Anthony Travalgia: Bruce Cassidy has no issue with Ritchie's hit on Gourde Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy has no issue with Nick Ritchie's hit on Yanni Gourde, one that earned Ritchie a five-minute major for roughing.

Bruins coach/player/fan/blogger unhappy over officiating in loss.

How original

Shoulder to shoulder is not quite accurate.

Fan of neither team, so I'm trying to offer a relatively unbiased opinion here.

I'm looking at that first hit on Kuhlman, and it looks to be a square on hit to the shoulder/elbow area, not the back. Kuhlman has the puck when he gets hit, absorbs most of the contact with the boards with his shoulder, and immediately gets back up. He even has the wherewithal to hand pass the puck on his way down to the ice. Good play by Kuhlman IMO.

The Ritchie hit, on the other hand, comes very late. The puck is already out of the zone and the play has moved on down the ice. Gourde doesn't appear to notice that Ritchie is there at all. The contact is more from the side than from the back, so if it comes a second or two earlier then I think it's probably okay. This should have been called interference instead of boarding.

The main difference is that the first hit by Paquette is a hit on the player with the puck in the corner. The Ritchie hit is completely unnecessary hit on a defenseless player that has no expectation of contact since the puck is no longer in his possession. I didn't get to watch the game and only got to see the clips for the first time here. If Gourde was not injured, then I'd be ok with a 2 minute penalty for interference. If he was, then 5 minutes and the game was probably warranted.

As for supplemental discipline, I don't think Ritchie should get any extra games. Maybe a fine.

😭😭😭Cassidy 😭😭😭

Both hits were on pretty much the exact same part of the body: back shoulder. The only differences were that the Ritchie hit looked a bit late and Gourde clearly faked an injury. Stood up pretending not to be able to stand and to not know where he was, skated off a half second later at speed. Getting up wobbly indicates swelling/blow to the cerebellum and parietal lobe. You don't pass concussion protocol with that kind of injury. Ever. Period.

First hit, no penalty. Second hit, 2 minutes. Refs botched the call. There really is no arguing it's a major. We see way worse go completely uncalled in the playoffs all the time. NHL refs have reached all time lows the last 5 years or so. Where do they find these clowns? Makes it hard to watch games. Never thought I'd be saying this but I'm losing all interest in the sports (Sabres sucking on an epic level helps...)

And yeah, the Canucks fan claiming not to be biased against the Bruins...sure. Doesn't undermine your credibility at all... Coming from a Sabres fan.

Both hits were on pretty much the exact same part of the body: back shoulder. The only differences were that the Ritchie hit looked a bit late and Gourde clearly faked an injury. Stood up pretending not to be able to stand and to not know where he was, skated off a half second later at speed. Getting up wobbly indicates swelling/blow to the cerebellum and parietal lobe. You don't pass concussion protocol with that kind of injury. Ever. Period.

First hit, no penalty. Second hit, 2 minutes. Refs botched the call. There really is no arguing it's a major. We see way worse go completely uncalled in the playoffs all the time. NHL refs have reached all time lows the last 5 years or so. Where do they find these clowns? Makes it hard to watch games. Never thought I'd be saying this but I'm losing all interest in the sports (Sabres sucking on an epic level helps...)

And yeah, the Canucks fan claiming not to be biased against the Bruins...sure. Doesn't undermine your credibility at all... Coming from a Sabres fan.
- cjp2112

I'm not a Canucks fan. I'm a Kings fan. I hate the Canucks.

A "Canuck" is just a person from Canada and is not indicative of which hockey franchise they follow.

Both hits were on pretty much the exact same part of the body: back shoulder. The only differences were that the Ritchie hit looked a bit late and Gourde clearly faked an injury. Stood up pretending not to be able to stand and to not know where he was, skated off a half second later at speed. Getting up wobbly indicates swelling/blow to the cerebellum and parietal lobe. You don't pass concussion protocol with that kind of injury. Ever. Period.

Thanks for your opinion doctor. Cool story bro.

Bruins coach/player/fan/blogger unhappy over officiating in loss.

How original
- halo63

Man up and put in your team.

Oh... and (frank) off.

missed the game, but watching both, Richies hit "looked" more like a penalty, but I dont think either one was a penalty.

