Pens Eric Godard suspended for 10 games; Isles Trevor Gillies gets 9, Matt Martin 4
by Hooks Orpik on Feb 13, 2011 12:37 AM EST
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The NHL announced suspensions resulting from Friday night’s game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders.
The Pens Eric Godard will be suspended for ten games. That is a rule and automatic suspension. Pens head coach Dan Bylsma was absolved from further disciplinary action.
For the Islanders, Trevor Gillies was suspended for nine games. Gillies hit Pens forward Eric Tangradi in the head and then, when Tangradi was down, Gillies continued to attack him. Once restrained and moved off the rink, Gillies remained in the hallway and verbally taunted Tangradi. Tangradi has suffered a concussion and will be out of the lineup for Sunday’s game and likely longer.
The Isles Matt Martin earned a four game suspension when he cowardly attempted to sucker punch Maxime Talbot from behind.
The Islanders team was also fined $100,000 for failing to control their players. The Penguins were not fined.
To replace Godard and Tangradi, the Pens have recalled forward Tim Wallace from WB/S of the AHL. Forward Chris Conner, a healthy scratch last game, is expected to be back in the lineup.
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Tangradi should press charges
Steve Moore did, and that was a situation with less criminal intent (but a worse outcome, alas)
by yeah_eric on Feb 13, 2011 12:40 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Devils fan here.
I agree. See here.
Gillies was way over the line. He charged him with an elbow to the boards, then followed with sucker punches and taunting.
Disgusting.
Thanks for that. There are a couple fans over at LHH checking off team names when a fan of another team goes over and applauds them for “giving Pittsburgh a taste of their own medicine” as if it means something. So I guess we could start a meaningless tally here, too, but I’ll save that for when the fans get to vote on player suspensions…meaning never.
lol I ripped them with the truth so hard over there in a single post, I managed to get banned in under 20 mins!!
TANG FOR NORRIS!
by lostprophetRJX on Feb 14, 2011 11:33 PM EST up reply actions
AGREED!
What Gillies did was borderline assault if not actual assault… So Godard gets an automatic 10 for trying to help his goalie… While Gillies gets 9 for hitting a defenseless player in the head, then proceeding to punch him when he is down and just about out and taunt him when an official escorts him off the ice because he was ejected… The Islanders wanted to prove a point… They are not a joke… Well in my opinion they did prove point that they are joke… Possibly their best game of the year and they wanted to be thugs…
Colin Campbell even said their attempt to injure was deliberate and out line… Also why wasn’t Michael Haley punished? I mean the guy is a well known enforcer in the AHL When he was done with Talbot(referee separated him from Talbot) he looked around to see who else he can have a shot at… Oh… How about the opposing teams’ goalie? What the hell.. The Islanders t.v. analyst were proud of the team.. They said this could help them turn the corner… It’s a badge of honor.. PLEASE! All they did was prove why they are the worst team and franchise in the league…
I’m sorry but the actions of Islanders last night just really upset the hell out of me… It was uncalled for and borderline assault.. Imagine if Martin had connected with Talbot on that sucker punch? That would have been Bertuzzi/Moore all over again…
by kirblu22 on Feb 13, 2011 1:02 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
I feel that what Haley did deserved the same suspension as Godard. Once his fight was over, he should have been taken to the penalty box, so any action taken after that should be viewed the same as leaving the penalty box.
Nah, that one is on the refs for not escorting Haley to the box. (obviously they had a lot on their plate, but still). He didn’t enter the box, so he can’t be dinged for leaving it.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
Im an Isles fan so naturally I don’t see the overall thing quite the same way. The Gillies thing is indefensible – When he did that I just assumed that Tangradi must have done something earlier in the game to someone on the Isles and Gillies was trying to get him back. I’m not aware of any dirty plays by Tangradi earlier in the game so I guess Gillies just went all Lord of the Flies and lost his mind a little (or a lot maybe). As for Martin he was trying to start a fight with Talbot. Talbot went down and covered up so quickly (not that I blame him) that Martin barely had time to pull his punch (which he did – that was not a full strength punch). Then when he realized that Talbot wouldn’t fight he decided he was going to get a couple of shots on him. Talbot was targeted for paybakck because he injured our guy with a blind side, late, totally unsuspected hit in the previous game. Comeau had just chipped the puck up the boards out of the zone and he glided about 6 feet before Talbot hit him. There is no comparison between Martin’s attempt to fight Talbot and the Bertuzzi thing. They are miles apart.
As for Haley – be honest – Johnson wanted him. He was out about 15 feet inside the blue line. If he had been in his crease like he should have been Haley would have just skated to the box. Johnson encouraged it and frankly he looked like he was more than ready and willing (and able too judging from the DiPietro fight) to go when Haley got to him. And yes the Isles did prove that they are sick of taking abuse and they aren’t going to stand for it anymore.
by TMS on Feb 13, 2011 2:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I’ve rec’d your post. Not because I agree with it (in fact, can you guess which 2/3 I disagree with? :)), but because of the tone: thank you for presenting your perspective in a civil and respectful manner. It’s refreshing, given what things have been like around here lately. And I appreciate the opportunity to gain a bit of insight into what, to this point, has seemed just generally like crazy-talk to me.
As for the Gillies thing, I can only come up with two possible explanations: first, Tangradi gave a really big (but totally clean, not even controversial, if I remember correctly) hit earlier in the game, which could have marked him for a little bit of “big hit” payback. Or second, maybe Gillies mistook the 26 for 25, and he was really headhunting Talbot. Either way, the whole thing was inexcusable.
My feet are wet.
I agree with PopRocks, thanks for not being a dick like most other Isles fans we’ve encountered.
I think the majority of us here are not upset about the Johnson fight. He did look like he wanted to go. Gillies is a piece of shit for pulling that stuff, plain and simple. As for Martin, he still tried sucker punching a guy, and did, regardless of strength of the punch, while the dude was down. And this to Max Talbot, who never backs down from a fight, especially if he knows he thinks it’s to respond to him having a questionable hit on a guy from the Isles. He wouldn’t have backed down from that.
And all this when your team is up 6-0. That is not right. Period.
I’m frankly shocked the league isn’t trying to stamp a precedent on what Gillies and Martin did. Godard, I feel his side of the story, but that’s the rules. If beating up, or practically mugging, a player you just concussed with an elbow only merits nine games, this could be free for all league for bums like Gillies to end careers.
