Wiz: I didn't do anything wrong
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski didn't think his high hit on Brent Seabrok in the second period Wednesday night was out of line.
"What happened was my face hit his face because my nose got all cut up from my visor and all that stuff," Wisniewski said following Anaheim’s 4-2 win at the Honda Center. "He's one of my real good buddies. That's not what at all what I was (doing). I just pinched down from the blue line. I thought he had the puck so I finished my check."
The Hawks were livid Wisniewski didn't receive more than a minor penalty for charging from referees Paul Devorski and Ian Walsh. Seabrook left the game and didn't return.
Wisniewski didn't think the NHL would suspend him.
"I wouldn't think so," he said. "I hope not. I didn't do anything wrong. The result of what happened isn't good because of what happened with him. But there wasn't anything wrong that I did."
Ducks coach Randy Carlyle defended Wisniewski.
"He was probably the first star in our mind, as far as involvement in the game," Carlyle said. "It was probably the best game he's played as a Duck."
The play occurred at 2:22 of the second period when Wisniewski skated at Seabrook, who didn't have the puck, at full speed from the top of the left circle, jumped and caught Seabrook in the face with his hands, arms and elbows.
Seabrook's head snapped back into the glass and he appeared unconscious on his skates before dropping to the ice.
Hawks coach Joel Quenneville was as angry as he has been in two seasons as Hawks coach with Devorski and Walsh for not calling a major penalty.
Quenneville took exception when asked about the "questionable" hit.
"Questionable?" Quenneville fumed. "There are certain hits in the game that are tolerable if you have the puck. But if you hit a guy without the puck you can kill a guy.
"It's the most dangerous hit in the history of the game and (Wisniewski) tried to hurt him. If that's not intent...that's as bad a hit as you can ever have in the game."
Hawks captain Jonathan Toews was just as angry about losing Seabrook just three days after Alex Ovechkin ended Brian Campbell's regular season with a hit from behind into the boards, causing a broken collarbone and fractured rib.
"A lot of guys in this locker room know the guy that did it and it becomes pretty personal when something like that happens," Toews said of Wisniewski. "He wasn't skating in from the blue line for any other reason than to run him over and take a liberty on Seabs."
Duncan Keith jumped in and fought Wisniewski after the cheap shot on his defense partner. Keith was the only Hawk to even touch Ovechkin after Sunday's hit on Campbell.
“Maybe start doing it back, I guess start hitting from behind a little bit and see how it goes,” Keith said.
Wisniewski claimed he was not repaying Seabrook for a hit on Ducks star Corey Perry seconds earlier.
Nick Boynton got some retribution late after the game was decided when he fought Wisniewski. Boynton said the game was too tight before then to go looking for payback.
“Unfortunately the game, it was close for a little too long there,” Boynton said. “When it’s 4-2 then something should be done. It’s a dirty hit, there’s no question about it. The Ovechkin hit wasn’t questionable and that one wasn’t questionable. That’s up to the league to take care of that, but they’re definitely dirty plays and there’s no need for it in the game.”
The Hawks felt referees Devorski and Walsh missed another call that led to a goal by Anaheim's Saku Koivu with 5:36 to play that snapped a 2-2 tie.
Brent Sopel was ready to bat the puck out of the air in the slot when Perry shoved to the ice from behind. The puck wound up with Koive in front for the goal.
"I was jumping for the puck, he pushed me down and I turn around and it's in the net," Sopel said. "I'm leaving my feet to get the puck. You can't push somebody. You've got to blow it down at least, call a 4-on-4 or something. You just can't let it go in the slot like that."
"Duncan Keith jumped in and fought Wisniewski after the cheap shot on his defense partner. Keith was the only Hawk to even touch Ovechkin after Sunday's hit on Campbell."
I didn't read every post on all of the articles, but kudos to Keith for standing up to Wiz on this one. Sure, there is the the risk that Keith could hurt himself fighting and the Hawks would have absolutely no defense left, but I like that he was willing to step out of his role and go after Wiz.
