Blame Matt Cooke. Why not? Everyone else does.
In the Twitter Parody Poll, the @Evil_Bylsma over/under for Cookie’s first suspension is set to 12 games. I got 9. If Cookie gets suspended on Thursday, I win…Pens lose. Trust me, I don’t want the honor of winning this shit. Unfortunately, we live in an alternate universe where Kris Letang was the first Penguin to meet the long arm of the law this season.
The Age of the Shanaban has arrived, and the consistency is looking a bit fuzzy if you are a Pens fan. The NHL discipline kingpin, Brendan Shanahan, dished out 10 suspensions in the pre-season for player infractions of NHL Rules 41 and 48 (boarding and illegal checks to the head). All of the suspensions seemed fair, but if you live in Pittsburgh, you are measuring fairness with the Matt Cooke ruler.
The true test of Shanny’s objectivity came in the Pens second game of the season against Calgary. Cory Sarich hit Cooke on open ice. He got him with his shoulder, but there was definite contact with the head. Cooke complained of jaw pain later. The hit was not reviewed by Shanahan. I call bullshit. If we are reviewing head-shots, then review all head-shots. Don’t cherry pick them. (Click for Sarich hit)
The second test came in the next game. This hit actually infuriated me. Ryan Smyth of Edmonton put an elbow to Chris Kunitz’s head, knocking Kuni down, where he hit his head again along the boards before meeting the ice. Smyth took a 5 minute major and a game misconduct. Once again, Shanny remains silent. (Click for Smyth's elbow)
Last night, Tanger served a 2 minute boarding minor against Alexander Burmistov of the Jets. Letang was lined up to complete the check and Burmistrov turned, so when Letang completed the hit, Burmistov was in a vulnerable position. The call on the ice was good, in my opinion, however there seems to be some controversy over when Burmistrov turned and if Letang had enough time to minimize impact. I’m going with both, after watching a few times. (Click for Letang boarding call)
"I think he did not do this on purpose. He came to me and I turned back and he maybe wanted to hit me in the shoulder and I just turned and it happened."
Shanahan suspended Tanger for two games. I think this is fair and predicted this morning that it would be two games. Any more than two is fucking obscene. Kris is not a repeat offender (well, until now), he didn’t minimize impact, but Burmistrov knowingly put himself in a defenseless position and admits that, even though Shanny doesn’t agree.
Letang certainly could have avoided shoving Burmi into the boards with so much force, but the kid put himself in that position. With the updated verbiage of the rules, “victims” must be held accountable when reviewing hits for additional discipline. Shanahan missed it on this one. The player even admitted he turned his back to Letang. If the victim puts himself in a vulnerable position a lighter sentence should be applied. (One game!)
I can live with 2 games, but given the lack of action on Shanny’s part where Cookie and Kuni were concerned, it has to make you wonder why Letang was picked for review. This gem just came up on the Twitter-sphere this evening: Click for video
Blue Jacket Marc Methot nails creepy twin #1, Henrik Sedin into the boards. The hit looks identical to Letang’s. Methot serves 2 minutes, Shanahan says nothing. This game was only a week ago.
Not trying to play the whole “The NHL is out to get the Pens” conspiracy card, but you have to wonder.
It’s okay though. We can just have Ben Lovejoy play 45 minutes of hockey tonight. Jesus.
Let’s Go Pens.
contact me:
Twitter: @Letangueray
email: snwats58@gmail.com
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