PensBurgh penalty - Lavender - 2 Minutes for saying, "Woo! Offense," every time Zbynek Michalek touches the puck.
I'm not sure Gillies knew that he had just given Tangradi a concussion when he tried to fight him.
But what I don’t understand is why Gillies was so angry at Tangradi in the first place, unless it was just that the veneer of cvilization had temporarily peeled back or that he just hated anyone in a Penguins uniform at that time. Payback is understandable but its supposed to be the guy who did something to you or one of your guys which I don’t think Tangradi was.
My most charitable effort tells me that no, he probably didn’t realize Tangradi was hurt from the hit. But typically when a player goes down, or sort of fades away from a big hit, you don’t start/keep punching them.
That said, watching the (rather gut-wrenching) replays, guys were piling in, and no one seemed to notice that Tangradi was lying under them, hurt — except the ref/linesman who was trying to pull him out. So while I have nothing good to say about Gillies, it is perhaps true that there was a bit of “blind fury”, or mass hysteria, going on.
My feet are wet.
I agree that he probably didn’t think Tangradi had a concussion. But, Tangradi dropped his stick and covered his head, then fell to the ground. That is not a normal fighting motion. Gillies continued his assault as Tangradi was clearly stunned. That is inexcusable.
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto
by blackjackfishtaco on Feb 13, 2011 4:02 PM EST up reply actions
It’ not the first time he’s done this either. He did exactly the same thing in an AHL game last season.
even if he didn't hurt Tangradi
You don’t drop your gloves and just start wailing on a guy who has is gloves on still…
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
DIDN’T YOU HEAR KONOPKA AND SNOW!?! IT WAS HEAT OF THE MOMENT!!!
Seriously, its cuz he’s an animal. Yes, there’s definitely “impulses” that players have, but what separates the true teammates with the cheap shot goons is the ability to control that impulse and make sensible decisions.
If a guy talks shit to me on the street, I’m not gonna grab a broken bottle and stab him in the throat. I’ll just fire the same thing back.
TANG FOR NORRIS!
by lostprophetRJX on Feb 14, 2011 11:36 PM EST up reply actions
Loss of faith
That’s it, I don’t even need to go into detail, and people wonder why the rest of the sports world thinks the NHL is a joke—this is why.
by Geno McFleury on Feb 13, 2011 1:15 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I’m actually surprised the Islanders players got as much as they did. I’m relatively satisfied with what they got.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
by Hooks Orpik on Feb 13, 2011 1:23 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Me too.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
"A player's game is a composition. Sometimes it's a line, sometimes a paragraph. Right now, Crosby's game is a novel." -Scott Burnside
by AllieLXXXVII on Feb 13, 2011 1:25 AM EST up reply actions
Really
4 and 9? If the NHL wanted to send a message there was no better time than this. Cooke got let off easy with just 4 games. In my own world Cooke would have gotten 6-8, Martin 10-12, Gillies 20.
by Geno McFleury on Feb 13, 2011 1:27 AM EST up reply actions
I was referring to the Tyutin hit—just to clarify.
by Geno McFleury on Feb 13, 2011 1:28 AM EST up reply actions
Your world sounds like a player could get 1 game for getting kicked out of the faceoff circle.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
by Hooks Orpik on Feb 13, 2011 1:34 AM EST up reply actions 5 recs
we'd never see Talbot again...
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
by Stros Bro on Feb 13, 2011 1:36 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
haha yes.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
"A player's game is a composition. Sometimes it's a line, sometimes a paragraph. Right now, Crosby's game is a novel." -Scott Burnside
by AllieLXXXVII on Feb 13, 2011 1:43 AM EST up reply actions
Please make this green, people.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
"A player's game is a composition. Sometimes it's a line, sometimes a paragraph. Right now, Crosby's game is a novel." -Scott Burnside
by AllieLXXXVII on Feb 13, 2011 2:10 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
I would have been shocked at anything more than 10 games for Gillies..
Martin on the other hand, I didn’t really know… I thought they could have given him 20 games and it woudn’t have totally shocked me.. but I was kind of in the dark with him.. I expected somewhere in the 6-8 range, but 4 doesn’t really surprise me.
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
How is this so strange to think?
There have been 20+ game suspensions before. Just because Gillies didn’t use his stick against Tangradi that doesn’t mean he didn’t use his elbow with the same intent of delivering a damaging blow to a vulnerable players head!
These suspensions aren’t surprising because this is what we’ve expected from the NHL. But the fact remains, as a whole, the NHL needs to place heavier suspensions for plays like these. Concussions won’t ever leave the game but handing out 4-9 game suspensions for players that see minimum ice time won’t help the cause.
by Geno McFleury on Feb 13, 2011 2:05 AM EST up reply actions 7 recs
Well...
Maybe I need to stop watching these videos so late at night…
I just watched it again and I’ll admit that I wasn’t being hard enough on Gillies… I was really just judging it by the hit… I didn’t really take into consideration him attacking Tangradi afterwards…
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
Geno McFleury’s comment needs to be green
Rec it up
And to Hooks — No, that doesn’t mean a guy can get a game for getting kicked out of the FO circle
that’s a specious argument, my friend
It was a comment made in jest as a joke, since his scale of discipline for each case was about two times more harsh than what’s happened.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
by Hooks Orpik on Feb 13, 2011 3:03 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
i thought that might be the case!
some people, however, are taking what you said literally.
and re-posting it as such…
so far, i haven’t seen anyone advocating a scale of discipline re-doubled across the board.
only advocating that in cases where a player or a team or an entire organisation goes completely apeshit-Slapshot-goon squad that the NHL should come down on them with punishments that not only fit the crime but that will ALSO act as a deterrent in the future.
totally agree with McFleury on the loss of faith comment especially about the Gillies sequence… he was out of his mind and doing stuff well beyond any good measure of aggressiveness and tough play – it was criminal.
And he gets a paltry 9 games suspension… if he did this in the outside world he’s probably facing some jail time. He should’ve been out at least until the end of the season…
F***in’ league discipline decisions…
You have to see it for yourself...
I think that’s why they drilled the organization with the hefty fine. 9 games doesn’t mean anything to a guy who barely plays. However, punishing the organization for contracting players like this makes a bigger statement. I like this idea a lot, and think it should be the basis for all suspensions in the future, including us. Cooke throws a borderline hit, suspend his ass and fine us for having him. This way you send a message to the organization that either they don’t offer contracts to goons or they do but make sure they keep their s*** under control.
