You should have just stopped there...
- Iggysbff

Probably.

Big time interference on that sharks goal
- Thorny87

You mean the hooking?

The Pens are not off the hook here. Losing Wilson definitely makes life easier on the Pens, but they still need their depth scoring to kick in if they want to make a series of it.
- Rinosaur

Very true. I didn't think they would have this much difficulty getting scoring from other players. I know Geno was out but still other guys should have stepped up. So far that hasn't been the case.

If we don't get depth scoring, we're toast. A one line team with shaky goaltending is.....shall we say......less than optimal.
- madmike71

I love Murray but he just doesn't look as confident as we've seen him the prior two years in the postseason.

I love Murray but he just doesn't look as confident as we've seen him the prior two years in the postseason.
- acdc1206

To be fair. Murray has played a LOT of hockey over the last 3-4 years.

You mean the hooking?
- RafiDRW

Pick and a hook

Pick and a hook
- Thorny87

Yep. Just wanted to make sure I was seeing the same thing.

Nyquist and Howard for ZAR and Murray. Do it.

Twenty years ago, that hit is celebrated left and right. I appreciate what the NHL is doing for head injuries (I've recieved seven concussions) but until the league says "zero head-shots" that hit should not warrant suspension.

Unless checking is removed from hockey this stuff will still happen.

- McCarty on Lemieux
- Thornton on Orpik
- Stevens on Lindros
- Kasparaitis on Lindros
- (frank) Lindros

What made this game great was how much we had to go thourgh to win. It was a medal in itself! Ass-beatings and line brawls were a thing, and at the time a good thing.

Again, I'm a Pens fan. But I'm not a wimp.

Twenty years ago, that hit is celebrated left and right. I appreciate what the NHL is doing for head injuries (I've recieved seven concussions) but until the league says "zero head-shots" that hit should not warrant suspension.

Unless checking is removed from hockey this stuff will still happen.

- McCarty on Lemieux
- Thornton on Orpik
- Stevens on Lindros
- Kasparaitis on Lindros
- (frank) Lindros

What made this game great was how much we had to go thourgh to win. It was a medal in itself! Ass-beatings and line brawls were a thing, and at the time a good thing.

Again, I'm a Pens fan. But I'm not a wimp.
- CB

20 years ago? Uhh...pre 2011 that hit was legal.

But I agree with your premise. Only way to truly eliminate stuff like this is to eliminate checking.

Every year I kind of feel bad for Ovechkin and think to myself that it may not be so bad to see him raise the Cup, but then we play the Caps and remember how much I (frank)ing hate that team and then say "nah".
- Victoro311

this

Twenty years ago, that hit is celebrated left and right. I appreciate what the NHL is doing for head injuries (I've recieved seven concussions) but until the league says "zero head-shots" that hit should not warrant suspension.

Unless checking is removed from hockey this stuff will still happen.

- McCarty on Lemieux
- Thornton on Orpik
- Stevens on Lindros
- Kasparaitis on Lindros
- (frank) Lindros

What made this game great was how much we had to go thourgh to win. It was a medal in itself! Ass-beatings and line brawls were a thing, and at the time a good thing.

Again, I'm a Pens fan. But I'm not a wimp.
- CB

To be fair, Lemieux should have lost an eye as well from that hit. Guy was pure poop and trash for his hit on Draper, deserved what he got from McCarty.

If it wasn't for the last season, and the fact that they took to long to kill his annoying sister, I'd give it top 5, but as it stands, I'd stay top 10-15.
- j.boyd919

Even the Sopranos had one very weak season. That season where Tony was recuperating from when Junior shot him? All those weird dream sequences? That was not a good season.

Twenty years ago, that hit is celebrated left and right. I appreciate what the NHL is doing for head injuries (I've recieved seven concussions) but until the league says "zero head-shots" that hit should not warrant suspension.

Unless checking is removed from hockey this stuff will still happen.

- McCarty on Lemieux
- Thornton on Orpik
- Stevens on Lindros
- Kasparaitis on Lindros
- (frank) Lindros

What made this game great was how much we had to go thourgh to win. It was a medal in itself! Ass-beatings and line brawls were a thing, and at the time a good thing.

Again, I'm a Pens fan. But I'm not a wimp.
- CB

20 years ago Wilson has to fight straight after it & probably gets the same back or 1 of his more skilled team mates. I doubt Wilson does it too many times.

20 years ago, there was no asking to fight like today. He said no to Oleksiak doubt he gets the chance back in the good old days. Violence was met with violence.

20 years ago Wilson has to fight straight after it & probably gets the same back or 1 of his more skilled team mates. I doubt Wilson does it too many times.

