Not starting a diving war. Agree Crosby has made some pansy moves in the past. That doesn't change the fact that Raffl dove last night. Just because Crosby has done it before doesn't mean Raffl has free reign.
- bochangs

Not at all. Every player dives. But that doesn't make him a horrible person, either.

\Where is the RW blog describing Malkins Assault and how this doesn't belong in the league and he should be suspended for the season?
- sammy87

It’s 100% coming. Wilson calls out our own players when stuff like this happens all the time. Expect the next blog comment section to be a flame war.

So in 2012 Game 3, when Malkin sucker-punched Coburn in the back of the head...does that mean that Malkin is a dirtbag, as well?
- jmatchett383

... Malkin is a stupid retaliation dirt bag. Can be goaded into these type of antics almost daily.

My beef isn't even so much with the Pens or the Flyers or any particular player. It is with the political refereeing. I don't get it. It's 2019, there are cameras everywhere. Start calling the game as it happens. Enough politics and inconsistency. These refs are supposed to be the best in the world out of 7 billion human beings. It's disgusting. They are so bad. I don't see any difference in quality of officiating than I do for my sons peewee team.

Let's reverse that and say Raffl swings his stick towards Malkin's face after Malkin punches him in the back of the head. How would you feel about it?
- jmatchett383

Well first off, I think Geno should get punishment. So I would think the same of Raffl. I wouldnt like Geno for what he did to Raffl (cross check to back then punch to the back of the head...thats a head shot!) and Id especially take exception to Geno diving like that over a possible grazing. Id still have the life experiences of similar things happening to me or being around similar things, so I would think that Raffl in frustration wanted to give Malkin a tap to tell him to fvck off and it went errant. Because Malkin wasnt injured at all, I probably wouldnt be too upset.

I missed the slew foot, but I'm not saying it didn't happen. And Raffl should have gotten at least 2, 4 would have been warranted as well. That said, even if the refs did call a penalty, they wouldn't have blown play dead within that split-second, Geno still would have swung his stick, so I don't buy that. But yes, there should have been a penalty to Raffl no doubt.

Also, please don't compare Raffl to Gudas and Cooke. Dude's a pretty solid player, and his on-ice antics are more like Kunitz than a guy like Cooke.
- jmatchett383

Okay, I admit I was basing my Raffl comment mostly on this game as he was doing everything he could to incite something after every whistle. I also won't argue that in that immediate instance a ref could have prevented the stick swing, that's on Malkin. My point is that throughout the game there were a lot of things the ref's let go (as in most games) and it always bothers me that they let the cheap BS stuff go, then once someone retaliates they find their gonads to make a call. Everyone on the ice knows who is doing this crap (looking at Horny too here), yet they never address the issue, they only address the response. I'm all for hitting, hell I thought Gudas showed up in a positive way quite a bit last night, as did Raffl to an extent, but once it got to 3-0 it was bedlam after each whistle...why? The refs let it go, then waited for someone to respond, likely in a stupid manner...and Geno did.

As an example back in grade school there were always a few guys who did stupid stuff behind the teachers backs and then I (not very smart I admit) would retaliate and beat the crap out of them...guess who'd get in trouble. The ironic thing is that the teachers would admit they knew what the other kids were doing, but for whatever reason never intervened to stop it. Same rules/effect here.

Yes Malkin is a dirtbag with a huge temper that hurts this team.. Fortunately, he is one of the best players in the world and makes up for his idiocracy with 100 point seasons.

Raffl has never cracked 32 points in a season and is 30 years old. Not worth the foolishness.

Okay, I admit I was basing my Raffl comment mostly on this game as he was doing everything he could to incite something after every whistle. I also won't argue that in that immediate instance a ref could have prevented the stick swing, that's on Malkin. My point is that throughout the game there were a lot of things the ref's let go (as in most games) and it always bothers me that they let the cheap BS stuff go, then once someone retaliates they find their gonads to make a call. Everyone on the ice knows who is doing this crap (looking at Horny too here), yet they never address the issue, they only address the response. I'm all for hitting, hell I thought Gudas showed up in a positive way quite a bit last night, as did Raffl to an extent, but once it got to 3-0 it was bedlam after each whistle...why? The refs let it go, then waited for someone to respond, likely in a stupid manner...and Geno did.

