Sens vs Habs

[Sucker Punch]

I didn't expect any suspensions from last night.  The only one I thought that might get a phone call was Gorges.  Thought he might get a warning.  But Alfie didn't get in trouble when he did it to Neidermayer either.

I thought it all fell under the heading of playoff hockey, other than Bourque's elbow to Conacher.

I'm really stunned and a little upset with Shanahan/the NHL about that.  It ticked nearly every box for a lengthy suspension.

- elbow
- headshot
- away from the play
- blindside
- defenseless, unsuspecting player
- history of suspension for similar plays

The only factor that goes against suspension is that Conacher wasn't seriously injured.

It makes no logical sense. Precedents mean nothing.  Is Shanahan just really that incompetent? Is he under pressure from someone to screw it up? Has he been told to rule based on injury alone? I don't understand, and I wish we'd get an explanation, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

The best part is that if anyone says anything about it, the league will fine them.

 

[caver]

Two more games and the Sens will suspend the whole Habs team for the summer.    ;D ;D

 

[Zee]

I didn't expect any suspensions from last night.  The only one I thought that might get a phone call was Gorges.  Thought he might get a warning.  But Alfie didn't get in trouble when he did it to Neidermayer either.

I thought it all fell under the heading of playoff hockey, other than Bourque's elbow to Conacher.

I'm really stunned and a little upset with Shanahan/the NHL about that.  It ticked nearly every box for a lengthy suspension.

- elbow
- headshot
- away from the play
- blindside
- defenseless, unsuspecting player
- history of suspension for similar plays

The only factor that goes against suspension is that Conacher wasn't seriously injured.

It makes no logical sense. Precedents mean nothing.  Is Shanahan just really that incompetent? Is he under pressure from someone to screw it up? Has he been told to rule based on injury alone? I don't understand, and I wish we'd get an explanation, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

The best part is that if anyone says anything about it, the league will fine them.

If that same elbow is delivered to Sidney Crosby? -- 20 games.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I didn't expect any suspensions from last night.  The only one I thought that might get a phone call was Gorges.  Thought he might get a warning.  But Alfie didn't get in trouble when he did it to Neidermayer either.

I thought it all fell under the heading of playoff hockey, other than Bourque's elbow to Conacher.

I'm really stunned and a little upset with Shanahan/the NHL about that.  It ticked nearly every box for a lengthy suspension.

- elbow
- headshot
- away from the play
- blindside
- defenseless, unsuspecting player
- history of suspension for similar plays

The only factor that goes against suspension is that Conacher wasn't seriously injured.

It makes no logical sense. Precedents mean nothing.  Is Shanahan just really that incompetent? Is he under pressure from someone to screw it up? Has he been told to rule based on injury alone? I don't understand, and I wish we'd get an explanation, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

The best part is that if anyone says anything about it, the league will fine them.

You see, the math is like this:

Elbow headshot: +1 game
Unsuspecting player, away from the play: +1 game
History of discipline: +1 game
Total: +3 games

Next,
Leading his team in scoring: - 1 game
Really important Game 4 coming up, team is behind 2-1: - 1 game
Psycho Canadian fanbase: -1 game
Total: - 3 games

So, you see, it's a wash, no suspension.

 

[Manson]

I thought it all fell under the heading of playoff hockey, other than Bourque's elbow to Conacher.

I'm really stunned and a little upset with Shanahan/the NHL about that.  It ticked nearly every box for a lengthy suspension.

- elbow
- headshot
- away from the play
- blindside
- defenseless, unsuspecting player
- history of suspension for similar plays

The only factor that goes against suspension is that Conacher wasn't seriously injured.

It makes no logical sense. Precedents mean nothing.  Is Shanahan just really that incompetent? Is he under pressure from someone to screw it up? Has he been told to rule based on injury alone? I don't understand, and I wish we'd get an explanation, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

The best part is that if anyone says anything about it, the league will fine them.

I mean it was a cheap shot and I don't like it but it was barely more than a love tap.  There's a reason there was no injury.  It's a penalty, not a suspension. 

 

[Zee]

I thought it all fell under the heading of playoff hockey, other than Bourque's elbow to Conacher.

I'm really stunned and a little upset with Shanahan/the NHL about that.  It ticked nearly every box for a lengthy suspension.

- elbow
- headshot
- away from the play
- blindside
- defenseless, unsuspecting player
- history of suspension for similar plays

The only factor that goes against suspension is that Conacher wasn't seriously injured.

It makes no logical sense. Precedents mean nothing.  Is Shanahan just really that incompetent? Is he under pressure from someone to screw it up? Has he been told to rule based on injury alone? I don't understand, and I wish we'd get an explanation, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

The best part is that if anyone says anything about it, the league will fine them.

