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Domi Has Phone Hearing For Punching Ekblad In The Mouth *UPDATE* |
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*UPDATE*
Domi suspended for remainder of preseason... What a joke...
*UPDATE*
Last nights game against a almost complete Florida Panthers squad was a 5-2 loss, but there were some Habs who really showed up and made an impression.
Newly acquired players like Peca and Reilly stood out for great reasons. Peca is showing the type of potential at C that we really haven’t seen in a long time. His skating is fantastic and his vision is on point. All of this is visible in the infancy of his NHL career and is making me quite excited for his potential. Another possible steal from Bergevin and Co.
Same can be said about Reilly as well. His speed and mobility on the back end is crucial for offensive D men in todays NHL and he is showing good offensive instincts as well. Work needs to be done in his own zone, but with Weber on the shelf the Habs offensive D starts and ends with Petry. If Reilly, and Mete/Juulsen for that matter, can show they have good offensive abilities then they will be assured 2nd PP unit time at minimum. No better chance for a young defenseman to kick start their NHL career. Hopefully one of those 3 seize it and thrive.
Oh and Carey Price looked quite good as well. He really showed his ability with some show stopping saves last night and its only preseason. Great to see the work ethic from the future Habs Legend.
Now, onto the only thing folks are talking about from last game: Max Domi’s punch to Aaron Ekblad’s jaw.
Some want the book tossed at Max and some are saying Ekblad should have known to protect himself as it was clear Domi had enough of the calf and ankle chops Ekblad was giving out last night.
I stand somewhat in between in that I agree that sucker punches have no part in the game, but I don’t really think it was a “Sucker Punch” by Domi.
Max had enough of his ankles being chopped and slashed so he abandoned the play and let Ekblad know. Ekblad chirped back and Max grabbed him by the collar and I’m going to assume invited him to dance. Ekblad kept goading with Domi and everyone and their mother could see that Domi wanted a piece of him. Then Domi lost the right mitt and gave him a little shot to the jaw to remind him that no one appreciated all the ankle and calf slashes all game and Ekblad collapsed like an old Vegas hotel at the hands of guy who’s roughly over half a foot shorter than him.
My feeling is that if your Ekblad and you’ve been doing what he was doing all game you have to know someone is going to come at you or your teammate. It’s simply how it goes. Go around dirting everyone and someone is going to call you on it. When a player with the blood line of Max Domi call you on it after you were just hacking at his feet and he tells you he wants to punch you in the face you should probably put your hands up regardless of your willingness to fight. Especially when you have a history of soft brains so far in your NHL career.
So, if you want to play tough guy hockey in an opponents rink don’t be surprised if a Domi gets tired of your garbage and gives you a shot in the mouth. It’s literally in his blood lines to play like that so if Max Domi is telling another player he wants a piece of him here’s a great tip to guys with a history of concussions: Put your hands up and protect yourself. If you don’t, you’re going to get dropped like a sack of potatoes and look like a dummy.
With all this in the rear view now, Domi is advised he will have a phone hearing today regarding the punch but I would be shocked if anything came from it. Max can reference the game and show Ekblad’s behavior with his stick. Max can ask if Ekblad has to break a bone before he’s allowed to defend himself or take a player to task for their chippy play. All of this could have been avoided if Ekblad had the stones to back up his constant slashing and hacking. It also could have been avoided if Ekblad had enough going on upstairs to see that he has made his opponent, a Domi, incensed and no matter what he was going to be called out on the ice in that moment.
Yes it’s a dumb play by Domi too, but it’s equally as dumb to clearly see you’re going to have to answer for your stick work and you put your arms down when a guy has his hands in your face. Not a smart play by Ekblad by any means. He didn’t have to drop the gloves, but you have half a foot height advantage and common sense. If someone says they want to punch your lights out you don’t put your chin on a pedestal for them. That’s just plain dumb.
Go Habs Go.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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