I said it before and will say it again... seen this movie play a thousand times with thicc Nic... Nothing absolutely nothing wrong with that hit.. He's a Big big boy..

He gets more reputation penalties than any player...

Cassidy is a clown. What that asshat gets canned once they lose Game 5. Classless guy to even remotely defend Ritchie’s blatant intent to injure.

Yes they missed a call in Kuhlman, but to think they’re the same hit is rich

Cassidy is a clown. What that asshat gets canned once they lose Game 5. Classless guy to even remotely defend Ritchie’s blatant intent to injure.

Yes they missed a call in Kuhlman, but to think they’re the same hit is rich
- FinnGod

Both hits were on vulnerable players and sent them head-first into the boards.
So yeah - they were close enough.

Why would you care if Cassidy coaches a team other than your own though?
Have something to do with Bruins knocking your team out of playoffs?

Cassidy is a clown. What that asshat gets canned once they lose Game 5. Classless guy to even remotely defend Ritchie’s blatant intent to injure.

Yes they missed a call in Kuhlman, but to think they’re the same hit is rich
- FinnGod

Where the fùck have all you cry babies been hiding?
You idiots know we get massive boners from your salty tears, don't you?
Keep feeding us you ignorant fool. Lol

Wait a minute........
That you Tuuk?

Ritchie hit was so LATE its laughable the refs didn't call a major and throw his ass out of the game. Cassidy is an ass too....akin to AV calling Niskanens breaking of Gally's jaw last week as a "hockey play"....bull poop...Bruins are losing to a really good team...the Bolts look like they are going to be tough to beat.

Gotta hope Ritchie gets at least a game....seems the only way he's going to get pulled from the lineup. Something's gotta give otherwise it's another gentleman's sweep at the hands of the Bolts.

And hopefully there's some supplemental discipline for Gourde's embellishment. Of course that can only be a warning if this is his first offense but at least it would be acknowledged.

“Take the fall, act hurt, get indignant.”

Coach Bombay pep talking Gourde

And hopefully there's some supplemental discipline for Gourde's embellishment. Of course that can only be a warning if this is his first offense but at least it would be acknowledged.
- bluemoon737

Gourde didn't embellish. He's just tougher than most and wanted it more.

Dude took a crushing hit from a guy a lot bigger than him. Got the wind knocked out of him and then went back in the game.

That's alright though. Cernak will stomp a mudhole in Ritchie next game and it'll be all good.

“Take the fall, act hurt, get indignant.”

Coach Bombay pep talking Gourde
- drew18

If he did (which he didn't), he learned it by watching Marchand. Funny how one of the dirtiest teams in the league (and have been for over a decade) are quick to point fingers at others for behavior they engage in themselves.

I can imagine the end of the year interview with Coach Cassidy saying to Mr Jacobs & Mr Neely, "we lost the series because of bad reffing"
Good luck with that!

To say these hits are the same is ridiculous. Watch the clips in your own post.....Kuhlman went as hard/fast into the boards at full speed as Gourde was in a slow motion clip.

The Ritchie hit was faster, further from the boards, and I’d say “much later” but Kuhlman still had the puck when he was hit, so that one wasn’t late at all, while The Ritchie hit was incredibly late

Gourde didn't embellish. He's just tougher than most and wanted it more.

Dude took a crushing hit from a guy a lot bigger than him. Got the wind knocked out of him and then went back in the game.

That's alright though. Cernak will stomp a mudhole in Ritchie next game and it'll be all good.
- GalacticStone

You were ok until this nonsense.. Thicc Nic will turn Cernak into a stain if he was or is dumb enough to go with him. Cernak's gloves will be cemented on around Nick.

Haven't watched any games of this series but if Tampa is up in the late stage of game 5 I might tune in just to see Neely whiz a water bottle or two around the press box!

Haven't watched any games of this series but if Tampa is up in the late stage of game 5 I might tune in just to see Neely whiz a water bottle or two around the press box!
- NewfieStud

Nah, probably not for a couple of reasons. Once Rask bailed he probably figured it was a lost cause (and hey, not like they are making any money off these games). And two, it's only the second round...