TANG FOR NORRIS!
by lostprophetRJX on Feb 13, 2011 4:09 AM EST up reply actions
the fine on the organization is also what I like most about the league’s decision, cause it was obvious the players were sent out to do what they did… so a team that does it should be disciplined (maybe with an even bigger fine, but being a first I’m OK with it).
But I would disagree that a club should be fined for the stupidity/recklessness of a single player (e.g. Cooke) if that was his own decision/misdoing.
You have to see it for yourself...
The proper punishment for the Isle?
Loss of a first round pick. In fact, it would have been better if League had assigned the Isles first round pick in the 2011 Draft to the Pens. Teams in the League would think twice, thrice or more about letting a Coach and his players act as the Isles did on Friday if it were to cost the team dearly in the long run.
A $100K fine for the Isles is not a credible punishment.
s.zielinski
Oh my, no, I’m glad they didn’t do that. Every conspiracy theorist with a teaspoon’s worth of brain matter would have been all up in arms. We get that enough.
Semi-satisfied
Once again the NHL proves its inconsistency. Had that jackass martin connected with Talbot he could have caused injury. Anyone think that chicken shit move would have met with on 4 games? gilles is a thug, he even looks the part of a jailbird. Shame that Godard who went out to protect his goalie from another ass clown that should be suspended from any level of professional play.
What I really want to know is how much is that pile of dog crap coach jackass capuano dipping into this wallet for? $100K to the organization? Make me laugh. Chuck wang drops that at a birthday party for his grandson/son? capuano would feel a hit, he’s singlely most responsible in my book, gilles and martin should be done for the season.
“This will help the Islanders turn the corner”.. This just proves what a joke of an organization they are. I wish them all the worst.
New game today, Go Pens Go. Looks like 1/2 the roster is from WBS, good thing for Conner he was a scratch the last game.
That’d be a little much lol. Especially considering how many shades of gray there are when it comes to opinions on suspensions.
TANG FOR NORRIS!
by lostprophetRJX on Feb 13, 2011 10:00 PM EST up reply actions
Punishing the organization is a good idea teach control from within
Id also like to think that if a player is injured via dirty play like Tangradi his remaining cap hit and salary should be on the books of the offending team. It would reduce cap space and cost the team more money which would lead a team to keep their players in check if they have to pay for a guy that they put down. Heavier fines on players and organizations is something I support as well. Id also like to see coaches get fines automatically equal to the fines that their players get just as extra insurance for teams to keep their own players in check.
so tell me...
what kinds of charges should matt cooke be facing? shouldn’t fedor tyutin be at the pittsburgh p.d. right now filing assault charges? something happens in every nhl game that would be considered assault on the streets…weak argument…by your logic, matt cooke should never play in the nhl again (which ain’t such a bad idea).
F***in’ self righteous pens fans…
by isles in arkansas on Feb 13, 2011 10:20 PM EST up reply actions
Cooke got his punishment, and he didn’t elbow Tutyn, like Gillies, or hit him when he was on the ground. Yes, it was a hit from behind, but they happen in every game. Cooke, unfortunately has a reputation (earned), so any hit by him like that is magnified. Agree it was a bad hit, and he got penalized. Fortunately Tutyn wasn’t hurt. But it is not the same situation as to what happened in Long Island.
The Hockey Dr.
Isles fans would would defend what their team did on Friday need either a reality sense or a moral sense or both.
s.zielinski
lol
“a reality sense or a moral sense”? what the hell does that mean?
my sense of reality…the pens got the sh*t kicked out of them on the scoreboard and on the fight board
my sense of morality….i thought it was awesome
by isles in arkansas on Feb 14, 2011 2:32 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
it seems you have some trouble making difference between the following things:
hockey play – not a hockey play
legal hit – illegal hit
What Cooke did was a clear-cut hockey play and also as clearly illegal – so therefore the punishment.
With all of your self righteousness do you dare to say Gillies actions were a hockey play?
You have to see it for yourself...
sounds like Mario would rec Geno McFleury's post too
Sunday, 02.13.2011 / 2:10 PM / News
Pittsburgh Penguins
"Hockey is a tough, physical game, and it always should be. But what happened Friday night on Long Island wasn’t hockey. It was a travesty. It was painful to watch the game I love turn into a sideshow like that.
"The NHL had a chance to send a clear and strong message that those kinds of actions are unacceptable and embarrassing to the sport. It failed.
"We, as a league, must do a better job of protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of our players. We must make it clear that those kinds of actions will not be tolerated and will be met with meaningful disciplinary action.
"If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to re-think whether I want to be a part of it."
That would have really broken with precedent.
I agree that suspensions should be longer in general but these suspensions are in line with precedent. It seems more when your team was involved but imagine if it was a Columbus/Dallas game. Would you expect more than 9 games for what Gillies did? 9 games is one of the longest suspensions in years.
If you think about the game and fights rationally, this is probably where the suspensions should have landed.
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto
by blackjackfishtaco on Feb 13, 2011 1:08 PM EST up reply actions
Comment at the Isle's blog
but martin barely hit him you could tell he let up and its not like talbot is an innocent bystander, and when you employ matt cooke, karma will get you eventually. eventually being last night
I guess they didn’t see him trying to punch Talbot after he went to the ice. I counted at least 5 punches to the back of Talbot with Engelland + the ref trying to pull him off.
Like I said in the fanpost, I think the suspensions were about what they should have been.
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
I am still puzzelled as why Engelland was kicked out all together. He was trying to pull somebody off. He was probably considered third man in but thats a joke.
The only other thing is he wouldn’t back off when asked.
I know my spelling stinks.
because he's a fighter
and the ref’s were trying to stop the shit storm before it started. But yes, it’s pretty much a travesty that Engelland got kicked out.. I mean, he was doing the exact same thing as the ref, trying to pull Martin off Talbot.. I’m not even sure if he threw a punch. Let me go watch the video again..
/2 minutes later
Maybe he threw one when he first jumped on… maybe.. I can’t really tell as ref’s are in the way.. I would say he didn’t throw one, but I don’t know for sure.
