Michael Stuart: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Lightning Stars Craft Comeback for the Ages

There’s no place in the game for hits from behind either. How he didn’t get a major is beyond me. But a guy who missed a lot of games last season from a bad hit, he had every right to respond the way he did.

No place in the sport for that you are right... but had it have been Kucherov what would you say... would the hit from behind then be a hockey play... lack of respect for the game is rabid in today's NHL.... perhaps considering Larkin has taken hits leading to neck and head injuries now the last two games he's played in maybe he's fed up.... just curious what the response would be if if happened to be a Lightning player.... the hits from behind have to go, they are ridiculous...

There’s no place in the game for hits from behind either. How he didn’t get a major is beyond me. But a guy who missed a lot of games last season from a bad hit, he had every right to respond the way he did.
- LAkings96[/quote

He had to do something..after all Stall was right there and did nothing to defend his captain.. that was the worst part of it in my eyes... shows the Wings aren't exactly a team with each others back still....

There’s no place in the game for hits from behind either. How he didn’t get a major is beyond me. But a guy who missed a lot of games last season from a bad hit, he had every right to respond the way he did.
- LAkings96

I don't think he had every right to respond the way he did, and clearly the league doesn't either.

On the hit, I would agree. Hits from behind don't have a place in the game. Larkin is lucky that Joseph didn't quite get all of him there, because it could have been way worse.

There’s no place in the game for hits from behind either. How he didn’t get a major is beyond me. But a guy who missed a lot of games last season from a bad hit, he had every right to respond the way he did.
- LAkings96

“ Dylan Larkin took an awkward (more than violent) hit from Mathieu Joseph”

Of course awkward more then violent. This guy is worried about a fight happening on the ice more then an obvious hit from behind. If that were a lightning player getting driven into the boards it would be a criminal act

The hit was horrible, league dropped the ball big time
Sucker punches, no matter what the player experienced last season, is crossing a line that should never be crossed.

“ Dylan Larkin took an awkward (more than violent) hit from Mathieu Joseph”

Of course awkward more then violent. This guy is worried about a fight happening on the ice more then an obvious hit from behind. If that were a lightning player getting driven into the boards it would be a criminal act
- Cptmjl

Ya, he then says those hits don’t belong in the game in the comment section but couldn’t bother to say it in his blog.

Also, Larkin couldn’t practice today and he has to see doctors. Sounds like a concussion, I hope it’s not.

I don't think he had every right to respond the way he did, and clearly the league doesn't either.

On the hit, I would agree. Hits from behind don't have a place in the game. Larkin is lucky that Joseph didn't quite get all of him there, because it could have been way worse.
- Michael Stuart

There should have been 3 discussions with DOPS (Larkin, Joseph and Palat) coming out of last night if you take into account what they are supposedly cracking down on, and after what they said on suspending Landeskog.

Larkin was dead wrong in his response. As a Wings fan do I “get it”, yeah (not that I’m condoning it). The league did and said nothing about Benn cross checking him basically to the head off of a face off in the spring. It led to a hospital stay, months in a neck brace, numbness and pain etc. That was the last game he played prior to last night. Then he sees no call on Joseph’s hit.

Had that same hit been layed on the likes of Kucherov, Hedman, Stamkos etc, and he needed to be stretchered off the ice, the dialogue would be quite different

DOPS, or DOPES as I am calling them, consistently drop the ball. It doesn’t matter what team/who the player is.....they are consistently inconsistent.

One was a hockey play... a bad hockey play and Joseph should not have hit Larkin into the boards because Larkin was in an awkward position as both chased the puck. No problem if the refs would have called something on the hit but they didnt so that is on them.

What Larkin did has no place in the game, all he had to do was grab Joseph and then started to punch him where as Joseph could defend himself as those precedents are set in hockey. But he did not and in essence sucker punched him so I see why he was suspended.

Mayfield crosschecked with intent and cracked Kucherov's ribs in the playoffs behind the play and did not get a penalty. The DoPS and officiating is a joke, we all know that. League needs its stars to shine but they seem intent on letting inferior players take liberties against their best players... Larkin is better then Joseph, maybe if they call a penalty on Joseph the rest doesn't happen.

