The boston commentators said that if there was a penalty on Orpik's hit, then there would be none of the incidents that occurred in the first period. I find that hard to believe.

In today's NHL if you make a good clean hit, within the rules which leaves the opposing player injured in any way then the other team has "cart-blanche" to attack you by any means necessary. It's sad but the truth
- loomis78

I don't think the lack of call matters. But I guess it is an interesting theory

Head over to the Flyers blog. You are offering nothing of substance here. Both hits were dirty. Orpik's hit was O.K. He would be having a hearing otherwise. Neals hit was dirty. Thorntons actions were equally as dirty. There is no place in hockey for it. What team mate was Thornton protecting, by slew footing a guy from behind and punching him while he is defenseless on the ice? Your bias is showing through loud and clear. BTW, Mario Lemieux had nothing to do with what transpired in this game. Nice try at a straw man argument.
- PittsPens

Tank you, errrr I mean thank you, (tank, Penguins, first round picks, get it it?)
No what Thornton did was wrong, so why did he not go after Neal?

granted, Eriksson had his head down, & no way Brooks was going to let up, got it, he "Kronwalled him" predatory, yeah.
Mario used to female dog & moan about this same stuff for years, granted, he had valid points, but its just ironic he owns a team that plays so chippy, I think Malkin is the most skillful player in the world, unreal what he could do, if he bulled to the net more often he could draw a penalty every shift, but again, he plays over the edge as well more than one would believe.

Um... I don't recall reading "criminal assault" in his description to what Neal did.
- madmike71

Agreed. Who is talking criminal assault?

Tank you, errrr I mean thank you, (tank, Penguins, first round picks, get it it?)
No what Thornton did was wrong, so why did he not go after Neal?

granted, Eriksson had his head down, & no way Brooks was going to let up, got it,
Mario used to female dog & moan about this same stuff for years, granted, he had valid points, but its just ironic he owns a team that plays so chippy, I think Malkin is the most skillful player in the world, unreal what he could do, if he bulled to the net more often he could draw a penalty every shift, but again, he plays over the edge as well more than one would believe.
- puckhead17

You are stupid

I'm sure they left that up to you next time he's in Philly.

Might as well keep the delusion going.
- madmike71

no, Rosehill can handle that, but thanx anyway

You are stupid
- SabresFaninIndiana

man, what a post, unreal,

Rick Flair to you and your post

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

no offense Ryan, but, what Thornton did was out of protection for a teammate, another idiot that went for Eriksson's head, Orpik could have hit him w/o the shoulder to the jaw like he did, but no, it was predatory.

What Neal did, was so disrespectful, a blatant slap to the face of the game, and his own organization.
It's so ironic the same owner of this team threatened to quit years ago because of the cheap shots, now employs these tactics from his players
- puckhead17

I feel like getting a blatant slap to my face after reading this nonsense. Give me a freaking break trying to justify what Thornton did and then acting like Neal's was the worst thing ever. Just plain ignorant.

I think its classless for older players to try and sue over stuff that nobody knew about at the time. We still dont know crap about concussions. But yes. The league has decisions to make about head shots. I think alot of the little things need to be looked at. Maybe not so much all the big obvious things. But you are never going to stop concussions. Doctors even said so. No matter what you do with players gear and helmets and what not. Concussions are going to happen. Just players and team staff need to be more aware and get players off the ice.
- poisondhearts37

Lots of these guys are broken and broke. It's a sad situation. I'm sure the pension plan and health care are pitiful for those old guys. It's a money grab for sure.

You are right. If they don't get control over head shots with SIGNIFICANT suspensions they're leaving themselves seriously exposed.

James Neal is a the biggest dirt bag in the league...Shanahan needs to make an example of that pathetic piece of garbage. No class whatsoever...but I guess what else is expected from the Pens organization

man, what a post, unreal,

Rick Flair to you and your post

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
- puckhead17

I feel very much the same way reading your posts.


But please keep contributing, this is solid gold.

James Neal is a the biggest dirt bag in the league...Shanahan needs to make an example of that pathetic piece of garbage. No class whatsoever...but I guess what else is expected from the Pens organization
- keatondixon

Far from true. His actions tonight were not done with class of course. But I get it. Its a rival.

Agreed. Who is talking criminal assault?
- wolfhounds

Let me help you out. Here's what Gunner said about Thorton...

"As for the Shawn Thornton/Brooks Orpik incident, you have what I would amount to a criminal assault."

I feel very much the same way reading your posts.


