Shawn Thornton cheapshot on B. Orpik - gets 15 games

[strombad]

The aftermath aside, that hit Orpik laid out was pretty clearly interference. The puck isn't even heading to Ericsson, he's reaching out, it just BARELY bounces off his stick, and he gets laid out.

A "pick" is defined as moving into the path of a player without the puck and issuing a check. This was clearly a pick. It's legal to stop your body movement in order to initiate a collision, but Orpik was moving in the path of Loui.

The hit itself was a "clean" in the sense that it didn't target the head, but it was also interference and a penalty should've been issued. Possession or body position negates interference. Loui never had possession, and Orpik never had body position.

Personally, Orpik got unlucky in the aftermath, but I don't know that he didn't deserve at least part of what he had coming to him.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by strombad

Personally, Orpik got unlucky in the aftermath, but I don't know that he didn't deserve at least part of what he had coming to him.

No, he didn't deserve any of what happened any more than any other player who got away with an infraction deserves that. I will never hesitate to blame a player for getting clocked because they weren't paying attention to their surroundings. But a slew foot and sucker punch is not something that should ever be rationalized away.

[SuperMatt18]

Yeah nothing wrong with the Orpik hit outside of the result.

Erikson played the puck, even though it was just a glancing touch that still counts as possession.

In a big game against a rival that is a play you expect the dman to make.

The Neal hit was the worst IMO and he deserves a 10 game suspension for that. Just a slimy, dirty play from Neal.

Thornton play was just stupid on his part and he will get a long suspension for that.

[Leondros]

Originally Posted by strombad

Personally, Orpik got unlucky in the aftermath, but I don't know that he didn't deserve at least part of what he had coming to him.

This type of ignorant thuggery is what is wrong with the game. This would be battery in our society, plain and simple. I don't care how hard Thornton hit him, he still hit him in the jaw, leading to the KO. Disgusting. If Orpik had have been a willing participant this would be different.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

No, he didn't deserve any of what happened any more than any other player who got away with an infraction deserves that. I will never hesitate to blame a player for getting clocked because they weren't paying attention to their surroundings. But a slew foot and sucker punch is not something that should ever be rationalized away.

Originally Posted by Leondros

This type of ignorant thuggery is what is wrong with the game. This would be battery in our society, plain and simple. I don't care how hard Thornton hit him, he still hit him in the jaw, leading to the KO. Disgusting. If Orpik had have been a willing participant this would be different.

Calm yourselves gents. As I said, I don't know that he didn't deserve part of what came to him.

Does that mean he deserved a slew foot and a sucker punch? Absolutely not.

Does it mean he absolutely had to answer for illegally checking a star player and causing injury? Yes, that's hockey.

I'm not defending that thug Thorton, so chill out.

[Stay Golden]

Orpik should have received 5 and out of the game for that deliberate hit to Erikkson's head. It has since been proven Erikkson never even touched the puck.
That was less than 1 min into the game and clearly Orpik was sending some sort of message to the Bruins.
Orpik is a known head hunter. Just ask the Isles in last years playoffs.
The refs ignored the hit even though Erikkson is laying out on the ice.

The Bruins are already angry about the hit then you have a real filthy play by Neil and he gets 2 min for that. Seriously only 2 min. I don't believe in decades of hockey i have ever seen a player clip another player that is on the ice with his leg.
Now Thornton comes unglued and seeks out Orpik knocks him out with 2-3 quick dirty shots to his chin as he is going to the ice.
On replay the 2nd shot i believe knocked him out.
The refs allowed the situation to escalate by only giving Neil 2 min. That was clearly an intent to injure as was the Orpik hit.

What i think should be doled out for suspensions.

Thornton 10 games.
Neil 7 games.
Orpik 3 games.

What will likely happen.

Thornton 6 games
Neil 3 games
Orpik the instigator of this chain of events. Nothing.

How Convenient Crosby didn't get a tripping call on Marchant.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by strombad

Does it mean he absolutely had to answer for illegally checking a star player and causing injury? Yes, that's hockey.

Was the check penalized?

Has Orpik received supplemental discipline?

It appears the league and the refs on the night disagree with your opinion.

IMO, it was a legal clean check, In My Opinion.

Setting aside our differing opinions on the check.

Is it your believe that the check was illegal that requries a fight?

[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Orpik should have received 5 and out of the game for that deliberate hit to Erikkson's head. It has since been proven Erikkson never even touched the puck.

Shoulder to shoulder, elbows down, feet on ice at point of contact, no strides taken prior to the hit, and the puck was in Eriksson's immediate vicinity. Orpik goes straight through him. That hit is basically perfect. In a game that moves at the speed of NHL hockey you really can't get a guy better than that.

You sound like a pink hat.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Orpik should have received 5 and out of the game for that deliberate hit to Erikkson's head. It has since been proven Erikkson never even touched the puck.

Proven by who, exactly? The video seems to show that the puck certainly touched something. And you can clearly see how Eriksson's body profile changed before thie hit. If Orpik was trying to hit his head, he would have missed since Eriksson was significantly lower by then.

QUOTE] That was less than 1 min into the game and clearly Orpik was sending some sort of message to the Bruins[/QUOTE]

Big hits are usually intended to send a message, yes.

Orpik is a known head hunter. Just ask the Isles in last years playoffs.
The refs ignored the hit even though Erikkson is laying out on the ice.