I mean it was a cheap shot and I don't like it but it was barely more than a love tap.  There's a reason there was no injury.  It's a penalty, not a suspension.

He did the same thing to Backstrom last season and this isn't even reviewed?  Shanahan / NHL discipline committee has lost all credibility in my books.

 

[lamajama]

They've lost credibility with you just now?.

You've got staying power! 

 

[Manson]

He did the same thing to Backstrom last season and this isn't even reviewed?  Shanahan / NHL discipline committee has lost all credibility in my books.

I agree, pretty similar plays actually, but I do think the one on Backstrom is worse.  Given his history, I wouldn't have minded Bourque getting a phone call I guess, but on the play itself, no...the force was just too minor.

And do we know it wasn't reviewed?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I thought it all fell under the heading of playoff hockey, other than Bourque's elbow to Conacher.

I'm really stunned and a little upset with Shanahan/the NHL about that.  It ticked nearly every box for a lengthy suspension.

- elbow
- headshot
- away from the play
- blindside
- defenseless, unsuspecting player
- history of suspension for similar plays

The only factor that goes against suspension is that Conacher wasn't seriously injured.

It makes no logical sense. Precedents mean nothing.  Is Shanahan just really that incompetent? Is he under pressure from someone to screw it up? Has he been told to rule based on injury alone? I don't understand, and I wish we'd get an explanation, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

The best part is that if anyone says anything about it, the league will fine them.

I mean it was a cheap shot and I don't like it but it was barely more than a love tap.  There's a reason there was no injury.  It's a penalty, not a suspension.

Don't need much force to cause a concussion though.

 

[Manson]

Don't need much force to cause a concussion though.

Ya, I mean resulting injury is a factor.  If it caused a concussion, I'd imagine that's probably what would put it over the edge from a penalty to a suspension.  Like I said though, I think there's a reason there wasn't much of, or any, resulting injury.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Don't need much force to cause a concussion though.

Ya, I mean resulting injury is a factor.  If it caused a concussion, I'd imagine that's probably what would put it over the edge from a penalty to a suspension.  Like I said though, I think there's a reason there wasn't much of, or any, resulting injury.

Yeah and that's why I disagree with the way Shanahan does it.  If the point is to cut down on head injuries, and a play like that could theoretically cause one, then it should be the act itself punishable.

 

[Kin]

Because it deserves a mention in this thread most of all

Stay classy, Nik.

Can't stay what I never wuz.

 

[Manson]

Yeah and that's why I disagree with the way Shanahan does it.  If the point is to cut down on head injuries, and a play like that could theoretically cause one, then it should be the act itself punishable.

I get what you're saying but I don't know if that's a good road to go down either.  I think this particular play is best left as a 2 minute elbowing penalty.  Some plays are just penalties.

 

[Sucker Punch]

I think the 2 minute minor is more for bodychecks where a player gets his arms up.

That wasn't anything approaching a hockey play, that was pure elbow to the head with malicious intent.

Course, I haven't reviewed the Rulebook, so I could be wrong.

 

[Manson]

I think the 2 minute minor is more for bodychecks where a player gets his arms up.

That wasn't anything approaching a hockey play, that was pure elbow to the head with malicious intent.

Course, I haven't reviewed the Rulebook, so I could be wrong.

He got 2 minutes for elbowing.

 

[Sucker Punch]

Trying to say that I think Bourque's hit was something outside the scope of a 2 minute elbowing call.

Like Marty McSorely on Brashear was more than a highsticking penalty (not comparing these in severity).

But again, I don't know the rule by the letter, so I could be wrong.

 

[bustaheims]

I think the 2 minute minor is more for bodychecks where a player gets his arms up.

That wasn't anything approaching a hockey play, that was pure elbow to the head with malicious intent.

Course, I haven't reviewed the Rulebook, so I could be wrong.

I agree. In game penalties are meant for hockey plays. They're meant for things that legitimately happen over the course of a game without malice. What Bourque did doesn't qualify there. As far as I'm concerned, actions like that - anything that's above and beyond actual hockey - should be dealt with fines and suspensions as well. These are the things we should want out of the game. Bourque's elbow did nothing to help his team offensively or defensively. It had nothing to do with the play on the ice. It was an action taken entirely out of malice. A straight up body check there would have been more than enough. It would have gotten the point across and it might have gone uncalled (though, it would have been interference). The elbow to the head - especially from someone with a history of this sort of action - deserved at least a hearing, and probably a couple games in the pressbox.

 

[Sucker Punch]

[youtube]I38dKQlTP1E[/youtube]

This happened last season, and earned Rene Bourque a 5 game suspension.  Very similar to what he did to Conacher, but at least Backstrom had the puck just before got the elbow to his face.

 

[Manson]

Ya, we were just talking about it a few posts back.

 

[Sucker Punch]

Eww, the knee looked ugly...