First off, Evgeni Malkin will NOT be suspended for that instigator penalty and 10-minute misconduct and fight he got at game's end against Henrik Zetterberg.

Yeah, the rules say a fight in the final 5 minutes that results in an instigator commands an automatic suspension. But hey, this is the NHL and it is Stanley Cup FInal and NO ONE in the league office is going to throw Malkin out for Game 3 with Pittsburgh trailing 2-0 in the series.

Here's how Colin Campbell, the Lord of Discipline, described his decision:

“Suspensions are applied under this rule when a team attempts to send a message in the last five minutes by having a player instigate a fight,” Campbell said in a statement. “A suspension could also be applied when a player seeks retribution for a prior incident. Neither was the case here and therefore the one game suspension is rescinded."

**

In a stunner, Wings coach Mike Babcock began is post-game interview session by retracting his comments about Sidney Crosby and "head hunting" on Henrik Zetterberg. Babcock said:

“I came to the press conference this morning with the full intention of talking about two great players were going against each other, going head-to-head and competing real hard,” Babcock said in his post-game presser before taking questions.

“When I was walking out of the building, someone from TSN told me that I got it all stirred up. So I misspoke or I didn’t speak well. Because to me, speaking unfairly of Sidney Crosby would be wrong. So that was not my intention.

“He’s going after Z and Z is going after him. I think it’s a great thing. But I wanted to clear it up because that sure wasn’t my intention at all.”

What do you think?

Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment

» Hextall on Post Free Agency, Cap, Kids' Chances

» Sign a Goalie, That's It.

» My take on Weal signing

» They Are What They Are

» Hextall's Take on the Benchings