I think that it is no coincidence that DOPS and DOPE are almost identical. First, what the league allowed in the playoffs this year was a joke. I agree that what the Islanders were allowed to get away with was borderline criminal, and Weber's slash to the back of Kucherov's leg should have earned him a match penalty and a suspension. And Larkin's last game in April, where Benn's Xcheck to the back of Larkins neck (which didn't even earn a penalty and could have ended Larkin's career, or worse) makes Larkin wonder if the league has his back. And now Joseph is allowed to get away with another dangerous hit on him - yes, he is going to respond. We in Detroit would not have had a problem with Larkin's suspension if Joseph had received significant punishment as well, but giving him a free pass is inexcusable. So today, the Wings play Vancouver.....so if they run Quinn Hughes or Pettersson in a similar fashion, and get sucker punched like Joseph did, we can expect the Canuck's player to be suspended ? The league's action has set up what could be a very ugly game in March at Amelie.

BTW, Cooper's comments about the incident is laughable, delivered by a coach/lawyer.

One was a hockey play... a bad hockey play and Joseph should not have hit Larkin into the boards because Larkin was in an awkward position as both chased the puck. No problem if the refs would have called something on the hit but they didnt so that is on them.

What Larkin did has no place in the game, all he had to do was grab Joseph and then started to punch him where as Joseph could defend himself as those precedents are set in hockey. But he did not and in essence sucker punched him so I see why he was suspended.

Mayfield crosschecked with intent and cracked Kucherov's ribs in the playoffs behind the play and did not get a penalty. The DoPS and officiating is a joke, we all know that. League needs its stars to shine but they seem intent on letting inferior players take liberties against their best players... Larkin is better then Joseph, maybe if they call a penalty on Joseph the rest doesn't happen.
- stammerman

Of course

More like it was a dirty hit on a vulnerable player. “Hockey play”.

The Mayfield cross check was also a “hockey play” because a player I cheer for did it. See what I did there? Give me a break this is hysterical

If that hit was committed on Kucherov (who is also one of the dirtiest players in the league) this entire thread including this homer blogger would be calling it a criminal act.

Of course

More like it was a dirty hit on a vulnerable player. “Hockey play”.

The Mayfield cross check was also a “hockey play” because a player I cheer for did it. See what I did there? Give me a break this is hysterical

If that hit was committed on Kucherov (who is also one of the dirtiest players in the league) this entire thread including this homer blogger would be calling it a criminal act.
- Cptmjl

Here is the rest of what I said which was within the action of playing the puck in the game of hockey.... convenient to not include it. "a bad hockey play and Joseph should not have hit Larkin into the boards because Larkin was in an awkward position as both chased the puck. No problem if the refs would have called something on the hit but they didnt so that is on them."

Again no issue if Joseph was suspended or got a boarding major as it was dangerous play but the difference is it was within the action of the game. Players need to do better to protect their fellow players.

What Larkin did basically sucker punching an unsuspecting player or Mayfield taking a liberty behind the play after the puck was away is what the league needs to stop especially as they are not within the action of the game. League needs to promote the stars, the greatness of Kucherov, Larkin, your guy Barzal, McDavid, et. al. but its hard when they allow lesser players like Joseph to play dumb and dangerous and get away with it.

I agree. When the league allows stuff like the cross check on Kucherov, or the slash to the back of his leg, they are condoning it, and force the players to fend for themselves like Larkin did (that still doesn't give him a free pass). Having said that, Cooper sending Joseph out to run Larkin drags the Bolts (who are/were my second favorite team in hockey) down to the level of the Islanders, which isn't or shouldn't be what they are.

I don't think he had every right to respond the way he did, and clearly the league doesn't either.

On the hit, I would agree. Hits from behind don't have a place in the game. Larkin is lucky that Joseph didn't quite get all of him there, because it could have been way worse.
- Michael Stuart

I think using the USA hockey rule you can not touch the other player without trying to play the puck.
Joseph’s hit and the sucker punch deserve punishment

I think using the USA hockey rule you can not touch the other player without trying to play the puck.
Joseph’s hit and the sucker punch deserve punishment
- Justbecause

The USA hockey rule is horrible. After decades of checking to separate the player from the puck they come up with this garbage.

And I say this as a USA certified coach, they are ruining the sport. They’ve eliminated delayed offsides in kids hockey. If you check a player a half second after he gets rid of the puck it’s a penalty. The refs find a call on every hard hit. It becomes a roughing or interference call. It’s ridiculous.

The USA hockey rule is horrible. After decades of checking to separate the player from the puck they come up with this garbage.

And I say this as a USA certified coach, they are ruining the sport. They’ve eliminated delayed offsides in kids hockey. If you check a player a half second after he gets rid of the puck it’s a penalty. The refs find a call on every hard hit. It becomes a roughing or interference call. It’s ridiculous.
- Queenie_5_hole

Thanks coach.