The NHL’s game altering Rule 48 (banning avoidable head contact) was famously pushed for after a really bad incident against Boston’s Marc Savard on March 7, 2010. Way back On February 26, 1994, Mark Messier of the New York Rangers gave a free lesson on why this rule was long overdue. Dallas Star legend Mike … Continue reading Historical Tough Call: Messier Erases Modano
Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks has become a focal point in the disciplinary department as of late. He'd just gotten a $5,000.00 fine on Sunday for slashing Tampa Bay's Tyler Johnson. Then on Monday night in a game against the Washington Capitals, Thornton delivered an awkward hit to the head of T.J. Oshie … Continue reading Trying to Understand the Thornton/Oshie Incident
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby made contact with Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby in Wednesday's regular season matchup between the two long standing rivals. Crosby ran into Holtby in the Trapezoid behind the Washington net while Holtby was in the process of a clearing attempt. To me this was an obvious penalty, which wasn't called. … Continue reading Crosby Hits Holtby in Head
Hours after I announced a break for Christmas Taylor Hall had to go and obliterate Vancouver's Philip Larsen. After seeing some of the fan reaction I really wanted to weigh in. Canucks fans must be pulling their hair out right now praying for a different ending than the Nazem Kadri saga(Kadri Avoids Suspension For … Continue reading Hall Should Not Be Suspended For Hit On Larsen
Jacob Trouba provided us with what to me is a blatant example of what NOT to do when he pummelled Colorado's Matt Duchene. Duchene got the puck at the top of the circle and started toward the net, heading straight at Trouba. Trouba couldn't get an angle to defend from so he decided immediately to … Continue reading Another Head Shot Slides Under NHL Radar
T.J. Oshie throws dirty hit. I could easily make that a weekly column. This is not a case of a gritty player getting a reputation for doing his job. This is not a rage against the Washington Capitals or the USA or whatever other excuse is going to be made for him. This is a … Continue reading T.J. Oshie Throws Dirty Hit
Another Philadelphia Flyers player has a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Friday. Chris VandeVelde laid a ridiculous elbow to the jaw of Chicago legend Jonathan Toews. The incident happened with the score tied 1-1 very late in the first period of Wednesday's game. http://youtu.be/4iXmb3xs5aw Video: SPORTSNETCANADA There's really nothing to argue … Continue reading VandeVelde To Have Hearing For Elbow On Toews
Ryan Reaves has made a name for himself around the NHL as a punishing hitter you always have to be aware of. With a recent string of so many big hits in a short span, it's come time to give some sort of character judgement in order to assess whether his enthusiasm for hitting should … Continue reading Should Ryan Reaves Be Suspended For Hit On Garnet Hathaway?
Zac Rinaldo of the Boston Bruins was given a 5 game suspension for his hit on Cedric Paquette of the Tampa Bay Lightning in what appears to be an endless cycle of grease or be greased. http://youtu.be/szYrD23KMAo Video: Eric Burton Some might say he just mistimed it and if Paquette had just been going a … Continue reading Rinaldo Gets 5 Game Suspension
On February 18, Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice was ejected from a game in Tampa Bay against the lightning after hurling minutes of profanity laced verbal abuse at the officials. The brunt of the more colourful language started after a sequence of two hits by Tampa Bay's Anton Stralman within a few seconds of … Continue reading Some Thoughts On The Paul Maurice Ejection
