I learned three lessons (or had old lessons supported) from the Flyer/Penguin blood bath yesterday. I would like to think NHL and its fan based got the same things out of it, but that might be asking to much, especially from the NHL. Here they are...
Lesson 1: Pittsburgh is (probably) the dirtiest team in the NHL
This was a three team race in my mind. Over the last 4 or 5 years, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Vancouver were easily the three dirtiest teams in the league. The things these three teams get away with over the course of a game are unbelievable, yet year after year the refs and the league do nothing to punish them for the behavior. Yesterday Pittsburgh pulled ahead. They somehow were able to make Philadelphia look like victims, and I didn't think that was possible. The mess that yesterday's game became was solely on the shoulders of the Penguins and their actions. And this from the team owned by a man who said if dirty play is a reflection of the league "I need to rethink whether I want to be part of it." I think you should look at your own reflection, Mario, because your team is the worst example of the worst of the NHL. Clean your house before you start pointing fingers.
Lesson 2: Mike Milbury was right, Sidney Crosby is a little punk
Sidney Crosby is now responsible for two brawls between these two teams. I don't care how big a star you are, there is no excuse for the type of behavior Mr. Crosby showcased yesterday. I would like to see him try to pull hitting a Boston Bruin's glove away with Milan Lucic on the ice. You'd think a guy whose been out for more then a year with concussion problems would play a little smarter. I also think all the people who blasted Milbury should make a collective apology to the man. Just because he had the balls to call a spade a spade doesn't mean he should get blasted. Crosby proved he is everything Milbury claimed.
Lesson Three: The NHL Refs suck
The whole third period mess could have been avoided if the on ice refs made the calls that needed to to be made. Going in to the series every ref should have been on high alert that there could be problems. These teams hate each other and there have been a number of situations, one included the coaches almost going at it. So, when things started to get ugly in the first period they should have grabbed control with strict punishment. Sidney Crosby should have gotten at least 10 minutes if not a game misconduct for shooting the Flyers glove out of his reach. It was an uncalled for, unsportsman like, dick move that launched a round of fights. It could easily have been called instigating. If the refs threw down the hammer right then maybe they put a kibosh on everything that happened after. I don't care how big a star Crosby is or how important he is to the Penguins and the refs needed to send a message that they don't care either.
Even with that not happening, they could have easily prevented the third period mess from happening. James Neal should have been kicked out of the game when he blindsided a player who wasn't involved in a play, but they didn't even call a penalty. So what happens? Neal spends the rest of his shift running around the ice taking shots while the Flyer players mugged people in retaliation. Re-watch the minutes after the Neal blindside; it's 10 guys skating around trying to hurt each other. Why didn't they make that call? It was as dirty and obvious as it can get.
As of right now, there has been no further discipline handed down. The league needs to step up and suspend Asham and Neal for the rest of the playoffs and, if the Penguins get knocked out, into next season. Crosby needs to be suspended too. He was as much responsible for what happened as anybody and the league needs to send the message that safety is more important then star power.
Don't get me wrong, I've loved watching this series and the more fighting the better, but the league needs to take the opportunity to send some messages and teach the refs what they should be doing to control the violence on the ice. So, here's to some strong punishments and one more game of hard hits, big fights and poor defense.
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