Watch Jake get more games than Malkin because Flyers
- arichardson22

He's having a meeting with Player Safety?

Looked like Boychuk was going for the puck to me. Can’t fault the guy for going hard for the puck. I don’t really fault Jake for feeling he needed to protect himself either. I don’t think things went the way either of them wanted to. Regardless, it was interference by the rules. If the NHL, as Bill pointed out, is cracking down on hits like these specifically then it’s just bad luck for the Flyers. It sucks and is unfair, but what was or wasn’t called in other games doesn’t really matter
- Dkos

I am not upset at the messagers as Bill said of the refs. It is not the interference that has me mad. It is that Jake is being misread to be dirty when that is exactly how the Islanders looked by their words and actions. Hardly just bad luck, if Jake is (IMO) wrongfully suspended. DoPos! If so, sounds like the NHL wants to bring back the goon game to me. Look how the Islanders acted. Are they to be rewarded?

We won. Overcome. Let’s go Flyers!

Boychuk was skating with reckless open ice speed into Voracek or a tight space. His play was dangerous and was likely to result in a contact. Thankful Voracek wasn’t injured.

We have had guys hit from behind...head smashed to the boards and no call.

Jake protected himself. Boychuk injured himself with a reckless play. That’s just how I see it.
- NC Flyers Fan

There is no rule against skating fast towards a player or into a tight space. There is no law against going for a hit. To suggest that Boycheck did anything wrong or illegal is unfounded in my opinion. Hitting is part of the game but it has to be done legally. Voracek is the only player who broke a rule on the play.

Just watched the Jake/Boychuk incident. The Islanders reaction was silly but to be expected as hockey players can't take hits anymore. Jake clearly wanted to react and reverse hit a hard-charging Boychuk but not try and target him or injure him. It's unfortunate that it caught him in the head. The penalizing / suspending players for plays that result in injury is archaic.

Sending a goon and the whole pointing and trash talking theater by Boychuk was also mickey mouse, but hey the game was on the Island.
- Pixote Andolini

The play is a penalty on Voracek whether Boychuk is hurt or not.

I am not upset at the messagers as Bill said of the refs. It is not the interference that has me mad. It is that Jake is being misread to be dirty when that is exactly how the Islanders looked by their words and actions. Hardly just bad luck, if Jake is (IMO) wrongfully suspended. DoPos! If so, sounds like the NHL wants to bring back the goon game to me. Look how the Islanders acted. Are they to be rewarded?

We won. Overcome. Let’s go Flyers!
- NC Flyers Fan

I don’t think Jake deserves a suspension either, but dont really see how the Islanders are being rewarded? They went after Jake and they got penalized. Nothing came of any of their antics

NHL Player Safety
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Philadelphia’s Jakub Voracek will have a hearing today for Interference on NY Islanders’ Johnny Boychuk.

He's having a meeting with Player Safety?
- Pixote Andolini

Yup

Thanks for the info. I did not know the NHL was specifically watching out for hits like that. I’m all for protecting the players. I love the physical aspect of hockey, but I don’t think there’s any place for players who are trying to injur other players. The purpose of a check is to separate the player from the puck, not to blow them up.
- Dkos

Then why was Boychuck coming in so hard from behind him?
He wasn't trying to separate Jake from the puck, he was hitting him from behind. From F-ing behind! Has everyone skipped that part? Jake braced himself, Boychuck went down like the flower that he is. That's Jakes fault?

There is no rule against skating fast towards a player or into a tight space. There is no law against going for a hit. To suggest that Boycheck did anything wrong or illegal is unfounded in my opinion. Hitting is part of the game but it has to be done legally. Voracek is the only player who broke a rule on the play.
- MJL

Voracek was not eligible to be hit in the numbers...which is all Boychuk could see on approach.

Then why was Boychuck coming in so hard from behind him?
He wasn't trying to separate Jake from the puck, he was hitting him from behind. From F-ing behind! Has everyone skipped that part? Jake braced himself, Boychuck went down like the flower that he is. That's Jakes fault?
- BadCowboyDan

Skipped what part? The part that never happened? Seriously?

Voracek was not eligible to be hit in the numbers...which is all Boychuk could see on approach.
- NC Flyers Fan

The Islanders were behind by 4 goals at the time. That's when a team will activate the defense and defenseman will gamble and pinch down hard on pucks along the wall. That's all that Boychuk was doing there. The contact was initiated by Voracke. Maybe Boychuk was going for a hit or maybe just the puck or both. You cannot blame or penalize a player for something that you think might have happened that did not. Coming in for a body check is a legal play.

Skipped what part? The part that never happened? Seriously?
- MJL

Not sure what Boycheks intentions were. He was coming in fast. He may have been just going for the puck in the corner. Jake didnt have the puck yet either. Jake initiated the contact. That's why he got the interference call. If Boychek hit Jake he would have been called.

Not sure what Boycheks intentions were. He was coming in fast. He may have been just going for the puck in the corner. Jake didnt have the puck yet either. Jake initiated the contact. That's why he got the interference call. If Boychek hit Jake he would have been called.
- jaws1955

Exactly.

