Stanley Cup Playoffs Recap
The 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs officially got started on Wednesday night. Here are the results:
Philadelphia Flyers 4 – Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (OT)
Nashville Predators 3 – Detroit Red Wings 2
Los Angeles Kings 4 – Vancouver Canucks 2
The Pens blew a 3-0 first period lead. Shea Weber was an idiot and should be suspended for his late headshot on Henrik Zetterberg. And the Canucks failed… again. For Vancouver, Byron Bitz should also receive a call from Brendan Shanahan’s office because of a headshot that cost him a five-minute major and a game misconduct.
As for Weber, its shame to see such a high level player lose his cool like that… He will be gone for 2-3 games. If only 1 or 2, Nashville can survive. If 3+, Detroit can really make a run at that series. As for Bitz, his elbow was in and it was a hard hit with the shoulder in the corner, but it was really just unfortuate that Clifford’s face caught glass. Not sure anything more is really warrented. They should keep an eye on Bitz the rest of the series, and not let the hits get out of hand. That said, a one game suspention wouldn’t shock me, but anything more would be excessive IMO.
It was a good first night of playoff hockey, and the real fun starts tonight… Lets rock Phoenix! ONE GOAL!
Bitz served his time with the 5 minute major + game. It was a bad hit but he didn’t target the head and the elbow was in. cost his team a goal and 5 hard minutes… that’s appropriate i’d say.
Oh, and Shanahan should ban Weber for life, unless he signs with the Hawks. That’s an equitable and just punishment.
Weber should get a one game suspension for sure. Beyond that it should depend on whether Zetterberg is hurt. In my view the conduct warrants the suspension and the injury of the victim should come into play with regard to the length of the suspension. Thats why I felt Daniel Sedin should have got a game for hitting Keith even though Keith wasn’t hurt. Of course, Keith deserved more than Sedin because of the injury and the blatant nature of his elbow. Just my thought on it. I hate seeing players do blatant and illegal things and nothing happens because fortunately nobody got hurt.
Burrows continues his douche-baggy ways. After Richards lights him up, Burrows tries to face-wash him, and also grabs Richards so he can get ahead of him on the play. Class act!!
Weber punished 1-2 games. Maybe 3 if it wasn’t the playoffs but that isn’t the case. Bitz, nothing. But for the real interest.. who’s ready to see the Hawks win this thing with their captain today!?
Thanks to everybody for explaining why Weber would be punished and why Bitz wouldn’t, but let’s fast forward to reality: Weber’s fined $2,500 by the league & Bitz has a hearing w/ the league (suspension probable).
I actually thought Weber would get one game.Now that he didn’t,what kind of message is the league sending?Bitz better get suspended or it may get ugly.Stars only get suspended if they have used up their free pass!
Steve Rosenbloom love him or hate him, had a pretty good take on the whole thing today
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/rosenblog/chi-shanahan-kills-nhl-credibility-20120412,0,1209560.column
Garbage that Weber only gets a fine. Injury or not, the intent was to knock out Zetterberg with no time left in the game. Gutless and brainless play.