We're just looking for consistency from the league, and not finding it.
People comparing this to the Torres hit are humiliating themselves and demontrating a total lack of understand of...everything.
There are a few exceptions where the league has blown it (looking at you, James Neal), but you can generally categorize hits by asking and answering two questions:
(1) Was it a reaction play or was it targeted? A player is always responsible for his actions, but predatory plays get handled FAR more harshly. Hammer someone behind the play? You're in dangerous territory. Line someone up from 20 feet away and deliver an illegal hit? Your chances of suspension go way up.
(2) Did the hit cause a significant injury?
If the answer to one of these is yes, there's a good chance you get suspended. If the answer to BOTH is yes, you're looking at a 3+ game suspension. If the the answer is "no" to both, you will be hard pressed to find any examples of suspensions.
There is a lot of boring debate about whether Ovechkin's PPC was the head or shoulder of Girardi, or if his foot was still on the ground vs. off by an inch. That's really secondary stuff. Fact is, the answer to both of the above quesitons is "no" on the Ovechkin plan.
PP looked like some new plays had been added. I wanted to see Semin get Ovi's one timer spot. I did see plays for Ovi at RW. I was thrilled to assume Dale too saw what we all saw, Ovi missing badly on far too many one timers on his off wing. Nice adjustment. Lundy got there, but it was a high percentage play. Can't flub that one.
And John Carlson. Just beastly. Shoving people around. Playing with an edge.
As I posted earlier in this thread, he is growing into a grizzled NHL playoff veteran before our eyes. Very cool to witness, and very excited about the future for that kid.
27 and 74 have been amazing out there. When you think how young they are, sure is nice to have them on our team.
and lets not get ahead of ourselfs calling carlson pronger. I have never seen a mean streak in JC anywhere close to prongers. Still kindof funny some posters are still mad at GMGM for not trading one of them for pronger.
27 and 74 have been amazing out there. When you think how young they are, sure is nice to have them on our team.
and lets not get ahead of ourselfs calling carlson pronger. I have never seen a mean streak in JC anywhere close to prongers. Still kindof funny some posters are still mad at GMGM for not trading one of them for pronger.
I said he reminded my of Pronger, not that he was the "Next Pronger" or something like that.
It's weird how both Carlson and Drew Doughty had these less-than-stellar regular seasons but have suddenly leaped back onto their development curve in the playoffs.
Backstrom counter-hit followed by goal = pure awesome.
That was my favorite moment of the game. Especially with Anisimov literally landing on his a$$. Milbury loved it, too. It reminded me of Hendy trucking McDonagh and then making the sweet dish to Brouwer which should have ended Game 3. The full package in a single sequence -- hitting and playmaking.
I have pause whenever I see #19 and #10 on the ice.
Richards, Gaborik, and Kreider all worry me. Today fortunately Kreider came back to earth. Bad giveaway on 1st goal, and then a second late (and dropping his stick) as backstrom potted the 2nd goal.
A guy who seemed to be at the center of every key play today, both good and bad, was Anisimov. Scored the first, made the dish on the 2nd, and then got knocked on his a$$ right b4 the Caps' 2nd.
