To Err Is Human, To Forgive is Divine...

There was no further need to accelerate the vitriolic hate that permeates the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals rivalry. In this series, a new chapter to the Pens/Caps rivalry is written with many players switching teams. Capitals with 4 former Penguins while Pittsburgh has one key ex-Capital.

During game two, a face familiar to both teams had thrust himself into the national spotlight as Brooks Orpik had laid out young Finnish defenseman Olli Maatta. My first thoughts weren't of anger initially, but immediate concern for Maatta's well-being. Then the play was stopped as the NBC broadcast camera starts to pan in towards rubbery Maatta laying prone on the ice. He was KO'd before he even hit the ice surface. Once the whistle had sounded, I looked and expected the referee to motion towards the guilty forty-four for a long stay in the penalty box. None were forthcoming.

I guess once the initial shock had worn off, disappointment and disbelief arrived to find that a once respected hero athlete who wore the black & gold for many seasons delivered a vicious hit to a former teammate. People still wear Orpik's jersey to games and never quit mentioning the trivial origins of his first name as connections to a legendary Penguins coach. Orpik is remembered fondly in Pittsburgh as a rough and tough player who leveled Red Wings players with heavy bodychecks when appropriate. Now that he wears the enemy's colors, are Penguins fans forced to condemn and make hyperbolic statements about him? 

I could wildly speculate a little deeper to what might Orpik had been thinking. He had been playing Maatta closely, but swoops back in toward to set a huge hit well after the puck sailed far away. Did Orpik target Maatta knowing that he was made expendable in the Penguins organization? Was revenge on his mind? Or was there clearly no thought process at all?

Today, Orpik owned up to his actions while making a classy statement:

Orpik accepted responsibility for the head hit he delivered that injured Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta, saying his three-game suspension was “fair” and that he made a “pretty bad mistake.”

He then went on in reports to explain that he told the Capitals that the Penguins would buckle under the pressure if they played a strong body checking game. He'd seen it happen before.

But now that I've heard his reactions to the steep 3 playoff game suspension, I've settled with Orpik emotionally. I can't ever condone what he did to the young Penguins player who had already been beset with injuries, but the matter is settled and closure is achieved. I forgive Orpik's reckless play.

However...

It still leaves a few other directions to channel my disgust and anger. The referees who didn't call a penalty on Orpik and towards the Barry Trotz who suggested that the Penguins got preferential favoritism when the suspension was handed out. Trotz must have been channeling his inner- Stan Van Gundy. I recall Van Gundy tried to win "the war" of public opinion in the press by claiming that superstars always get the in-favor bias with the front office and officials.

The sensible thing would be that the inflammatory rhetoric Trotz used in his vague allegations would be laughed off, but in this case, he's looking to further incidents like this one in hopes that pressure might sway things back in their hands.

The referees made a mistake by not awarding this disastrous hit a 5-minute major penalty. At worst it's a match penalty. Did the referees decide or expect the Penguins to retaliate with hits of their own targeting their former player? Would justice be served by allowing Orpik to skate freely with a perennial target on his back? The more I think about the mistake the referees made, the angrier I get at surely having to listen to know-it-all pundits who feast on verbally pummeling the NHL for not taking better care of their players and doling out stricter penalties.

So, the Pens/Caps rivalry has yet another chapter forged between them in history. It's not like the playoffs weren't already raised up. But the rage-filled debate will yet again. For that, I can't tolerate another hit like Orpik's.

Breaking News: Ovechkin Latest "Shanaban" Victim

Brendan Shanahan, NHL's Vice President of Hockey and Business Development and head disciplinarian, has released the video explaining the reasons why the League chose to suspend NHL superstar Alex Ovechkin after a vicious hit to the head on his Penguin opponent during yesterday's high-profile nationally broadcast NBC game.

Watch the video and decide for yourself to see if you agree with their conclusions as well as suitable punishment. Then check out what I have to say about the hit as well as the reputation that should stick to Alex Ovechkin.
This type of behavior has been seen from him before. I don't know why many people chose to turn a blind eye toward his goonish style of play. It's as if the goal scoring trophies and the #1 overall status can inoculate himself against criticisms of his dirty play. He continually gets called "greatest player in the game today", yet would one of those qualifications to make him as such to be a cheap shotting thug? If Alex is the standard in which all players are measured, then this would make Sean Avery a hall-of-famer.

