Staal match penalty uncalled for

 

Brandon Prust of the New York Rangers elbowed Pittsburgh Penguins center Jordan Staal in the face tonight and Staal simply retaliated with a singular punch to Prust’s face, knocking him down.  There was no long, drawn out fight.  Staal received a five minute match penalty, which forced him to leave the ice for the rest of the game.  Five minutes?!  For only one punch?  He’s banned from the rest of the game?  Granted it was a gloved hit, but still that seems quite steep to me.  I’ve seen full out fights where both guys are laying on the ice and neither one is penalized.  I’ve seen the same scenario when there is a penalty, but it is always the standard two minutes. 

The ref said it’s due to the intention of the hit.  Staal didn’t stand there for a few minutes, planning his attack.  No, there was no enough time for that.  Did the ref fail to see Prust sock Staal in the face with his elbow?  I’m unsure why the ref couldn’t see that Staal’s hit was in retaliation to the hit to his face.  It’s human nature to do just that, even the score.  Staal didn’t hurt him.  Prust got up and walked to the bench with not so much as a scratch.  Mostly, it seems like the refs only see what they want to when they’re in the rink with Pittsburgh. 

Even so, the penalty was called.  But why give Staal an extra three minute penalty, making it five instead of two minutes?   I don’t understand the logic in that decision.  I’m sure you’ve all heard this brought up again and again, so forgive me.  How can it be that a hit that shouldn’t have even gotten the attention it did was blown out of proportion but the blindsided hit to Sidney Crosby wasn’t even a hiccup?  A month later Crosby’s condition is finally gaining the attention it deserves, but in context, where’s the justice?  

written by Lori Pometo