As an example back in grade school there were always a few guys who did stupid stuff behind the teachers backs and then I (not very smart I admit) would retaliate and beat the crap out of them...guess who'd get in trouble. The ironic thing is that the teachers would admit they knew what the other kids were doing, but for whatever reason never intervened to stop it. Same rules/effect here.
- iworkatinitech

I can agree with that. Raffl got away with the punch, Coots absolutely overreacted when Letang checked him into Murray (I always did when I played, too). But yes, they let a lot go both ways, and make some calls that made no sense.

iworkatinitech You just nailed it. Send that comment to the NHL officiating association.

Yes Malkin is a dirtbag with a huge temper that hurts this team.. Fortunately, he is one of the best players in the world and makes up for his idiocracy with 100 point seasons.

Raffl has never cracked 32 points in a season and is 30 years old. Not worth the foolishness.
- bochangs

I agree with Malkin, ridicuously talented guy. And LAST NIGHT, Raffl got away with at least 2 things that should have been called. Guess what: that doesn't make him a dirtbag/dirty player. He's a bottom-6 winger who gives quality minutes and kills penalties. If you want to base his character on 1 game and say he's "not worth" what he does because of it...I don't know what to tell you.

Okay, I admit I was basing my Raffl comment mostly on this game as he was doing everything he could to incite something after every whistle. I also won't argue that in that immediate instance a ref could have prevented the stick swing, that's on Malkin. My point is that throughout the game there were a lot of things the ref's let go (as in most games) and it always bothers me that they let the cheap BS stuff go, then once someone retaliates they find their gonads to make a call. Everyone on the ice knows who is doing this crap (looking at Horny too here), yet they never address the issue, they only address the response. I'm all for hitting, hell I thought Gudas showed up in a positive way quite a bit last night, as did Raffl to an extent, but once it got to 3-0 it was bedlam after each whistle...why? The refs let it go, then waited for someone to respond, likely in a stupid manner...and Geno did.

As an example back in grade school there were always a few guys who did stupid stuff behind the teachers backs and then I (not very smart I admit) would retaliate and beat the crap out of them...guess who'd get in trouble. The ironic thing is that the teachers would admit they knew what the other kids were doing, but for whatever reason never intervened to stop it. Same rules/effect here.
- iworkatinitech

Very good.

My beef isn't even so much with the Pens or the Flyers or any particular player. It is with the political refereeing. I don't get it. It's 2019, there are cameras everywhere. Start calling the game as it happens. Enough politics and inconsistency. These refs are supposed to be the best in the world out of 7 billion human beings. It's disgusting. They are so bad. I don't see any difference in quality of officiating than I do for my sons peewee team.
- bochangs

It’s cus NHL refs get really poopty marching orders on how to officiate from bettman. This isn’t even “(frank) the comisioner” speculation. There are emails. NHL leadership is actively in favor of least common denominator goonery and the refs are forced to officiate the game in a way that facilitates it.

I agree with Malkin, ridicuously talented guy. And LAST NIGHT, Raffl got away with at least 2 things that should have been called. Guess what: that doesn't make him a dirtbag/dirty player. He's a bottom-6 winger who gives quality minutes and kills penalties. If you want to base his character on 1 game and say he's "not worth" what he does because of it...I don't know what to tell you.
- jmatchett383

If Tom Wilson punched Giroux in the back of the head like that how would you feel about it?

Few things are as sweet as the sound of Flyers fans booing, especially at a Crosby goal and getting robbed by the refs by an early whistle . That sound is even sweeter in the springtime but is still sweet now.

As for Malkin, I don't know what it is going to take to get him to keep his bad temper in check. He almost cost the game with that stick swinging. He could also get suspended for it. After all, Gudas got 10 games for clubbing Perreault (this was worse but only by a matter of degrees).

I can agree with that. Raffl got away with the punch, Coots absolutely overreacted when Letang checked him into Murray (I always did when I played, too). But yes, they let a lot go both ways, and make some calls that made no sense.
- jmatchett383

My point exactly...not defending Malkin but just acknowledging that I would likely have done something myself in that instance, and I wouldn't consider myself a DB (not Dan Bylsma). I would like to see a game especially between these two teams not turn into a slapshot reenactment. There was a LOT of skill on the ice last night and for most of the night it was present and exciting. The after-whistle scrum BS needs to go, it is a waste of mojo. Whatever I'm kind of done "talking" about this...for whatever it's worth you (jmachett) tend to be one of the most level-headed posters here. I admit to flying off the handle from time to time but here I don't see anyone being able to defend what Malkin did, I just hope it's no more than 2 games, and I HOPE whatever happens doesn't cause Sid or someone else to get blindsided in retaliation at the outdoor game...