I don't think that the suspension went far enough for someone who is a repeat offender and for the amount of money (in the form of game paychecks) can be easily remade with "Ov8"'s budding rap career. For a person who makes over 100 million dollars, the fine is just pocket change.

What do you think of this hit and weather or not it was appropriate. Won't you please leave a comment below?

IP Address Implicates Montreal Canadians in BitTorrent Theft

The Montreal Canadians may face serious international copyright law violations after a law firm hired to find and contact people who have illegally downloaded the Oscar winning movie "The Hurt Locker".

Internet websites that provide a service to download files to their users within a network is in popular jargon called a "bittorrent". It's speedy technology of arranging the electronic information to be downloaded allows for big files like videos and long music files shared quickly and anonymously many times over within a short time period. This is how many disreputable people pirate software and Hollywood pictures without giving any monetary payment to the creators of the content.

So, in order to fight piracy, the movie studio Voltage Pictures have recently acquired the IP addresses from several Canadian communications companies. On it was several traceable numbers that could be allegedly attached to Bell Canada and computers used within the network of the NHL's Montreal Canadians.

But before those Habs-haters can start the Schadenfreude, according to the technology and legal experts, it is most likely that a large corporation will pay out fees to the studio and shield themselves with legal experts of their own.

It is highly likely that many individuals are able to obtain Internet access via 217.canadiens.com, the domain from which the infringement was allegedly logged. The problematic issue of pinning an infringement to an individual on a multiple access.

So, therefore, there isn't much to the story, but having this around goes to show the dangers of granting access to employees of big companies and how much people can abuse that privilege.

[Via: TorrentFreak

Ference Fined Financially For Finger

Andrew Ference, once a champion of freedom of speech for speaking out to the press regarding a teammate, now finds himself writing out a check after his self-expression directed at the Montreal fans attending the playoff game in Le Centre Bell.

Today, He was fined by the league $1,200 for his gesture deemed my most as "unsportsmanlike" and "obscene". The money goes towards the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

But later, Ference told the press denying any pre-planning in his fist pump and apologized. But here's the silliness and what makes it totally blog-worthy. His claim was that his glove got stuck in that position.

I've tried to recapture this same phenomenon, but came up with some interesting results I'll show later on.

[Via: TSN.ca]

NHL Resurges With New Plan On Concussion Plans

After having been pressured by a multitude of outside sources, the NHL today released a plan that intends to fix the very dangerous rising trend of concussions and adhere to clarity of player safety.

Even with the best of intentions, the collective NHL general managers are fighting against the rising tide of cynicism among fans and media. The League representatives at their best have trotted in front of any microphone and promised reprisals, but seemingly more and more players got hurt. I can feel the palpable negativity surrounding this latest plan.

Commissioner Gary Bettman again posed a rather eloquent, but still resembled rhetorical speak when he was quoted with this thought.

"There's no one single thing causing concussions," said Bettman. "There is no magic bullet to deal with this. I know that it's an emotional, intense subject, particularly for our fans. We get it. But dealing with this issue is not something you can do whimsically or emotionally."

Begging for patience when there is very little to be had among the fans, players, and media is but only ringing hollow in their ears. And just who did Commissioner Bettman try to appeal to here with that quote? Everyone?

Then the other stages of the meeting in Boca Raton, FL, revealed the line of thinking that the NHL top brass qualifies and quantified as the problem areas.

Of the approximately 80 concussions suffered by players in 2010-11, the NHL found that 44 per cent of those were caused by a legal hit. Another 26 per cent came on plays that were deemed accidental, 17 per cent were ruled to be the result of an illegal hit and eight per cent were suffered in fights.

The remaining five per cent couldn't be accounted for because they occurred on an undetected play.

So, the majority of hits came from legal plays as the rules stand now. But now, the solution is to fix that by making any and all shots to the head be deemed illegal. It seems fair, but how many players will second guess themselves if what they are about to do is legal? Hardest hitting is the several bullet points that came out of the GM discussion group.

• A pannel of ex-players to continue looking into the concussion issue.
• Shanahan to work on equipment construction rules.
• Fining teams' ownership for large quantities of suspensions.
• Getting an engineering team to construct a safer hockey rink structure while eliminating the dreaded "seamless glass" by next season.

I would have to say that this is a real positive step in the right direction. Even though I am mostly positive to the NHL's leadership, I wonder just how this will play out among fans and will the players buy into it as well.