We loved him as a Hawk, now hate him for doing exactly what we've been clamoring for our current players to do in response to a hit. Seabrook hits a Duck, whether it's a clean hit or not, then Wiz takes the first chance he can and nails Seabrook. Wiz's shot however was a 30 foot plus charge - forearm to the head. Dumb on his part, and it should warrant a suspension. If he hammered Seabrook cleanly there wouldn't have been a problem, only today's posters would be screaming about "how we let Wiz go last year", and "why won't someone on the team do that!". Unfortunately, there is no one that will step up consistently and respond like that. Guaranteed Dirk Graham, Chelios, Ruskowski, Magnuson, etc. would have done what Captain Serious isn't built to do. Love the kid, but he cannot carry that part of the game. And the rest of them don't bother. Ah, it's gonna be a fun spring.
that Wiz did something stupid like this. The guy made poor judgement calls a lot on the ice with the Hawks. I'm not saying he had a history of hitting people in the head, but he does let his emotions get the best of him and he wasn't the most disiplined player. This is one of the reasons I've always been against seeing him back in a Hawks uniform. Not that I have any say, but you know what I'm talking about.
Reg, maybe Beach and Aliu or someone else (If they make it to the Hawks Line-up someday) will have the chracteristic you are looking for from Toews.
short and sweet, you nailed it.
............. is exactly what Wiz did last night. Hitting a player well after the puck is gone, around the head as Wiz did last night , with a 60 foot running head start which is what Wiz did, could have been a tragic event of unthinkable proportions. The first thing that crossed my mind in an instant was that Seabrook was at least paralyzed or worse. Then to hear Quenneville talk of possibility of being killed by such a cheap, ignorant, vile, filthy, unprofessional, cowardly hit like that speaks a couple of things. (1) If Bettman, Colin Campbell and others in the NHL office want to cultivate this game to get more young people involved, as was stated after the Olympics by Campbell, an example of the largest scale must be made. (2) The rest of the year suspension of Wiz AND the 2 officials who did the game last night is a must. Ignorance of a player is one thing; ignorance of officials who are there to police the game, is something else. Seabrook is one of the games brighter stars, what with his appearance in the Olympics proving that. Witnessing what very likely could have been a tragic sporting event for the ages could have been there for all to see. In the smallest sense, Seabrook is lucky he didn't have his neck snapped like a dry twig OR WORSE. Someone has to pay for garbage like this or this sport might well be behind roller derby and other sports no one cares about. And to think, Seabrook is Wiz buddy. With friends like that..............................
Ducks coach Randy Carlyle defended Wisniewski.
"He was probably the first star in our mind, as far as involvement in the game," Carlyle said. "It was probably the best game he's played as a Duck."
First star over the goali with 39 saves, the players with 2 goals or the player with 2 assists???
dhbdad
Watch Wiz end up in Washington to "protect " Ovechkin -
The hit on Campbell and Seabrook were careless on doubt. Are we as fans blowing the soft thing out of proportion? Maybe. If the hits weren't in back to back games, would we be drawing the same conclusion? It is frustrating no doubt in that they happened to s couple of our more important players. I don't like to see these guys on the receiving end of these type of hits but hopefully this isn't the thought process of teams that play us. Last year in the playoffs Calgary and Vancouver both would slash and cross check the Hawks at every whistle. That didn't stop until the officials started calling it. I would hope that teams aren't just escalating things now because the slash and cross checks don't work.
There are a couple interesting names on the UFA list, Shawn Thornton and John Scott. Thornton can play a regular shift even though he doesn't put up a lot of points. Scott I haven't watched enough to see if he can really play a 6th defense spot on our team. Those two would be a deterrent to these kind of plays.
