2009 NHL Semi-Finals: Washington vs Pittsburgh

[Vodka]

Lovely. To prove their petty favoritism, I called it right: no suspension on Kunitz. NHL.com stated it to be so in an article earlier today.

Clicky

A slow-mo vid of the hit. You make the call.

And the NHL WONDERS why it has a relatively small fan base.

I'm with you, Snoopy. This pandering and favoritism based off teams and "popularity" really has to go (and the exasperating bias against the European players). Campbell needs to go, and the rest of the league's front offices need a thorough purging as well.

[V-HAB]

That was not as severe as the Brashear shot, nor was Kunitz a repeat offender. Regular season, this is probably anywhere from 1-3 games, it's a suspension if Varlamov is injured, but as it is, no suspension. It also had no effect on the outcome of the game. Not saying it's right, but that's most likely the reasoning behind it.

Myself, I think it should've been one game. It wasn't a very severe cross-check at all, but one game as a warning would've been good.

[Vodka]

Kimmo Timonen would like to disagree with the repeat offender comment. That elbow to the head wasn't a cheap shot, no sir. And you can't say that that hit wasn't a hit to simply make a point. Not when the team is down by two with less than a minute remaining.

I'd be happy with a one-game suspension, if not to simply give out a warning about the NHL not taking crap in regards to cheap head shots.

[V-HAB]

I was completely unbiased watching that series - actually, if anything, I hate the Penguins, but the hit on Timonen was legal.

Kimmo was back on his feet right away and in the offensive zone 10 seconds later. If that was an elbow to the head coming in at that speed, he would be sitting at home still nursing a concussion right now.

You can watch it here in HD:



Timonen had his head down and he got rocked. Even Flyers' fans were agreeing with this one.

Fans just can't appreciate some good, hard playoff hockey since the lockout. Pre-lockout, that's a beautiful hit. Post-lockout, people are calling for Kunitz's head.

I'm rooting for the Caps in this one and I hate the Penguins, but if Ovechkin didn't like what Kunitz did, instead of whining to the Media a la Crosby, he should do something about it next game. Protect your goalie.

[Vodka]

Ffft, I'm all for good clean hits, but Kunitz hasn't been hitting clean. That's how I see it and that's the way I'm gonna keep seeing it. This isn't Slap Shot, man.

I doubt Ovie's going to do much, if any whining. He expressed his distaste at the hit and called for the office to look at it, but no word on his opinion of the ruling yet. My guess? He's going to go out and murder a few Penguins. Hopefully he'll nab a few goals while he's at it, like that one game when Montreal broke his nose and he got 4 goals.

[razer]

Okay, whats the big deal with the hats? I like Crosby but Too bad if u have to wait, dont give up a hat trick then. Vodka why are you complaining bout the refing ur team won be happy. The refs are always inconsistent it seems. The league is so damn inconsistent with suspending people its a joke. kunitz should get 1 game. I find the pens arent the same team as last round malkin had done squat. The only guy who has done something is sid if the rest of their top guys dont get going they wont get to the next round.

[V-HAB]

I heard a funny joke about Malkin today:

Is he pregnant by any chance?

Because he missed two periods in last night's game.

No but seriously, he's been invisible. With the way Crosby is playing, if Geno wakes up - watch out! Maybe the Pens should try them on the same line.

[Carson!]

It's pretty normal for Malkin to go missing in the play-offs. It happened last year. It usually happens when Crosby gets hot too.

[razer]

I heard they will try putting malkin with crosby tomorow night might be just watch malking needs to get going.

[Mr. Hockey]

May 5, 2009 20:37:05 GMT -5 V-HAB said:

I heard a funny joke about Malkin today:

Is he pregnant by any chance?

Because he missed two periods in last night's game.

No but seriously, he's been invisible. With the way Crosby is playing, if Geno wakes up - watch out! Maybe the Pens should try them on the same line.

Okay last year. Malkin was playing great for Pens. When they hit the finals where was he. This year he is the same guy that played in the finals. Its like he doesn't care. Oh, by the way where does he come from??

I'm sick and tried if a player doesn't do anything bad before doesn't get suspended for doing something. It doesn't matter if your a repeat offender if you do something bad you should pay for it. The NHL needs to change that rule. Its becoming a joke. So if Sid the Kid punches a player behind the head, that means he doesn't get suspended???

[Vodka]

Don't forget, he got him in the nuts too. While a teammate was already fighting the dude. Then there was his unprovoked jump on that other guy. But yeah. The NHL needs to pick up a solid take no **** stance, not just doing it when it's convenient like now.

[Vodka]

...Christ. And I thought the reffing couldn't get any worse than on Monday's game. I was terribly, terribly wrong.

[Mr. Hockey]

6 straight calls on caps.

[Vodka]

Half of which have been crap. Jurcina gets cross-checked into the net, and gets called for delay of game? What?

EDIT: NICKYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

[V-HAB]

What an ending to the game, crazy!