20 years ago, there was no asking to fight like today. He said no to Oleksiak doubt he gets the chance back in the good old days. Violence was met with violence.
- Aussiepenguin

I can’t find the quote but players used to be pissed if a guy like Wilson got suspended during a series after something like that. The thought process was he got off easy and should have been forced to play. How great the game once was. American influence Aussie, land of Ryan Wilson’s.

I can’t find the quote but players used to be pissed if a guy like Wilson got suspended during a series after something like that. The thought process was he got off easy and should have been forced to play. How great the game once was. American influence Aussie, land of Ryan Wilson’s.
- Grinder47

Funny story I heard last week.

Australia played NZ in a Rugby League test match in the 80's, i remember the hit as clear as day to.

A young debutant for NZ was playing dirty & pissing a lot of Aussies off with his antics. So the captain of Australia thought right (frank) him, I'm going to teach this little female genitalia a lesson. The Kiwis got a penalty & set up a play where Wally Lewis (captain of Australia), lined up this young kiwi to drive him. The play played out & Wally rushed up & carnage followed with a yuuge shoulder hitting the Kiwi & smashing him to the ground where Wally followed through & elbowed (accidentally) him in the head.

The kiwi whinced under Wally slightly concussed & Wally looked over him about to give him a spray & saw it was another player he had hit by mistake - a very well respected older player that everyone liked. Wally said he couldn't believe it & said 'sorry mate I thought you were that other grub. Are you ok?' Word had it, the rest of the Kiwis told the young bloke to pull his head in.

It's at 1:40 in the link.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Au-_DU2mp0E

I can’t find the quote but players used to be pissed if a guy like Wilson got suspended during a series after something like that. The thought process was he got off easy and should have been forced to play. How great the game once was. American influence Aussie, land of Ryan Wilson’s.
- Grinder47

Players are retiring and not being able to tie their shoe laces or remember their names. It's easy for you to sit in your arm chair, yell at the tv or this website and call everyone pussies but you're not the one having your head rocked then dealing with it later in life. This isn't the 70's, 80's or 90's anymore man. It's time to let it go.

Clean hard checks that don't result in brain trauma still occur every single game in the NHL it is possible to have hard clean check without brain trauma.

Players are retiring and not being able to tie their shoe laces or remember their names. It's easy for you to sit in your arm chair, yell at the tv or this website and call everyone pussies but you're not the one having your head rocked then dealing with it later in life. This isn't the 70's, 80's or 90's anymore man. It's time to let it go.

Clean hard checks that don't result in brain trauma still occur every single game in the NHL it is possible to have hard clean check without brain trauma.
- MattStrat

I remember cheering like crazy over that Kasparitis hit on Lindros that was mentioned earlier. But I know a lot more about concussions now and when I see head shots anymore I just cringe and worry for the guy. Bones and bruises tend to heal, but brain trauma often doesn't.

Twenty years ago, that hit is celebrated left and right. I appreciate what the NHL is doing for head injuries (I've recieved seven concussions) but until the league says "zero head-shots" that hit should not warrant suspension.

Unless checking is removed from hockey this stuff will still happen.

- McCarty on Lemieux
- Thornton on Orpik
- Stevens on Lindros
- Kasparaitis on Lindros
- (frank) Lindros

What made this game great was how much we had to go thourgh to win. It was a medal in itself! Ass-beatings and line brawls were a thing, and at the time a good thing.

Again, I'm a Pens fan. But I'm not a wimp.
- CB

https://amp.usatoday.com/...__twitter_impression=true

Read that this morning from Kevin Allen.

We all watch the same videos in these situations, and none of us agrees on what we saw happen or what the league’s reaction should be.

Maybe that’s part of the problem.

The illegal check to the head rule, as it is written now, provides a gray area in which heavy hitters like Wilson can operate.

He goes on to say they should add an automatic penalty if contact is made with the head, with the refs allowed to call a major and misconduct if they think it's intentional. I'd call that a good step, but think they need to be tougher as the refs rarely call it intentional. Players will adjust if the penalties get stiffer, but a minor won't deter them.

Players are retiring and not being able to tie their shoe laces or remember their names. It's easy for you to sit in your arm chair, yell at the tv or this website and call everyone pussies but you're not the one having your head rocked then dealing with it later in life. This isn't the 70's, 80's or 90's anymore man. It's time to let it go.

Clean hard checks that don't result in brain trauma still occur every single game in the NHL it is possible to have hard clean check without brain trauma.
- MattStrat

Yeah funny how more headshots and lack of respect for players come into the game as snowflake hockey fans are trying to push the “Neanderthal and good ole canadian” out of the game. Own worst enemy.

https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/575688002?__twitter_impression=true

Read that this morning from Kevin Allen.