I am really disappointed to see the response of Eager and Burish. Maybe the opportunities weren't there in a close game. However, if you need to take a little chance to run at Koivu, Wiz, Vishnovski, Niedermayer, or someone like that then they should have done it. In fact, you could lump Ladd, Brouwer, and Byf in there as well. Should have been something done.
Seabrook's hit on Perry showed something that really bothers me. Perry got hit shoulder to shoulder, then on his own flies into the boards face first. It is hard to categorize some of these boarding hits because players are putting themselves in bad positions. They see a guy coming and then turn their back to the guy at the last moment and are two feet from the boards. They are putting themselves in a bad position in order to draw a penalty. I would like the NHL and officials to come out and say that they can't protect the players if the players are intentionally putting themselves in compromised positions.
I know I am on an island alone, but I would like to see Richmond called up now. I thought he played alright on the Hawks..how many years ago was that? He has toughness even if he isn't very big and he has some skills. Byf didn't do bad back there last night but I rather not have to depend on him back there the whole time.
We are in big trouble. With 3 d men down , and Hossa ,as good as he is , something is wrong there. I hope it is not the shoulder again . He does not look right , So -when you intentionally hit a guy in a vulnerable position , all you have to do is say it was a hockey play , and he is my buddie , and it is ok . ( I think you can now say he "was" your buddie . Also -Wiz thru the first punch , even if they both decided to go , what is with the viser still being on ? We get kicked out and a major for it a few games ago , not here to them tho - Total B.S.
You know what else ticks me off besides the obvious here?
The fact that there's no rematch later in the year. Then Wiz will sign with another team and maybe even land in the Eastern Conference. Part of me hopes he does, so maybe he and Matt Cooke can cheap shot each other or maybe even Ovie will take him out with his recklessness.
The other part of me wants him to sign with a team in the Western Conference because, dammit, I want payback!
And I spoke directly to Colin Campbell's secretary, who listened to what I had to say and then thanked me for calling. She said: "I can assure you that particular play is being reviewed."
Be polite, folks. But let the NHL know you're into hockey not random violence.
...of my Congressman said pretty much the same thing today when I called asking about universal health care.
Hope your call wasn't outside of your call package.
Last nights game was such a poorly officiated contest that it's hard to believe no one was killed. The officials seemed to ignore everything that was happening the entire game. When obvious missed calls result in injury and the loss of the game the officials involved should be held accountable. Maybe they do believe that Tom Lysiak is still on the hawks!!!
If we don't toughen up as a team our playoff lives will be short!
pay the guy 10 grand to skate a shift or two a game - level some guy. The guy gets suspended for a game or two or the season. Big deal. he can always say he wasn't trying to hurt anyone and it was a good solid check or i caught with a shoulder. That seems to work.
the nhl has to step up - it will be interesting tonight - Pitt vs Boston. Will Cooke get his due for the Savard hit?
there has to be a line drawn? Make the penalties bigger, because retalitory actions with intent to injure mean nothing.
By the way - Wiz was actually doing some police work. Where does it all end?
By the way again - every one gave Bertuzzi hell for his hit - it was not totally unexpected - He chased him all over the ice - People are such hypocrites!!!!!!
me personally - i don't like the goons. If players disrespect the game, they should pay the price. So what if a player misses a game. Do it like soccer, you get two yellows, and your gone the next game. It is more frequent. YOu get two red cards - you are done for the season. These one game suspensions mean nothing, that is why it is not deterring any of these intent to injure hits. duh
This is a phrase that should never be uttered when discussing hockey. There's a reason why nobody cares about soccer, despite the valiant efforts of its advocates.
here's what Burish said after Soupy went down; how he would have loved to go after Ovie hadn't he been tossed out:
"Am I disappointed I didn't get to or not? Sure, I would have loved to," Burish said. "I think the crowd would have loved it. Everyone would have loved it. It would have been fun".
