3 Phoenix Coyotes vs 6 Chicago Blackhawks

[Kin]

Back in the day Stevens would have been lauded for that.

No. Say what you will about Stevens but his hits were always textbook clean. Leaving your feet has never been considered clean.

 

[Deebo]

I'm over the Berard thing, it was a follow through with no intent and Hossa has shown to be a class guy over the last 10 years.

Torres on the other hand....

 

[Tigger]

Back in the day Stevens would have been lauded for that.

No. Say what you will about Stevens but his hits were always textbook clean. Leaving your feet has never been considered clean.

I never thought targeting the head was clean, not ever.

 

[Kin]

I never thought targeting the head was clean, not ever.

One of your frequent disagreements with the NHL rulebook, I'm sure. But Stevens' hits didn't break rules. What we just saw there was charging.

 

[Tigger]

I never thought targeting the head was clean, not ever.

One of your frequent disagreements with the NHL rulebook, I'm sure. But Stevens' hits didn't break rules. What we just saw there was charging.

I know, not saying Stevens wasn't playing by the rules in general so you've got a point but to me, leaving the feet isn't as big a deal as shoving your shoulder into a guys chin with that kind of impact.

There was no doubt at all to me that Stevens did his best to rip off Lindros' head and I never liked it. May have been legal but that doesn't change much for me.

 

[ZBBM]

This whole first round has been one disgrace after another for the league, looked at objectively.

 

[Bates]

Only prob with that thought is that ratings are higher than usual.  So NHL will have to decide what it wants from here.

 

[Kin]

I know, not saying Stevens wasn't playing by the rules in general so you've got a point but to me, leaving the feet isn't as big a deal as shoving your shoulder into a guys chin with that kind of impact.

There was no doubt at all to me that Stevens did his best to rip off Lindros' head and I never liked it. May have been legal but that doesn't change much for me.

I don't disagree with you. I think the league should have had rules against targeting the head for, well, ever. I'm just saying that when Stevens was lauded it was because he threw big hits but they were "clean". Guys who've thrown dirty hits like Marchment and so on have always been seen differently.

 

[ZBBM]

Only prob with that thought is that ratings are higher than usual.  So NHL will have to decide what it wants from here.

That assumes the ratings are higher because of the goonery.  There may be no relation.

But even if there is, the league has to get the dirty hits under control.  The head injury problem will have to be dealt with.

 

[Bates]

I agree completely ZBBM.  I am actually not a fan of "physical" hockey anymore.  I used to love a good hit or fight as much as a goal.  But now with the size and strength of the players I am actually a little uncomfortable out of fear of the result.  Guys can now hit and punch hard enough to damn near kill someone.  I still like a good side rub out against the boards where the risk of injury is not that high.  And don't mind a couple middle weights duking it out as the chance of big punch out is slim.

 

[Sucker Punch]

65 seconds ago it was 1-0 Chicago.

Now it's tied at 2.

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

:-( hockey just isn't going my way tonight. My Colts lost, son's Red Wings lost and My Jonathan's team is going to overtime again :\

 

[Deebo]

Weak goal and the Coyotes go up 2-1 in the series.

 

[Mr. Leaf]

Weak goal and the Coyotes go up 2-1 in the series.

I found Boedker's goal very reminiscent of Kane's Cup Winning goal.

 

[maplesyrup]

Just saw the hit... What a maroon.  :-\ Totally agree with you ZBBM, this first round has been rather unpleasant.

 

[Sucker Punch]

Read that in the entirety of last year's playoffs, there were 7 disciplinary hearings.  In the first round this season, there has been 8 (including Torres).

 

[bustaheims]

Read that in the entirety of last year's playoffs, there were 7 disciplinary hearings.  In the first round this season, there has been 8 (including Torres).

There were 7 suspensions last year (or, at least, that's what they said during the game on TSN).

 

[AvroArrow]

Read that in the entirety of last year's playoffs, there were 7 disciplinary hearings.  In the first round this season, there has been 8 (including Torres).

There were 7 suspensions last year (or, at least, that's what they said during the game on TSN).

In the first round, or through the whole playoffs?

 

[Deebo]

Read that in the entirety of last year's playoffs, there were 7 disciplinary hearings.  In the first round this season, there has been 8 (including Torres).

There were 7 suspensions last year (or, at least, that's what they said during the game on TSN).

In the first round, or through the whole playoffs?

Whole playoffs.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Not surprised to see the Torres hIt on Hossa.  Suspected something like this was in the offing when ChIcago's Shaw tried to upend Phoenix goaltender Mike Smith's head.  Suspension for Shaw well-deserved.

Chicago, by the way, also employs one of the NHL's dirtiest rats Danny Carcillo, (out for the season with a knee injury, obtained  when he tried to injure Oilers defenseman Tom Gilbert during the regular season).

In no way did the hit on Hossa justify any type of 'payback' -- those types of head hits need to be banned outright! A lengthy suspension, and by that, I do mean lengthy, may be the only way to rid Torres of his penchant for these controversial hits, much in the same way Matt Cooke, Mike Richards, etc., eventually stopped, too, at throwing blindside/head hits.