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
That’s the funny thing. If Talbot didn’t see the glove go flying he wouldn’t have ducked and fell to the ice, and Martin may have landed a punch. So because Max was lucky and therefore Martin didn’t land a solid shot, everything’s okay. That’s like Cooke saying that his hit on Tyutin was OK because he played the rest of the game. Problem that the NHL condones this thought. No harm, no foul. Forget intent or what the player was attempting to do.
I’m kind of annoyed by the fact that everyone keeps saying Cooke, who wasn’t even in the game or on the ice since he was suspended, plays some part in the overall image of the Pens. It makes zero sense. Besides, everyone knows karma doesn’t exist, in hockey or otherwise.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com, twitter and now on the official Pensburgh Facebook page
Cooke does play a role in the image of the Penguins so long as he plays for them. The same will probably be true after he leaves the team, whether or not that is fair. But for teams (especially teams that weren’t affected by his play) to attack the rest of the Penguins because of Cooke is asinine. By that logic, teams should headhunt the Flyers and now the Islanders in future games. That just makes so much sense.
When Blake speared Crosby a few years back, did the Penguins start headhunting whoever the Isles star was at the time (did they have one)?
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto
by blackjackfishtaco on Feb 13, 2011 1:14 PM EST up reply actions
Godard
I know some people question why he is on the team but I’m glad that he is. Yes, he broke the rules by leaving the bench and definately deserves the suspension but he is the Pens enforcer, and while that’s all he contributes and nothing else, he is needed in this division with the other goons around. I’m glad he stuck up for Johnson. It’s not like he has such a huge contract that takes up cap space either. He has a role and he does it well. He’s a fighter and doesn’t pull cheap crap like we saw from the Islanders last night. He’ll go toe to toe with anyone and doesn’t try to sucker punch people or play dirty.
I do think the Islander thugs should have gotten more. This was a chance for the NHL to show they won’t take hits to the head in such a blatant manner lightly but dropped the ball in my opinion. Gillies is pure garbage. Then we had almost another Bertuzzi incident. I guess Talbot needed to get nearly paralyzed for a bigger suspension. Shameful. Oh and then they try to defend their vile actions by saying it was in the heat of the moment and things happen. So I guess the next time Cooke does something dirty, which unfortunately is a given, he can pull out that lame excuse as well.
I never thought I could loathe a team more than the Flyers but after the BS from last night the Islanders are the most classless organization in the NHL from top to bottom and it’s not even close. It’s appropriate that your owner has the name that he has since that’s what your players are. Have fun being irrevelant for another decade you losers.
Proud fan of Pittsburgh's professional sports teams and the Pirates too.
by Black&GoldTrain on Feb 13, 2011 2:01 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
He didn't exactly stop shit from hitting the fan against the Isles...
having an enforcer is overrated… way overrated IMO.
The problem with Godard is that the 5 minutes he’s on the ice, the Pens are at a disadvantage.. not to mention that he’ll go out, skate slow as hell and then take a minor penalty and put us short handed.
Engelland / Rupp server the enforcer purpose for what we need.. other guys like Talbot, Adams, Kennedy etc are tough enough that if someone runs Sid or Geno, they can handle it.
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
you are mixing arguments here
what Godard did last night most definitely prevented a more situation
Haley challenged…a goalie?
c’mon. that’s totally weak.
Johnny had to accept, but that just isn’t done — a skater challenging a goalie
Godard flew in and mitigated what could have become a very serious situation
any Pens fan — or hockey fan in general — that can’t see that is blind
i imagine the NHL execs prob had a hard time w/ the 10 games
but it is a bright line
i imagine the NHL execs prob had a hard time w/ the 10 games
Hey, it’s not coming out of their paychecks.
I’m sure Godard doesn’t regret what he did, but jeez, this suspension will cost him a serious portion of his yearly earnings. That sucks. And he only got a few punches in too, hardly earned bang for his buck.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
Godard did his job
He protected his teammates. It’s what the Pens pay him to do.
As I said elsewhere on this site, the other Penguins ought to chip in the money needed to buy Godard a Lamborghini or Ferrari. It’s the least they could do.
s.zielinski
which is more than 6!
Are we stating obvious facts, cause I have a bunch of them! ;)
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
how am I mixing arguments?
Godard stopped Johnson from Fighting Haley… The other 4000 PIM’s happened while Godard was still in the game. Godard didn’t stop Tangradi from getting a concussion, or Tablot from getting sucker punched. Those are the things enforcers are supposed to deter…
Johnson didn’t have to a accept.. if he leaves his gear on and Haley attacks him, Haley is suspended and the ref’s stop the fight.
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
The more I watch it
The more I think Johnson was the bonehead. Haley challenges you as a goalie you simply skate away. What’s the worse thing, you’re being called a chicken, because as a goalie you skated away from a goon? Or even leaving your gear on, if he attacks, you’ve got a helmet and blocker and glove to protect.
By even giving in and engaging with him Johnny put himself at risk of injury. Simply put Johnny shares quite a bit of blame there and I think by watching his post-game interview he probably realizes he had a bad game in letting in the goals and then making a bonehead mistake.
Johnny is a big guy
Haley is actually smallish for a fighter(5’10" 204 lbs).. Johnson probably figured he could hold his own.
Johnson was willing to fight and I don’t think anyone should hold that against him.
Obviously we don’t know what Johnson was thinking when Haley went down the ice, but Johnson probably feels he’s partially to blame for the antics(being he broke DiPietro’s face) and figure that him fighting Haley is sticking up for his team.
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
I hear you. I understand that emotion got a hold him – he knew what happened last week with Dipietro and that Haley was one of those tabbed to avenge the perceived slight. But one thing I think many of guys need to try to do is be the bigger man and no physically. Don’t get me wrong, when I was watching the game I was hoping Johnny would smoke him and when I saw Godard come in I was rooting for a beat down, but then I read the Islanders blogs and I realized that those emotions are what Islander fans feel, and I won’t let myself stoop to their level. As a team I think guys need to do that sometime, just skate away, think we are Cup favorites each year, other teams are always going to gun for us, and the more we focus on our game and not other games or gamesmanship the better off. Totally side note – I wonder if Crosby being out and not having a Roberts or Guerin type vet in the locker room has hurt us in that regard, get focused on what we need to do and not this other stuff.
Anyone else just a little bit happy that Eaton is injured and wasn’t part of this debacle?