He had 40 minutes to go after Wiz yesterday and he did NOTHING. I lost all respect for Burish yesterday. Next time, Burish, shup the hell up. You're not a man, you're a coward. Shame on you.
How is it possible that they let Wiz leave the arena yesterday on his own feet and a big smile on his face? Can someone explain?
What's a cloun?
Sure. I can explain. The Hawks have been doing this all year, or not doing it -- that is, NOT protecting one another from what is clearly a game plan by the opposition to beat our fast, skilled, small and for the most part defenseless (from a physical standpoint) team into submission. Did you just get cable? This has been going on all year.
A lot of talk of team toughness on the blog, but look at the facts.
Toews.
Kane.
Hossa.
Campbell.
Seabrook.
Hawks best response: Versteeg, who was the first man in to retaliate for the Toews and Hossa knockouts.
Anyone see a pattern here? Guess who's next? If I were Keith I would get a crew cut, more health insurance, and a brochure from Hair Club For Men because next time they will pull his hair out of his head while the rest of the team watches.
Eager? He has stood tall all season, taking beatings for teammates who could care less if their linemate gets mugged, cross checked in the back or hit from behind. Now the guy clearly has concussion issues, and there is no one else to step up. Anyone who blames Eager now might have some of their own brain injury issues to deal with.
I don't blame the players. They are who they are, and it's management's job to figure that out Buff is big and strong, but he is not a fighter or antagonist. You can't expect players to change their game -- or who they are. That's MANAGEMENT'S job to make the right mix of speed, skill and grit - and they clearly screwed up this year. The worst part is that they are getting their employees seriously injured because of it.
Maybe Leno can do a special on brain-damaged ex-Hawks and how funny they are. A little more focus on team balance and a little less on show business would do this team some good.
Management f'd this up, not the players.
here's what Burish said after Campbell went down; how he would have loved to go after Ovie hadn't he been tossed out:
"Am I disappointed I didn't get to or not? Sure, I would have loved to," Burish said. "I think the crowd would have loved it. Everyone would have loved it. It would have been fun".
He's got big mounth that's all. I have no respect for him anymore. He had 40 minutes to go after Wiz and he did NOTHING. He let Wiz to leave the arena on his own feet and with a big smile on his face. Shame on you Burish. You're not a man; you're a baby chicken.
>If the Wiz type of head shots are not eliminated from the game by the NHL immediately, look for players to begin suing other players for shortening their careers -- and reducing their income -- regardless of what the collective bargaining agreement and league rules say
>A jury viewing that footage would easily find Wiz guilty of malicious intent to injure
>An NHL player can take only so many concussions before he is done
>Great comment about how the announcers across the league and their homerism contribute to the "non-reality" of what actually happened -- helping to keep these types of hits in the game
>You can't expect this group of Hawk players to be something they are not -- thugs
>They are a group of young players that play the game hard and right -- I think many of the guys were in disbelief not only about the hit, but that it was Wiz
>It's now clear in hindsight that the Hawks needed "an animal" on the bench to protect their players since the league and the officials are allowing "open season" on our guys
>Toews is a great captain and leader, but it's also now clear the Hawks could have used a grizzled vet beyond Madden to help Toews with the leadership needed to deal with this stuff
>Hawks need a win more than anything else
I agreed, this is a good post. I also think this kind of thing builds character for the young guys on the team. They have been exposed to a couple dirty plays in these last couple games and I think it will sink in. A lot of these guys are still learning the ropes, and recently they learned some of the nasty side. The league needs to do something because we don't want to see an NHL player resort to a Bertuzzi/Moore move. That's bad for the game and not something the NHL will want to deal with again.
I agree, well stated.
Ummm....his stick and gloves met Seabs face before his visor....if it did at all.
Let's do the math. Ovie gets a 5m major and game MC plus 2 game suspension
Wiz get a 2 min minor and plays on plus........
How do they give him more than Ovie. This deserves 5 games at least but I doubt Cambell will do it.
