Hockey

[smc]

Viz. the recent discussions about hard hits on the ice, the headline in today's Boston Globe sports section reads, "Bruins may stir something up for Cooke."

Speculation is that when the Bruins meet the Penguins tonight, they may take action against Matt Cooke. "Tonight ... the Bruins will have a chance to do something the NHL did not. They can hold Penguins left wing Matt Cooke accountable for the damage he inflicted upon Marc Savard, still left dizzy by the blow to the head he took 11 days ago."

11 days!

Cooke blind-sided Savard right to the head in the March 7 game in Pittsburgh, and the NHL did nothing because the hit was "legal" according to the 2009-2010 rule book. It prompted general managers throughout the league to propose a rule change to make such hints something for which a player can be penalized. The Bruins GM believes "that had the rule been in place when Cooke launched himself into Savard, the Pittsburgh winger might have been suspended for 10 or more games."

So, will Bruins' players pound Cooke legally, or risk penalties and suspensions in the name of retribution. I guess we'll soon find out.

[shadows]

Originally Posted by smc

Viz. the recent discussions about hard hits on the ice, the headline in today's Boston Globe sports section reads, "Bruins may stir something up for Cooke."

Speculation is that when the Bruins meet the Penguins tonight, they may take action against Matt Cooke. "Tonight ... the Bruins will have a chance to do something the NHL did not. They can hold Penguins left wing Matt Cooke accountable for the damage he inflicted upon Marc Savard, still left dizzy by the blow to the head he took 11 days ago."

11 days!

Cooke blind-sided Savard right to the head in the March 7 game in Pittsburgh, and the NHL did nothing because the hit was "legal" according to the 2009-2010 rule book. It prompted general managers throughout the league to propose a rule change to make such hints something for which a player can be penalized. The Bruins GM believes "that had the rule been in place when Cooke launched himself into Savard, the Pittsburgh winger might have been suspended for 10 or more games."

So, will Bruins' players pound Cooke legally, or risk penalties and suspensions in the name of retribution. I guess we'll soon find out.

I have some good news and some bad news about the game. Cooke was in a fight with Thornton(I don't know who the victor of the fight was), which was good news since they kept the retaliation legal. The bad news is that the Bruins forgot that there was a hockey game to play and they lost 3-0. Pittsburgh had 31 shots, while Boston only had 17. To add insult to insult, this was Fleury's first shutout of the season.

[shadows]

You know, Colon Campbell could not give out a proper suspension if his life depended on it!

Eight measly games for that crap? I wonder if he would be so cavalier with handing out suspensions if it was his son that was on the receiving end of a dirty hit(his son plays on the Florida Panthers)?

Here is the story from tsn.ca.

WISNIEWSKI GIVEN 8 GAME SUSPENSION FOR SEABROOK HIT

The National Hockey League has suspended Anaheim Ducks blueliner James Wisniewski eight games for his hit on Chicago Blackhawks' Brent Seabrook.

The incident took place during Wednesday's Blackhawks-Ducks game in Anaheim, Seabrook caught Anaheim's Corey Perry with a hit near the end boards that knocked Perry down.

Seconds later, Wisniewski laid a crushing hit on Seabrook that knocked the Chicago defenceman out of the game. Starting from the faceoff circle, Wisniewski sped at Seabrook and launched himself off the ice and into the defenceman at the end boards.

Wisniewski was assessed a minor charging penalty on the play, while Seabrook appeared dazed on his feet before collapsing to the ice.

"Mr. Wisniewski delivered a retaliatory hit to the head of an opponent who never had possession of the puck," explained NHL senior vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell in a statement.

"There are certain hits in the game that are tolerable if you got the puck," stated Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville after Wednesday's game. "But if you hit a guy without the puck, you could kill a guy. It's the most dangerous hit in the history of the game. He tried to hurt him. If that's not intent, that's as bad a hit as you can ever have in the game."

Wisniewski, a former member of the Blackhawks, showed remorse for his actions but didn't agree with the eight-game penalty.

"I am truly sorry that my friend Brent Seabrook was hurt on the play," said Wisniewski in a statement. "I certainly wish him the best. I am, however, very disappointed in the length of the suspension. Eight games is incredibly hard to swallow, especially in comparison to other recent hits that have resulted in lesser punishment."

The suspension was not the first for Wisniewski this season. He served two games for a hit on Shane Doan of the Phoenix Coyotes in early November. He was also suspended for one game (crosscheck) in March of 2008.



Pathetic. He should have been suspended the rest of the season...at least!

[dauls]

It would be unsporting of me to visit this thread and fail to acknowledge the Leafs shootout annihilation of the Devils last night.

The Devils couldn't even manage a shot on goal in overtime.

Clearly Danis (conceded all 3 penalty shots last night) has a lot to learn from Brodeur about winning a shootout.

[shadows]

Originally Posted by dauls

It would be unsporting of me to visit this thread and fail to acknowledge the Leafs shootout annihilation of the Devils last night.

The Devils couldn't even manage a shot on goal in overtime.

Clearly Danis (conceded all 3 penalty shots last night) has a lot to learn from Brodeur about winning a shootout.

I did not want to appear like I was rubbing it in, so I was waiting for you to post it. I am surprised that the Leafs won, but I will take the win! Brodeur is undefeated against the Leafs this season, so I am glad they gave him the night off.