But please keep contributing, this is solid gold.
- Putzfrau

Montreal 31 19 9 3 17 41 85 65 11-5-2 8-4-1 9-0-1 Won 5
Boston 29 19 8 2 18 40 79 59 13-3-2 6-5-0 7-2-1 Won 1
Detroit 31 15 9 7 15 37 85 82 5-6-6 10-3-1 6-4-0 Lost 1
Tampa Bay 29 17 10 2 14 36 80 70 11-3-1 6-7-1 3-5-2 OT 1
Toronto 30 16 11 3 12 35 84 82 10-5-0 6-6-3 4-4-2 Won 2
Ottawa 30 11 14 5 11 27 86 99 4-8-3 7-6-2 3-6-1 OT 1
Florida 30 9 16 5 7 23 68 98 5-7-3 4-9-2 5-4-1 Won 2
Buffalo 30 6 22 2 3 14 51 91 3-12-1 3-10-1 2-7-1 Lost 2



ummm, is that you at the bottom?

Hey bud you're communicating with a rec league champion! Neal was not looking at rat when he hit him. That being said he prolly did know what was going on. Gunnar called it, same as steckel hit, and the owl from tootsie roll commercial agrees, the world maY never know
- gravyboy33

Thats my point, his past shows he did mean it. The only diff with Stekel as far as I can remember is he doesnt have a past. Im happy to be corrected on that too. I just dont have any recollection of him doing anything like it before

James Neal is a the biggest dirt bag in the league...Shanahan needs to make an example of that pathetic piece of garbage. No class whatsoever...but I guess what else is expected from the Pens organization
- keatondixon

Sid says hello. He want's to know if you want to see his ring?

For all the Flyers fans coming in here, Rinaldo was a Roussel duck away from being worse than what Thornton did tonight. Defend the guy. Its a joke. Fighting in the game needs to go. Its useless.

I think its classless for older players to try and sue over stuff that nobody knew about at the time. We still dont know crap about concussions. But yes. The league has decisions to make about head shots. I think alot of the little things need to be looked at. Maybe not so much all the big obvious things. But you are never going to stop concussions. Doctors even said so. No matter what you do with players gear and helmets and what not. Concussions are going to happen. Just players and team staff need to be more aware and get players off the ice.
- poisondhearts37

Im on the fence about the older players but to be honest I think the lawyers are using the older guys to see where it all stands legally before we get to the 90's and beyond players to actually lay down a law suit of some magnitude.

The NHL needs to act now if it wants to stay out of the courts later.

James Neal is a the biggest dirt bag in the league...Shanahan needs to make an example of that pathetic piece of garbage. No class whatsoever...but I guess what else is expected from the Pens organization
- keatondixon

1976

For all the Flyers fans coming in here, Rinaldo was a Roussel duck away from being worse than what Thornton did tonight. Defend the guy. Its a joke. Fighting in the game needs to go. Its useless.
- Deadstar

Fighting will be gone from hockey in the next 5 years or sooner. The writing is on the wall for anybody who can read it.

man, what a post, unreal,

Rick Flair to you and your post

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
- puckhead17

You haven't responded to any of my other posts about your complete stupidity.

I feel like getting a blatant slap to my face after reading this nonsense. Give me a freaking break trying to justify what Thornton did and then acting like Neal's was the worst thing ever. Just plain ignorant.
- acdc1206

no I corrected myself afterwards
his actions didn't justify what happened to his teammate.

you know what stops the whole thornton situation before it happens? if orpik cant hide behind a bs rule and has to man up in a situation where he can at least defend himself... good job 90s rule changes
- DarcyTucker16

Where did he have to man up on that hit? I thought it was clean, if anyone can show me why he needs to stand up for that hit, please do. Because you would be right then, but I thought the hit was clean. If the Bruins want to do something, get him within the rules of the game.

Let me help you out. Here's what Gunner said about Thorton...

"As for the Shawn Thornton/Brooks Orpik incident, you have what I would amount to a criminal assault."
- madmike71

Gotcha.

To use your line, I'm never going to convince you that a knee to the head is as dangerous as a gloved fist to the head. C'est la vie.

Regardless, I hope 2 players get suspended and I hope 2 players recover quickly.

Sid says hello. He want's to know if you want to see his ring?
- madmike71

What the (frank) does this have to do with Sid? James Neal doesn't need to do this gutless garbage he has been pulling the past couple seasons....he's such a talented player but is just a moron. Like wtf is the guy thinking?

James Neal is a the biggest dirt bag in the league...Shanahan needs to make an example of that pathetic piece of garbage. No class whatsoever...but I guess what else is expected from the Pens organization
- keatondixon

I know your trying to incite, but I'll bite. He needs to be punished but I dont think he is the worst in the league.