NHL: Why did Niklas Kronwall get the boot for this?

Posted: May 24th, 2009 | Author: Zim | Filed under: Hockey, NHL, TV | 1 Comment »

This is a BIG hockey hit in a big time Western Conference Finals game.

Call me crazy but, I don’t think this warranted a game mis-contuct let alone a possible suspension…

Wings laid the lumber but the Black Hawks won the game…

If you’re not watching the Stanley Cup play-offs, this is the type of stuff you’re missing…Oh and the games are exciting too.

by Mike Zimmer, Blue Jackets Fan

As the play develops live, you don’t really see the full impact of the hit on the camera.  As the Red Wings and Blackhawks scrapped for the puck in the Chicago end the other night, the screen shifts and then you see Martin Havlat just cease to be upright in a mighty collision.

What you see in the video provided is one wicked hit.  Upon the replay you see the violence of the collision which was in my opinion was a bang-bang play that just so happened to be a brutal hit.  While I don’t deny it was more than likely a penalty because Niklas Kronwall’s stick was up and perhaps Martin Havlat’s head wasn’t quite up yet, it wasn’t worthy of the penalty outcome.  Kronwall was issued a game misconduct for his troubles, something I think was un-called for.

Sure, Havlat went to sleep and sure it was cause for alarm, but come on!  Getting the boot for that?  A bit stiff.  Of course, I’m rooting for the Red Wings in this series so I might be a little biased. 

Seriously, this hit was just another “reward” if you will for watching a pretty damn good hockey game in another exciting series in the Stanley Cup play-offs.  This season’s play-offs have been really exciting thus far and the Detroit/Chicago series will likely be no exception the rest of the way with Chicago getting back in it with their OT win the other night in a 4-3 win.

Meanwhile the Carolina/Pittsburgh series also shifts gears as the ‘Canes get back on home ice.  Want to talk about a couple of offensive teams and exciting players on the ice to watch, look no further than this series.  Of course the Evegeny Malkin goal the other night is the poster child for this one thus far.  I mean, seriously, this dude goes behind the back, top shelf where Mama hides the cookie jar to get his hat-trick on the night.  Just fantastic.  Check it out (below) and if you get Versus out there in cable/satellite land (which may be tricky considering that it is still an obscure channel and the NHL’s TV contract pretty much sucks ass) stick with it.

Malkin’s Hat Trick (with 3rd goal at about 1:30)

Just Sick.

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