So who do the Kings Lazer beam on tonight??? Down 3 D-men with Buff now on D.
"What happened was my face hit his face because my nose got all cut up from my visor and all that stuff."
What lousy officials. Wiz took a 60 foot run at Seabrook, leapt into the air, threw an elbow and stick up at Seabrook's head, and knocked him unconcious. Seabrook went rigid when he was hit, then collapsed to the ice. If you've ever watched boxing or MMA, that's what often happens...the guy knocked out, his limbs go rigid. He recovered quickly, and I guarantee you he didn't exactly remember the hit...he kept looking up at the jumbotron to see the hit because he was knocked out and didn't remember those couple of seconds. This should warrant a 3+ game suspension at the least. This isn't about team toughness or any of that macho b.s., this is about a player with an intent to injure another, and refs completely blowning the call.
AMAZING..the foundation is crumbling, and there is no way to market around it. If the Hawks have had a game all year that really exposed it's team weaknesses, this was it.
It was sad to see old hawk fan favorite Wiz take a cheap shot run at a "friend", but the Hawks had no answer for it. Duncan Keith shouldn't have to step in there,but since no one else did, he did. He didn't get the better of Wiz, who whacked the whole Hawks team. OF course Pat and Eddie tried to make it sound like Keith took care of business, which is nowhere close to being true. The end of the game scrum didn't settle anything either, Wiz again handled himself pretty well. What's apparent is that the Hawks have question marks in goal, question marks on defense and question marks in the toughness department. Don't give me some lame excuse about team toughness either. That is a term made up by someone who knows his team is not tough enough. I know 7-51 have had their detractors all year on this site, but let's see how great the defense is if both are now out a while. This was the wrong season to have a rookie GM in the house, Stan-Pat if he didn't get the goalie, he needed to at least toughen up the backline or add some toughness at the deadline he did nothing. Q and his tactics are Questionable too, a loss tonight to the Kings will prove only one thing. Jay Leno was right, the Hawks are in town to get their @$$ kicked by the Ducks and the Kings. Maybe that prediction can be marketed too, right on NBC, right on the jumbotron at the UC.
I can see it now, Jay making his prediction followed by highlights or lowlights of the Hawks get pummeled all over Los Angeles. Put that out right next to the crappy DVD of the Winter Disaster. Right now the Hawks look like a team headed towards a first round playoff elimination, they could be on the golf course by late April. But looking out my window as write this, I think that's a great place to be right now.
Lets pump the brakes on all this "Collapse" talk. San Jose lost like 6 straight earlier this year. The Hawks are playing bad hockey while trying to adjust to A TON OF INJURIES. I'm hardly ready to call this a collapse. Lets not go sounding the panic button just yet, we have the 3rd most points in the NHL...
If there was a game that EXPOSED the Hawks for what they are, or are not. It was
last night, even more so than the much discussed Minnesota game. Look I respect
your decision to remain "positive" and it's not like the Hawks will miss the playoffs because of last night BUT..teams only get so many chances to win a cup, this year WAS the Hawks year. because of the cap, this team will not be better next year. Unless Stan-Pat learns how to deal and makes friends with some other GM's, right now he is tight with.....ummmmm...well when I think of somebody I'll get back to you, in the meantime don't hold your breath.
RIGHT NOW THIS TEAM IS "NOT" WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE.
There are 13 games left in the year. The Hawks haven't been playing well since that loss against MN. If you're not worried this team is going to get bounced in the first round, you should be. The Hawks are lacking the fire to win. That's not a switch you just turn on when the playoffs start. They are getting hammered night in and night out...and we aren't even in the playoffs yet when the hitting occurs on every shift.
Throw in the goaltending situation...and I'm just gonna avoid that altogether.
The instigator rule makes it very hard (if not downright stupid) for the players to police the game anymore.