My feet are wet.
Yes
I for got he played for them. I was sorry he was injured because he was playing heavy minutes for them this season.
no
He wouldn’t have been involved in it… I would prefer he wasn’t injured and was just a bystander.
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
Exactly, no way Eaton would have been involved. The skill players like Moulson, Nielson and Grabner didn’t really do anything (besides score goals). Don’t think Eaton would have been involved in gooning it up because we all know that’s about the opposite of what kind of player and person he is.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
i miss mark eaton.
sidney crosby is better than me.
by katielynn906 on Feb 13, 2011 6:54 PM EST up reply actions
who would you replace on our team with Eaton?
I liked Eaton, but I like what we have now more…
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
I totally disagree with Eaton > Michalek
and I can’t argue that Eaton > Engelland… but I like what Engelland brings as a bottom 2 defenseman on the team..
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
Yeah, I’d rather have Eaton than Engelland, but the economics certainly aren’t worth it given what we’d have to give up elsewhere.
As for Michalek, I am to him as most people are to Goligoski. I’m waiting to see a game where he doesn’t piss me off by making one nice play just to leave another guy wide open for a goal.
I mean to say I can't argue that Eaton is not > Engelland
But I think you took it the way I meant it.
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
I think all we have to do is dress Godard, Engelland, Asham and Rupp the next time play them and they won’t do jack.
They did most of it with our 2 best fighters in the locker room. Which makes me madder as I think about it.
They dressed 3 out of the 4 guys you mentioned for Friday’s game…A lot of good that did.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
Godard hardly did anything but jump off the bench. Engelland as I said somewhere was pulling the d-bag Martin off Talbot and never got a chance to fight. Rupp did fight somebody but to give you credit his checking skills are better than his fighting skills IMO.
To explain my thoughts they can handle the heavy work.
Godard fought Gillies earlier in the game….Didn’t prevent Gillies from doing what he did to Tangradi.
Enforcers aren’t really that great of deterrents. But they sure do come in handy to make someone pay for what they’ve done, and like you mentioned unfortunately for the Pens most of their big guns got kicked out early.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
The argument has always been that Godard’s (or whomever’s) mere presence is enough to deter funny stuff from going on. I really, really hope that this last game was ample evidence against that idea. If not, then there’s no convincing anyone.
To some extent, having a top heavyweight probably does decrease some of the crap. The number of post-whistle slashes/hacks/gloves to the face that Crosby/Malkin got before the Pens acquired Laraque, for instance, was clearly more than once they got BGL.
But if a guy is going to take a run at someone, it really doesn’t matter whether or not an enforcer’s sitting on the bench, he’s still going to do it.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
by Hooks Orpik on Feb 13, 2011 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
Right, because enforcers aren’t typically the ones taking runs at people, and the enforcers don’t fight anyone but other enforcers. It’s pointless.
Yup.. at least your big time enforcers
no non-enforcer is going to fight a player like Boogaard.. it would be like career suicide.
Yea the fights between the bigs are enjoyable… but I’d much rather see two middle weights go at it.. they are much more fun to watch.
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
The theory goes and enforcer would fight someone if they stepped out of line on a star player. I’m not sure how much that actually happens though.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
by Hooks Orpik on Feb 13, 2011 11:53 AM EST up reply actions
yea later in the game
but enforcers like Engelland, who can actually take a shift are much more effective, because they are actually on the ice to police some… For Godard, you basically have to wait until he gets a chance to challenge the guy later
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
Ideally the choice isn’t given and a guy would take matters into his own hands. Instigator has limited this.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
by Hooks Orpik on Feb 13, 2011 12:57 PM EST up reply actions
See Steckel, David
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto
by blackjackfishtaco on Feb 13, 2011 1:17 PM EST up reply actions
Rupp has 10 fights, tied for 19th most in the league. Last year Rupp was in 12 fights (tied for 29th most in the league).
He’s definitely one of the most active combatants in the league.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
Gillies should be banned from playing the game of hockey anywhere. Absolutely disgusting display. Martin should have gotten at least 5 but I’m just glad he got something. Haley should have gotten a few games too. He’s a goon they called up just to be a dumbass. I hope Tangradi is okay. I have lost the little respect I had for the Islanders. The NHL better put their best referees on the ice for their next game. I hope nothing more happens then. I understand the Isles were pissed about DiPietro and Comeau. But you challenge a guy to fight and settle it that way. Like Wallace did with Steckel. One fight and it’s over. No head-hunting cheap shots. Islanders are absolutely disgraceful. I wish they would have been fined more money.
"Get in the fast lane grandma, the bingo game's ready to roll!" - Mike Lange
by CammieBuckeye33 on Feb 13, 2011 2:21 AM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
you challenge a guy to fight and settle it that way. Like Wallace did with Steckel. One fight and it’s over. No head-hunting cheap shots. Islanders are absolutely disgraceful.
exactly.
do not be concerned for the next game.
you won’t see the Pens go all “Slapshot”
as you said, they didn’t go after Steckel after he put out their Captain
and they will actually have something to play for on April 8 (unlike the Kansas City Islanders)
his comments after the game kind of go against that
Can’t remember which thread I posted it in, but he basically said that he’s not the type of guy to turn down a fight if he’s asked.
Not saying you’re wrong.. it’s kind of hard for me to tell when a player turns down a fight while watching it on the tube.
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
I’d like to believe him, but I dunno. He’s a grinder and pisses people off. I bet he gets asked to go quite a bit.
quite possible
depending on who asked him, I would expect him to turn down Gillies for instance.
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
To be fair, Talbot did turn down a couple fights that game before Martin went after him.
To be fair, that does not give a player the right to attempt to blindside another player with punches to the head.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
by Hooks Orpik on Feb 13, 2011 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I personally would enjoy seeing someone end Gillies’ career, not that it would mean much for a worthless hack who barely plays on one of the worst teams in the league. But definitely stick Engo on Haley or Martin, and hope he gets the same shot he got in against Orr.
TANG FOR NORRIS!
Can’t stand Gillies’ ridiculous handlebar mustache and faux hawk. The guy is a freaking tool, and now an idiot to boot. 9 games isn’t enough for this piece of trash.
"When it rains, it pours." -- Morton's Salt
by Will Bulldozer on Feb 13, 2011 3:44 AM EST up reply actions
9 games is nothing to a guy who barely plays. Gillies will probably even forget he’s suspended, as it’s nothing different than what he does most of the season.
