2021 Stanley Cup playoffs skating thread

It was not an elbow to the head, the hit was violent enough you don’t need to make it worse.

I think this is a great article.

 

Damn paywall.

I'm not trying to make it worse, I saw an elbow to the head. Slowing down the video, it's obvious it was the elbow that did the damage. And even where his arm is in that photo above leads me to believe the contact was an elbow to the head rather than a shoulder to the chest. It's my perspective and doesn't change the fact the hit was uncalled for.

I get big hits are part of the game and you want to make a big hit to send a message or to break up a play. In this context, however, that hit was wholly unnecessary because blowing the guy up here was not needed and wasn't going to stop the goal. It was one of those that there were other ways to break up that play. And what was blowing him up going to do? Penalty shot if he missed? Charging major to close out the game if he made or missed even if he wasn't ejected and hadn't knocked out Evans?

Previous post says this is not going to be an extended suspension. Hope it's more than one but less than 5 is fine.

 

Four games.

 

Funny how in the league’s explanation for the suspension they said all the fault was on Scheifele for traveling at distance, making zero attempt on the puck and making contact with the head. Nowhere in there was Evans blamed for anything. Funny how they did that when we were told that Evans saw it coming and should have avoided it.

 

John Forslund is freaking incredible.

 

... and Tom Dundon is freaking stupid.

Good move by Ron Francis, who also got screwed by Dundon.

 

I think you think this is some sort of gotcha. I don’t think it is.

I didn’t actually expect them to say anything different in their explanation, but that doesn’t change my opinion, and I will bet you my house there are guys in that office who disagree with that explanation.

 

A 'Jeopardy!' clue asked which team Gordie Howe played for. No one got it right.

 

I'm not surprised it's four. Two would have been OK with me. I cannot be convinced of intent to injure. A lot of embellishment involved in the uproar, as well.

 

The hit can be dirty and you can also question Evans not having his head up. The two are not mutually exclusive.