After all, the true change is to the players themselves. The truest form of change will come with the player attitude and vast increase in the respect to their fellow player.

[Via: Rogers Sportsnet]

Chara Collision Causes Complaint Calamity

Hockey is a passion that unites millions of fans across the United States and Canada. We take our game seriously and instill civic pride in our teams as well as prepare the players in a code of conduct mold. When things don't go our way, a simple tragic event can be turned into an epic crime against humanity.

Such is the case with the Montreal fans upset that nothing more was made of the brutal Chara-Pacioretty collision a few days ago. The result of the hit caused Pacioretty to endure fractured neck and concussion. However, the NHL chose not to pursue any further disciplinary actions against the Bruins captain, Chara.

Almost immediately, according to the Canadian Press story, calls to the Montreal police dispatch demanded that something be done with Chara criminally while urging an investigation.

Police say their emergency call centre started getting flooded around 4 p.m. -- after the NHL announced its decision. A spokesman said police suspected the calls were inspired by a local media outlet that suggested the idea. The police spokesman described the gesture as "irresponsible" -- and he urged Montrealers to keep the emergency line free for actual life-and-death matters.

In the heat of the matter, I could understand why Montreal fans would be so enraged by this. But clogging up the phone lines could have cost the police crucial time in preventing an actual crime.

"Someone in the media has been telling people to call the police to complain," said Sgt. Ian Lafreniere of the Montreal police. "This shows a serious lack of responsibility."

But the real crime is still the broken body of Pacioretty who could lose his career after what is most certainly going to be a long recovery. The sobering moment when a player is carted off on a gurney makes players, pundits, fans, and league officials meditate on something that is deeply embedded within the escalating violence.

Pacioretty, 22, was the Canadiens’ second choice (22nd overall) in the 2007 entry draft. The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder, a native of New Canaan, Connecticut, has been one of the team’s best players this season, with 14 goals and 24 points in 37 games.

[Via: Rogers Sportsnet and National Post ]

Penguins and Islanders Punished for Game Fighting

When the National Hockey League doles out the disciplinary actions, I am sure they hope that they are doing the right thing and making the right decisions. Now that "shots to the head" is seen as a hot-button issue, the recent debacle of a game between the New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins have pushed the tolerance for such violent behaviors to it's limits.

Now the NHL's "hockey code" is once again under the scrutiny microscope as it attempts to move on from the thuggish stereotype. No matter how many times it's sliced up, the solution to the problem is never accepted by 100% of the fans or expert pundits. The punishment for the behavior on the ice between the Penguins and the frustrated Islanders will be debated for weeks, I am sure. It's often seen as arbitrary with the amount of lengthy suspensions and weather or not the suspensions actually serve as a deterrent.

In what was surely an attempt to avenge the poor showing against the Penguins back on February 2nd, the New York Islanders were geared up to fight from the opening face-off. After the game, New York was served with lengthy suspension as well as a walet-warping fine.

The NHL suspended New York Islanders forwards Trevor Gillies for nine games and Matt Martin for four while slapping the club with a US$100,000 fine late Saturday night for their actions in a fight-filled win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

What was balanced out in this scenario, the Pittsburgh Penguins also were wrist slapped by suspending enforcer Eric Goddard 10 games for leaving the bench during a fight to join in. There is no real controversy here as the punishment doled out by the discipline arm of the NHL seems they were trying to be fair and consistent with enforcing the rules as they understand them.

[Via: Rogers Sportsnet]

Cooke Causes Colision and Cacophony of Calous Critics

The NHL's poster-boy for what they think that's all that's wrong with the sport, Pittsburgh Penguin Matt Cooke, has immediately channeled the full ire of many fans who dislike his overly aggressive style of play. During a recent game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, veteran defensman Fedor Tyutin skated back to his own zone to play the puck. But he was quickly made to feel the force of Cooke's body slam into him at full speed. The result was a catastrophic hit that not only looked monstrous, but something that would be worth a lengthy suspension.

Attempting to back up the latest rhetoric about being tough on players who recklessly pass up the safety for others, the NHL decided to lower the boom on Matt Cooke and suspend him for 4 games.

"It's the league's decision," he said. "They assess every hit and every play. That's their ruling."

It's a ho-hum or been-there-done-that response from one of the most villainous current NHL players. Most times, Cooke brings it on himself, but he's got a reputation now, so can it be possible that other teams can exploit the potential meltdown.

