"Unfortunately the NHL is being shown for what it normally is, but now the stage is bigger. NHL officiating is the worst of any professional sport."

Al it is also beyond and above the officiating. The tolerance if not the promotion of punishment and violence and vigilante justice permeates the NHL from the top on down. And there feeble half assed attempts to want it both ways results in this: instead of talking about the skill and artistry of these games its all about suspensions and felons like Carkner, Torres etal.

NHL is getting exactly what is deserves at the expense of its most skilled and talented players. No other sport comes close to having to deal game in and game out with players being fined or suspended.

And your analysis of the game was spot on. Hawks have been blanketed in this series so far. If this team ever needed a reason to find pulse and explode this is it!
- bogiedoc

But show me another professional sport that is as fast and complex as hockey. I'm not try to justify the brutal reffing but having done so myself (even at a Pee Wee level), its tough.

Torres should be gone for the playoffs-even if to say enough is enough to the rest of the league.... He's a repeat offender and maybe the long term suspension would finally get the message to all the teams that the bs will no longer be acceptable.

Who gets Hossa spot? Hayes? Need some offense...

First of all, thanks for actually responding to my argument instead of simply being an ass. As for your first issue, I would say that referee mistakes are frequent misfortunes. For instance, look at the clowe incident against the kings. Was that behind the play? No. the refs just missed it. It happens sadly.

To your second response, I see what you mean. Obviously if you're leaving your feet you're not looking to make a clean shoulder to shoulder, shoulder/chest hit. But are you always going straight for the head? Who knows. We don't play in the nhl and have never done this.
- selanne4pres

I don't know if "its a coincidence, doesn't mean anything" and "who knows" really make a compelling case for what you're saying.

The footage, the calls and the history is all we have. We don't need to prove intent, only state reasonable plausibility.

And that, is enough for me to throw the book at him.

People were all excited that Duncan Keith returned.

He looks like usual nowhere to be found self.

How does one attach a picture to this blog?
- nelli312

Right click on the picture.... find Image Location... highlight and copy that full location-......Come back to the blog and paste it.... then highlight it and click the [IMG] button then submit.

The image cant be simply on your hard drive, it has to be posted on the net somewhere.

I don't disagree on Crawford, though I do think when he has it going he can be above average for a while.

He's allowed one more goal in the series on roughly the same number of shots, and Smith has had his moments too. Hawks just need to throw more pucks at the net and jam their crease and not try to be cute.

The truth is, they were somewhat in shock after the Hossa incident and didn't play their game.

I guarantee: We have not seen the best from the Hawks. They will turn it up in this series, and when they do, their superior talent and experience will make the difference.
- busmaster

I hope you're right...will be tough to win 15 more playoff games without Hossa. I don't see how he comes back.

I'll disagree on this. With last night, Bollig went after Torres and took a 2 and a 10. Torres went back out there and kicked Stalberg's feet out from under him.

Obviously that didn't deter Torres and his dirty play.
- EKolb13

Exactly. Becasue the current rules are set up to protect Torres after the hit. If you let players police themselves a little bit more they will be less likely to make a stupid hit. Torres probably knows that anyone that takes a run at him after his hit is going to get tossed or put his team short handed and then he wins

Raffi Torres suspended indefinetly until his in person meeting Friday.

Most people are talking double digits suspension.

Torres suspended indefinitely per NHL.com...His hearing will be on Friday.

I will tell you fatty, based on the tone of the press releases—and what I heard and saw from Q's reactions and what I heard about some conversation that took place last night, it is very puzzling. Meaning, there is more to this right now than is being said publicly.
- John Jaeckel

Haven't Q that upset since he has been here, and the players interviewed, especially Toews and Kane looked visibly shaken up and disturbed by what went on.

Not at all an easy thing to see a player carted off, regardless of importance. Massive game Thursday, hopefully Crawford can forget that last goal and who ever steps in can contribute in some meaningful way.

Indefinitely suspended until review on Friday is a start... I really dislike how the NHLPA is getting involved and what repercussions or lack there of that could bring. Them getting involved at this point seems a bit ridiculous, especially since one of their marque players is out for what may be no short amount of time.

Whose side is the union on here?

Raffi Torres suspended indefinetly until his in person meeting Friday.

Most people are talking double digits suspension.
- yahoodi

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=628445

Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres has been suspended indefinitely, pending an in-person hearing Friday, April 20, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today. The hearing, which had been planned for today, was deferred at the request of the player and the National Hockey League Players' Association.

The hearing will be convened at the NHL's New York office for a hit Torres delivered to Chicago forward Marian Hossa 12:42 into the first period of Game 3 of the teams' Western Conference Quarterfinal series in Chicago on Tuesday, April 17.

I am absolutely baffled as to how the officials working the game could have missed this. It is beyond comprehension. It is not like this happened 50 feet behind the play or was a sneaky spear in traffic. This was a guy getting blown away by a blindside head shot less than a second after he had the puck. House league kids referees would not have missed it.

Exactly. Becasue the current rules are set up to protect Torres after the hit. If you let players police themselves a little bit more they will be less likely to make a stupid hit. Torres probably knows that anyone that takes a run at him after his hit is going to get tossed or put his team short handed and then he wins
- fiveandagame

Exactly - because, well.. he sucks and if you trade Hossa for Torres.. the Yotes win big time.

