Suspension for pushing an NHL referee (and a linesman) and shooting a puck in his direction: 3 games.
Suspension for disparaging remarks about a Hollywood actress: 6 games and anger management treatment.
For those who didn't see it, Martin Gerber stuffed a wraparound attempt, and Brooks Laich comes and pushes Gerber into the net with his stick, like he was spearing him in the stomach. The play wasn't stopped, the goal counted, and the game went to overtime. As Gerber was arguing the call, he touched a referee and pushed a linesman. He then shot a puck near them when he was ejected.
With all due respect to him, he didn't push them hard or maliciously, he was trying to get their attention. But the rules say that contact is forbidden (happened to Mike Peca this year, too). And it never should have been a goal. But him shooting a puck at them, albeit weakly, was wrong.
And with all due respect to Sean Avery, Elisha Cuthbert wasn't "sloppy seconds," as he said. She was "sloppy thirds." Mike Komisarek was there before Dion Phaneuf was, also.
So there you have it. If you are factually incorrect, you will be banished from the league. But Gerber had a point, so he only got a 3-game ban.
That is absurd. The league really needs to discuss exactly what is and what isn't Goaltender Interference. If you saw the highlights from Friday's Islanders-Canes game, Erik Cole basically ran over Peter Mannino, one of the other Hurricanes shot the puck in, and they called it a goal. Not that Cole did it on purpose, but still. The whole point of being allowed in the crease is that you don't touch the goalie. I don't see how shoving him in the net with your stick constitutes a legal play.
ReplyDeleteOh, and that the Leafs were as mad as they were should shut up the Toronto media, who is still convinced the Leafs are tanking the season and is still calling for a 14-team, unweighted draft lottery. Argh.