In the FSN Pittsburgh broadcast, the one that has almost made itself into a mini-viral video, it was conveniently cut out that the slow-motion cameras that showed apparent victim Fedor Tyutin had turned his head back before playing the puck, then turns his back to the on-coming Cooke, right in time to be delivered the hit. Did Tyutin position himself to draw the major penalty?

Given that additional information, it is quite easy to get fans' dander up and rabble rouse against Matt Cooke for what he did. But if you get the whole story... then the big picture palette looks more palpable.

[Via: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

Ducks Named as Defendants in Discrimination Suit

A startling news story across the continental States is the lawsuit filed by former Anaheim Ducks player Jason Bailey alleges he suffered many forms of anti-semitic discrimination while under contract with the southern California based NHL franchise. Baily's claim is that he was buried in the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors and received terrible comments by the coaching staff.

After Bailey complained to management, he was sent to the [AHL} Iowa Chops, where he didn't play either, according to a copy of the lawsuit.

Which again is another slap in the face because as it was first mentioned when the now-defunct AHL team was in it's one and only year in existence, pork chops aren't kosher.

Alex Gilchrist, a spokesman for the Ducks, declined to comment on the suit. A message seeking comment was left for the Condors.

You would think that now in 2011, sports people would be beyond the hateful talk. But with this news story, it's just another example that racism is alive and well.
NBC Sports

Devils Fined Heavily For Offensive Kovalchuk Contract

The hammer of justice slammed down hard like thunder against the New Jersey Devils for the contract that had been ruled in violation of the spirit of the collective bargaining agreement. The $102M contract paid over the length of an improbable 17 years was a sticking point to the growing agitation between the mistrust of owners and even NHL front office. It became somewhat of a buck-passing event in the media weather who would get the PR blame because of it.

As a result, the Devils will pay a hefty fine and forfeit their third-round draft pick in 2011 and a first-round selection in one of the next four drafts -- New Jersey will choose which one.

So, the latest missile fired across the bow of the owners is the NHL fining the New Jersey Devils. This latest decision, I think, makes a clear and awesome picture of the NHL is in control and driving the league in the direction that it is going.

I don't know if this is going to complicate things for the NHLPA and the next CBA coming up. But if a player can take on a huge PR hit from the decision to accept the maximum of what a general manager is willing to give him, then will players be a little gun-shy with the public and media accessibility.

There is an alternate theory as to how the true feelings of the majority of the players might be resentful of elite stars taking more of the "salary pie" than what 3rd liners and other players. So, could this be leveling out the escalating and divisive salary structure help the relationship privately between Commissioner Bettman and the NHL players.

"We were today advised of the ruling by the commissioner with respect to the Kovalchuk matter," Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said in a statement Monday night. "We disagree with the decision. We acted in good faith and did nothing wrong. We will have no further comment."

It does sound like it has driven a wedge between Gary and Lou though.

The ruling makes the cost of signing Kovalchuk much more than the $100 million he agreed to in a revamped 15-year deal that was approved by the NHL earlier this month.

No, the real penalty comes with the 15+ years of post-season futility with "Kovalchick" and his weak playoff appearances.

[Via: Rogers Sportsnet.ca]

Ovechkin Gets Two Game Suspension

One of the dirtiest players in the modern NHL era has once again escaped justice with assessing a two game suspension. His latest victim of his irresponsible goonery, BlackHawks defenseman Brian Campbell, will most likely lose the rest of the season due to broken ribs and a broken shoulder.

People like me and the rest of the blogisphere have screamed to the heavens about how reckless Ovechkin plays. Perhaps it is his preformed cranium that makes him not know any better, but what are the excuses that his fans make for his behavior? It worries me that Ovechkin's fans continue to enable him collectively as the ostrich heads in the sand. I've seen Capitals fans who make "Free Alex" signs, who minimize the hit and somehow blame the victim, and some fans around the Internet have even shamefully endorsed Ovechkin's shove. What else bothers me is that now Ovie's coach is quoted with sticking up and invoked a name that doesn't belong in this incident.

"If this was Sidney Crosby doing this, everybody outside of Pittsburgh would have cried foul: 'Suspend him for the year,"' Boudreau said. "I don't think it does the game any good to have Alex suspended."

Perhaps Coach Budrueau has begun to drink the Grape Flavor-aide in the locker-room by irresponsibly suggesting that Ovechkin should get preferential treatment.

