It was a blindside hit; not nearly as late as the Rinaldo hit on Couturier but, in the modern day NHL, it was not the cleanest of hits.
- MidnightMarauder

i watched the msg feed and i don't recall a single angle that showed the head as initial point of contact or it being blind side. gudas went in a north direction and stahlberg was facing him as well, no? it was nothing like the rinaldo hit.

maybe i need to see this again. if it was dirty, late, etc, i'll be the first to say so.

I just watched a replay, it's not clear cut, but on that replay it looked more like shoulder to the chest than a hit to the head.
- MJL

If there's any doubt the league will likely side with the on ice decision which was no penalty warranted. I thought it deserved a minor, at least, but it wasn't a head hunt; I can at least admit that.

It was a blindside hit; not nearly as late as the Rinaldo hit on Couturier but, in the modern day NHL, it was not the cleanest of hits.
- MidnightMarauder

It wasnt blindside. Gudas came in fron pretty much in front of Stahlberg. The only reason it was blindish is because Stahlberg was coming up ice with his head down. It was a hard nasty hit but elbows were down, feet stayed on the ice, and no penalty was called. That is a heavy hockey hit.

i think he is too slow to play center though. Keep him on the wing and in shootout

i watched the msg feed and i don't recall a single angle that showed the head as initial point of contact or it being blind side. gudas went in a north direction and stahlberg was facing him as well, no? it was nothing like the rinaldo hit.

maybe i need to see this again. if it was dirty, late, etc, i'll be the first to say so.
- hammarby31

I agree that Gudas' hit on Stalberg was nothing like the late Rinaldo hit on Couturier. I only saw the live hit and the brief replays after the fact. I don't think he will get suspended for it but what do I know? The league has been inconsistent with their judgments when it comes to these sort of reviewed plays.

I just watched a replay, it's not clear cut, but on that replay it looked more like shoulder to the chest than a hit to the head.
- MJL

And both skates didn't leave the ice, unlike Rinaldo.

http://www.broadstreethoc...n-rangers-viktor-stalberg

Point of contact was the head though. Like I stated, it wasn't the dirtiest of hits we have seen even in this week alone, but I would be surprised if this doesn't get reviewed by Player Safety. Although, how hysterical is that department name since they don't protect any of the players, unless they are hit by Raffi Torres.
- MidnightMarauder

I guess I wonder, when two bodies are moving fast and collide - especially in open-ice - how much control does a player (Gudas) have over where the hit originates? In other words, point of contact assumes, to an extent, the head was the hitter's target, and I just wonder if that is the case here (and in a lot of hits).

Either way, I don't want any players hurt, but I also don't want hitting removed from the game, and it seems like something's got to give sooner rather than later with the way the game is progressing.

It wasnt blindside. Gudas came in fron pretty much in front of Stahlberg. The only reason it was blindish is because Stahlberg was coming up ice with his head down. It was a hard nasty hit but elbows were down, feet stayed on the ice, and no penalty was called. That is a heavy hockey hit.
- Lexington Flyer

His elbow was down too. In the old days, this wouldn't even be a discussion, but these days anything regarding hits on, or near the head, are touch and go.

I had no problem with the hit; my problem with last night was more the waived off goal and the Rangers defense leaving Hank out to dry all night.

If there's any doubt the league will likely side with the on ice decision which was no penalty warranted. I thought it deserved a minor, at least, but it wasn't a head hunt; I can at least admit that.
- MidnightMarauder

I think according to the rules, it's probably a legal hit, and that it wasn't called a penalty, adds credence to that. You never know though. While I don't want to see hitting removed from the game, that's one of the type of hits I'd like to see removed from the culture of the game. A type of hit where you see a player is vulnerable, and you have a chance to go in for the kill. I'd like to see player hold up a little, and not go for a kill shot in those type of situations. Players are too big, too fast, equipment to hard, etc.

I guess I wonder, when two bodies are moving fast and collide - especially in open-ice - how much control does a player (Gudas) have over where the hit originates? In other words, point of contact assumes, to an extent, the head was the hitter's target, and I just wonder if that is the case here (and in a lot of hits).

Either way, I don't want any players hurt, but I also don't want hitting removed from the game, and it seems like something's got to give sooner rather than later with the way the game is progressing.
- wolfhounds

Part of what makes hockey great is the fast paced physical nature and high end skill combinination.

As much as I disliked certain teams, in this league, I never want to see injuries to players; as I am sure most decent NHL fans feel the same way.

Good thing they have good shoot out specialists or Philly would never win!
- Flamin_Irishmin

Is that based on their 1 shootout this season or how bad they sucked at it last season?

If any of you happened to see the singing of the national anthem with Lauren Hart before the game last night, my nephew was standing next to her during the song. Being a cancer survivor he was asked to come out and stand with her. He stayed in a suite for free and they granted him access to the press box and the locker room. He hung out with Vorachek and his girlfriend for a while too. The kid had the time of his life!! Such a classy organization for what they do for charities and kids with cancer in the community.
- Hop Head

Very cool! Glad your nephew is doing well, and nice to see a post from you. Hope you and your brother are doing alright.

I think according to the rules, it's probably a legal hit, and that it wasn't called a penalty, adds credence to that. You never know though. While I don't want to see hitting removed from the game, that's one of the type of hits I'd like to see removed from the culture of the game. A type of hit where you see a player is vulnerable, and you have a chance to go in for the kill. I'd like to see player hold up a little, and not go for a kill shot in those type of situations. Players are too big, too fast, equipment to hard, etc.
- MJL

The alternative though is allowing players free reign up the middle of the ice, or trying to stick/poke check a quickly moving player and risk a penalty. But I agree to an extent, the type of hit you're describing is what shortened Lindros' career.

