NHL Season 08-09

[Ivaden]

I can only imagine how the kid that put the death threat on Ovechkin feels right now. Bet he feels real justified lol.

[Sepukku]

Im all for sending in Godard and having him show Bettman how one unpunished grossly blatant intent to injure incident breeds more. Godard can take the suspension for the team, and take Ovechkin out of the series. Gouge his eyes, whatever, but Im all for one of the Pens seriously crippling Ovechkin. I've hated him long before this series, hes worse than TO or Ocho Cinco or any of the other pathetic ego heads of the NFL these days, and I could care less if the Caps score 5 goals on the resulting 5 or 7 minute power play if it means taking AO out of at least the rest of the playoffs. I called him a headhunter before the series, and this proves it. Sure, not in the open ice Scott Stevens sense, but he definitely builds up speed sometimes in anticipation of where someone is going to be with the puck - not for the sake of getting it, but for the sake of cleaning their unsuspecting clock.

EDIT:
Bruce fatdonuteatingfuck Bordereau on the hit: 'I think it was a shoulder check that missed.' yeah... ok, bud.

[Ishido]

Honestly it doesn't look like he was intended for it to be knee to knee to me. He was going in for the check, Gonchar moved to avoid it, and because of that missed most of the contact except at the knee. It's a hit that is easy to see either way depending on which side you are rooting for. It could have easily resulted in a major though, and a game misconduct given the injury.

You guys calling for headhunting in return is pretty laughable though. You dislike it when someone makes a borderline hit, so in return your guys should do the same thing?

Also I would bet money that if Ovechkin continued with a trend of injuring players he would not remain one of the league's poster boys for long. With the way they seem to frown upon dirty hits and some types of fighting, even Bettman would be quick to get off of the hypocrite bandwagon.

[Absolutely Virtue]

Have any of you guys even played sports before? Ovechkin, reigning MVP (and likely MVP again this year) is now trying to hurt people by hitting them with his KNEES? You can't honestly believe that. You can't. Star players are now risking their own careers to hurt other people? Come on.

I'm a Caps apologist, I think the hit was fine. I think Gonchar moved at the last second, and Ovie reacted poorly. Unfortunate, but it happens when you're moving so fast.

You all are Pens apologists, and you're qqing because you don't like him. Just admit it, and let's have a grown up discussion. Nobody outside of the Cindy Crosby Best Friends Forever club is upset about the hit.

The Caps have been outplayed in this series, just as they were outplayed in the Rangers series. Varlamov let in some softies, OV just took the night off, and Mike Green has absolutely fucking disappeared. This is a young team, and they just can't figure out that you can't take shifts/games off in the playoffs. I still think it goes seven games (I think the Caps win tonight at home), but I bet we lose game 7 at home. Maybe we will finally figure it out next year.

As an aside, the amount of crying from the Pens about Ovechkin is really amazing. I'm only reading the Washington papers, but they're full of quotes from Orpik of all people about how out of line OV is. That's rich. Let's ask Eric Cole about our friend Mr. Orpik.

[Ivaden]

Amazing lol.

Have any of you guys even played sports before? Ovechkin, reigning MVP (and likely MVP again this year) is now trying to hurt people by hitting them with his KNEES? You can't honestly believe that. You can't. Star players are now risking their own careers to hurt other people? Come on.

Have you ever played sports? Every hit is a risk to both careers. The difference is Ovechkin was ready for the hit and could've easily tensed up his knee, while Gonchar obviously didn't considering how his leg looked like it had ragdoll physics after the hit.

I'm a Caps apologist, I think the hit was fine. I think Gonchar moved at the last second, and Ovie reacted poorly. Unfortunate, but it happens when you're moving so fast.

Reacting poorly? I'd love to hear you clarify this. To me, this says, "Yes, I'm aware he tried to line up a check, Gonchar moved, so instead he made sure he extended his knee out," as a poor reaction. If so, I agree. There's no doubt he was trying to make a clean hit initially, but the fact of the matter is, in the end he didn't, and it wasn't accidental.

