NHL playoffs

[OnAFly]

The Bruins aren't angels either. Anyone remember Chara's hit on Pacioretty? Ference's antics? Horton's water bottle incident.

The hit was late. Rome hit him in the head. There should be a suspension. It's exactly the type of hit the league is getting rid of.

Does this mean the Canucks play dirty hockey in general. No.

As far as the biting thing goes. What would you do if a guy stuck his dirty glove in your mouth? No need for a suspension IMO.

The Canucks have gotten where they are by having different guys step up at different times coupled with stellar goal tending (at times).

GO CANUCKS!!!

[fishing tech]

I think Boston scored on 4 of their last 5 shots.

If Rome gets the boot, maybe Ballard will get to play. $4m to sit and watch? I'd take it as long as I got to raise the cup.

[OnAFly]

I was thinking about that too about Ballard. He's good enough to be out there, but Vancouver's defense is deep so in the press box he sits. I would like to see him out there.

[gatorhunter]

Rome's hit, although a half second late was not any worse than countless other hits in hockey. If Horton doesn't watch his pass, he sees Rome lining him up. It's truly unfortunate that Horton hit his head on the ice and suffers a serious concussion. However, if he doesn't whack his head on the ice, he doesn't even miss a shift. 4 game suspension is overkill!

[jwmiller33]

Rome's hit, although a half second late was not any worse than countless other hits in hockey... 4 game suspension is overkill!

He left his feet (penalty), elbow to the head (penalty), and was a late hit (penalty). Fact of the matter is it IS worse than 'countless other hits in hockey'. "Other hits in hockey" don't result in getting a 4 game suspension. He could have been called for several different penalties and 4 games seems extremely fitting IMHO, especially considering there wasn't any punishment for the biting incident and then Burrows went and scored 2 goals in the next game (including game winner). Biting has no place in hockey, and neither does dirty/late elbow hits to the head, and both should result in multiple game suspensions

[OnAFly]

The biting thing, who cares! Don't put your finger in a guys mouth and it won't happen.

The suspension, Rome deserved it and probably more.

The hit was late

He took advantage on the blind side

The hit was to the head

He left his feet

No part of that hit was OK. If he would have just thrown his body into Horton with no injury, it still would have been interference.

[jwmiller33]

The biting thing, who cares! Don't put your finger in a guys mouth and it won't happen.

"facewashing" is a pretty common occurance among scrums in the NHL (if you know much about hockey you know what facewashing is). Is Burrows the first guy to bite someone in the NHL? Maybe... Maybe not... Is he the first person to get caught biting someone while getting facewashed on national TV in the Stanley Cup finals? Yes... Stupid move.

If you watch the replay, Bergeron was facewashing Burrows (like what happens on every scrum in the NHL) and Burrows grabbed Bergeron's hand and pulled his hand closer to his mouth and then bit his finger. Burrows crossed the line. Bergeron wasn't doing anything different than what happens on every scrum in the NHL (several times a game). Burrows should have gotten more than just a slap on the wrist. That carp doesn't belong in the game of hockey

[Bear55]

The Burrows thing doesn't seem like that big of a deal to me, stupid move and obvious penalty but I think he was just giving him a warning bite, not really a Mike Tyson bite.

The other hit was kind of bad, I don't care if it's a little late but the big elbow and leaving your feet is [PoorWordUsage]. Do these guys forget how to hit with their shoulders?

[JimBuck]

I agree, the late hit doesn't bother me as much as leaving your feet with the elbows flying. Guys really finish checks in playoffs and the officials seem to accommodate that. Laying a guy out with a shoulder or a big hip check seems to take a backseat to hitting a guy with your arms these days.

[OnAFly]

I completely agree that biting has no place in hockey, but I don't think a suspension would have been necessary. Yeah, give him a penalty or maybe a misconduct, but a suspension is a little over the top. Just my opinion.

[jwmiller33]

I understand your viewpoint, however, with a big scrum going on like that, the refs are never going to see (and didn't see) the bite actually happen. Refs don't give out penalties for stuff they don't see and they only find stuff like this from replay after all is said and done. A suspension is really the only way to punish/penalize the guy for it. Burrows did get a penalty but so did Bergeron.

