Mayhem reigns in Stanley Cup playoffs

[jaxbolt]

I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere but I think we all know that the Torres hit on Hossa was payback for Shaw hitting Smith.

[njbolt12]

Originally Posted by Bolts_26

Does anyone remember when Shanahan was handing out 9 and 5 game suspensions? That strictness sure lasted.

Like anyone, I like big hits, fights, and good playoff storylines but I, in no way, can really support that BS that is taking place in the 2012 playoffs. It just makes hockey look bad and someone is going to get hurt real bad... unless, you know, Shanahan's monstrous and fair suspensions will scare them away.

Yup! 8 game suspension to Wizniewski for a hit that wasn't as bad as what we've seen this spring. It's just retarded.

[Bouché]

Originally Posted by jaxbolt

I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere but I think we all know that the Torres hit on Hossa was payback for Shaw hitting Smith.

I completely disagree.

[BurnTHalO]

Originally Posted by Bouché

I completely disagree.

Yeah it had nothibg to do with that, torres wanted the big hit

[Bouché]

I tend to agree with Brian Burke.

"This is like people complaining about the rain at Woodstock," Burke told USA Today. "Yes, there was lots of mud, but it was the greatest music gathering in history."

NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan has handed out eight suspensions during the first seven days of postseason games. Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres, who awaits a hearing with Shanahan on Friday after his hit on Chicago's Marian Hossa, was suspended indefinitely on Wednesday.

"I hope we continue to nail the people who are crossing the line," Burke told USA Today. "But this is a small number of incidents, and it's unfortunate that non-hockey media is focusing on that. But what I see is great hockey. It's awesome."

The postseason has also been marked by nasty play in almost every series. Carl Hagelin of the New York Rangers, Senators defenceman Matt Carkner, Pittsburgh's James Neal and Arron Asham, Washington Capitals star centre Nicklas Backstrom, Chicago Blackhawks rookie Andrew Shaw and Byron Bitz of the Vancouver Canucks have all been handed suspensions since the playoffs started last Wednesday.

Burke pointed out that parity and the natural rivalries between teams is a factor to the increase of bad behaviour.

"Nine times of 10 when players cross the line, it's emotional," Burke explained to USA Today. "It's not cognitive. (Washington's Nicklas) Backstrom didn't say the other night, I'm going to go in and cross-check this guy. Aaron Asham didn't say to himself. I'm going to cross-check Brayden Schenn in the throat. It's adrenaline. It's reaction."

Burke also has no issue with the work Shanahan has done assessing incidents and handing out his decisions. "You can't make people happy, so just do the job," Burke said. "And I think Brendan is doing that. It's impossible for fans to be rationale at this time of year. It's impossible for Detroit fans not to be outraged when Shea Weber wasn't suspended (for slamming Henrik Zetterberg's head into the glass). But I don't think he should have been."

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=393538

The constant, over-the-top complaining about how the sport is being ruined helps nothing. This has been one of the most entertaining first rounds in recent memory aside from these cheapshots, and that shouldn't go ignored. The outrage also puts more pressure on the disciplinary committee, not that I'm blaming that for the recent suspensions I disagree with.

[Sotnos]

He's right, but it's not just the non-hockey media focusing on it, some fans are fixated on every questionable hit to the exclusion of everything else.

[Bouché]

^ Yup, and it's getting pretty tiresome and certainly doesn't help the game either.

[BurnTHalO]

He would be right except for the fact that the league is not cracking down on the over the line stuff.

[Matt]

There is good hockey being played but it is being tarnished by the cheap shots. Instead of focusing on the hockey every night the top story is who's getting suspended and who's having to miss time because of a concussion. I love the playoffs because there's exciting games and physical play. I'm not enjoying these playoffs as much as I should because there are guys like Carriker and Neal trying out for the WWE.

[Hoek]

Yeah I haven't been following as closely because every game feels like a circus. Everyone is getting butthurt over a legal hit or two and then each side keeps pushing the limit until it turns into freaking childish, reckless cheap shots. Calm down guys. It's only the first round! Jeez. They're going to be murdering each other off the ice by the finals.