We all watch the same videos in these situations, and none of us agrees on what we saw happen or what the league’s reaction should be.

Maybe that’s part of the problem.

The illegal check to the head rule, as it is written now, provides a gray area in which heavy hitters like Wilson can operate.

He goes on to say they should add an automatic penalty if contact is made with the head, with the refs allowed to call a major and misconduct if they think it's intentional. I'd call that a good step, but think they need to be tougher as the refs rarely call it intentional. Players will adjust if the penalties get stiffer, but a minor won't deter them.
- Tojo.

Firstly, the closest ref that could have & should have made the call turned away & couldn't see the contact he knew was coming - he should have have made sure he could see. So 4 refs discussing, 1 ref didn't see a thing & had no input.

I'd like to know what hockey play Wilson was trying to complete? The puck had gone on all 3 questionable hits so far, so he wasn't trying to move the player off the puck. Hit the player? From 10-20m? What type of hockey play is that? If the player has passed the puck it's at least interference if the player tries to follow the play. Charging as I've said before which is obvious, which also isn't a hockey play & shows intent if anything does.

If you say that it's the playoffs, then put the whistles away & play no rules if Wilson can put guys in hospital & Not have a penalty called well, let the teams ruin each other. Rutherford saw it & brought Reaves in, I think Sully wanted no part of that so Reaves came & went. I'm starting to think Sully doesn't care about hi se players getting injured as long as it's not the top 4-5 players. If someone repeats the 'get them back with a PP goal after the dirty hit, well there's a slight issue with that philosophy. It's no wonder Sid says he feels better with a Downey or a Reaves playing.

Again any contact with the head should have a rating of either;
Accidental
Reckless
Intentional
With consequences attached.

Yeah funny how more headshots and lack of respect for players come into the game as snowflake hockey fans are trying to push the “Neanderthal and good ole canadian” out of the game. Own worst enemy.
- Grinder47

I agree here, there seems to be a lack of respect...but I think that's a society thing in whole leaking into sports. I mean, back in Lemieux and Gretzky's day they were never booed in opposing teams arenas. It simply didn't happened. There was too much respect for them, what people were witnessing and just in general.

I think bigger factors than respect with regards to injuries and concussions though is 1. the speed of the game with the two line pass taken out and obstruction being called a lot and 2. How hard the equipment is now.

I agree here, there seems to be a lack of respect...but I think that's a society thing in whole leaking into sports. I mean, back in Lemieux and Gretzky's day they were never booed in opposing teams arenas. It simply didn't happened. There was too much respect for them, what people were witnessing and just in general.

I think bigger factors than respect with regards to injuries and concussions though is 1. the speed of the game with the two line pass taken out and obstruction being called a lot and 2. How hard the equipment is now.
- MattStrat

The players I imagine are bigger & stronger & faster as well. Hits are harder, less control due to more speed & coaches like Trotz that encourage the injuries.

Yeah funny how more headshots and lack of respect for players come into the game as snowflake hockey fans are trying to push the “Neanderthal and good ole canadian” out of the game. Own worst enemy.
- Grinder47

Absolutely not.

The players I imagine are bigger & stronger & faster as well. Hits are harder, less control due to more speed & coaches like Trotz that encourage the injuries.
- Aussiepenguin

I agree here, there seems to be a lack of respect...but I think that's a society thing in whole leaking into sports. I mean, back in Lemieux and Gretzky's day they were never booed in opposing teams arenas. It simply didn't happened. There was too much respect for them, what people were witnessing and just in general.

I think bigger factors than respect with regards to injuries and concussions though is 1. the speed of the game with the two line pass taken out and obstruction being called a lot and 2. How hard the equipment is now.
- MattStrat

Definitely part of it.

1. faster, bigger, stronger athletes
2. body armor, pads nowadays are essentially body armor vs what they were back in the day
3. no two line pass gives a lot more speed in the neutral zone
4. better understanding of brain injuries
5. the nhl "kind of" caring about the issue with spotters/etc.
6. social media - hits are much easier to see within seconds via twitter etc.


You also have to factor in that many players hid their injuries to continue playing (and probably still do). But I don't believe there are more concussions in hockey today than back then. I would imagine the rate is about the same. It's not like the league is filled with scumbags, there's only a handful of them that lack respect.

I bet if the equipment wasn't hard plastic, and the players delivering the hits actually felt them too, you wouldn't see as many giant hits.



http://braininjurycanada...._Concussion_CMAJ_2011.pdf

Here's a study on concussions from lke 1997-2004. I know it's not recent, but I think it shows peaks and valleys in those years that it wasn't really climbing or falling.