This kind of on-ice behaviour is only getting worse in my mind. Players have lost any respect for their peers or the rules of the game, as they see how subjective any disciplinary action has become by this joke of a league. I am not saying it is just the Penguins that get special treatment, there is a complete double standard when it comes to a lot of players/teams in the NHL, and as for meting out punishment, it is a complete crapshoot. I know the Habs are lacking size and have sacrificed a lot of physicality for speed in the new style of game, but I would still never want any of these players on my team.
I'm not trying to defend Thornton's actions here, even if they were obviously in the heat of the moment. He's not know to be a dirty player at all. Still, he should have shown some restraint when Orpik went down (and that's about as sympathetic as I'll ever be towards Orpik). The MEDIA wants fighting out of hockey but this is a strong case for definitely keeping it in and settling on ice instead of letting games get out of hand. I say media because hockey fans, hockey players, and the NHL for the most part want it kept in. Media loves to make this a pc world where everyone is safe- no risk and no aggression involved- I say bullshit to that. What is a common thread with these incidents though? The Pittsburgh Penguins. Now I know everyone will say I'm biased because I absolutely loath them, but I've watched a lot of Pens games over the years and the league really needs to step up to their management and say look "Enough of this cheap shot shit!" So many of their games get out of hand because they do something dirty and refuse to fight when the other teams say WTF! The Habs/Bruins rivalry is pretty intense but rarely do you see those games get out of hand like this one.
Come on Brad Marchand? Guy is an agitator I'll give you that, but not a "dirty ending people's career thug". Subban can be really dirty but he's not killing people on the ice. I'd put them in the same category, although I'm sure it will outrage Habs fans.
They also attended the same school of how to go down on the ice. Though I think Marchand may have just barely eked out some higher grades. Subban's antics are a real shame actually, because he could be such a great all around player. I have seen too many players have the career limited by egos (especially on the Habs). I thought he was really trying to smarten up his play and push for a spot on the olympic roster, but it seems he that only lasted a few weeks and he grew impatient.
More carnage from that game-Kelly out with a broken leg for 6 weeks because of this dirtbag Dupuis (nice two handed slash!): Need I say more why I absolutely hate the Pens? You could suit up a team of Nazi's and I'd root for them over the Pens. Dirtiest fucks ever. Well guess what? We have excellent depth and even down 5 regular players we rolled over the Leafs 5-2. Also that douche Phaneuf drilled one of our rookie defenseman in the boards tonight. Hope he gets suspended. I find it hilarious that every team is trying to prove how tough they are against the Bruins. Like that's the only way you can beat Boston?! Illegal hits to try and injure the players. Boston wins because they consistently out work the other teams, and its not all muscle and forechecking. It's never pretty but they find a way.
Wow, what a way to end a nice streak we had going. 6 goals against with nothing in return? Shameful really. I couldn't catch the game but sounds like it was quite a routing, which the scoresheet suggests.
Habs D was looking like the D we had at pickup. Sharks didn't do so well either losing a 2-0 lead. I guess the consolation is the point for going into a shoot out. Some surprises tonight...Sabres beating the Sens, and the Panthers beating the Wings both going to shoot outs as well. The bottom feeders have to win at some point.
Marchand had better watch his antics, he is going to bring down some serious wrath at this point (if only on the goal sheet if not physically).
Pens need to watch themselves as an organization. Already a week later and another cheap headshot. Engelland on Abelkader. Game match penalty and in person hearing with Shannahan. I spent my day arguing with these idiots that their team is dirty to the core online. EDIT: Oh wait the Marchand ring finger thing and the cup raised arms? Fucking loved it! Hate the Canucks.
Best thing I watched all day was the first episode of HBO's 24/7 on youtube today. Focusing on the Redwings and Mapleleafs, one of the first things they did with the Mapleleafs was show them playing the Bruins and then flashbacking for a few minutes on their complete breakdown in game 7 of the playoffs. Then flash forward to them breaking down again to the the Bruins. Awesome!
Ahahaha! I wasn't really interested in watching that show, but I might have to check out that episode just to see that.
I watched that game last night. Iginla's injury looked super painful but he actually came back and played the 2nd and 3rd getting into another fight in the third. I never knew he liked to fight so much?! At least his finger got bent for a good cause pummeling Kesler. No matter, B's got blasted 6-2. Rask looked lost, Johnson isn't much better. Bruins are pretty banged up with injuries (2 defenseman, 3 forwards, 1 suspended forward) and half the team has the flu. Don't know how they're going to make it out of this month with a record over .500 but at least they play some scrub teams like Calgary, Buffalo (home and home), and Nashville coming up.
Yeah, Iginla has also been pretty tough. The guy has heart, and good on him for staying with it all these years in Calgary. I have a lot of respect for him, even if he isn't the scoring machine he once was. Shows up every night, gets right in it, and a great presence on and off the ice - I would take him in a heartbeat. Good pickup for the B's. Vancouver is a weird team, either full on or completely absent, so the game could have went either way. Sad part from last nights schedule was the Leafs' victory. I don't know how they handed it to the Hawks like that. Whatever happened to those near-weekly Habs-Bruins games, those were the good days. Oh, and one thing I will say, you never know how much you use your hands/fingers until you brake one. As 'simple' an injury as it seems, it is sure a real pain in everyday life.
LOL. Apparently the Bruin's Lucic was involved in some kind of altercation outside a Vancouver bar after the game. This month keeps getting better. Is that Pinkman from Breaking Bad saying "Milan Lucic is beyond good right now!"? LMAO:
Watched episode 2 of 24/7, man if I don't have another reason to hate on the Mapleleafs this one now tops them all: They listen to Miley Cyrus when they win?! Really? Are you fucking kidding me?! What a bunch of pop culture sissies. Then again isn't Toronto stuck in a 90's techno timewarp? Isn't that awful band Tragically Hip (which Buffalonians seem to also love) from there? At least Lupul and the coach hate the music.
Ahahahahhaa, oh man, that is the kind of thing you'd think they wouldn't want on tv. Then again, it is the Leafs. The Hip are actually from Kingston, which is equidistant between Toronto and Ottawa, but pretty much close enough. I don't know if Toronto is stuck in a techo timewarp, all's I know is it is stuck in a Toronto-only timewarp.
So, anyone watching this Winter Classic? Good weather for it for once, and now that the ice is cleared the game has sure picked up. I am pretty amazed at the attendance as well; as bad the as the views would be, I imagine it would be a pretty good time to get to one of these games.
You sure that is not just some leftovers from yesterday? JK, the play is still pretty slow and not all that exciting. I am not that invested really in either team, but with the new playoff structure (which I still hate) the rankings for these teams are coming more in to play.
Kim knew the trifecta of annoyance (super cold, drunk people and a huge crowd of them, having to dress up nice) so I opted out from going to the ball drop. Instead I drank a little champagne and played Grand Theft Auto 5 all night lol! Anyhow the new playoff structure is the worst. I can't wait till the fix it. Too many teams in each division!