[PGT] Flames 5 Bruins 2

[Toonage]

Jankowski looked rough, but what was up with James Neal? He botched that 5 on 3 by himself basically. 3 great chances, 3 whiffs.

Its early, so I'm not panicking or anything but he's starting to draw my concern.

[Matty81]

I don't think it was malicious intent but the main point of contact was clearly the head. And with his elbow no less.

I think he should get 1 game.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Gaudreau's face impacts between the 73 and the shoulder yoke.

Which by definition can't be an elbow.

It's a tough play between two players with a significant size disparity. I don't know how one can argue that's targeted.

Edit: zoom in on the bottom Gif. McAvoy's elbow is on Johnny's left shoulder. It's not an elbow to the head.

[FlamesFanTrev]

Originally Posted by IamNotKenKing

I agree Peters is looking great, and he made a great challenge, but there is nothing to suggest Gulutzan would save his challenge. He might not have used timeouts like many wanted, but he did challenge offside and goalie interference.

And how many challenges went his way? I can't think of one, considering that he never used timeouts in order to have that option. So far, Peters has used a timeout successfully to rally the troops in the first period to great effect, and won a successful challenge to call back a goal. I would say it's vastly different in a small sample size.

[FlamesFanTrev]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Yeah that's a dirty hit. He lifted his body to make contact with the head.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by FlamesFanTrev

Yeah that's a dirty hit. He lifted his body to make contact with the head.

Where

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Jankowski looked rough, but what was up with James Neal? He botched that 5 on 3 by himself basically. 3 great chances, 3 whiffs.

Its early, so I'm not panicking or anything but he's starting to draw my concern.

I think Chara got his stick on the biggest chance (a reason for having a RHS on that side, because it's farther for the D to reach). The second one I can recall was on the passer - it wasn't even close to Neal, who was wide open. I can't remember a third whiff.

They really didn't play it well as a group. I think you should be moving those defenders around and to the perimeter and then quickly creating a fast down low play across the net.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Gaudreau's face impacts between the 73 and the shoulder yoke.

Which by definition can't be an elbow.

It's a tough play between two players with a significant size disparity. I don't know how one can argue that's targeted.

You are sure trying hard to defend the hit. Looks late and intentional to me, clearly the puck is in the corner.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Gaudreau's face impacts between the 73 and the shoulder yoke.

Which by definition can't be an elbow.

It's a tough play between two players with a significant size disparity. I don't know how one can argue that's targeted.

Edit: zoom in on the bottom Gif. McAvoy's elbow is on Johnny's left shoulder. It's not an elbow to the head.

Even if you are right (which I don't see) about the initial contact, he follows through with the elbow, driving through JG's head.

[Toonage]

May have just been the two, I'd have to go back and look but in my head I swore there was a 3rd example. Anyway to me he looks almost disinterested which worries me a little. I read a few people saying that Neal is a slow starter. He lead the Knights in goals early last season and came out of the gate hot. Every linemate he had last year was a new one. No excuses can be applied here that weren't relevant last season.

Maybe I'm gun shy because the last big money free agent RW took the money and put his feet up. We'll see, but the early returns aren't great.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Gaudreau's face impacts between the 73 and the shoulder yoke.

Which by definition can't be an elbow.

It's a tough play between two players with a significant size disparity. I don't know how one can argue that's targeted.

Edit: zoom in on the bottom Gif. McAvoy's elbow is on Johnny's left shoulder. It's not an elbow to the head.

Its late. Elbow, no elbow, whatever, its really late. The puck is long gone.

If you're clearing an attacker out of your crease thats one thing, but you cant even say that because the puck is nowhere when he gets hit.

If that puck is still on Johnny's stick then this is a different conversation. But it isnt, so that makes the hit late and unnecessary.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

Your sure trying hard to defend the hit. Looks late and intentional to me, clearly the puck is in the corner.

I'm defending the hit because if the situation is reversed I want my defenseman to hit that player.

It's interference. It was called interference. Enough.

[Huntingwhale]

I've actually noticed that Johnny has been getting clocked quite a bit lately, and that's a bit concerning. Before this season, you could count the big hits against him on one hand. This season, pretty much every game he's taken a huge hit that's laid him out and he's slow to get up. Now there is a legit concern that he might have gotten concussed.

You never want to see this happen to any player. But at the same time he has a target on his back on every opposing team's whiteboard. Because Gaudreau is so elusive, opposing players try to play him extra hard, and hit to hurt. The hit last night was awkward, as when Rask made the save his pad pressed against Gaudreau's stick and caused his body to spin and take the hit head on. Also have to keep in mind that McCovoy just got danced around, so you can be sure he had a bit of extra steam coming at Gaudreau.

I'm not sure if Gaudreau is taking more hits because he thinks he can power through players, or he just hasn't been hit so often in the past that he's a bit more passive and unaware. But hopefully this is a wake-up call for him that he needs to constantly have his head on a swivel and be aware where players are on the ice.

Then again, maybe it's the universe finally balancing itself out since he's rarely gotten hit in the past. He's obviously still an elite talent and usually the best player on the ice. But the hits he's taken this season are a bit concerning to me.

[Royle9]

Don't like the hit relevant to the puck position and the fact that he accelerates through the hit with his form arm targeted to the face/head.

This isn't a shot to the should or "crest" of the Jersey this is specifically forarm to head and McAvoy's head is up the entire time. He knows what he's doing.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

I'm defending the hit because if the situation is reversed I want my defenseman to hit that player.

It's interference. It was called interference. Enough.

And I totally agree....if the puck is somewhere dangerous.

In this instance it is not.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Even if you are right (which I don't see) about the initial contact, he follows through with the elbow, driving through JG's head.

No he doesn't. At the follow through, McAvoy's elbow is on Johnny's left shoulder.

It can't be both there and following through at the head.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Even if you are right (which I don't see) about the initial contact, he follows through with the elbow, driving through JG's head.

Johnny is a small player, I don't think it is at all fair to suggest this was a dirty hit when leveled against someone average sized, would have done next to no damage. It sucks that this may result in an injury, but really there is nothing wrong with this hit aside from maybe being a little late. Inferring this is a head-shot is nothing more than a witch hunt, there was no intent to make the head a primary point of contact. It's a fast, contact sport. These things happen.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Johnny is a small player, I don't think it is at all fair to suggest this was a dirty hit when leveled against someone average sized, would have done next to no damage. It sucks that this may result in an injury, but really there is nothing wrong with this hit aside from maybe being a little late.

Well....its really late. The puck isnt even in the frame.

Timing your hits is part of hitting and if you're late its a penalty.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Locke

And I totally agree....if the puck is somewhere dangerous.

In this instance it is not.

Do you think any NHL defensemen is looking for the puck when the other team's best player is alone at the doorstep and looking in his own skates for his rebound?

[Darkknight]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

I'm defending the hit because if the situation is reversed I want my defenseman to hit that player.

It's interference. It was called interference. Enough.

It was also a hit with the principle point of contact being the head which is exactly what they are trying to get out of the game. In my opinion this is a worse hit than the one on Petterson. If that was worth a suspension, than so is this.