Rd. 1 Playoff Series Thread: #3 Coyotes vs. #6 Blackhawks

[cardsfan04]

It might be slightly on the excessive side, but I like it. It comes across a little bit as a makeup for not suspending Weber et al, but something significant had to come IMO.

Total makeup call. I understand 25 games for a repeat offender, but comparing to the other hits?? NHL caved to the media.

Yeah, it definitely was a bit of a makeup call. But, I think the real issue is that they didn't get the other ones right, not that they got this one wrong. I think 10 games was the minimum they could go here, but given Torres' long history of this kind of thing, 25 isn't totally insane.

[northwest dave]

It might be slightly on the excessive side, but I like it. It comes across a little bit as a makeup for not suspending Weber et al, but something significant had to come IMO.

Total makeup call. I understand 25 games for a repeat offender, but comparing to the other hits?? NHL caved to the media.

Yeah, it definitely was a bit of a makeup call. But, I think the real issue is that they didn't get the other ones right, not that they got this one wrong. I think 10 games was the minimum they could go here, but given Torres' long history of this kind of thing, 25 isn't totally insane.

While I agree with a 15-25 game suspension, others have used their stick or elbow and have gotten waaayyy less. This was a bad timed hit that went high. It is dangerous and Torres has a history of this, but wow.

[Kreegz2]

10 games would have been more than enough. To give him the 2nd longest suspension in modern NHL history for a reckless hit is absolute shit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_i ... uspensions

Just read all of the other infractions that have gotten 10+ games, they are in a completely separate league.

[theohall]

10 games would have been more than enough. To give him the 2nd longest suspension in modern NHL history for a reckless hit is absolute shit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_i ... uspensions

Just read all of the other infractions that have gotten 10+ games, they are in a completely separate league.

It's 25 games because he is a repeat offender. Had this been the only hit and the only time he has played this way, yes 10 games is about right. The issue is Torres plays this way all the time and the message had to be sent to change the way you play - ie stop targeting players heads - or sit. It's alot like the way the league handled Matt Cooke when he was out of control.

Also, consider this. How many current NHL players have been disciplined 5 times for illegal hits? The only one I can name is Raffi Torres. Two of those 5, not counting this current one, happened this season. Someone hitting illegally that often deserves having the hammer dropped on him. And this doesn't count the questionable hits which others thought were borderline as to their legality.

[cardsfan04]

10 games would have been more than enough. To give him the 2nd longest suspension in modern NHL history for a reckless hit is absolute shit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_i ... uspensions

Just read all of the other infractions that have gotten 10+ games, they are in a completely separate league.

It's 25 games because he is a repeat offender. Had this been the only hit and the only time he has played this way, yes 10 games is about right. The issue is Torres plays this way all the time and the message had to be sent to change the way you play - ie stop targeting players heads - or sit. It's alot like the way the league handled Matt Cooke when he was out of control.

Also, consider this. How many current NHL players have been disciplined 5 times for illegal hits? The only one I can name is Raffi Torres. Two of those 5, not counting this current one, happened this season. Someone hitting illegally that often deserves having the hammer dropped on him. And this doesn't count the questionable hits which others thought were borderline as to their legality.

Exactly. And another one of the hits came in the playoffs last year against the Blackhawks (although I don't recall if he was suspended). If this was a first-time offense, it would be something like 5 games I think. But, he does this same kind of thing all the time and doesn't learn from his suspensions. If this didn't send the message, I don't know what will.

[sseagle]

Stalberg wants the night off... only reason to get four penalties in a game right?

[sseagle]

Looks like a game 6... probably OT then too

[DaDitka]

Finish them off already!

It's not that the Hawks scare me at all.......I just don't think they have any chance of beating Nashville.

[goon attack]

That shot by Toews was absolutely perfect. Smith had zero chance of stopping that.

[goon attack]

Finish them off already!

It's not that the Hawks scare me at all.......I just don't think they have any chance of beating Nashville.

Any team that has won the Cup recently scares me. Those teams usually have a knack for knowing how to win.

[not_a_wings_fan]

I actually want chicago v. nash because I think that will be a long grinding series that will wear down whoever wins.

If we manage to get into the 3rd round, I would rather face a tired team that played a ton of OT games.

[theohall]

Mike Smith vs Pekka Rinne equals lots of OT. Corey Crawford vs Pekka Rinne = another 5 game series victory for Nashville.

So... I hope the Coyotes take that series to a game 7 and actually win Game 7. Then two defensive teams with excellent goaltending have to fight it out in what would likely be a longer 2nd round series.

[STLADOGG]

Mike Smith vs Pekka Rinne equals lots of OT. Corey Crawford vs Pekka Rinne = another 5 game series victory for Nashville.

So... I hope the Coyotes take that series to a game 7 and actually win Game 7. Then two defensive teams with excellent goaltending have to fight it out in what would likely be a longer 2nd round series.

and possibly no Hossa

[glen a richter]

I'd rather face a defensively inferior team with weaker goaltending. LA, Nashville and Phoenix all worry me, in that order.

[DaDitka]

Hawks simply don't want this one.

Good news......the lesser team advances.


Bad news......Nashville gets a weak opponent.

[sseagle]

Can't jinx a 4-0 game right?

[DaDitka]

Dude, Q should come under heavy pressure. That team flat out laid down that series.

That was a joke.

The only reason every game went to OT was that Chicago was that much better...they weren't even trying and still managed to push each game to OT.

All of Chicago should feel shame.

[sseagle]

All of Chicago should feel shame.

You don't need all those fancy words, this part did just fine... we don't even need a reason, I say we sink that shithole in the lake!

[crazyhorse]

[
So... I hope the Coyotes take that series to a game 7 and actually win Game 7. Then two defensive teams with excellent goaltending have to fight it out in what would likely be a longer 2nd round series.[/quote]

Got yer wish!!

[WaukeeBlues]

Okay, I'll admit I didn't see the majority of the 2nd and 3rd periods of this game but at least in the first the Hawks just DOMINATED the Coyotes' lives and Smith just bailed them out over and over. Maybe the Hawks "laid flat" in the 2nd and 3rd but at least from what I saw that wasn't the case at all and Smith just stole a game and thus, the series.

All the teams with average to weak goaltending have already been bounced. I think this years' first round has really sent the message, even more clearly than in years past, that you HAVE to have a goalie that is hot and can steal some games to advance because if you don't and you're facing a goalie who can: you're (Frank), even if you are the superior team, which is debateable if the Hawks were or not. I flipped a coin at the beginning of this series as it was; dead even.