NHL Master Thread

[yuneeq]

I think I am cursed. Ducks look like the Hawks. 

I think you're giving the Hawks too much credit.
They rolled over and got swept, didn't even put up a fight in more than 1 game.

[ChaimMoskowitz]

I think you're giving the Hawks too much credit.
They rolled over and got swept, didn't even put up a fight in more than 1 game.

Lets see they lost the first two at home and were up 2-0 in the third game and lost in overtime.
Ducks lost first two at home and were up 3-0 in the third game. Hmmm!

[keemster26]

What's going on with my ducks?

[ChaimMoskowitz]

What's going on with my ducks?

Looking good now!

[keemster26]

Looking good now!

It's about time!

[ChaimMoskowitz]

Brutal hit on Crosby. That will change this series.

[yuneeq]

Brutal hit on Crosby. That will change this series.

Niskanen didn't have bad intent, it was unfortunate that Crosby basically fell into his stick waist high. It's still his responsibility to be careful with his stick, but it wasn't premeditated. On the other hand, Ovi whacked Crosby in the head while tripping him with his foot and he fell into Niskanen. For some reason people are overlooking that.

Still think the Pens win.

[ChaimMoskowitz]

I might agree if the play wasn't basically over. I am no Crosby fan but that was a cheap shot.

[pghtown]

Niskanen didn't have bad intent, it was unfortunate that Crosby basically fell into his stick waist high. It's still his responsibility to be careful with his stick, but it wasn't premeditated. On the other hand, Ovi whacked Crosby in the head while tripping him with his foot and he fell into Niskanen. For some reason people are overlooking that.

Still think the Pens win.

Agree- Ovechkin came in with 2 brutal slashes- the second one to Crosby's head along with the slew-foot knocked Crosby off balance.  Ovechkin should face consequences - someone needs to handle it, NHL or someone else.
And Niskanen is not innocent either- he said "I wasn't even trying to cross-check him with a serious amount of force" - so he admits he WAS trying to cross-check him. 

[yuneeq]

I might agree if the play wasn't basically over. I am no Crosby fan but that was a cheap shot.

You watched in slo-mo what happens in milliseconds. Reaction times at full speed aren't instant.
Any analyst that played hockey said there was no malicious intent. Sometimes you just gotta trust the pros.

[yuneeq]

Agree- Ovechkin came in with 2 brutal slashes- the second one to Crosby's head along with the slew-foot knocked Crosby off balance.  Ovechkin should face consequences - someone needs to handle it, NHL or someone else.
And Niskanen is not innocent either- he said "I wasn't even trying to cross-check him with a serious amount of force" - so he admits he WAS trying to cross-check him.

He was trying to check him waist high because he saw Crosby coming, but that's a routine check that happens 100x a game.
Crosby fell and the waist high check ended up hitting him in the head. Unfortunate but not nearly malicious as a targeted cross check to the head.

[ChaimMoskowitz]

I watched it live. It wasn't like his head accidently hit the stick. As far as intent I have no idea or what this players past history is.

[yuneeq]

I watched it live. It wasn't like his head accidently hit the stick. As far as intent I have no idea or what this players past history is.

I already explained it pretty clearly, if you still can't comprehend how it wasn't predatory maybe you gotta lace up the skates and hit the ice. It's basically unanimously agreed upon (rational pens fans included) that Niskanen wasn't trying to hit him like that.

[ChaimMoskowitz]

I already explained it pretty clearly, if you still can't comprehend how it wasn't predatory maybe you gotta lace up the skates and hit the ice. It's basically unanimously agreed upon (rational pens fans included) that Niskanen wasn't trying to hit him like that.

Where was he trying to hit him and don't tell me he hit him by accident. For the record I did play hockey and many other sports. No way for anyone to know the players intent. All we can go on is past history. As I already said I have no idea about this players past history.

[pghtown]

I already explained it pretty clearly, if you still can't comprehend how it wasn't predatory maybe you gotta lace up the skates and hit the ice. It's basically unanimously agreed upon (rational pens fans included) that Niskanen wasn't trying to hit him like that.

It's Ovechkin who is predatory- has a long history of such and while he plays hard, he plays dirty.  Time for some accountability

[yuneeq]

Where was he trying to hit him and don't tell me he hit him by accident. For the record I did play hockey and many other sports. No way for anyone to know the players intent. All we can go on is past history. As I already said I have no idea about this players past history.

Doesn't have a dirty past. He was bracing for the collision and picked up his stick to brace the collision. He's still responsible for his stick and deserved a minor penalty but he was not malicious at all.

It's Ovechkin who is predatory- has a long history of such and while he plays hard, he plays dirty.  Time for some accountability

Agreed, he gets away with a lot. The reverse is true for Crosby, the game misconduct is basically guaranteed for a hit like that on Crosby but would usually not be handed out if the victim was any other player. Rangers-Habs had a dozen cross checks that were far more malicious (from both teams) that weren't even called as penalties, let alone a game misconduct.

[ChaimMoskowitz]

He's still responsible for his stick and deserved a minor penalty but he was not malicious at all.

What are smoking? Lets say it was 100% accidental. A cross check to the head is not a minor penalty.

b) A major plus a game misconduct penalty shall be assessed to any player who injures an opponent as a result of cross-checking.

[yuneeq]

What are smoking? Lets say it was 100% accidental. A cross check to the head is not a minor penalty.

b) A major plus a game misconduct penalty shall be assessed to any player who injures an opponent as a result of cross-checking.

Here's the actual rules:
59.2 Minor Penalty - A minor penalty, at the discretion of the Referee
based on the severity of the contact, shall be imposed on a player
who “cross checks” an opponent.
59.3 Major Penalty - A major penalty, at the discretion of the Referee
based on the severity of the contact, shall be imposed on a player
who “cross checks” an opponent
59.4 Match Penalty – The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match
penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately
injured his opponent by cross-checking.
59.5 Game Misconduct Penalty - When a major penalty is assessed for
cross-checking, an automatic game misconduct penalty shall be
imposed on the offending player

I guess you missed the discretion part. If the ref determines that the cross check is accidental, he would hand out a minor based on the rules. In this case the ref decided that it was a major so an automatic misconduct was handed out. If he decided it was a minor, he is still able to hand out a match penalty if he thinks the hit is malicious.

[yuneeq]

Here's a brutal malicious hit on a Pens player, the guy just skated directly into Sheary and hit him with a targeted dirty headshot.
Gotta get suspended at least a few games, this guy even had more time to react than Niskanen.

https://streamable.com/hlrsb

[pghtown]

Here's a brutal malicious hit on a Pens player, the guy just skated directly into Sheary and hit him with a targeted dirty headshot.
Gotta get suspended at least a few games, this guy even had more time to react than Niskanen.

https://streamable.com/hlrsb

Not a nice comment.  Not funny