I'm wondering if my prediction last night of 1 game for Sunny will be the call.

NHL DOPS have a hearing today with Sunny on the hit. Note they did not say it was an in-person hearing.
- Jason Millen

I would be surprised if there's any kind of a suspension. The player put himself in an awkward and bad position.

I like that Backes is chirping about the physical play. Like San Jose, it means its having an affect.

Just like Novacaine. Give it enough time it will work.

These ain't the Carolina Hurricanes..........

I personally love when McAvoy is behind the Blues net. Can't shot from there and puts a forward on D, well should put a forward on D.
- Jason Millen

He had a couple moments where he was awful.

I think you guys got this, Bergeron is hurting pretty bad apparently. Just gotta keep wearing them all down

I would be surprised if there's any kind of a suspension. The player put himself in an awkward and bad position.

I like that Backes is chirping about the physical play. Like San Jose, it means its having an affect.

Just like Novacaine. Give it enough time it will work.

These ain't the Carolina Hurricanes..........
- bcallaway

This is the NHL though... probably will be fined. Wondering if they’ll give him a game. Why have a hearing if the player was deemed to have put himself in a vulnerable position?

A real pisser of a win.
- bcallaway

https://twitter.com/Cptn_...tatus/1133961705753587712

If there is a suspension(I don't think there should be at all) what is the time frame they have to let the team know by? I could see if there is no time table they would at the last moment hours before the game suspend him and make us rush to figure out who is playing.


The Bruins player put himself in that situation and lost his footing or turned at the last moment. Sunny trying to finish his check did exactly that. Finished his check. Nothing malicious or predatory about the hit

Maybe a fine?? Boston getting the call in their favor again? (frank) Backes' quote after the game. He has always hit like that so is e now calling himself a dirty player?
- BluesDroogie

The hearing is today so the ruling will be today. Of course, the Blues can appeal it (very doubtful unless it is crazy long) but he would still have to serve it until the appeal is held.

I agree that G put himself in a terrible position but imho it was still a bad hit. If I was DOPS I'd give him a game suspension.

The hearing is today so the ruling will be today. Of course, the Blues can appeal it (very doubtful unless it is crazy long) but he would still have to serve it until the appeal is held.

I agree that G put himself in a terrible position but imho it was still a bad hit. If I was DOPS I'd give him a game suspension.
- Jason Millen

I don't think he should get a game. Teach the players that if they put themselves in a terrible position like that, there will not be a suspension to protect you.

Players are constantly putting themselves in bad situations as a way to try and draw penalties or get a player to split off and not hit them.

I don't think he should get a game. Teach the players that if they put themselves in a terrible position like that, there will not be a suspension to protect you.

Players are constantly putting themselves in bad situations as a way to try and draw penalties or get a player to split off and not hit them.
- carcus

How do you square the league’s perceived need to have a disciplinary hearing with teaching the players not to put themselves in a vulnerable position though? If it were both players involved in the hearing, then sure. As it stands, Sunny is facing the league, trying to defend himself when the league has likely already made their decision.

Would you say that, if he’s fined rather than suspended, players are being taught not to put themselves in a vulnerable position?

Honestly, I just want to understand your thoughts on this...

The league can't get out of it's on way. The major against Vegas, hand pass against the Blues, all playoffs the attention has been as much on how bad the officiating is as anything else. Now, in a game where the officials blew more critical calls, when the same hit happens both ways, they only have a hearing for one.

Bruins have all the media attention in their favor, so when they cry about officials, the league makes sure to do something for the sake of PR, regardless of anything else.

Amazing how often it is consistently poor favouring the Bruins.

Two series now started game 1 with a team leading the Bruins only to get the life sucked out of them by Boston getting away with everything, and the the other team called for a series of bad penalties. At the very least it would be nice to see the league, or the refs call the Bruins on the ridiculous embellishment and diving... instead of letting the Boston fans make the call.
- Aetherial

You can't hit Grzelcyk in that situation, regardless of what spot he put himself in. It was numbers all the way, and Sundqvist still plastered him, straight to the back of the head no less. I'm guessing it's a 1 game suspension.

Please do not feed the trolls.

Please do not feed the trolls.
- Antilles

Right, because having the correct opinion (see DoPS' announcement today) is being a troll.

I'm not here to troll, I'm here to put some of your egregiously wild homerism in check.

Players are constantly putting themselves in bad situations as a way to try and draw penalties or get a player to split off and not hit them.
- carcus

This is the dilemma that creates a big problem imho. Still a bad line and hit by Sunny but I agree that players do what you said a lot.

This is the dilemma that creates a big problem imho. Still a bad line and hit by Sunny but I agree that players do what you said a lot.
- Jason Millen

The problem is the NHL only cares about optics. Sunny doesn't do anything differently than the Bruins did for the hit on Blais. However Blais doesn't lose his balance trying to twist around weirdly, so Blais doesn't get injured. Grelcyk does get hurt, and Bruins cry to the media about it, so the NHL steps in to punish Sunny for the exact same actions they ignore others doing in the same game. Sundqvist should be responsible solely for his own actions, not for bad decisions and bad balance from the Bruins. 2 minute penalty? Sure. Hearing with DoPS? Ridiculous.