You all are Pens apologists, and you're qqing because you don't like him. Just admit it, and let's have a grown up discussion. Nobody outside of the Cindy Crosby Best Friends Forever club is upset about the hit.

Lol, okay. Let's reverse the roles here and see how you react. Blatant intent to injure and we shouldn't be upset, even moreso because Ovechkin is one of the highlight superstars and won't get even a slap on the wrists for this? Had it been Brashear, your other cheapshot artist, he'd have yet another suspension. Would you react the same if it weren't Ovechkin, but another one of your players? I'm willing to bet no.

The Caps have been outplayed in this series, just as they were outplayed in the Rangers series. Varlamov let in some softies, OV just took the night off, and Mike Green has absolutely fucking disappeared. This is a young team, and they just can't figure out that you can't take shifts/games off in the playoffs. I still think it goes seven games (I think the Caps win tonight at home), but I bet we lose game 7 at home. Maybe we will finally figure it out next year.

Now we can get to something we can discuss civilly. It looked like yesterday Varlamov is actually human. He let in softies, but those goals (specifically Fedotanko's) are goals that everyone lets in eventually. He didn't seem as comfortable in net last night (or game 3, but moreso last night). He seems like a perfect butterfly goalie but I think the Penguins finally realized that and they're shooting higher, and it's bothering Varlamov. I agree that I'd be surprised if we don't go to game seven, but I don't think we lose tonight. We have all the momentum in the world right now and the chip on the shoulders with the whole Gonchar situation. With most likely Boucher in the line-up to fill Gonchar's spot, I have a feeling everyone is going to elevate their game that much more, because Boucher fucking sucks compared to Gonchar. They have similar playing styles, but Boucher is far from Gonchar.

[Brill Weave]

Have you actually seen the hit on Erik Cole? Cole lowered his head as he was facing the boards. That isn't exactly a safe move to start with. Orpik shouldn't have gone in so hard, but every single defenseman in the league is going to do the same exact thing. It's calling taking the body to get the puck. There is nothing clean about knee on knee contact. I'm not condoning injuring Ovechkin. Two wrongs don't make a right. But I am seriously expecting a return shot when he's coming down the boards.

I'm a Caps apologist, I think the hit was fine. I think Gonchar moved at the last second, and Ovie reacted poorly. Unfortunate, but it happens when you're moving so fast.

Did you see the hit? If you did you would have noticed that only Gonchar was moving quick. Ovechkin was gliding in lining him up. When Gonchar made the move to get past him, Ovechkin conveniently left his knee hanging out there. And are you seriously saying that Ovechkin is above risking his career to make a hit? If you really want me to I'll go and link a few hits he's attempted to make that not only risked his career, but the other player's as well.

Ovechkin is not a headhunter. I've said that all along. He picks his shots like Colby Armstrong does in Atlanta. It's unfortunate because when he takes his shots he's in a position to seriously injure someone. Ever watch his hits on open ice? More than half of them are blind sides.

As I said before Ovechkin won't be suspended. But fans such as yourself virtue who think that hit was clean are doing nothing save showing their own ignorance towards the game of hockey. Go Youtube the name Bryan Marchment and take a look at how many knee on knee hits he's sent out here. Now go back and compare them to the hit Ovechkin put on Gonchar and they are exactly alike.

This isn't about being a Capitals fan or being a Penguins fan. It's about watching one of the biggest superstars in the game throw out a cheap shot that may have seriously injured another fantastic player.

But you will no doubt come back and blindly defend the hit because Ovechkin was the one who did it.

[Sepukku]

You guys calling for headhunting in return is pretty laughable though. You dislike it when someone makes a borderline hit, so in return your guys should do the same thing?

