Bryzgalov - Fleury makes me appreciate Crawford more and more: 7 goals in the first period.

Holy scoring frenzy Pitt about 4-3 and its the first period.

I feel the same way. The game has turned into a farce. It's not hockey in my opinion. It's thugockey. I'm not interested in seeing guys get sent to the hospital. I love a physical game but I'm beginning to believe that there isn't a way to have one without it getting out of hand. The officiating guarantees it. The NHL needs to revamp the referee training from top to bottom. These refs have sucked this series; they have been astonishingly bad. There has to be absolute consistency in making calls on the ice and in the booth. I won't watch if the BS continues.

Shannahan should suspend the D and Goaltenders of the Flyers/Pens series....


HORRIBLE!!!!!

Shannahan should suspend the D and Goaltenders of the Flyers/Pens series....


HORRIBLE!!!!!
- PoileRulezzzYo

Would Crawford be the 3rd best goalie in the EC playoffs?

I feel the same way. The game has turned into a farce. It's not hockey in my opinion. It's thugockey. I'm not interested in seeing guys get sent to the hospital. I love a physical game but I'm beginning to believe that there isn't a way to have one with out it getting out of hand. The officiating guarantees it. The NHL needs to revamp the referee training from top to bottom. These refs have sucked this series; they have been astonishingly bad. There has to be absolute consistency in making calls on the ice and in the booth. I won't watch if the BS continues.
- Lido_Shuffle

Unfortunately there seems to be a blatant (and alarming) lack of respect amongst the NHLPA members towards each other.

The suspensions aren't working, or at least aren't working well enough. The only case I can think of where they did "work" is Matt Cooke, who after a series of transgressions was finally suspended for 20 games or whatever it was, saw Jesus, and turned his style of play around dramatically.

Torres is Torres, I'm sure he has no remorse whatsoever. He'll probably say he's sorry Hossa got hurt, but I'll bet in his heart of hearts he thinks he did his job.

This won't change until teams start getting penalized, i.e., losing a roster spot for the length of the suspension or big fines to ownership and / or coaching staffs, and teams get fed up having guys like him on their roster. The $2500 maximum fine is a joke, lunch money to a player like Weber.

I feel the same way. The game has turned into a farce. It's not hockey in my opinion. It's thugockey. I'm not interested in seeing guys get sent to the hospital. I love a physical game but I'm beginning to believe that there isn't a way to have one with out it getting out of hand. The officiating guarantees it. The NHL needs to revamp the referee training from top to bottom. These refs have sucked this series; they have been astonishingly bad. There has to be absolute consistency in making calls on the ice and in the booth. I won't watch if the BS continues.
- Lido_Shuffle

I am not saying folks aren't in the right for finding all of the violence and cheapshots offputting, but I can't help but think some of this is tame compared to the 70s and 80s. Some of those first-round matchups were just wars. No doubt it's a new NHL with bigger and faster players wearing body armor, and I am slowly changing my view as a result. The hit last night looks like any number of Scott Stevens hits that were acceptable at one point (although there wasn't unanimity regarding that then, I know). Did anyone see J.R. on the intermissin of the Ott-NYR game tonight? It's like he knew that he gave and received those types of hits--but you can't do it anymore.

Bryzgalov - Fleury makes me appreciate Crawford more and more: 7 goals in the first period.
- StLBravesFan

Make it 8...5-3 pens early in the 2nd.

Fluery....bad!! But what is up with Bryz? Not much better. Terrible awareness and positioning and a 5 hole the size of a manhole.

I am not saying folks aren't in the right for finding all of the violence and cheapshots offputting, but I can't help but think some of this is tame compared to the 70s and 80s. Some of those first-round matchups were just wars. No doubt it's a new NHL with bigger and faster players wearing body armor, and I am slowly changing my view as a result. The hit last night looks like any number of Scott Stevens hits that were acceptable at one point (although there wasn't unanimity regarding that then, I know). Did anyone see J.R. on the intermissin of the Ott-NYR game tonight? It's like he knew that he gave and received those types of hits--but you can't do it anymore.
- AL SEC0RD

And to the Canada-USSR series in 1972 - Clarke deliberately slashing and breaking Karlomov's ankle, etc.

Unfortunately there seems to be a blatant (and alarming) lack of respect amongst the NHLPA members towards each other.

The suspensions aren't working, or at least aren't working well enough. The only case I can think of where they did "work" is Matt Cooke, who after a series of transgressions was finally suspended for 20 games or whatever it was, saw Jesus, and turned his style of play around dramatically.

Torres is Torres, I'm sure he has no remorse whatsoever. He'll probably say he's sorry Hossa got hurt, but I'll bet in his heart of hearts he thinks he did his job.

This won't change until teams start getting penalized, i.e., losing a roster spot for the length of the suspension or big fines to ownership and / or coaching staffs, and teams get fed up having guys like him on their roster. The $2500 maximum fine is a joke, lunch money to a player like Weber.
- MartiniMan

FWIW, the NHLPA would only allow the NHL a $2500 max fine.

FWIW, the NHLPA would only allow the NHL a $2500 max fine.
- Lido_Shuffle

I know it's in the CBA, but it needs to be changed in the next one.

And to the Canada-USSR series in 1972 - Clarke deliberately slashing and breaking Karlomov's ankle, etc.
- StLBravesFan

Exactly. The Flyers--they won two Stanley Cups by beating the crap out of people. It really was reprehensible.