TANG FOR NORRIS!
by lostprophetRJX on Feb 13, 2011 10:01 PM EST up reply actions
yea...
He’s played for about half their games(a little more), and he has a 9 game suspension… so they could just double it.. that way he’s actually missing 9 of the games he actually would have played in ;)
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
Banning him for the season would be a little much. After all, he had good intentions deep down, and according to Konopka today has a wife and two kids to feed!!
TANG FOR NORRIS!
by lostprophetRJX on Feb 14, 2011 11:26 PM EST up reply actions
Its hilarious reading the comments on their site too. Praising the two of them (thankfully it seems like they’re not sadistic enough to agree with Gillies) on going after Talbot and Johnson.
Hmmm maybe they forgot about this hit last year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iw1Z0M5j6E
Should we retaliate for that?
TANG FOR NORRIS!
The Islanders' point of view
- DiPietro? Cooke kept running at him.
- Gilles? That was a retalation for an earlier Tangradi’s hit.
- Tavares? Letang had “crosschecked him into the boards”.
- Martin? Talbot is a coward. And he shouldn’t have been allowed back on the ice after after two different Islanders fighted him (??).
- For the simple fact of having Matt Cooke on our roster, we deserve any sort of cheap shot and injury and have absolutely no right to complain whatsoever.
I hope we don’t retaliate at all in our next game in April. Let’s just show we (and other 28 teams in the league) are better than the New York Troglodytes.
Some inconsintencies
So the NHL appearantly decided that the Pittsburgh Penguins were the offended party on Friday night, and their organization was not fined, despite one of their players living the bench during a brawl. But then, considering what happened to Tangradi, just 100,000 $ and a 9-game ban are not enough for what Gilles did. Especially considering that Godard gets 10.
Also, we have learned that it’s OK now to hack at an opponent’s ankle and injury him.
more suspensions for the NYI than I expected…
Gillies is gonna get eviscerated on 4/8, in reality he deserves more than a 9 game suspension for his sheer punk-ness but the NHL has typically lent itself to allow vigilante justice over the years → which may or may not be the best way to handle things?
worst bitch move against a Pen since Jimmy Mann broke Paul Gardner’s jaw in ’82
Although I completely agree with you I understand why the NHL did what they did. Godard has to be the most suspended player in this scenario for leaving the bench. It is the cardinal rule of fighting in the NHL and something they take a firm stance on. Unfortunately for the league the suspension for leaving the bench is preset at 10. That tied their hands. Now every other suspension must be doled out relative to Godard’s.
Put on your dancin' shoes.
Sort of good what they got sort of not. I think the kicker here is the $100k the Islanders have to pay…I hope they take it from the two thugs paychecks. I can’t complain because at least something was done, but I mean the NHL is waiting for someone to bring a metal chair or semi-automatic to a game because that’s whats next as they basically let these goons off the hook.
Our lineup is now like 75% AHL. These next coming games should be fun.
Go Pens.
Get in the fast lane grandma, the bingo game is ready to roll!
The Islander site is interesting
Most of them appear to hate the Penguins and call us the dirtiest tram. Other than Cooke who is dirty on our team? Orpik? Talbot? Really? Our hits are in the flow where there is risk to both players. Being a good body checker is apparently dirty. Now Cooke I get with his reputation and many of his hits are little risk to him.
Now Gillies (Neanderthal that he is) I would not look at his hit as much (obviously we would not have been happy due to concussion) but his actions AFTER are what we are peeved about. That is what they don’t get. Playing physical is fine and as a team we are up to it. But hit guys when they have some idea it’s coming – and for me that is anytime of the ice with a body check. But throwing punches when guys arent looking or already down and out on the ice – that is pathologic.
by biedergb on Feb 13, 2011 10:01 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Colin Campbell spoke about both, saying
The actions by the Islanders’ Gillies and Martin were deliberate attempts to injure by delivering blows to the head of players who were unsuspecting and unable to defend themselves. The message should be clear to all players: targeting the head of an opponent by whatever means will be dealt with by suspension.
The Islanders have fans?
I went to the Kings-Islanders game earlier this season, there was a guy walking around carrying a sign (not sure why Kings-Isles are far from rivals) that said “How is an Islanders fan like a Unicorn”? They Don’t Exist!
Judging by the crowds at Nassau that may be right. Judging by the posts on their site, not very bright at that.
In all of this I agree that Matt Cooke’s behavior does hurt the Pens image. I like how he plays most of the time, he needs to get his shit together on STOPPING his borderline hits. That hit on Tyutin was unneccessary and it it fortunate that guy wasn’t injured. If another team had done that to a Penguins player. I’d be pissed. I’m furious at the Islanders I now can’t stand that team, all because of thuggish BS that isn’t hockey! Isn’t ANY competitive sport!
Yeah, no kidding.
I privately enjoyed seeing the Steelers lose the Super Bowl, only because the fans around here are so arrogant and entitled.
by SlayerGhaleon on Feb 13, 2011 12:45 PM EST up reply actions
Pens fans existed, just that a lot of people chose not to spend their money on going to games in a horrible arena to watch a horrible team play. I believe TV ratings were always solid (not #1 in the US like they are now, but respectable none the less).
Low attendence =/= no fans.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
by Hooks Orpik on Feb 13, 2011 12:56 PM EST up reply actions
But during the darks days (bankruptcy/relocation/pre-Crosby) there was a much smaller allegiance of just the hard core fans. The other fans didn’t come until the team started winning. Unless you are the Chicago Cubs, this is true for any sport. Very few teams that go through years of losing retain the interest of casual sports fans. So we didn’t have the fan base then that we do now. It’s a lame argument when used against true Penguin fans, so it’s not something that should be used against other teams when they are down.
I existed! I just live in Houston
and Pensburgh wasn’t around.. the only reason I am here is because I showed up when it started.. this is the ONLY blog I frequent…
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
I fully understand because I am a out of town fan. When games was on ESPN it was easier to follow the Pens. Until the Internet I was literally in the Desert for hockey news for a while. I have become a bigger fan with the package. And I love every minute of it until Friday. But I would have to think I am in a large group.
I saw that. What I was trying to say is that we may play a hard, physical game, and guys will finish checks that can results in injury. That is the nature of the game. Targeting the head is sometimes hard to prove intent since both players are moving.