Defend your own. Bettman and Campbell had the oppurtunity to dish out justice, and they obviously wouldn't (and now, won't), so now its up to us to retribute and retaliate. If someone raped one of your best friends and the legal system let him off on a technicality of mishandled evidence or something, wouldn't you feel inspired to dish out retribution yourself then? You certainly wouldn't let someone you know who wronged someone you know get away scott-free with something so severe.

Gonchar is one of our best players, certainly in the top 5 most important players to our team, a brand-new father, and one of the pivotal points to our late season resurgence and he was just struck down by a cheap, dirty play by a player who DOES have a history of going after players on the Pens. You non-Pittsburghers just don't realize, you see the 2 minute highlights on NHL Gamecenter on FSN Final Score or Sportscenter all the game scores from the past couple years of Pens-Caps, but you don't see the runs hes taken at Malkin, and even remember the runs hes taken at a couple players like he did Orpik in Game 3. Theres hitting people, and then theres building up speed way before the fact seeking to hurt people with no intent to play the puck as the opponent is in a vunerable position. His [failed] headhunt on Malkin a year or two ago, his hit on Orpik in Game 3, and his hit on Gonchar yesterday are all identical. ALL THREE WERE THE EXACT SAME THING (except this time he put the knee out) - a Pens player going around the net, coming out behind the goalie's right side, and getting hit as they crossed the extended red goal line. Three times hes tried to clean some Pens' clock with that move.

PS: His Russian/friendship drama is BS too. Russian hockey players are known for in-fighting and thats the surprise behind the all-star thing with Malkin, cause AO has had a history of hating Malkin and always going for a big hit on him in prior meetings. Just cause they're both Russian doesn't mean they're automatically friends.

Malkin hit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZkPn9kjRFE
Orpik hit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gocOytHi5Gw
Gonchar hit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwxTrxESWjI

[Mizango]

Fuck yeah, how bout dem Canes baby! We got beantown on the ropes.

Not too late to jump on the wagon Rata :D

[Absolutely Virtue]

Cry more about it. That will probably make it better. I've yet to hear a single fan outside of Pittsburgh make a stink out of this. Keep whining, maybe it will become true. Then pretend the reason that you're UP IN ARMS is not because you're in love with the Penguins, but rather because Ovechkin is a dirty player and a cheap shot artist. What a fucking joke. OV is reporting the league hasn't contacted him at all, and Gonchar might fucking play tonight!

It's sad to see that I'm the only one who can admit that I'm a fanboy and it affects my judgment on the issue. Why the fuck are there so many crybabies in a goddamn HOCKEY thread?

[Gadritan]

Missed the games tonight due to work but I'm surprised Canes are up 3-1 on Boston who I thought would fight back tonight. Loving that the Jussi Jokinen / Sergei Samsonov line is on fire. Staal 2 goals (tied with Crosby for NHL lead now) and Ward huge breakaway save at the start of the game. Sad I missed a game when your team has all its pieces working so nicely.

Emotional teams shine in the playoffs. Canes being a perfect example. It killed me how Boston just flat out gave up once they were down 3-1. Canes never, ever give up. That's why they've had some of the heart stopping finishes in the playoffs that they have.

They're on fire.

I fucking love it.

[Absolutely Virtue]

Gonchar is one of our best players, certainly in the top 5 most important players to our team...

By the way, we have the internet in DC, too:

YouTube - Chris Kunitz Vicious Crosscheck on Simeon Varlamov (Game 2 Playoffs 2009)

Anyone wanna talk about Kunitz crosschecking Varlamov in the fucking neck? Or is that just another example of good, clean Pens hockey?

Quick, explain how this is Ovechkin's fault!

[Gadritan]

Quick, explain how this is Ovechkin's fault!

He's Russian.

[Sepukku]

Hes fierce and into the moment! Obviously you've never played physical contact sports where you get that adreniline going in overdrive in a tense moment (such as the end of a close hockey game trying to score). You don't really control your actions full force, hes obviously not looking at the Varlamov, hes trying to battle for the puck and hitting his way through anything that moves.

