Mayhem reigns in Stanley Cup playoffs

[Donnie D]

The dirty play this year is a result of Boston being allowed to get away with it last year and winning the cup. Teams are notorious for emulating past winners and what we are seeing this year is 16 teams playing like Boston did last year. The league said that Boston's crap was acceptable last year and now is complaining when others play the same way.

[Bouché]

I don't think that's the case at all.

[Sotnos]

Originally Posted by Donnie D

The dirty play this year is a result of Boston being allowed to get away with it last year and winning the cup. Teams are notorious for emulating past winners and what we are seeing this year is 16 teams playing like Boston did last year. The league said that Boston's crap was acceptable last year and now is complaining when others play the same way.

I think you are on to something here.

[jaxbolt]

Disagree all you want but when all is said and done it was his idea to send a message. From my POV Hossa had passed the puck, turned and skated a stride or two when he was hit. Should have been a charging call at least and probably a 5 for deliberate attempt to injure when he left his feet/skates to deliver the hit.

[BurnTHalO]

Originally Posted by jaxbolt

Disagree all you want but when all is said and done it was his idea to send a message. From my POV Hossa had passed the puck, turned and skated a stride or two when he was hit. Should have been a charging call at least and probably a 5 for deliberate attempt to injure when he left his feet/skates to deliver the hit.

Moreso than James Neal was doing?

[the_narrow_way]

Originally Posted by Donnie D

The dirty play this year is a result of Boston being allowed to get away with it last year and winning the cup. Teams are notorious for emulating past winners and what we are seeing this year is 16 teams playing like Boston did last year. The league said that Boston's crap was acceptable last year and now is complaining when others play the same way.

Originally Posted by Bouché

I don't think that's the case at all.

I totally agree with Donnie D here. The amount of bullshit that BOS got away with set the starting tone for this season's play-offs and then the refs and Shanny didn't do anything to clamp down on players taking the dangerous play to the next level.

[Bouché]

Originally Posted by jaxbolt

Disagree all you want but when all is said and done it was his idea to send a message. From my POV Hossa had passed the puck, turned and skated a stride or two when he was hit. Should have been a charging call at least and probably a 5 for deliberate attempt to injure when he left his feet/skates to deliver the hit.

Torres makes that hit even if Shaw/Smith never happened.

Originally Posted by the_narrow_way

I totally agree with Donnie D here. The amount of bullshit that BOS got away with set the starting tone for this season's play-offs and then the refs and Shanny didn't do anything to clamp down on players taking the dangerous play to the next level.

Boston's antics were tame compared to many of things that have occurred in the first round this year. Do you honestly think Carkner, Weber, Neal, Torres, Hagelin etc. did what they did because of what Boston "got away with" last year, under a different disciplinarian no less?

[aapbolt]

Look at what they did to us last year, the sucker punches and no calls or suspensions. Horton throwing water on a fan and no call, they way Marty got beaten up against e craps and the bruins. All the cheap shots helped to give them an unfair advantage, which everyone else duly noted and filed away for future reference. Crap just the no calls during game 7 should have been enough to start that thought process, and don't forget Neal during our series, running Roli and a few other encounters he had with our guys. When guys get away with egregious fouls and there is no call, other guys think they can do the same thing.

[Sotnos]

Many teams try to emulate what won a team the Cup, I can think of several examples just since the lockout.

[Alex]

Over the last couple of days it seems the refs have started to control the games. Finally. Probably helps that Torres' decision still hasn't come down yet.

Now, granted, I'm not saying they're perfect, but they're at least back to the NHL standard.