[OnAFly]

Watching the replay several times, I can see why the refs never saw it. He hid it with his glove. This does seem like a difficult position to penalize/suspend.

Burrows used to pull the carp pretty often two years ago, since then he's really cleaned his act up and decided to play hockey, and pretty well at that. AV needs to sit him down and have the "start playing hockey, not messing around with opponents" talk with him.

Anyone care to guess who will win the game tonight? If Vancouver loses, that's a whole lot of pressure. If they win tonight, I doubt this will go to 6 games.

[jwmiller33]

Anyone care to guess who will win the game tonight?

I'm taking Boston tonight. I have a feeling the Burrows hit sparked a flame that isn't going to burn out anytime soon.

[fishing tech]

I'd like to see Chara step up and be a man in the playoffs.

[gatorhunter]

I'm trying to watch this game but the cheap shots (slashes to the back of the legs, cross checks, etc.) turn me right off. And I'm a Canadian prairie boy who grew up watching the Broad Street Bullies and other rock em sock em hockey! But then I also watched the high flying Habs, Islanders and Oilers. Ever since I can remember, every team has had their carp disturbing rats. To me a jab to the calf, behind the knee or Achilles tendon isn't any better than the hit that Rome laid on Norton. What happened to the stick being used for handling the puck only?

[OnAFly]

It's the new NHL. No more clutching and grabbing, now more stick play.

Boston is up 4-0...carp. Luongo looked terrible on that second goal.

[PierBridge]

The the so called bite was nothing... the hit while a penalty and game misconduct wasn't all that bad and to be frank if he doesn't hit his head on the ice and get carried off on a stretcher there is no suspension. And the length of the suspension was based on who did the hitting "non-star" and who got hit. "star"

This the NHL playoffs not figuring skating, violent things happen quickly!

Go Bruins!!!!!!!!

[jwmiller33]

I couldn't disagree more on pretty much every statement

[Hockey Guy]

I think all the “Saber Rattling” is great in the playoffs! Like Reggie Dunlop said, “Jab him with your stick to let him know you’re there.”. Anyhow, I just have to say that my biggest disappointment for this entire playoffs was the way the announcers last night were bashing on Marchand for side stepping the check at the end of the game and then the submarine on Sedine. First of all, that was barely a penalty on Marchand in the first place. He barely touched the guys head when he sidestepped him. Secondly, Sedine was coming in to hit him after the whistle. I played hockey for years and I can tell you that if you’re going to hit me after the whistle, don’t complain when I duck and take your legs out! I was very disappointed in those announcers, but Roenick agreed with me in the post game show at least.

[JimBuck]

....And the length of the suspension was based on who did the hitting "non-star" and who got hit. "star"

I agree. They need to get rid of preferential treatment of players in regards to suspensions and fines. The bite was nothing to get riled up about either, even though it was Burrows! He used to be such a punk and now he's turned into quite a solid contribution to the Canucks lineup.

GO CANUCKS!

[JimBuck]

I'd like to see Chara step up and be a man in the playoffs.

Is this man enough for you?

[solbes]

JimBuck,

I was thinking the same thing, but was to lazy to create a link. Man that was scary.

[scsavre]

There is no place in hockey for bitting. It undermines the whole sport. Just makes it look bad. This isn't wrestling. I woulda gave him a 1 game suspension for being an [PoorWordUsage]. People are laughing at hockey because of it. Aren't hockey players suppose to be tough. Not any more. They just bite ya rather then dropping the gloves. At least its a heated series now. Id like to see chara line up one of those sedin pansys. Maybe lucic will hit them. My gosh, do they dive and cry.

[solbes]

Hey, catch any muskies yet? Fishings been good for me, but nothing exciting size wise.

Back to hockey, Go Bruins! Hoping Raymond can light the lamp for the Canucks, and also hope Ballard gets another chance out there. That one may be a long stretch.

[jwmiller33]

The bite was nothing to get riled up about either, even though it was Burrows! He used to be such a punk and now he's turned into quite a solid contribution to the Canucks lineup.

Used to be such a punk????? Slashing the stick out of Thomas' hand last night was another reason why I hate this guy. He is a disgrace to the sport and I hope someone sends this guy a message.