NHL playoffs

[jwmiller33]

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

[fishing tech]

Is this man enough for you?

[gatorhunter]

How about Thomas pulling a Billy Smith with the goalie stick whack to the back of Burrow's leg in the last minutes? That's as much an embarassment to the game as anything else that you've pointed out. Thomas should have been turfed from the game too!

[jwmiller33]

How about Thomas pulling a Billy Smith with the goalie stick whack to the back of Burrow's leg in the last minutes? That's as much an embarassment to the game as anything else that you've pointed out. Thomas should have been turfed from the game too!

you must not have seen burrow's hack that caused Thomas' retaliation? Burrow's is the true embarrassment to the game. I'm not condoning Thomas' hack by any means, but if Burrow's doesn't initiate it with his extremely cheap slash on Thomas' stick and knocking the stick out of Thomas' hand, then there is no slash by Tim Thomas.

[gatorhunter]

Unless a whack on a stick results in numbness or damage to a nerve or tendon in Thomas' arm, it can't compare to goalie stick chop to the rear leg nerves or muscles....DUH!

Not condoning Burrows slash or whack to Thomas' stick. However, that is what it was, contacting the other player's stick. The intent of which is to throw him off his game. Thomas' slash was directed at an unprotected area of a player's body. Can't compare the two.

[jwmiller33]

You're right... I think Burrows should get the Lady Byng trophy

I'm trying to watch this game but the cheap shots turn me right off..... What happened to the stick being used for handling the puck only?

so you are completely against the cheapshots, accept for when they are aimed at the goalie?

pfffff. You have got to be kidding me.

Go Bruins

[Bear55]

jw I have to disagree with the old NHL vs new NHL, very true that no suspension would have taken place back in 2003. However what Pier is talking about is only handing out a game or two suspension to star players while other role players or perceived tough guys get 5+ games for very similar infractions.

Burrows is an easy guy to hate but I can name plenty of other guys who are far worse then him. He is one of those guys who you would love if he was on your team and clearly hate when you play against him. He does push the limits with some of his antics but you have to give him a little props for actually being able to play hockey instead of being a hired gun. Not that I am against fighting, I am just not in favor of fighters who can barely skate or stick handle.

[gatorhunter]

YOUR quote of my words contradicts itself! haha! I don't condone Burrows slashing or whacking Thomas' stick! ....the cheap shots turn me right off...Pretty consistent messages IMO.

He's won a couple of overtime games for the Canucks so I thinking more along the lines of Conn Smythe!

You're right... I think Burrows should get the Lady Byng trophy

[OnAFly]

Burrows will be winning neither of those trophies.

Bear55 hit it on the head. You would love to have Burrows playing next to you...as long as you're both wearing the same jersey.

That being said, it would be nice to watch a game where everyone was only focusing on hockey, not trying to get under each others skin. But, it's a part of the game now. There will always be guys on both ends of this spectrum. From Pavel Datsyuk all the way down to Matt Cooke.

One might argue that the instigator rule is fueling these instigator type players by handcuffing the "goons." Would Burrows slash away at Thomas is he knew he would have to answer to a 6'5" monster? Maybe, maybe not.

[jwmiller33]

He's won a couple of overtime games for the Canucks so I thinking more along the lines of Conn Smythe!

Burrows winning the Conn Smythe??? hahahahah ya right... right after he wins the Vezina

Hopefully someone puts Burrows in his place before the series over... preferably Chara, Thornton or McQuade

[JimBuck]

JW, we get it. You don't like Burrows, but I think him being a disgrace to the game is a bit of a stretch. I understand what you mean about the old vs. new nhl as a broader picture but we were talking more specifically about preferential treatment in regards to suspensions and fines. The fact of the matter is consequences for dangerous play has been inconsistent at best lately.

Getting back on topic, tonight's going to be one heck of a game. With Luongo's shaky performance the last few games I'm hoping he'll snap out of that slump at home. They really need that powerplay to start producing too. Not many shots last game made it to the net.

GO CANUCKS.

[jwmiller33]

Luongo is playing very poor and it is all in his head now. Every bounce has not gone his way. Thomas is playing excellent right now and Boston has a ton of momentum.

Tonights prediction:

Bruins 4 Van 1

[PierBridge]

Don't do that you'll need a bunch of visine just to keep up with his No offense guys this isn't pee-wee hockey this the NHL playoffs and its war.

Stop whinning and crying over this stuff as we all know there is NO CRYING in Hockey for petes sake.

Jeesh and Go Bruins!

[jwmiller33]

we were talking more specifically about preferential treatment in regards to suspensions and fines. The fact of the matter is consequences for dangerous play has been inconsistent at best lately.