All of you who long for the days of John Kordic, Dave Koci, Wayne van Dorp, wake up. The instigator rule (not to mention tighter calls on grabbing and hooking) basically takes the "goon who otherwise can't play" out of the game.
The league passed these rules, but then they don't enforce the rules meant to police the game. Like a headshot earning an automatic ejection.
Furthermore, having an enforcer is really not a deterrent to headshots or runs from behind. It happened a lot when there were enforcers and no instigator rule. And in how many fights does a guy ever get hurt as bad as they do on some of these reckless shots?
Answer: damn few.
The league needs to fire these arrogant, petty tyrants, starting with the jerk at the top, (initials: CC). It's time NHL officiating entered the 20th century, not to mention the 21st.
The only thing the Hawks can do is respond in kind with big hits— and not run around and get out of position to do it. Take a number. Remember. Wiz is a tough kid, but he's not that big and bad.
about the era of the cementhead being long gone. There still has to be someone who will hold someone on the other team accountable for that type of hit. Not just grab a guy and start swinging, but like you said, respond in kind. It's just not happening. Lots of pining for the return of Burish, but how much of an impact can he really provide? Even before all the concussions, no one feared Eager, and now what does he really provide? Really, everyone should know by now there's a physical element missing from this team, and again I agree it's not a goon they need. The mix of skill and intimidation is in short supply these days, but there is no shortage of the types of idiots like Downie, Cooke, Clutterbuck, Ott, etc.
You are absolutely right about people being fired. It begins at the very top with Bettman. It's bad enough they market the league about as effectively as Bill Wirtz with the Hawks, but the on-ice product is now being impacted. It baffles me Bettman's lasted as long as he has.
I'll agree with you that an enforcer definitely is a deterrent, and having players that will protect their teammates is, as well. Headshots like we see today happened "a lot" when there was no instigator rule? Bull. The instigator rule was put in place in 1986, and before that time they happened, sure, but not nearly as often. Simply put, there was more respect in the game when players realized that there were indeed consquences for taking liberties. I'll agree with some of the other posters in being apalled with the Hawks' softness. You don't have to be 6'5" 230 lbs to lay out some hits or to fight in this league, do you?
Re: the NHL firing the petty, arrogant, tyrants....oh, on the contrary, the NHL's officiating HAS entered the 21st century. Why, they're just following the lead of most others with "authority" in our society today....incompetents letting it all go to their heads, with virtually NO accountability.
My friend Russ Cohen said on his facebook account that the announcer, who said he wondered if Seabrook was "selling" the hit should be suspended!
...And team doctor who followed league protocol for possible concussions, agreed to put the defenseman-short Blackhawks down to where Buff had to be called on to the backline, where he has always looked tentative defensively, just to "add to the sale of the hit??????"
I think they have to tone down the "lay it on thick pervelant homertown" biased play by play you hear in more than half the US Team announcing teams.
I realize, because Seabrook got up rather quickly and looked like he was catching his breath, that he seemed ok. I ACTUALLY TAKE EXCEPTION TO THE JUSTIFICATION, WHEN HE ANNOUNCED, "Seabrook gave Ryan a head shot when he clearly checked off Ryan's shoulder, not the head. And let's face it: Ryan isn't one of the better skaters around the league....
The way Seabrook dropped was reminiscent of a shot Bobby Hull took. Gump Worsley was with his new expansion North Stars and still not wearing a mask.
Bobby took this shot and from wear I was sitting (under the press box in the old building) it seemed to hit Gumper near the temple. It was like a tree falling, and it had that look we all connect to over-dramatized stage pratfalls, so I guess I can understand a person visually mis-reading Seabrook's fall and his serious "I'm ok look" on one knee as he was perfectly fine, that sort of macho quick up and 'at-em.
Still I am for the idea of the league spending in-service with the broadcasting teams to sharpen their reality skills. It is one thing to announce to get new fans and sell more seats, and entirely another when they start distorting reality.
