Re: The NHL Thread
 

Yeah, that was dumb by Orpik - especially since Maatta is playing awful.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Tough game. The Caps had no business being in it going into the 3rd really. The Mike Richards chance right before the goal was a real kick in the sack. Murray was good when he needed to be but the Caps need a lot more 5 on 5. Those first two periods were awful.

I've learned that I didn't realize how good Nick Bonino is.

Disappointing play by Orpik too by the way.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Go Stars, go Pens!!

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She is mad, but that's OK. Be happy for the Sharks Sarah. I have a buddy of mine who is huge Kings fan but he's rooting for San Jose now that LA is out. I I love that. Mad respect. Feels like it's the Sharks best shot this year .. M Jones sooo calm in net. :)

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Pens Caps is going to be the best series of the playoffs for sure.

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Bonino has had an enlightenment playing center to Kessel and Haeglin. It's been fun to watch. And I've always appreciated how hard Orpik plays, but he played dirty last night, particularly on the Mattaa hit.

Yes. It'll take a couple years off my life but there you go.

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The only defense I can think of for Orpik is that he did not expect Maata to turn and that led to the unfortunate hit. That being said, the hit was way late and he shouldn't be throwing his elbow around like he did.

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Oprik getting a hearing today with DOPS. I'm gonna guess one game, but a fine wouldn't surprise me either.

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I think he gets 2 games as a repeat offender and that the player he hit is injured.

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2 would surprise me, unfortunately

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Two breakdowns in the defensive zone by the Caps and two goals by the Pens.

On the first they failed to cover the slot, which they sometimes do. On the second it looked like confusion and hesitation getting to the boards to get that free puck.

In the offensive zone, they failed to hit the net several times once they had momentum in the third. I hated that call and the goal being called off.

Ovechkin played good but he's gotta be great. Loved the Caps hitting, that could pay off big time if this goes 6 or 7. Murray was really solid, I still think if they can force him to make 35 or 40 saves they'll get enough by him. Glad the caps were better in the circle.

So far Pittsburgh is doing a great job not letting anything through. That takes its toll though. They really tilted the ice in the first two, the Caps were lucky to only be down by 1.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Is he a repeat offender though? Milbury only thinks so because he hurt one of his precious Bruins on a clean hit.

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True, just what I heard, maybe from him.

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Yeah, it has the potential to be one of the best this playoffs regardless of who wins or loses. That said we have already seen two neck and neck series' between the Hawks/Blue and the Preds/Ducks and have the potential to see another if both STL and SJ make it to the conference final.

Yeah, I think Milbury is biased in this case as well. Sure Orpik hits hard but that does not mean he is a repeat offender nor does it mean he is trying to hurt people on the ice. The hit he laid on Eriksson was hard but pretty clean, what really set the tone of ugliness was Shawn Thornton flying off the handle slightly later and going into a small gathering where two guys were jawing with each other (play was stopped already) while the ref kept them separated - Orpik was just looking and listening as any good assistant captain does. Then out of nowhere Thornton skates up behind Orpik and yanks him to the ice from behind like a coward and starts punching the daylights out of Orpik while he was not moving. The end result was Orpik getting a concussion and Thornton getting a 15 game suspension.

I do not cheer for Boston of Pittsburgh so I can be pretty objective on this one. Orpik didn't do anything wrong except to play hard. If I was one of the NHL player safety guys there is no way in hell I would think that Orpik deserves a suspension or fine. All of this is documented in video and easily available to view online. Maybe he gets a small fine but to suspend him would be absurd IMO.

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35 minutes for letang. My god.

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Sorry, but removing my Pens goggles I simply cannot agree with the second paragraph. His hit on Mattaa was significantly late and he raised his elbow, seemingly with the intent to hit his head. Look, I've always been an Orpik fan, and I don't think he's a dirty player at all. But that hit was not remotely clean. If the league is serious about cracking down on dangerous hits that cause head injuries, they need to levy severe penalties against players who make those hits.

You say you're being objective, and I believe you. But if Kris Letang made that same exact hit in the same situation, causing one of the Caps to have a concussion, would you still be saying he did nothing wrong? Because honestly, I'd be saying Letang deserves a suspension.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I guess it is up to interpretation but I thought Orpik was just finishing a (admittedly late) check and Maatta dropped his head a bit making the contact look worse than it would have been otherwise. He played long enough with the Pens that you know he is a physical guy but he is not some goon out to ruin careers.

I am being objective, I may be cheering for the Caps but honestly I don't have any bets on the series nor do I particularly care if Pittsburgh upsets Washington. Honestly, if Orpik was on the Hawks I'd be defending him much more emphatically and if he delivered that hit against a Hawk I'd be screaming for a suspension as well.

There is a pretty well written article here that describes Orpik's style but since you are a Pens fan you probably know all of what is stated: http://thehockeywriters.com/characte...-brooks-orpik/

EDIT: Meant to type goon, not good.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Ice time or was he given a post game 'suspension?'

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I feel like we just go around in circles on the illegal hits thing in here. Not that that's a bad thing.

Basically, a dirty hit is viewed as dirty by everyone except Lcsulla. And then the league does either nothing or far too little about it.

It's the NHL Thread Circle of Life

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Sooooooo, are you saying Lcsulla works for the DoPS?

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:lol I'd believe it

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Amazing new thread tags by the way. Props to whoever did that

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:lol :lol Pas the Zimas!

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Orpik should absolutely be suspended. I don't care if Maata lowered his head; it would've made zero difference if Orpik wouldn't have gone into it with his elbow like that. He's played in the league long enough to know to keep your damn elbows down.

Re: The NHL Thread
 

I truly miss Jones, but am very happy he is shining in his deserved #1 spot.

And sorry, I will never root for the Sharks, has nothing to do with being knocked out by them.
;)

Re: The NHL Thread
 

Just because you hit hard and finish your checks doesn't always mean it was a dirty hit. I was taught to always finish my checks, not to be dirty and try and harm the opponent but simply because often if you pull up on a hit you end up on the deck yourself while the guy you were intending to hit skates away free and you open yourself to a hit even if you don't end up on the ice. I played D a long time and know the rules, I also know on a few occasions I would pull up on a hit and end up on the ice doing so or get checked to the deck by another player.

I fully agree the NHL needs to take more safety precautions and crack down on dirty hits but I do not believe that hit from Orpik warrants a suspension. Sometimes we often forget that hockey is a contact sport...

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I had a feeling that was you

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Sunday afternoon OT playoff hockey :hump

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Fuck that.

Edit: In reference to STL winning that game.

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:lol Roussel not very smart.