I must say, I enjoy how this game and incident has stirred the pot of hatred that had grown slightly tepid because of the two teams' absence from each other since January. Welcome back to the brawl, everyone.
All in all, I don't have an issue with the ruling. Even though it was a first offense, it was an incredibly dirty play, no way around it, and it is the exact type of play the league is trying to eliminate. After watching the play probably a hundred times, and even though I am a staunch 'Hawks fan, three games would have been a mere slap on the wrist.
More than five though? A couple points factor in that'd make me disagree. First, it's the first "offense." And before I start getting replies posting Ruslan Salei or Matt Cooke videos, the league qualifies these offenses by previous suspensions or fines. There has to be criteria here moving forward, just like the legal system. Anything else would be merely anecdotal, and arguments would go on ad nauseum just like they do on these boards from time to time.
Secondly, although not explicitly stated in the video (although mentioned briefly) I think that Daniel's hit factored into the decision. This was not an unprovoked attempt to injure by any stretch of the imagination. Had that play not happened in the corner, you wouldn't have seen this ugly play happen, period. I think Dunc got some leeway (and should have) because of this. These things can't be completely judged in a vacuum, context factors in heavily.
As much as the league doesn't want to admit it, I think there's a little kernel of "let them police themselves" still at work behind closed doors - And I have no issue with that.
- FredoXV
Yeah, Keith was probably pissed that one of the "gentlemanly" players on the Canucks hit him like he did. And who knows what kind of on ice verbalizing was going on during the action leading up to what Keith did. There was probably all kinds of stuff being said that started to get tempers up. The Canucks came out with a game plan to be physical - as in hit to hurt, serious like.
So Keith goes back to the bench hot under he collar and has it in his mind he is going to get some payback on Daniel, a player he isn't afraid to confront. Where was Mike Kitchen in this - at the very least he should be telling Keith not to do anything stupid, get him but pick your spot at the right time, play under control. And then 5 or 6 minutes after the original incident, Keith does what he did.
My guess is that both benches and coaching staffs were highly charged emotionally early on in the game. Neither team likes each other. The Hawks remember the Torres and Bieksa incidents last year, they know Toews is out because they didn't adequately protect him in the Sharks game etc, etc, etc. And Keith blew a gasket and did something stupid. Too bad there will never be an honest answer coming from Coach Q's office on what led up to this.
