Bob Duff: Panthers demand action for Abdelkader hit on Barkov Detroit forward Justin Abdelkader was not penalized for a second-period check that forced Florida's Aleksander Barkov to leave the game with an upper-body injury.

Borderline. I think the primary point of contact was like 80 percent chest and 20 percent head. He definitely hit both, but not badly. And he didn't leave his feet. More than 1 game would be silly.

Glad to see Pav and Z having fun. Glad we have Mrazek too...

Abdelkader was suspended two games during the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs for a charge on Anaheim Ducks defenseman Toni Lydman.

Failed to mention that that particular hit ended his career...

Failed to mention that that particular hit ended his career...
- OnIceEnforcer

Angry Finn...

He was going to retire after that year anyways... Not that I condone that hit, or injuries, you're just dramatizing it...

Bob Duff: Panthers demand action for Abdelkader hit on Barkov
Detroit forward Justin Abdelkader was not penalized for a second-period check that forced Florida's Aleksander Barkov to leave the game with an upper-body injury.
- BobDuff

Caught him a bit on the chin BUT: Barkov was leaning down and JA also got lower and didn't plow through him like the vulnerable tackle dummy he was. Refs called it right.

i would agree. the hit was borderline but i think he got the upper chest area of barkov and i didnt see his feet leave the ice. I have only seen the replay once but it looked like a big hit that should be acceptable in the game...This is a contact sport. Abdelkader has however a history of delivering bad hits (Sobotka, Lydman), so I wouldnt be surprised if the NHL takes a pretty close look at the play on Monday night.

Angry Finn...

He was going to retire after that year anyways... Not that I condone that hit, or injuries, you're just dramatizing it...
- Paul_and_Wings

I don't see how I'm dramatizing anything. Agreed, it was an ugly hit and but the fact is that it was the last time Lydman played. Not sure about the retirement argument, could be true.

I don't see how I'm dramatizing anything. Agreed, it was an ugly hit and but the fact is that it was the last time Lydman played. Not sure about the retirement argument, could be true.
- OnIceEnforcer

Lol, he was 36 or 37 and already injury prone. And his play was declining anyway. Regardless of wether or not he was retiring, his chances of playing in the NHL again were about done.

Pretty soon it will be like the NFL. The whole crowd holding up LOVE signs in the super bowl. Everyone can skate fast and instead of hitting, they can hug each other. Legit hit, Barkov had his head down. There was nowhere else to hit him. If it appeases the masses suspend him 1 game like Kronwall was for GAME 7 vs the Lightning last year.

Of course, you can always slam a guys head into the glass and grind it like Shea Weber vs Zetterberg. That's clean apparently.

No suspension here. Move along.

Lol, he was 36 or 37 and already injury prone. And his play was declining anyway. Regardless of wether or not he was retiring, his chances of playing in the NHL again were about done.
- Paul_and_Wings

How do you know that? Maybe he wanted to play longer you don't know. The point is a dirty hit is a dirty hit. NHL or not it should be up to a player when he chooses to retire, not forced into it because of some cheap shot. I can just imagine a cheap shot artist in front of the NHL's board of discipline saying "he was old anyways and going to retire..."I'd slap him with a 50 game suspension just for saying something so stupid.

As a panther fan, I'm not surprised on the refs bad call on the ice. Florida fans are used to it. Makes building a fan base hard when your best players heads are constantly targeted and the refs don't make calls. Next game they will call it tight like they did when Edmonton came to Florida but all that means Florida will get a game on the level. The bad tripping call (dive) was the back breaker. Florida was down two of their top four defensemen, playing backup goalie, and lost Barkov playing a man down the rest of the game. All things considered the game should have been a blowout. That just shows how good this team is. High praises for not going after Datsyuk as most teams would have. Really surprised at the cowardess of ab only willing to fight Mac. He was challenged by actual fighters and ran away like a girl. You want to take head shots at stars you need to answer the bell--- thus he is and will be regarded as a coward.

As a panther fan, I'm not surprised on the refs bad call on the ice. Florida fans are used to it. Makes building a fan base hard when your best players heads are constantly targeted and the refs don't make calls. Next game they will call it tight like they did when Edmonton came to Florida but all that means Florida will get a game on the level. The bad tripping call (dive) was the back breaker. Florida was down two of their top four defensemen, playing backup goalie, and lost Barkov playing a man down the rest of the game. All things considered the game should have been a blowout. That just shows how good this team is. High praises for not going after Datsyuk as most teams would have. Really surprised at the cowardess of ab only willing to fight Mac. He was challenged by actual fighters and ran away like a girl. You want to take head shots at stars you need to answer the bell--- thus he is and will be regarded as a coward.
- colgonics

This is a garbage post. The league is out to get your team, you are praising them for not targeting a player that had nothing to do with the incident you are mad about, and you forever brand a player a coward... By all means give your opinion, and even if I disagree, I can respect that. What you said is just whining.

