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Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan
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To me, this is really similar in essence to the goalie interference / goalie running penalty. A forward may get pushed or may have his momentum towards a goalie in the course of driving the net, but it doesn't mean the goalie is fair game. The player still has to make some effort to avoid the goalie and if he doesn't, he gets a penalty.
Wideman really didn't look like he made any effort at all to get out of the way or to lessen the impact on the linesman. It may be that Wideman was too dazed and thought it was a Predator or it could just be that Wideman is just really really stupid, and based on his decisions on the ice, I think that is entirely possible.
This is also similar to a careless high sticking penalty. Yes, the player may not have intended to high stick, but he is still responsible for this stick, intentional or not.
I don't think a 10 game suspension is warranted, but I think Wideman should get some kind of penalty for just carelessness or stupidity. Maybe a game or a fine.