Few things are as sweet as the sound of Flyers fans booing, especially at a Crosby goal and getting robbed by the refs by an early whistle . That sound is even sweeter in the springtime but is still sweet now.

As for Malkin, I don't know what it is going to take to get him to keep his bad temper in check. He almost cost the game with that stick swinging. He could also get suspended for it. After all, Gudas got 10 games for clubbing Perreault (this was worse but only by a matter of degrees).
- PghPens668771

He’s 31. He ain’t changing.

If Tom Wilson punched Giroux in the back of the head like that how would you feel about it?
- MattStrat

I would want it to be penalized, much like I said Raffl should have been penalized. And Wilson has a laundry list of suspensions and fines that backs up his on-ice character.

Few things are as sweet as the sound of Flyers fans booing, especially at a Crosby goal and getting robbed by the refs by an early whistle . That sound is even sweeter in the springtime but is still sweet now.

As for Malkin, I don't know what it is going to take to get him to keep his bad temper in check. He almost cost the game with that stick swinging. He could also get suspended for it. After all, Gudas got 10 games for clubbing Perreault (this was worse but only by a matter of degrees).
- PghPens668771

gudas could have had a steady job during the french revolution

If Tom Wilson punched Giroux in the back of the head like that how would you feel about it?
- MattStrat

Not trying to argue with you, but in NO WAY can anyone in the league currently be compared to Tom Wilson. I think 99.5% of the entire fanbase of the NHL would agree that Wilson needs to be removed from hockey in it's entirety, meaning not even the AHL. His crap is always premediated and has intent. I think I get where you're going though and understand but poor choice of comparable IMO.

Few things are as sweet as the sound of Flyers fans booing, especially at a Crosby goal and getting robbed by the refs by an early whistle . That sound is even sweeter in the springtime but is still sweet now.

As for Malkin, I don't know what it is going to take to get him to keep his bad temper in check. He almost cost the game with that stick swinging. He could also get suspended for it. After all, Gudas got 10 games for clubbing Perreault (this was worse but only by a matter of degrees).
- PghPens668771

I don't know, that chop by Gudas was pretty bad. 2-handed, straight down onto a dude's neck, you can kill a guy like that.

I would want it to be penalized, much like I said Raffl should have been penalized. And Wilson has a laundry list of suspensions and fines that backs up his on-ice character.
- jmatchett383

Just penalized? Ok.

Its a blindsided punch head shot. Actual force and connection with a players head whos back on and completely blind to it. IMO its just bad as a non look slash that got up high but didn't really connect.

Not trying to argue with you, but in NO WAY can anyone in the league currently be compared to Tom Wilson. I think 99.5% of the entire fanbase of the NHL would agree that Wilson needs to be removed from hockey in it's entirety, meaning not even the AHL. His crap is always premediated and has intent. I think I get where you're going though and understand but poor choice of comparable IMO.
- iworkatinitech

Guys who like Tom Wilson are either Caps fans, Stoolies, or just watch hockey for the fights.

I don't disagree with you at all about which would hurt more. That said, intentionally swinging your stick at a guy, ever if you miss completely, should be a suspendable offense. Obviously hockey and the American judicial system are not the same thing, but it's why attempted murder carries the same sentence as murder.

But, since the NHL doesn't seem to care what you do and has the, "No harm, no foul" mentality, we shall see.

Edit: For the record, I wanted Gudas suspended for life when he chopped Perrault last year.


- jmatchett383

Oh damn I missed that one. But yeah Geno should have not swing his stick, I'm just glad Raffle didn't get hit with it.

Just penalized? Ok.

Its a blindsided punch head shot. Actual force and connection with a players head whos back on and completely blind to it. IMO its just bad as a non look slash that got up high but didn't really connect.
- MattStrat

Well then we're going to disagree.

Actually, let me rephrase my answer. I would want Wilson to be suspended for life because he's shown that he's a cancer on the ice. I would expect a 2 minute minor, 4 minutes at best.