Flyers, Penguins, set hockey back several years

[Bluzmann57]

Just when seemingly more and more people are trying to watch NHL, the Flyers and Penguins had a spectacle like the Sunday "game", in which there were 12 goals scored, and about as many fights. I think the capper was when a guy from the Flyers had his hair pulled by someone from the Penguins after squaring off at center ice, apparently with the blessing of the refs.
As a guy who is trying to get into hockey, I certainly hope the NHL takes drastic action against all these thuggish actions. But I doubt if they will.

[Renew Deal]

1. I disagree

I think this is what hockey is in many cases. Fights are part of the game. They always should be. And I don't think it negatively effects the audience.

[Ptah]

2. NHL - - Stooges on ice

[Union Scribe]

13. They should just hand the refs pom poms. nt

[caraher]

3. The thing about the NHL taking action...

is that it ultimately comes down to what the players decide. In the Wings-Predators series, Game 1 ended with Shea Weber smashing Henrik Zetterburg's face into the glass. The league looked at it and chose to levy a $2500 fine rather than suspend a star player even 1 game. Fine.

So early in game 2, Todd Bertuzzi fought Weber. It wasn't much of a fight but it was enough for each to draw a 5 minute fighting major. And that's basically the end of the story. Not a terrible outcome, overall. Often one fight is all it takes to relieve tensions on both sides, and after that they start playing hockey again.

Now things like that opening faceoff brawl are certainly an embarrassment. Sending a defenseman out to take the opening draw just isn't even trying to respect the game...

[Joe Shlabotnik]

4. I thought it was great for a change

Too bad the regular season is so bland, sanitized and G rated. It was far better in decades past.

[opiate69]

5. personally, I'm more bothered by the 12 goals in the game...

I know Bettman's been trying to turn the NHL into the NBA for years now. As someone who's played and watched hockey for over 30 years now, I would much rather watch a tight, low-scoring game with outstanding goaltending than the "street hockey" stylings we usually see in the All-Star games.

[Lucy Goosey]

6. The inconsistency is troubling.

3 game suspension for Hagelin, but nothing for Weber? Hagelin hit my favourite player (Alfie! Alfie!) but I can't see why Weber doesn't deserve the same penalty for his treatment of Zetterberg.

And, yeah, no playoff game should ever be 8 - 2. Way too high a score.



...(Go Sens!)

[JonLP24]

7. I disagree

and the NHL will take action on the dirty shit.

[Becka2515]

8. Please give me a break

The Flyers have been kicking the Pens butts up and down the ice the last two games and playing like true sportsmen, then the stinking pens get all frustrated from the butt whooping they are receiving and start acting like animals. If Ashem (sp) doesn't get suspended then this game is truly broken.

[JonLP24]

9. I mostly agree

The reason I say mostly is because there was just one thing that the Flyers did wrong which was giving Crosby that shove to the back of the neck-head area which started little fighting but quickly died down. After that it was all what you described, Crosby pulled a dick move and knocked that player's glove away as he was picking it up(that would start a fight in all sports) and that started the major fight scene I'm sure the OP is referring to. Then not long after there was that Pens player that took a swing to the back of someone's head as he was laying on the ice over a CLEAN hit. If that was Ashem that did that punch he most certainly should get suspended.

[Swede]

10. Did you see all the fans with their backs facing the game?

Neither did I. It's Stanley Cup playoff hockey,the most gruelling test in sport. Enjoy.

[Union Scribe]

12. Apparently the "gruelling" part isn't playing D.

I followed hockey years ago but now I can't do anything but roll my eyes at it. The only thing missing is Michael Buffer introducing each parody of a fight.

[Chan790]

11. This would be a problem...

except NHL hockey was better several years ago.

They just don't make them like Gordie Howe anymore...you know what a Gordie Howe hat-trick is?

A goal, an assist then you go out and clobber some guy in a fight. Howe may have been the best, most-complete player in the history of the NHL...but that guy never, not-once, was in the running for the Lady Byng Trophy, given for "gentlemanly play."

[Swede]

14. Hockey has never been better.

The kids are giants and in great shape. You ever watch one of those old games. SLOW slow slow. Today's game is fast,the checks harder,the shots harder (thanks to the carbon fiber sticks).

In the old days,they would actually drink beer between periods. They never stayed in shape in the summer and would come back fat and out of shape. Now they come back in better shape than when the left.

[Chan790]

15. There is that.

I remember as a kid hearing about how Mario Lemieux used to chain-smoke between periods because the NHL told him he couldn't smoke on the bench. It's amusing to think of a professional athlete being a habitual smoker.