Whether Eriksson is lying on the ice is irrelevant. The refs deemed the hit clean. The NHL seems to agree.

The Bruins are already angry about the hit then you have a real filthy play by Neil and he gets 2 min for that. Seriously only 2 min. I don't believe in decades of hockey i have ever seen a player clip another player that is on the ice with his leg.

While all of that may or may not be true, none of that has anything to do with Thornton's unacceptable actions.

Now Thornton comes unglued and seeks out Orpik knocks him out with 2-3 quick dirty shots to his chin as he is going to the ice.
On replay the 2nd shot i believe knocked him out.
The refs allowed the situation to escalate by only giving Neil 2 min. That was clearly an intent to injure as was the Orpik hit.

The refs may have let the situation escalate but it was still Thornton's decision to do what he did.

What i think should be doled out for suspensions.

Thornton 10 games.
Neil 7 games.
Orpik 3 games.

What will likely happen.

Thornton 6 games
Neil 3 games
Orpik the instigator of this chain of events. Nothing.

The only instigator of Thornton's actions is Thornton.

How Convenient Crosby didn't get a tripping call on Marchant.

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

Shoulder to shoulder, elbows down, feet on ice at point of contact, no strides taken prior to the hit, and the puck was in Eriksson's immediate vicinity. Orpik goes straight through him. That hit is basically perfect. In a game that moves at the speed of NHL hockey you really can't get a guy better than that.

You sound like a pink hat.

Eriksson never touches the puck it is near him. Contact shoulder to chin. I will take former NHL long time player Retro's opinion. Orpik knew what he was going to do as soon as the puck was rimmed around the boards he was going to unleash on the unaware Erikkson.
What the hell is a pink hat? For the record i am glad Orpik was beaten it is just unfortunate he was ko'd in the process. Just like Rhett said when a guy lays out another teams player like that he knows he is going to have to drop the gloves. Orpik wouldn't because he is a creep. He is too valuable to PIT bla bla bla. That old saying you hit the bull you get the horns.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

It appears the league and the refs on the night disagree with your opinion.

Not a good defence given how many blatant infractions they have ignored this week alone. Most notably, and inexcusably, Phaneuf's check from behind last night.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Not a good defence given how many blatant infractions they have ignored this week alone. Most notably, and inexcusably, Phaneuf's check from behind last night.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=695094

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf will have a hearing Tuesday morning with the NHL's Department of Player safety for a hit on Boston Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller during a game Sunday night at Air Canada Centre.

Listen I will not take on the battle to defend the NHL's wheel of justice.


So the option is to leave it up to players to decide, while on the ice? I think we now how that will end up.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I think this post is generally pretty bang on. This is an interesting situation for me. I agree that Thronton needed to show more disipline and wait for an opportunity more appropriate to stick up for his team. That said, from a personal point of view, what Thronton did, didn't really make me think that much less of him. I actually thought he wasn't trying to "destroy" Orpik. The way he through Orpik down / slew footed him, along with the lack of vigor IMO he had behind his punches leads me to believe he wasn't trying to serioulsy injure Orpik. He didn't drive him into the ground, he didn't wrecklessly smack his head against the ice or even take close to half the wind up he could have when punching Orpik. Honestly think Orpik got really unlucky and Thronton must have just caught him right on the button.

One of the most ridiculous things I have ever read. Orpik was attacked from behind and knocked out cold and now can't play due to a concussion. The act was about as reckless as it gets, especially considering it happened long after a clean hit (yes it was clean according to the rules). And you say the intent was not to "seriously injure" so what was it? Just hurt him moderately? How can he be so precise? The answer is he can't.

And honestly it doesn't make a lick of difference what Thornton was "trying" to do that is no excuse, it was a cowardly and gutless act that has no place in hockey.

BTW, for anyone that says Thornton was simply sticking up for his teammates and that what he did was not so bad. Thornton himself disagrees.

[Phanuthier]

Just caught this after a weekend.....wow. Orpik gets to thank his idiot teammate for getting hurt. I guess sometimes, if your idiot teammate pulls a cheap move, you'll end up being part of cross fire.

As for Thornton... maybe its just me but I see guys get thrown down like that during scrums a lot. Not sure I see a major intent to injure...... James Neal's knee was more intentional.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Just caught this after a weekend.....wow. Orpik gets to thank his idiot teammate for getting hurt. I guess sometimes, if your idiot teammate pulls a cheap move, you'll end up being part of cross fire.

.

Sorry you lost me here.....

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Sorry you lost me here.....

I think he's saying Neal's knee made Thornton go loco, not necessarily the hit.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Just caught this after a weekend.....wow. Orpik gets to thank his idiot teammate for getting hurt. I guess sometimes, if your idiot teammate pulls a cheap move, you'll end up being part of cross fire.

As for Thornton... maybe its just me but I see guys get thrown down like that during scrums a lot.

Really? Post a lot of examples of players being slew footed to the ice and punched in the head.

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I think he's saying Neal's knee made Thornton go loco, not necessarily the hit.

Then why go after Orpik specifically?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I think he's saying Neal's knee made Thornton go loco, not necessarily the hit.

Ah, thanks.

[calumniate]

Neal just got handed five games. Like it!

[Saqe]

5 games for Neil is pretty solid