Exactly. The Flyers--they won two Stanley Cups by beating the crap out of people. It really was reprehensible.
- AL SEC0RD

Broad Street Bullies - first expansion team to win the Cup? Clarke, Schultz - bet today's Flyers wish they had Parent....

Do you really think that's ever going to happen? C'mon man, get it together.
- EKolb13

so we all admit the nhl officiating and oversite is bs
the system to protect the players, the integrity of the game and the skill of the game by dramatically changing the punishment guidlines is unrealistic and you think i need to get it together since i have unrealistic expectations i find funny

you will continue to get the hockey play you appear willing to accept, im not accepting this yle of hockey

Oh, come on JJ. I know you really don't believe that, do you? Watch it one more time. Smith doesn't lean in long after Shaw committed to anything. His head was down in that position for quite a while and he didn't move it until Shaw moved it for him. 16 second mark of the video is a great angle looking straight down on the hit. His head is not moving and is down before Shaw turns the corner of the goal.


- carcus

The only thing I'd add to all this is the location of Shaw's stick in the first frame. Both hands on the stick with the blade on the ice in front of Smith's -- with the puck. Likely careless on Shaw's part, IMO, but trying to make a play. Aside from that, I can't tell you how tired I've of hearing about this particular incident.

ESP to a team hard up to put fans in the seats.
- victorymc98

lets just accept the current quoi dont care about the current ratings


this style of play will do more to drive people away than anything.

long term participation by youth in hockey will drop, this is not what parents want their children to emulate

The great Brian Burke tells us to lighten up....he is another contributor to the problem.

http://prohockeytalk.nbcs...ut-the-rain-at-woodstock/

Exactly. The Flyers--they won two Stanley Cups by beating the crap out of people. It really was reprehensible.
- AL SEC0RD

not only that but this style of play transfered down to youth hockey
i played and remember at 10 years old watching my father fighting in the stands against the other fathers on the opposing team with my younger sister hiding under the seat for protection

yea thats a memory i will always charish
heres hoping we continue down the current path so we can revisit the bullies style of play

Either you're in the game or you're not.

If the goaltender is in the crease, I get it. He plays a unique position, wears unique equipment, and has a unique set of responsibilities...defend the front of the net. He should be allowed to do this job un-impeded, and without fear of being run.

If however the goaltender CHOOSES to leave the safety and security of the crease and play like a 3rd D-man, he should be subject to the same treatment as any other skater.

"But goalies are vulnerable!". Bullpoop.

First, the fact that they are the most heavily armored players on the ice makes this argument silly to begin with. Secondly, the main reason goalies are vulnerable is because the league has allowed them to become relatively secure in the knowledge of their untouchable status. Make the goalies fair game when they voluntarily leave the crease to play the puck and I gauran-damn-tee you that they will not put themselves in vulnerable positions very often.

If the league is going to continue to insist that goalies should be untouchable, then they should never be allowed to play the puck outside of the crease. Otherwise why not just have your goalie stick handle his way up the ice and dump it in? Easy way to beat a forecheck...have an untouchable player just skate the puck out of the D-zone.
- Ogilthorpe2

I sarcastically thought the same thing when all this started.

Well Pnes piling on 9-3. And the flyer resident slime ball Rinaldo just jerked it up....just cuz he could and did. And seemed to enjoy it!

Very true. I don't like or agree with what Tippett said, but I understand the natural tendency to stand by your guy...even when he F's up.
- Ogilthorpe2

i dont agree
we all know what is right and what is wrong and that is what should guide our actions

Don't want to beat a dead horse here.....but take a look at a similar play on Smith earlier in the year. He flops and flails like a fish when hit. Look familiar? Oh and take a look at the 20 second mark. He was about to get up and get back in the net to attempt to make a save, well the whistle blows and he flops back down again in "agony" Smith has done this before
- Wowo2282

IMO that contact is wholly on Smith. Kane had his line and Smith jumped out in front of him --not time or space for Kane.

IMO that contact is wholly on Smith. Kane had his line and Smith jumped out in front of him --not time or space for Kane.
- grinder10

i give smith credit he knows the shortcomings of the nhl officiating as it pertains to protecting goalies and knows how to take advantage of it

i dont agree
we all know what is right and what is wrong and that is what should guide our actions
- molly2522

The day i see coach or GM stand up and say our guy was wrong...we don't want that type of play etc....with the same outrage they demonstrate when something happens to one of their guys...is the day you might start seeing end to this.

the missing element here is team accountability

My anger from this morning is wearing off. The best revenge should have been the Hawks winning the game. And they couldn't.

Gotta say, I think the shortened bench really hurt them and will going forward. Toews is not 100%. The OT goal was inexcusable.

They need to win tomorrow, finish a lot of checks, maybe they get a little lift from Saad or Hayes, who knows. They can still make it a series. They would get Shaw back in Game 6, if it gets that far. Never know.

Maybe losing their headhunter will take some of the starch out of the Coyotes.

But Hossa is done for the year so that really hurts the Hawks' chances down the line anyway.



Tomorrow night is everything now.
- John Jaeckel

JJ, how is Saad's boardwork. Hawks are losing board battles badly--Hossa was one of the best on the team. Can't replace everything Hoss brings, but more puck possession for a team built for it would help.

This series also reminds me a lot of the Calgary series a couple of years ago with the Flames plan to work the Hawks over--including after the whistle--until Burish intentionally (IMO) made the situation nuclear and the NHL had to tighten up the officiating. Losing Hossa in that manner may make the refs/officials start doing their jobs and keep the play between whistles--should help the Hawks...if they can get possession.