I guess I was trying to differentiate crossing the line and losing regard for that line. Hitting unsuspecting players with sucker punches and hitting guys after they are concussed and down on the ice is a entirely different level. If a guy has the puck in open ice or near the board and they are unsuspecting of a hit – they figure they are in a position where someone shouldn’t take a run at them, and this line is crossed sometimes. But to drop gloves and attempt to jump a player who neither has the puck nor made a play or is even looking at you is not just an unsuspecting player. He is unsuspecting, but this is not a check or a fight, but borderline assault. I don’t know if Martin let up some – I hope for humanity sake he really did – because that incident would have been a lot worse if he actually landed punches to Talbot’s head.
So far and what's to come
I agree with the fine and I agree the Martin’s suspension. Most headshots have been 4-6 games so I understand where the extra games are for Gilles but I agree it should be at least 10, maybe more. They didn’t suspend Bylsma which I felt was correct too, Haley is the only question. Was Godard his saving grace?
I hope that we get the big guns back for our last game against the Isles. I think the first shift of the game will set the tone. The only X-factor is if Gilles is playing. Hopefully, the Islanders will send him back where he belongs. Get rid of him and Haley and we won’t have these issues again
by Six-burgh Steelers on Feb 13, 2011 11:02 AM EST reply actions
People need to relax over this now.
Were the hits terrible? Yes, of course they were.
Was justice handed out? Almost. The Islanders coach should have been suspended for his part in what happened…..or at least fined. The league should have taken note that this was a team with nothing left to play for this season, trying to injure players on a team that is still in contention.
However, what happened to Goddard has absolutely no relevance to what happened to the offending Islanders players. The rule against coming off the bench is to prevent massive brawls which really could end up in death or serious injury. If you start making exceptions in certain circumstances, the rule becomes toothless and everybody will be expecting special treatment for their “justified” breaking of it. Goddard didn’t need to go to Johnson’s assistance, just as Johnson didn’t need to get into the fight in the first place. A fight between goalies is one thing, but Johnson had skated down the ice to the blue line and readily engaged in the fight. That was a bad move. It’s one thing to stick up for your team mates but it’s another to do something stupid.
Now, putting aside Goddard’s suspension, the suspension’s of Martin and Gillies are actually quite severe because any further infringement automatically brings about a significantly higher suspension. 9 games is a large suspension and 4 games is the same as Cooke got for a hit that might well have resulted in a broken neck, so it’s difficult to argue that the two were let off insignificantly.
I can certainly understand if Tavares has a rough outing in the next game between these two teams, but as for retaliation, well, I think the best retaliation will be not to let 9 effing goals in next time.
by rlsuth on Feb 13, 2011 11:07 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I agree with most of this
But I think the 100k fine to the team was enough.. the owner has already said that he regrets buying the team that’s losing money, and the 100k fine(albeit isn’t a ton when you have millions of dollars), still hurts.. and when the owner isn’t happy… shit rolls down hill… and the first person on that hill is the GM and then coach.
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
if anyone wants to be entertained....
go read the current thread for the NYI game today…..
what a bunch of turds….
"He smoked him like a bad cigar!".....Mike Lange
Don’t go and read other teams blogs. You’re just setting yourself up for anger control issues. The only blog you need to be involved with is this one.
actually it’s just the opposite. I find it rather amusing!
"He smoked him like a bad cigar!".....Mike Lange
Ummm…there are some that are worth reading for the posts, and some not. And then there are some worth reading for comments on top of the posts. But it helps to have had practice controlling yourself, since some places give out bans mighty quick.
My blog and Twitter, featuring coverage of the most frustrating team in the NHL
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"Numbers don't lie, they just don't agree with you"--George E. Ays
by red army line on Feb 13, 2011 12:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Boy would I love to debate.........
some of the points brought up here but as I know it won’t remain civil so I’ll stop.
Yes the Isles are down now but just a few short years ago so were the Pens, lets hope for some clean hard fought games in the future. I live by the creed that you have to be a fan of the sport before you are a fan of a team, so while I won’t root for the Pens lets hope for some good hockey down the stretch.
by IslesinAZ on Feb 13, 2011 12:57 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Devils fan here
There’s a lot of chirping about Matt Cooke being a goon, Sidney Crosby diving, etc. That’s no big deal, to me. It’s just some cheap shots and some trash talk in a violent game, and most of it can be settled on the ice in the long run. (Though I happened to think Cooke’s antics do a disservice to the Pens, it’s not my team so I don’t care much).
That said: the Islanders are a disgrace as a team and as a franchise.
The open-ice Talbot hit last week was a tough one and produced a concussion, but it didn’t merit the cheap shot from Martin.
For Haley to take on Johnson was stupid. Johnson and DiPietro squared up and Johnson won cleanly. That’s it. No retaliation is necessary.
Lastly, Gillies. What a scumbag. A cheap shot + elbow + into the boards + sucker punches as the turtling begins + taunting? Give me a break. That’s damn near criminal.
> For Haley to take on Johnson was stupid. Johnson and DiPietro squared up and Johnson won cleanly. That’s it. No retaliation is necessary.
I agree with everything you’ve said except that I don’t think Haley was going after Johnson. When Haley asked Johnson if he wanted to fight, Johnson had already left his net and skated to the blue line. Haley changed direction to get into the fight. Even if you saw this differently makes no difference because Johnson should have just turned his back and gone back to the net. When he dropped gloves and engaged in the fight, he should have been left to take the consequences and I personally think he would have been fine.
As such, Goddard had no need, and shouldn’t have entered into the fracas.
In case you think that fighting in all cases is absolutely necessary, remember this: The favorites for the Cup right now are the Red Wings. They have had 9 fights this season total. They just don’t fight and it’s really helping them right now.
I agree now. I think Johnny should have checked his emotions and skated away. Whether he started it, Haley asked first, or what, he was not obliged to engage. If Haley went after him anyway then he’s looking at a suspension as well.
But to infer that Johnson somehow initiated it by where he was is not totally correct (I’m not saying you are but others have said this), I think a lot of goalies got toward the other end, to see what is going on, not necessarily because they want to be involved. But Johnny will now have this reputation.
This is when we need Crosby back.
The best revenge is to win the game. And when i say win, i mean I want to beat them the way they beat us.