Speaking of reality, I guess the Seabrook critics here will get a taste of how less-able- than-Seabrook defenders play in those minutes. They WILL REALLY give some ammunition to post.
Re: the puck catching incident.
For years the league rule had whistles being blown whenever a player tried to be creative with their hands fielding high pucks. I never could understand WHY a gifted hockey player WAS NOT allowed to do what was necessary, IF HE HAD the ability to grab and play errant in air pucks, and love the new rule allowing so many great plays (like that Hossa catch / then shoot goal awhile back).
But on a "high fly" like Sopel didn't have the ability to play, I don't want a penalty called because the opposition jostles for position. THERE IS no FAIR CATCH for Sopel. (He had enough trouble catching up with the plays and the puck all night.) I just don't think you start to call pushes with stick or glove as "cross-checks" or interference.
There is a lot to be said for PLAY ON making for some great hockey matches.
And the sooner the league stops the intentional hit to the head and drop the third man in rule, where teams have an ability through the 'old ways' to police their sport, the quicker this and the "after clean hits relatiatory" fights will end
I've got a lot of respect for what you usually say, REALWiz, but I disagree on a few points. #1) Losing Seabrook hurts indeed, he is better than most, but his allergies to the puck lately have got to stop. Keith too for that matter. All you have to do is pressure Keith behind the net and he'll cough it up. #2) If that wasn't interference, then what is? Sopel is getting ready to play the puck, doesn't matter if it's with his hands, stick, feet, ears, whatever, he's got position and suddenly he doesn't have position because he was pushed out of the way.
As for the Hawks in general, this is not the same team it was in December. Our offense consists of cycling down low until the point shot opens up. There is no creativity. In December I was thinking how much fun this team was to watch, they haven't been that way for some time, pre-Olympics even. Defensively, that first Anaheim goal wouldn't have happened a couple months ago because a forward would have backchecked Ryan out of there. I saw a lot of centering passes into the slot get knocked away calmly by one of our forwards, that's not happening much anymore. All that said, I remember thinking the same things last year, then we had a good playoff run. However, if Wisniewski is not suspended, then I don't really see any point in watching any more NHL hockey and you fine folks won't have to hear from the likes of me, hockey wise anyway.
I had read and re-read batting the puck AND both section 6 Physical and 7 Impeding sections of the NHL rulebook on Interference.
Nowhere in the rules does it say that when a player leaves his feet to bat a puck with a jumping motion that anybody on the opposing team can get an interference call, because any impeding in the rule book applies to the blocking of a guy from going to the puck, or a pick to set up an offensive play. There is no position because the possession is not established. The Ducks can argue that their player was either also going towards the puck or pushed off as clearing the front not what actually happened but I don't think any of us every saw that kinda play and result before.
Why not once you get to center ice, instead of dumping it, flip it up high in the air, then send 4 gunners down there, like on a football kickoff, to just plow into anyone who is under the puck. Then retrieve it and fire on the goalie with all his defenders sprawled to the ice. Thats crazy, seriously.
good call scabby
on ESPN1000. The guy that made the "selling" statement certainly said it without malice and even mentioned during the subsequent time that Seabs did look injured. This is not a case where the hometown team was being a homer. You want a homer call, no need to look any further than baseball TV play by play on the south side.
On the Sopel non-call. It was just that, a non-call. Who cares if it were a fair catch or not, or whether or not he could not keep up with other skaters. He was cross-checked from behind before he touched the puck. Subjective? Yes. Fair? Maybe/maybe not.
Daddio: On the Sopel non-call. It was just that, a non-call.
You are correct in that it was a non-call because there is no call.
Daddio: Who cares if it were a fair catch or not, or whether or not he could not keep up with other skaters.
My point was there is no fair catch rule, that puck is free to whomever gets it and when Sopel left his feet any contact falls through the rulebook holes as clearing the front.