I didn't think I could dislike the Washington Capitals less than what I already did, but they found a way.

But don't worry, I don't think that Ovechkin has yet lowered himself to the sociopath levels of a Steve Downie, but pretty soon, Ovechkin's next victim may never be able to pick him or herself off the ice

[Via: Fox Sports]

Janssen Suspended For Event Weeks Later

It isn't necessarily the decision that makes this a little controversial, but the timing of it. The 5 game suspension (and subsequent forfeit of salary) came many days later after the offending play. The standard reaction time to the NHL front offices is usually 24 hours or less.

Janssen will forfeit $14,248 per game, and the money will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

I think they were trying to scoot this one under the rug because of the recent attention to headshots and physical violence.

[Via: Yahoo! Sports]

Ovechkin Suspended For Agressive Hit

Those of us who belong to a segment of the NHL fans who know what Ovechkin really is has finally breathed a sigh of relief and proclaim to the heavens "IT'S ABOUT TIME!"

The NHL has suspended (albeit grudgingly) Alex Ovechkin 2 games for his careless knee-on-knee hit on Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Tim Gleason. Even though the hit did not cause severe damage to Gleason, this was not the first time that Ovechkin has made a hit like that. If you've followed my blog to this point, the repeated history of the carelessness that Ovechkin continues to show will only increase to a point where somebody breaks a neck or other critical body part.

The controversial nature of this story is only as controversial as the Russian Ovechkin already portrays himself. It put the league in quite a bind to have to suspend one of the league's consistent leading scorers. He's also got a legion of lemming fans that devote some truly blind allegiance to him.

And if this doesn't get you riled up, look at the way that Ovechkin reacts to the Gleason hit.

"It's not a bad injury," Ovechkin said. "I thought it was going to be worse, but thank God I can walk, I can skate. Of course, it's a little bit sore, but it's not that serious."

No mention in that sentence is he at all concerned with his opponent. It's all about him. It's like his selfishness knows no bounds.

Ovechkin should take the advice of Mark Specktor, with his column at Rogers Sportsnet:

What we’re seeing now is Ovechkin beginning to cross the line from aggressive superstar to a kamikaze hitter who can’t handle the fact that he is going to miss sometimes....If Ovechkin wants to run around and throw the big hit, fine. But if he can’t learn to pass up a hit — like on Gleason, who saw him coming and was about to side step the check — then NHL discipline czar Colin Campbell will be forced to step in again.

And I hope that the next step is Ovechkin being banned for life from the NHL!

[Via: Rogers Sportsnet and Spector @ Sportsnet]

Pronger Suspended In Violent Act

Chris Pronger decided to do his best Chris Simon imitation and stomp on Ryan Kesler during Wednesday Nights game against the Canucks. Today, the NHL threw out an eight game suspension at Pronger which will hurt the Ducks in the remaining games this season before the playoffs. Pronger is a huge loss to the surging Ducks who are trying to defend their Stanley Cup championship.

The decision came after Pronger had a phone hearing with NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell on Saturday afternoon. "In attempting to free himself, Pronger carelessly and recklessly brought his foot down," Campbell said in a league statement.

But as many bloggers around the country are talking about is the comparisons to the games lost in the Chris Simon case and Pronger's It was my understanding that in Simon's case, he was a repeat offender exhibiting serious anger issues. But even though Pronger's style of physical play hasn't lead him to Simon-esque levels, Pronger was suspended in the playoffs last year for a body check (including a double team with #44) deemed too violent.

As nothing can be done now to erase the images of stomping on somebody with a skate, the continuing debate now is just how consistent the NHL mites out its punishment for repeat offenders. Simon gets a season ban while Pronger gets 8 games.

[Via: TSN.ca]

Laying Down the Law & Order

As the NHL has slipped further and further into irrelevancy with the mainstream drive-by media, here is something that may start the four-letter network talking about the NHL again.

In case you missed it, Chris Pronger has been suspended by the NHL for his hit from behind on Tomas Holmstrom of the Red Wings. The hit was caught on tape and it's making it's way around the television media and everyone seems to agree that this is the stuff that needs to be eliminated from the game. But as the old saying goes, it takes two to tango.

Who is that other guy in the photo? Yes, this controversial hit is a threesome. If Pronger gets a game suspension for the hit, why doesn't Niedermayer?

[Via: Yahoo! Sports]