Voracek was not eligible to be hit in the numbers...which is all Boychuk could see on approach.
- NC Flyers Fan

But he didn't hit Jake. Jake moved laterally and initiated the contact. It doesn't matter that he could only see Jake's numbers. He didn't hit Jake, Jake hit him.

I don’t think Jake deserves a suspension either, but dont really see how the Islanders are being rewarded? They went after Jake and they got penalized. Nothing came of any of their antics
- Dkos

It sets a unwanted precedent that you can attack a player from behind by making a reckless play, get hurt and blame the other player. They attacked Jake multiple times in retaliation of their misguided “wrestle mania” tactics.

If the league condones that behavior—yes—it is similar to a reward. A stamp saying “you were in the right.”

I don’t think Jake deserves a suspension either, but dont really see how the Islanders are being rewarded? They went after Jake and they got penalized. Nothing came of any of their antics
- Dkos

Yeah, this. Fine perhaps he is not a repeat offender if I recall correctly.

It sets a unwanted precedent that you can attack a player from behind by making a reckless play, get hurt and blame the other player. They attacked Jake multiple times in retaliation of their misguided “wrestle mania” tactics.

If the league condones that behavior—yes—it is similar to a reward. A stamp saying “you were in the right.”
- NC Flyers Fan

The problem here is that this idea that Boychuk attacked Voracek from behind is not reality. It didn't happen.

The Islanders were behind by 4 goals at the time. That's when a team will activate the defense and defenseman will gamble and pinch down hard on pucks along the wall. That's all that Boychuk was doing there. The contact was initiated by Voracke. Maybe Boychuk was going for a hit or maybe just the puck or both. You cannot blame or penalize a player for something that you think might have happened that did not. Coming in for a body check is a legal play.
- MJL

To be fair, that’s also a time when a team will get frustrated and do something stupid. Especially when it’s the 2nd time in a week getting embarrassed.

Yeah, this. Fine perhaps he is not a repeat offender if I recall correctly.
- jaws1955

It’s funny Boychuck won’t get a peep from NHL for threatening another player too

To be fair, that’s also a time when a team will get frustrated and do something stupid. Especially when it’s the 2nd time in a week getting embarrassed.
- arichardson22

I don't see that play having anything to do with frustration or doing something stupid and everything to do with a defenseman pinching down on a loose puck.

But he didn't hit Jake. Jake moved laterally and initiated the contact. It doesn't matter that he could only see Jake's numbers. He didn't hit Jake, Jake hit him.
- jaws1955

This is a very bias way to look at it. Jake was in the spot above where the puck was coming to before the approach. In order to play the puck, he would have had to look down and locate it. You tell me, you think Boychuk would not have hit Jake? You actually think Jake had time to play the puck from another angle, after he sees Boychuk charging?

There is no rule against skating fast towards a player or into a tight space. There is no law against going for a hit. To suggest that Boycheck did anything wrong or illegal is unfounded in my opinion. Hitting is part of the game but it has to be done legally. Voracek is the only player who broke a rule on the play.
- MJL

Nobody said what Boychuk did was illegal stop putting words into people's mouths. What was said is it was reckless and therefore Voracek was defending himself for the ht that he thought was coming based on how the play was progressing. Most agree it should have been a 2 min penalty but that is it, case closed no talk of suspension or hearing.

Let's get into Physics here.
You want to make the game safer? Slow it down.
Really that's the answer if you are concerned about safety.
Every injury from a hit or fall is magnified by the speed of the player, which is now dictated by the speed of the game.
Slow it down.

How? Allow more checking and fighting I know, I know, it's the opposite of what everyone is saying out there, but it is possible we are moving in the wrong direction here.
Fighting is bad PR, I'll give you that, but How many concussions are suffered through a fight? I remember very very few. Concussions for the most part come from awkward hits, and cheap shots, along with those slips and falls at higher speeds.
Hits are awkward because they have to be applied surgically now to avoid a penalty.
Cheap shots are taken more often, because there are no consequences without the fear of a fight.
Slips and Falls are always going to be there, but do more damage when objects are moving faster
Fact: Checking slows the game down
Fact: Fighting keeps players better behaved
Fact: Slower speeds means less damage when things go wrong.

Hope this wasn't too much logic...
The only other option is to have bigger ice so there is never contact. Boring...

Nobody said what Boychuk did was illegal stop putting words into people's mouths. What was said is it was reckless and therefore Voracek was defending himself for the ht that he thought was coming based on how the play was progressing. Most agree it should have been a 2 min penalty but that is it, case closed no talk of suspension or hearing.
- Daceroni

That depends on your interpretation I guess. Terms like reckless and careless are thrown about. I think that's all unfounded. The point really is if nothing Boychuk did was illegal then he can't be at fault. Voracek's actions however were illegal. Hence the penalty and likely suspension. The legality of both players actions is a releavant part of the conversation in my opinion.

That depends on your interpretation I guess. Terms like reckless and careless are thrown about. I think that's all unfounded. The point really is if nothing Boychuk did was illegal then he can't be at fault. Voracek's actions however were illegal. Hence the penalty and likely suspension. The legality of both players actions is a releavant part of the conversation in my opinion.
- MJL

I know you like to be the devil's advocate here, but you are wrong on this one. Girlchuck was coming at Jake, and he was doing it from BEHIND him. Looked like Charging to me and it was very dangerous for Jake.