Daddio: He was cross-checked from behind before he touched the puck
If you "call" that a cross-check" you have a whistle 20 times per game for it!
Subjective? Yes. Fair? Maybe/maybe not.
We agree then Subjective and maybe not so fair but at that point they weren't looking at non-big issues to reward the hawks for their incompetence....
They waited until Thursday night in LA to do that.
I did not see the game last night. I read the posts this morning and then found a YouTube video and watched it.
What I saw on the video was typical of hockey for as long as the game has been played. Yes, there is dirty stuff that goes on. But the place to take care of business (players and coaches) is on the ice and not in the papers.
The bottom line is this: The fans/bloggers, players and coaches have gotten hysterical a number of times this season over hits - clean hits, dirty hits, questionable hits.
And where does this get us? Lower in the standings and on a losing streak.
All this hysteria and cries of being victimized by goons and officials can only be a distraction.
Life's not fair. The Blackhawks need to get over it and focus on the things they can actually control (here's a hint: it's not officiating or disciplinary actions).
Wasn't there once rule that guaranteed that the offender (in this case, scumbag Wiz) would be suspended for as many games as the guy he hurt (Seabrook)? Seems like that might help fix the problem and take away the incentive for teams to headhunt guys and take them out intentionally. If Alex O was forced to sit as long as Campbell is, wouldn't that be a deterrent.
Man, that hit on Seabrook was rough. Especially right after the Campbell thing.
I think the Hawks have a “soft” reputation and that opposing teams think that a good way to beat them is to rough them up.
Wouldn’t be surprised if teams do that in the playoffs, which will take Kane out of the picture, because he’ll be too busy hiding to score many goals.
In Roman times. An eye for an eye and an ear for an ear.
As far as I can remember the NHL has never based a suspension on the extent a player is knocked out.
Billy Smith of the Islanders smacked Curt Frazer in the face with his stick and was out the rest of the season. Smith got the standard suspension. That was about 30 years ago.
The incident occured on January 13, 1985. Fraser's orbital bone was broken when Smith slashed Fraser in the side of the face with the inside corner of his stick, where the blade meets the shaft. It was grusome and could have been much worse. Fraser missed seven games total that season. Smith was suspended for six games (the"standard?").
It must be my old age.
Clobbering a guy with a stick and breaking his face seems like something more than 6 games. Especially a guy with a reputation like Hacking Billy Smith.
I am still surprised, although I don't doubt you, that Fraser was only out for 7 games with a broken face.
Thanks for the fact check.
...would probably put Seabrook out 3-4 games especially considering he already had one this season. The new protocol (medically) to deal with concussions is very cautious, and we'll see what happens here.
To me, this hit was worse than the one on Campbell (and that one was bad). Wiz came from a longs ways off to single out Seabrook, and clearly had one thing in mind. It premididated, and should earn him a suspension of at least 5 games.
Back to the team; if they don't get the power play going, they won't do anything in the playoffs. These recent challenges are either going to make the club stronger and more prepared for the playoffs, or they will crumple and go quietly - it will be very interesting to see which develops.
Girls....there is hitting and rough stuff in hockey.
"Intent to Injure", which is the object of the Match Penalty, is another.
That wasn't a hockey hit - not even close. That was a pre-meditated targeted head-hunting hit. Anyone who has played the game knows that hitting is part of hockey.
If that was a "hockey play" -Seabrook would have had a chance to see it coming, but since it was nothing close, it was a cheap-shot.
Ask Steve Moore if hitting is a part of hockey?
And in going from Seabs to Moore, it goes from a match penalty to felony battery.
That the guy out there mixing it up (Besides Boynton and Keith after the initial hit) was Versteeg.
Little Kris Versteeg.
The hawks as much as I love these guys on this team, are made up of mostly pu$$ie$. Last night as well as Sunday was the perfect warranted time to start beating some you know what. And it would have been warranted to do so.
Little Kris Versteeg. Unreal.