We have to unify and watch our flag ascend!
Careful what we wish for. If we have him for April 8th, the animals will be dressed and Gillies may have a “good intentioned, heat of the moment” reaction and Tie Domi Sid into retirement. And I wouldn’t blame him since we employ Cooke…even though Cooke had nothing to do with the Isles thing…or has anything to do with Sid…..wait, what’s the whole point of this conversation again!?
TANG FOR NORRIS!
by lostprophetRJX on Feb 14, 2011 11:31 PM EST up reply actions
Wow, Mario being a whiny punk
Thought he was better than that.
My translation: The NHL didn’t act in the way I wanted them to, so they suck. I might just take my ball and go home, screwing over the league who didn’t do just what I wanted them to, and in the meantime, screwing over the fans, too. WAAAAAAAAHHHH.
The first three paragraphs of the statement, he’s not wrong. But then, the threat implied in, “I need to rethink whether i want to be a part of it”? That’s infuriating. I mean, that’s just ridiculous, and it’s going to reinforce the perception among Penguins haters that the franchise is made of a bunch of whiners and complainers, right from the top.
I'm expecting 100% improvement from the Lions this season.
The first three paragraphs of the statement, he’s not wrong. But then, the threat implied in, "I need to rethink whether i want to be a part of it"? That’s infuriating. I mean, that’s just ridiculous, and it’s going to reinforce the perception among Penguins haters that the franchise is made of a bunch of whiners and complainers, right from the top.
Why would you feel fury because Lemieux threatened the NHL? Why would any Pens fan care a damn about what the haters think or say? Why would Lemieux want to refrain from altering the behavior of the League?
s.zielinski
Hey, I can indulge in ridiculously broad statements, too
Why would Lemiuex hate the people of Pittsburgh so much that he’d abandon them…again?
I felt fury because Lemieux’s responsibilities to the Pens franchise and to its players, and yes, to its fanbase, without saying anything about the NHL, and all the fans of professional hockey, is too great to just cavalierly threaten to walk away.
And as a Pens fan, you remember how it was before Mario stepped into the ownership role. It’s unlikely that we’d see a repeat…but you never know.
I'm expecting 100% improvement from the Lions this season.
Yeah, it would suck if he left. But I respect his ability to choose to walk away if he doesn’t think he’ll be able to exact change from within. Sometimes divorce is the best option.
But that's exactly what I'm talking about
As a player leaving…it’s just a player leaving. As an owner threatening to walk, he’s potentially screwing over a whole lot more people. He can’t make those threats so casually. Good for him, on a personal level, if he has the guts to make that call. Screw him, as an NHL fan, if he cares so little for the game, or the Pens, or Pens fans, that he’ll just take his puck and leave over a frustration that EVERY owner feels and has, undoubtedly, voiced at some point.
That’s where I’m coming from.
Even as a Pens fan, even if you’re a Mario worshipper, and, no matter how right he is about how bad the justice system in the NHL is, you should be concerned about the shortsightedness inherent in that last paragraph.
I'm expecting 100% improvement from the Lions this season.
…cavalierly threaten to walk away.
I fail to see the cavalier attitude expressed in Lemieux’s statement. He threatened the NHL because he believed the NHL acted improperly and has acted improperly for many years.
I’ll not demand that Lemieux remain a team owner just because his ownership group secured the team by making demanding and getting a new arena, a venue that made it financially viable. The Penguins are not a charity.
s.zielinski
You’re talking about someone who left the game once before because he was tired of the clutching and grabbing. He was called a whiner at the time, but now people pretty much agree that he was right even if leaving wasn’t necessarily the right answer.
If he left again because he thought the league’s disciplinary system sucked, he’d be right again whether anyone wanted to admit it or not.
This is how I feel about. Nothing Mario said was wrong. And, as you said he has said all of this before and he has even backed it up by leaving the game. His statements are completely consistent with his past actions and comments. I’m sure Mario wishes he had worded his statement better but that is just semantics. He is 100% in the right so to hell with the Haters. they are already on the wrong side of the argument as they have voluntarily handicapped themselves in any respectable discussion.
Put on your dancin' shoes.
The situations are not analogous. Back then, Lemieux was a player who’d been through cancer, and injuries, and was at the tail end of a career anyway, and while leaving the Pens did hurt the franchise, and to a lesser degree, the league, it was the action of a single player, merely retiring. Now? The effect of a Lemieux departure would have far greater impact on the league, and for the Pens, and their players. For better or worse (and in 2009, worse for me as a Wings fan) Lemieux saved hockey in Pittsburgh, and for him to cavalierly threaten to walk away from that is a horribly selfish and shortsighted statement.
I'm expecting 100% improvement from the Lions this season.
ahtrap, I’m not sure what happened there. I tried to rec your most recent comment at the bottom and it went boom.
it was taking too long to post, so I tried to cancel and post it again
Maybe you were trying to do your operation at the same time. SBN does funny things sometimes :)
I'm expecting 100% improvement from the Lions this season.
Garage League
Mario is calling it like it is. Again his note shows that what he wants is hockey not pathetic fights on ice and cheap shots. The league doesn’t changue, because most of the Canadian contingent, and the NHLPA are afraid to go to so called “European style” or Olympic style hockey. Why?, because a large number of Canadian, and a few American players would loose jobs. Lack of fighting does not detract from the game nor decreases the interest in the sport. As a matter of fact as proven by the Olympics, it increases the interest of people who are casually interested in the sport. Also for anyone with children this type of random violence in a game is unacceptable, and you turn your TV set to another channel, hopefully. To prove my point, last night in Coaches Corner, because it was Hockey Day in Canad, Cherry was doing a remote broadcast. So what better idea than to show a few minutes of highlights, from the local game. What did they show, 2 goals, and 2 fights.
The Hockey Dr.
An example is that my mother, who only rarely watches hockey, stuck around to watch the Isles game. By the end she was disgusted and actually started yelling at the TV for the players to “just play the game already”.
If she’s the kind of fan the NHL wants to pull in, they need to get rid of all that nonsense now, not later.
I was yelling “just end the game already,” but one in the same I suppose.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com, twitter and now on the official Pensburgh Facebook page
Oh I didn’t mean, end the game as in cut it short, I meant end it as in, drop the puck, stare at each other from across the red line and just let the clock run out.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com, twitter and now on the official Pensburgh Facebook page
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