Hockey 2010-2011

[ila]

Originally Posted by smc

^^^^^

Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin updated the media on Max Pacioretty’s status this morning:

"Max Pacioretty has a severe concussion, as well as a fracture of the fourth cervical vertebrae, but it’s not displaced. Max will remain at the hospital for further observation. There will be no other prognosis for the time being, but he will obviously be out indefinitely. The most important thing for our organization right now is Max’s recovery. We will continue following recommendations from the doctors and of course, Max and his immediate family would appreciate privacy in this matter."

The NHL review of the incident resulted in a ruling that Chara did not intend to injure Pacioretty. Mike Murphy, senior VP of hockey operations, released this statement on behalf of the league:

"After a thorough review of the video I can find no basis to impose supplemental discipline. This hit resulted from a play that evolved and then happened very quickly -- with both players skating in the same direction and with Chara attempting to angle his opponent into the boards. I could not find any evidence to suggest that, beyond this being a correct call for interference, that Chara targeted the head of his opponent, left his feet or delivered the check in any other manner that could be deemed to be dangerous."

I am surprised by this, although it is clearly the correct call (as you can see from this video). Note that this is from the Bruins broadcast, so there is some bias -- although it turns out that Andy Brickley's assessment of Chara's hit is correct:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QPHHd6jmMo

It was clearly interference. The game misconduct and throwing Chara out of the game might have been an overreach, but understandable under the immediate circumstances. Regardless, though, I think Murphy's statement demonstrates that the NHL is thinking through how to avoid knee-jerk reactions to the roughness that is part and parcel of hockey while at the same time dealing with the growing number of dirty hits (which this was not). I don't think many of us who discuss hockey here have had occasion to say that the league got one right, but I hope we can agree this time.

At 10 seconds into the video Chara clearly has his right foot off the ice. This doesn't necessarily indicate a dirty hit, only that Chara was able to put more force behind his bodycheck.