I completely understand where you guys are coming from this and although I don't agree with you, I don't necessarily disagree with you either. Any type of speculation about the preferential treatment to 'superstars' is just that, speculation. The fact of the matter is you don't see superstars engaging in these types of hits hardly ever beacuse they are more of the goal scorers, not the hitters. How would you like to see it handled differently? An automatic X number of games suspension for certain kind of hits? Then, how do you classify certain hits as falling within that spectrum? There is always going to be subjective evaluation and I think it would be unfair if they didn't treat each hit/situation differently. Looking at the list of suspensions given out this year, I see a corelation between the # of games and the severity of the infraction. Torres 4 games for elbowing Eberle in the head. Cooke 10 games + 1st round of playoffs for elbowing McDonagh to the head. Marchand 2 games for elbow to the head on Umberger. Heatly 2 games for elbow to the head on Ott. Kubina 3 games for elbow to the head on Bolland. Gillies 10 games for boarding Clutterbuck. Being that Rome's hit on Horton was a lot more violent IMO, I think 4 games is extremely appropriate for the infraction

The fact of the manner is each hit should be taken into review and punished on the severity of it deemed by the league. Obiously more serious infractions should result in more games. JimBuck, I'd actually have to disagree and say that I see a common occurance on the league responding to elbowing hits to the head (exactly what Romes hit on Horton was).

We should all be appreciative that the NHL is what it is and IMO a lot better than the other sport/playoff series going on right now. The NBA has had refs caught red handed making calls for certain games/teams and that is just pathetic.

[fishnowworknever]

I didn't read too far back, was any one concerned about Burrows and a suspension after that finger bite?

What a [PoorWordUsage] poor little FemaleDog move on his part. It's one thing to be a pest, it's another to be a 12yr old finger biter.

[JimBuck]

JW, all valid points. I think what is suspicious to me is that suspensions/fines seem to be more based on the name and reputation of a player and not solely based on the severity of the actual infraction. Boogard (RIP) was unfairly suspended a few times for some very questionable calls. If it was Bouchard and not Boogie throwing those big open ice checks or laying a shoulder into somebody in the corner, I would bet suspensions and fines would have been handled differently.

The same can be said for guys like Ovechkin who is a rare breed in that he is tremendously talented as a goalscorer but also likes to hit. I've seen him get away with some obvious boarding and charging calls along with some pretty late hits. Crosby is one who seems to get touched and draws penalties like there is no tomorrow. Don't get me wrong, he's a good player and their is something to be said about someone who gets in the play and draws penalties....but you lay a finger on the guy and off to the box you go.

I'd just like to see some consistency in how things are handled by the league is all. I don't think it needs to be set standards for certain types of infractions, but instead, review the play in it's entirety and base the penalties off of the actions of the players involved in the incident. They need to leave player names, history and reputation out of the equation. In the end, yes it is speculation. But things are so inconsistent it leaves a lot of fans wondering if they are just rolling the dice on suspensions or how the process even works.

GO CANUCKS!

[jwmiller33]

Well said Jim, well said!

Go Bruins

[cbrooks]

Go Canucks

[fishing tech]

OV has been suspended for a few of his hits. It is playoff hockey. You are playing for the Stanley Cup. If you are not willing to do what it takes to win, you should not be out there.

If a player swings his stick at another, whether he hits him or not it is a penalty. I believe they let it go because it gets players fired up and fans excited.

I think we are on page 10 now talking playoff hockey.

Boston NEEDS to play physical to beat Vancouver. If they don't speed and skill wins. If you don't have talent(speed and skill) you have to play physical to slow them down.

[gatorhunter]

Did somebody say wolf pack?

[pinkfloyd4ever]

after watching last nights game, the Wild have a long way to go in the talent and skill game. Wow! That was a fun and physical game. But there wasn't enough coverage of the green men!!! Cmon NBC

[solbes]

Headed to Vancouver for Game 7. Fans in Candada should be going nuts. Should be a close game to decide it all.

[Bear55]

Wow what an odd series, not sure I have every seen a team blow open games at home like Boston.

I don't really care who wins, maybe slightly favoring Boston but I can see the Canucks pulling out a tight game to win the cup. OT would be fun.

[Musky Buck]

It's me and you Bear, again, I agree what a disaster for Vancouver at Boston outscored 17-3 in the last 3 in Red Sox nation. Almost like oh well we know we're headed back home so if we get down too much we'll just kinda play along and head back to B.C. So used to those tight checking, tight defense Stanley Cup finals games it has been really different. Sorta leaning Boston too, Cam Neely was my idol growing up, these poor guys aren't going to have much of an off-season but to the winner that won't matter, I think Luongo needs to de-grease the brillcreme a bit, what a greased up mess he has lol.

[PierBridge]

This is going to be a crying shame if Vancouver pulls this out after the way Boston has shellacked them in this series. Oh wait there is no crying in Hockey!..

Go Bruins!