How do you square the league’s perceived need to have a disciplinary hearing with teaching the players not to put themselves in a vulnerable position though? If it were both players involved in the hearing, then sure. As it stands, Sunny is facing the league, trying to defend himself when the league has likely already made their decision.

Would you say that, if he’s fined rather than suspended, players are being taught not to put themselves in a vulnerable position?

Honestly, I just want to understand your thoughts on this...
- eggsegan

I think a simple statement by the DoPS stating that no discipline was given due to the factors including.....

They need to stop suspending based on a player getting hurt and based on the actual action. That is it. Right now, it is more based on optics instead of the actual act.

That play deserved a penalty. And nothing more. They should have looked at it and put out a statement today on why the are not pursuing any further discipline. If you want to risk serious injury for a penalty from the refs, that is something you have to live with.

The problem is the NHL only cares about optics. Sunny doesn't do anything differently than the Bruins did for the hit on Blais. However Blais doesn't lose his balance trying to twist around weirdly, so Blais doesn't get injured. Grelcyk does get hurt, and Bruins cry to the media about it, so the NHL steps in to punish Sunny for the exact same actions they ignore others doing in the same game. Sundqvist should be responsible solely for his own actions, not for bad decisions and bad balance from the Bruins. 2 minute penalty? Sure. Hearing with DoPS? Ridiculous.
- Antilles

The Nordstrom hit on Blais was shoulder to shoulder, and nothing even close to the hit Sundqvist put on Grzelcyk. Nordstrom came from the side, Sundqvist came from directly behind Grzelcyk. And Sundqvist is responsible for his own actions, which is why he has a hearing with DoPS for lighting up a dude that had his back to him the entire time. See what I'm talking about with the egregious homerism?

https://twitter.com/Lucas.../1133912683365969922?s=20

The Nordstrom hit on Blais was shoulder to shoulder, and nothing even close to the hit Sundqvist put on Grzelcyk. Nordstrom came from the side, Sundqvist came from directly behind Grzelcyk. And Sundqvist is responsible for his own actions, which is why he has a hearing with DoPS for lighting up a dude that had his back to him the entire time. See what I'm talking about with the egregious homerism?

https://twitter.com/Lucas.../1133912683365969922?s=20
- mixturebill

Honestly boarding has become normal in the NHL, I can't count how many times this year I've seen the defensman slammed from behind in the numbers. This one is particularly bad due to the positioning Grzelcyk put himself it, the head wasn't intended but it was hit. I don't care about the Blais or Thomas hits, they're fine but they both put themselves in bad position too.

What's up with the crickets from the NHL DOPS and national media et all on the Sundqvist hearing? This is starting to wonder if the NHL tried to get aggressive with the number of games.

The NHL's Department of Player Safety on Thursday morning requested a hearing, which was held at 3 p.m. and a decision will come down sometime Thursday evening or Friday morning.

The hearing is today so the ruling will be today. Of course, the Blues can appeal it (very doubtful unless it is crazy long) but he would still have to serve it until the appeal is held.

I agree that G put himself in a terrible position but imho it was still a bad hit. If I was DOPS I'd give him a game suspension.
- Jason Millen

Now a day removed it was a bad hit, but if G didn't lose footing and continues the play I don't know if the hit is on the numbers. At the same time lots of hits are on the numbers but not driving through them like Sunny did New way of hitting.

Hopefully Thomas is okay and ready. Sandford has not shown anything to like about his game in his limited time. Thankfully Blais rose to the challenge!

Hopefully Thomas is okay and ready. Sandford has not shown anything to like about his game in his limited time. Thankfully Blais rose to the challenge!
- BluesDroogie

Thomas is not ok and ready. Don't expect to see Thomas again this playoffs.

If it was me and Sunny was out, I wouldn't insert Sanford. I'd likely insert MacEachern before Sanford but you may see him role with seven D, bringing Dunn back in for specialist duty at home with last change - Power play, Offensive zone good match-ups, etc.

Thomas is not ok and ready. Don't expect to see Thomas again this playoffs.

If it was me and Sunny was out, I wouldn't insert Sanford. I'd likely insert MacEachern before Sanford but you may see him role with seven D, bringing Dunn back in for specialist duty at home with last change - Power play, Offensive zone good match-ups, etc.
- Jason Millen

What is the injury to Thomas? Absolutely insert Mac, forgot about him

What is the injury to Thomas? Absolutely insert Mac, forgot about him
- BluesDroogie

One game!

What is the injury to Thomas? Absolutely insert Mac, forgot about him
- BluesDroogie

Krug ended Thomas's playoffs with his charge, they just aren't announcing it because there is no advantage to letting Boston know for sure he won't be playing. Though obviously, the Blues should have gone the Bruins route of crying to the media, forced the NHL to do something about it.

One game!
- arh777

https://www.nhl.com/news/...c-307621494?tid=277549076