I, as a Rangers fan, appreciated the Giroux goal. That was just extremely high skill at it's finest.

Gagner's goal was excellent too, no doubt, but the finish on that Giroux attempt was one of the best I have ever seen.
- MidnightMarauder

i was happy to see ganger pot that one after he lost control in the ot session. he had lundqvist down and beat, with an open net.

that aside, csp looks the best i've seen in his career. some of these spectacular saves are a result of him going behind the net and are of his own making, but still he's making them. the studio guy on the msg broadcast was crediting his quickness to the new gear he's wearing and while it may be helping to some degree, i'm not buying that as the reason he looks so fast laterally.

i got to look at the new gear up close and personal this summer - the pads, glove, blocker, and skates....and while it's slightly lighter, again, it's an incremental change. the gear isn't even on the market yet. the biggest structural change is in the skates, which no longer have a cowling around the boot with the frame and skate blade attached. these now look almost exactly like players skates. as a goalie, they just look weird. bauer says they've been able to build the same protection into the boot without the cowling. the blade also has a hidden trigger release in the frame so the blades can be changed in an instant if they break. the pads are now being designed without a jenpro cover. it's literally one piece construction with printing graphics directly on the face of the pad. they are very light. these are an evolution from the Od1n pads that were made especially for him for the olympics.

anyway, he looks amazing this year. (frank) him.

And both skates didn't leave the ice, unlike Rinaldo.

http://www.broadstreethoc...n-rangers-viktor-stalberg
- Feanor

i didn't see this angle last night. now that i see this one, i believe it didn't warrant even a minor. it was perfectly clean. hit him directly in the right shoulder.

And both skates didn't leave the ice, unlike Rinaldo.

http://www.broadstreethoc...n-rangers-viktor-stalberg
- Feanor

Does anyone have a different replay clip because that hit isn't late, isn't a charge, primary point of contact is the shoulder, his feet don't leave the ice and his elbows are down.

If that is suspension worthy then they should remove all open ice hitting.

i was happy to see ganger pot that one after he lost control in the ot session. he had lundqvist down and beat, with an open net.

*snip*

anyway, he looks amazing this year. (frank) him.
- hammarby31

First off, who's 'Ganger'?

I gotta tell you, the 'csp' references never get old. Good stuff. :thumbsup. And yes, (frank) him.

The alternative though is allowing players free reign up the middle of the ice, or trying to stick/poke check a quickly moving player and risk a penalty. But I agree to an extent, the type of hit you're describing is what shortened Lindros' career.
- wolfhounds

I think you can step into a player, with less force, realizing he is vulnerable to break up the play, rather than go for a kill.

First off, who's 'Ganger'?

I gotta tell you, the 'csp' references never get old. Good stuff. :thumbsup. And yes, (frank) him.
- tangent_man

damnit....gagner. i still want to type gagne every time.

With the way the Flyers and Phantoms schedules line up it seems like it would make sense to keep Labarbera with the Flyers for Tuesday and Thursday's games. Hopefully Neuvirth will be ready to play on Friday in Buffalo.
- Feanor

Confirmed by Hextall: Neuvirth was placed on IR (although it wasn't announced as a roster move yesterday).

Neuvirth is ineligible for Tuesday's game but could return on Thursday since the IR designation was back-dated.

Mason got in the way of his stick and clearly should have been kicked out of the game.
- wolfhounds

yea and im prolly gonna sound like a homer but i don't have a problem with the gudas hit. didn't drive up, leave his feet or aim for the head. both players have a right to the ice and puck, way i see it, one guy hadhis head down, one didnt, no different than the stevens hit onli dros many moons ago.

damnit....gagner. i still want to type gagne every time.




- hammarby31

Silly French names...

Not sure about Simmonds on the shootout, dude just looks slow, even a bit awkward moving in on goal. I'd have gone with Jake or Read before Wayne.

In terms of the disallowed goal, ask yourselves if the Flyers had scored that, and it had been disallowed, what would you think about the call? I personally think the goal should've counted. I'm glad it didn't though.

i'm not bill, but i'll answer...

firewagon hockey simply means trading chances up and down the ice, back and forth. a 5 on 5 version of what we see with this silly 3 on 3 OT format.

it's one of doc emerick's favorite phrases.

it may be entertaining but it's not really a formula for winning, at least not consistently.
- hammarby31

Thank you!!
(Hate emrick)

i was happy to see ganger pot that one after he lost control in the ot session. he had lundqvist down and beat, with an open net.

that aside, csp looks the best i've seen in his career. some of these spectacular saves are a result of him going behind the net and are of his own making, but still he's making them. the studio guy on the msg broadcast was crediting his quickness to the new gear he's wearing and while it may be helping to some degree, i'm not buying that as the reason he looks so fast laterally.

i got to look at the new gear up close and personal this summer - the pads, glove, blocker, and skates....and while it's slightly lighter, again, it's an incremental change. the gear isn't even on the market yet. the biggest structural change is in the skates, which no longer have a cowling around the boot with the frame and skate blade attached. these now look almost exactly like players skates. as a goalie, they just look weird. bauer says they've been able to build the same protection into the boot without the cowling. the blade also has a hidden trigger release in the frame so the blades can be changed in an instant if they break. the pads are now being designed without a jenpro cover. it's literally one piece construction with printing graphics directly on the face of the pad. they are very light. these are an evolution from the Od1n pads that were made especially for him for the olympics.

anyway, he looks amazing this year. (frank) him.
- hammarby31

Perfect, hahaha.

Hank is definitely not showing signs of slowing down. Can't fault him on both shootout goals because not a single goalie stops those kind of moves and finish.