[Brill Weave]

Hahahaha it seems like we've rubbed an Ovechkin fanboy the wrong way. Thanks for making me laugh lol. I do appreciate it.

And of course the NHL isn't going to suspend one of it's three most marketable stars in the middle of the NHL's wet dream of match up between the two teams. You may want to scroll up and read where I posted that multiple times. Not getting a phone call from the NHL doesn't mean it's a clean hit you fucking dolt.

[Gadritan]

If someone raped one of your best friends and the legal system let him off on a technicality of mishandled evidence or something, wouldn't you feel inspired to dish out retribution yourself then? You certainly wouldn't let someone you know who wronged someone you know get away scott-free with something so severe.

Just noticed this...

Did you really just relate someone getting raped to someone getting hit in the NHL?

"..."

[Ivaden]

Cry more about it. That will probably make it better. I've yet to hear a single fan outside of Pittsburgh make a stink out of this. Keep whining, maybe it will become true. Then pretend the reason that you're UP IN ARMS is not because you're in love with the Penguins, but rather because Ovechkin is a dirty player and a cheap shot artist. What a fucking joke. OV is reporting the league hasn't contacted him at all, and Gonchar might fucking play tonight!

It's sad to see that I'm the only one who can admit that I'm a fanboy and it affects my judgment on the issue. Why the fuck are there so many crybabies in a goddamn HOCKEY thread?

Once again, if the same thing that happened to Gonchar would have happened to Ovechkin, you would've smashed your red, white, and blue goggles all over the ground in a fit of anger. Why would anyone but Pittsburgh fans say anything about this? Are you seriously trying to justify your homerism because, surprise, Pittsburgh fans are upset about a Pittsburgh player being injured intentionally? Holy fuck.

And you admitted you were a fanboy far before this happened. It was nice to see you come to this thread after the playoffs started, it might have even been after the Capitals actually made it past the first round. I may have started watching hockey at a good time last year and fell in love with it, but holy shit you have to be the biggest bandwagon fan in this entire thread.

I'll say it again: had Brashear not been suspended, and he was the one who took Gonchar's knee out, would you be so valiant in your effort to make yourself look like a complete jackass? I'm betting that 7 that follows the 8 on the back of his jersey would keep you from that.

And yeah Sepukku, you really need to work on your analogies man lol.

[Sepukku]

My analogies are fine. I was in no way comparing the severity of rape to the severity of an intent to injure incident in professional sports. I was saying A <-> B (Rape<->"Dealing justice" to the raper vigilante style) is equal to C <-> D (AO injurying Gonchar <-> Pens injuring AO). Injuring Gonchar is not as severe as rape, but the punishment I suggested for AO is also not as severe as would be dished out if a rapist were to otherwise be getting off on an evidence technicality.

EDIT:
Too many men penalties are dumb. Right call though by the refs.
Nice sleufoot by AO though to end the 2nd. At first, being in the far corner opposite the camera, it looked to be a simple tripping no-call on Malkin to make up for a missed Pens high stick, but after the period the announcers showed it closer up from a different angle and AO clearly just took Malkins legs out from under him with his own legs, Malkin luckily didn't crack his damn head snapping back off the ice.

[Gadritan]

My analogies are fine. I was in no way comparing the severity of rape to the severity of an intent to injure incident in professional sports..

K.

If someone raped one of your best friends and the legal system let him off on a technicality of mishandled evidence or something, wouldn't you feel inspired to dish out retribution yourself then? You certainly wouldn't let someone you know who wronged someone you know get away scott-free with something so severe.

The way you worded it made it sound like your motivation for retribution was the severity of the incident.

[Absolutely Virtue]

Grats on the game and probably the series. Couldn't have happened to a nicer, classier bunch of folks.

[Ishido]

lol Caps defense fucks it up for them at the end.