Exactly. Becasue the current rules are set up to protect Torres after the hit. If you let players police themselves a little bit more they will be less likely to make a stupid hit. Torres probably knows that anyone that takes a run at him after his hit is going to get tossed or put his team short handed and then he wins
- fiveandagame

Correct the reason it didn't work yesterday is because bollig got the penalty. A team cant continue going down shorthanded. And it has to be a cumulative effect over a season or more. If torres was getting it night in night out from others teams enforcers because of his cowardly acts against star players. Number one the enforcer gets 5 he gets 5 so its taking him off the ice and number 2 this then becomes his life. Fighting every other night. At some point he changes his game.

I am absolutely baffled as to how the officials working the game could have missed this. It is beyond comprehension. It is not like this happened 50 feet behind the play or was a sneaky spear in traffic. This was a guy getting blown away by a blindside head shot less than a second after he had the puck. House league kids referees would not have missed it.
- maaddmike

Why on obvious missed game misconduct calls can't they go to a replay booth to actually make the right call?

NOT calling that hit on Torres might have lost the Hawks this series.

I am absolutely baffled as to how the officials working the game could have missed this. It is beyond comprehension. It is not like this happened 50 feet behind the play or was a sneaky spear in traffic. This was a guy getting blown away by a blindside head shot less than a second after he had the puck. House league kids referees would not have missed it.
- maaddmike

Yep

Well, before Torres head shot of Hossa I thought Torres was having a great series , what a shame. I didnt realize he was a 1st round pick. I guess he had some skill and now he's a goon. What a f u c k head

The hearing, which had been planned for today, was deferred at the request of the player and the National Hockey League Players' Association.
- HajdukChicago

Anyone want to speculate as to why Torres would want to defer to Friday?

After reading some of the posts on this topic, I have never seen such blatant homerism in my life. After watching the hit a bunch of times, I've changed my opinion on it. It's a tad late and he does launch himself upwards. However, justifying Keith's hit and subsequent short suspension by saying Daniel "hit him first" is disgusting.

I remember JJ saying in his blog that Keith would maybe get 1 or 2 games, most Hawk fans agreed. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, Torres should be lethally injected.

The only thing different between the two hits was that Hossa left on a stretcher. Hopefully he's ok.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=628445

Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres has been suspended indefinitely, pending an in-person hearing Friday, April 20, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today. The hearing, which had been planned for today, was deferred at the request of the player and the National Hockey League Players' Association.

The hearing will be convened at the NHL's New York office for a hit Torres delivered to Chicago forward Marian Hossa 12:42 into the first period of Game 3 of the teams' Western Conference Quarterfinal series in Chicago on Tuesday, April 17.
- HajdukChicago

INEVITABLE.

And yet, Hammer and Doan each get an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty for casually flipping the puck at each other. Way to take control, refs!

After reading some of the posts on this topic, I have never seen such blatant homerism in my life. After watching the hit a bunch of times, I've changed my opinion on it. It's a tad late and he does launch himself upwards. However, justifying Keith's hit and subsequent short suspension by saying Daniel "hit him first" is disgusting.

I remember JJ saying in his blog that Keith would maybe get 1 or 2 games, most Hawk fans agreed. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, Torres should be lethally injected.

The only thing different between the two hits was that Hossa left on a stretcher. Hopefully he's ok.
- hertzman

Some of us were also pretty disgusted by what Keith did

After reading some of the posts on this topic, I have never seen such blatant homerism in my life. After watching the hit a bunch of times, I've changed my opinion on it. It's a tad late and he does launch himself upwards. However, justifying Keith's hit and subsequent short suspension by saying Daniel "hit him first" is disgusting.

I remember JJ saying in his blog that Keith would maybe get 1 or 2 games, most Hawk fans agreed. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, Torres should be lethally injected.

The only thing different between the two hits was that Hossa left on a stretcher. Hopefully he's ok.
- hertzman

Keith didn't jump, leave his feet and wasn't coming at him full force when the hit happened. That right there is a huge huge difference in the hit.

Keith's hit warranted a suspension. Torres hit was much more violent and dangerous from a repeat offender who seemingly doesn't realize.. you can't do that & doesn't care.

That's right. I'll be up late tonight writing a paper anyways. Now I'll have something to relieve my stress after I'm done banging that out!


- EKolb13

Phucks the nucks

After reading some of the posts on this topic, I have never seen such blatant homerism in my life. After watching the hit a bunch of times, I've changed my opinion on it. It's a tad late and he does launch himself upwards. However, justifying Keith's hit and subsequent short suspension by saying Daniel "hit him first" is disgusting.

I remember JJ saying in his blog that Keith would maybe get 1 or 2 games, most Hawk fans agreed. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, Torres should be lethally injected.

The only thing different between the two hits was that Hossa left on a stretcher. Hopefully he's ok.
- hertzman

No NIMROD the difference between the 2 hits is that Daniel hit Keith in the face with his shoulder 6 minutes prior to Keith exacting revenge. Yes it was a bad it , yes suspendable , but it was in retaliation and was an elbow.

Torres , flying leaped into Hossa's head. Big difference pal , at least the Canucks got a 5 minute power play , the Hawks ended up shorthanded.