The NHL does it again

[Kgoku4]

Well, as if the NHL review booth giving the Senators that bogus goal on that kick by Alfredsson, and then "coincidentally" keeping us on the PK the entire 3rd period (after keeping the whistles put away almost the entire game even) wasnt enough, the NHL gave another 1 game suspension to Pronger.
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[Shane]

Got to even up the series somehow

Pronger for McTurnover is not a fair trade in any book.

[klicks]

The NHL rules on goals off the skate were re-interpreted last season and have been called consistently (as novel as THAT is for the NHL) all year - it is a goal unless there is a kicking motion to put the puck in the net. A player is even permitted to turn his foot to direct the puck into the net now, as long as there is no kicking motion. Personally, I think it's a stupid interpretation and they should either allow or disallow ALL goals off a skate - make it simple. BUT, they made the right call given how they've called it all year.
Pronger deserved the suspension and more. Pronger did not 'throw his arm at the guy's shoulder' he threw his ELBOW at McAmmond's head. It was a lazy, dirty play by Pronger. If he would have moved his feet, he could have laid a solid, clean hit - instead he reached with this arm/elbow. He didn;t have to point his elbow out, he chose too - he now pays the consequences and is lucky the NHL is too wimpy to give him more than a game. Watch the replay - it was an elbow to the temple and McAmmond was out cold BEFORE he hit the ice. All Pronger had to do was keep his elbow in, but he threw it at McAmmond's head instead - this has NOTHING to do with the size difference, I've seen guys run into Prong's elbows before where it reallyt wasn't his fault - but this one was on purpose (or was reckless at least) - the size difference whining is just excuses.

yes the Neil hit on MacDonald warranted a charge, but that doesn't mean the Pronger suspension is not valid.

[Kgoku4]

You can say what you want about the Pronger hit, but Im not going to agree that he did it deliberately. It is QUITE clear to me that in fact he was TRYING to keep his elbow down, and the combination of the follow through on his hit, the fact that he sorta ended up off balance, and the size difference caused his arm to slowly rise up.......and quite frankly the hit to Dean's head WASNT that hard. I will remain a firm believer in the fact that the concussion was when Dean hit his head on the ice, and you cant say its because Pronger made him snap his head back, because he hit on his rear first, and then fell on his head.

And then another thing brought up by Don Cherry tonight (just one of pretty much all the announcers and analysts who feel Pronger shouldnt have been suspended) is that Macammond has a history of concussions, which undoubtedly played a large role in his getting a concussion on that hit, when 9 times out of 10 a hit even more ridiculous doenst even result in anything.

FYI: The reference to the Neil hit wasnt meant to add or remove anything from the Pronger situation, it was to illustrate the fact that the NHL doesnt seem to care about anything that isnt done by Pronger. What about that hit by Alfredsson in the Buffalo series in OT, when he clearly put his stick across a buffalo players shoulder (when the player was just 2-3 feet away from the board, the bad place to hit a player from behind) and pushed him face first into the boards? That wasnt even TALKED about, and those 2 hits by Pronger this offseason each got him a suspension. If you actually think about it and dont automatically think "I dont like pronger, so he must be headhunting out there", its enough to make you wonder.

Links to both the Neil hit and that hit by alfredsson are below

YouTube - Chris Pronger Hit on Tomas Holmstrom Analysis
YouTube - Neil with a vicious elbow to the head of McDonald 6/2/07

Hard to believe neither one of those was even DISCUSSED isnt it?

And all I have to say about Daniel Alfredsson is....if he doesnt get suspended for that cowardly move going into the 2nd OT, it proves the stupidity of the NHL rules committee. He clearly looked straight at Scotty, kept his eyes locked on, and let loose with everything he had on that shot on scotty. And then he continued to look at Scotty as if challenging him and talking crap (couldnt see if he was actually talking). Whereas the Pronger move was the result of him following through on a hit, that move by Alfredsson was flat out cowardly and inexcusable. If you dont like a player, you get in his face and tell him like a man, you dont sit back and rip a shot as hard as you can at him.

Tonight was a perfect example of what our Coaching staff does for us. I dont know what they say in that lockerroom whenever we have an ugly period like the 1st one tonight, but it almost ALWAYS gets them moving their butts. Ottawa has their work cut out for them at the Honda Center on Wednesday.

[klicks]

Looks like we'll just agree to disagree about Pronger's hit - it's obvious his elbow came out (he was caught a little flat footed - and the elbow sliding out was a reaction - similar to when a player slides his knee/leg out in reaction to his opponent cutting wide; it's just a reaction not a purposeful hit, but it's still dangerous). I think the suspension was correct - Cherry is only usually right, not always! But I do agree with you about them focusing on Pronger and ignoring other infractions. Don't think the Neil hit was that bad - should have been 2 for charging but that's about it.

Alfredsson's shot was pure bush league - it warranted a gross misconduct ('making a travesty of the game' is the official reason for issuing a gross misconduct), which causes a game eviction. My bet is the NHL won't even consider a suspension for Danielle's (because that was a sissy play) - but they should. Old alfie better keep his head up when (if) they play the Ducks next year - should be interesting the first time he tries cutting up Neid's side of the ice.

Put a fork in the sens they are well done.