don't like to penetrate yourself? Let me know

Years or games?
- dbell646

Still don't get why you write the Penguins blog on here when you hate every player on the team not named Crosby. The hit was 1 second late at most but it was hardly a dirty hit or even a head shot. Jagr''s head snaps back on impact but it was definitely shoulder on shoulder. And if he gets suspended it means Dumo can finally get some game action although Pouliot is killing it in WBS, he might be too good to play in the AHL already.

I have pads if you don't like to penetrate yourself? Let me know
- dbell646