Abdelkader should answer the bell for a hit leading to injury. But in typical wing fashion he prob turtles away. As far as the hit goes. I don't believe the head was the principle point of contact.

The hit doesn't warrant a suspension IMO.

[Striker7] - Florida has received nothing but bad calls. I never said the NHL is "out to get them", just stated the fact that it is hard to build a team when your best players heads are targeted over and over and there are no calls. That is a fact. Abdelkader isn't a dirty player. He plays just like Petrovic. But when Petrovic crosses the line, he answers the bell. Thus coward (not coward for life, but he was a coward in that game). And yes I do praise Florida as it is common to go after an equivalent player from your opponent when they take out your best player. Florida didn't -- so yes I praised them for taking the high road.

does anyone have the video of hit

[Striker7] - Florida has received nothing but bad calls. I never said the NHL is "out to get them", just stated the fact that it is hard to build a team when your best players heads are targeted over and over and there are no calls. That is a fact. Abdelkader isn't a dirty player. He plays just like Petrovic. But when Petrovic crosses the line, he answers the bell. Thus coward (not coward for life, but he was a coward in that game). And yes I do praise Florida as it is common to go after an equivalent player from your opponent when they take out your best player. Florida didn't -- so yes I praised them for taking the high road.
- colgonics

He didnt "target his head" it might be a borderline hit but in no way did he specifically target the head, thats just dramatizing it. Abby is no coward i just dont think he intended to make a hit like that thus not intentionally wanting to fight?

you keep saying he went after, he targeted, he crossed a line. Like i get that you had a good player get hit hard, and the hit doesnt look super clean, but this was clear IMO that it wasnt intentional,

i wont flip out of he gets a game for it, but i doubt hell even get that

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocCW88RdwwI


Imo his head is down and thats not Abs fault, one specific angle makes it look bad then the very ladt replay makes it look very clean? so again, wouldnt be mad over 1 game but i really dont think he deserves it

I definitely don't think it was targetting. Everyone here (that's not a Panthers fan) is right, it was definitely a borderline hit, but sometimes there's nothing you can do when bodies adjust after a hit is started. It definitely doesn't look like Abby was trying to hit Barkov's head.

I think a game would be fine, to appease Florida, but anything more would be over-punishment.

I definitely don't think it was targetting. Everyone here (that's not a Panthers fan) is right, it was definitely a borderline hit, but sometimes there's nothing you can do when bodies adjust after a hit is started. It definitely doesn't look like Abby was trying to hit Barkov's head.

I think a game would be fine, to appease Florida, but anything more would be over-punishment.
- SolidGoldBricks

Abdelkader should answer the bell for a hit leading to injury. But in typical wing fashion he prob turtles away. As far as the hit goes. I don't believe the head was the principle point of contact.
- Just5

He actually did have a fight at the end of the game

Imo if Barkov got back up quickly and played to rest of the game there would not be an issue. It was close to boarderline but i think it was clean

[Striker7] - Florida has received nothing but bad calls. I never said the NHL is "out to get them", just stated the fact that it is hard to build a team when your best players heads are targeted over and over and there are no calls. That is a fact. Abdelkader isn't a dirty player. He plays just like Petrovic. But when Petrovic crosses the line, he answers the bell. Thus coward (not coward for life, but he was a coward in that game). And yes I do praise Florida as it is common to go after an equivalent player from your opponent when they take out your best player. Florida didn't -- so yes I praised them for taking the high road.
- colgonics

Facts are supported by cited evidence. Opinions are not. And beyond that, every single team in the NHL has had calls they disagree with over hits. I also could not disagree more that not going after a player that wasn't involved in the incident you are mad about is taking the high road. You implied the NHL is out to get the Panthers by claiming the officials affect your fanbase. Your team isn't any different than any other NHL team. Everyone gets calls they don't agree with and bad calls. Get over yourself.

Clean hit. Barkov had his head between his knees AND was reaching for the puck. Bad combo and he paid for it.