Quote:
Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers
I guess I could see the argument that:
- it was an immediate response from a player on the ice
- fights started after big hits have become quite common, so to suspend him for this play would be reaching (although, I’m personally of the opinion that every fight that immediately follows a big hit should come with an instigator because it’s ridiculous).
But some consistency would be nice. It’s unfortunate how much grey area is deliberately written into the rule book.
|
All correct, but the NHL will never get anything right unless they start calling things the way they've written them. If you let 'maybe I'll get away with it' creep in, you get a goalie taking liberties with his fingers crossed.
As pointed out earlier, they gave Tkachuk 2 games for pestering someone who just ragdolled the defenseman he just dropped... but no discipline for that player coming
back onto the ice to fight him (also a suspension). If there was a time to relax on a rule (as they did in the same breath anyway...) that would have been one... but Tkachuk violated a rule and was punished.
If the rule is worth ignoring, it's a stupid rule and should be changed. Right now, it's just wondering if your blind grandmother will notice you sneaking out.
Terrible officiating will lead to an interesting re-match... so there's that!