The debate about Scuderi’s hit is an interesting one — vote in the poll below to register your opinion — but it’s also worth noting that after a couple questionable hits later in the game, specifically on Drew Doughty and Alexander Frolov, the Kings didn’t retaliate. Here’s what Rob Scuderi said after the game…
SCUDERI: “They have a very good team. They have a lot of skill and a lot of talent, so that’s something where you can’t give them a spark. If we retaliate, or if we give them a spark, maybe they start to come back in that game and get some momentum. I’ve seen it a bunch of times before in my career, so I thought our guys did a good job of staying disciplined, not getting sucked into that game, playing our game and finishing them off.”
The point of contact was on Chimera’s left thigh. I don’t see a problem with the hit. It’s just unfortunate that he did a face plant and got cut. It made the situation more dramatic than it should have been.
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I think the non-responses for Doughty & Frolov were for the exact reason Scuderi said and it was most likely discussed after the 1st period in the room. I know that’s what I thought when I didn’t see anything after those 2 plays. The Kings were more worried about protecting the lead, which has been a problem for them, than being overprotective of their teammates. THe whole team knew cheap shots were coming and I think they used it to their advantage.
The best part of the snub was Ivanans on the PP towards the end. Sure you gotta protect your guys, but Murray was almost challenging Hitch to goon it up. Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside just thinking about the swagger there.
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we had fro-gate…now we have scud-thud…?
i think that this is being blown completely out of proportion…
if you look at the hit over and over and over again…you can start to interpret it any way you want…the refs made the right call and…unbelievably…weren’t swayed by the violent cartwheel chimera did…
i think the questionable hit on doughty and the ridiculous cheap shot to the back of frolov’s head deserve much more scrutiny…
i would say this even if our players were the ones committing these unsportsmanlike actions…
however, if these were the ol’ days, we would be talking about anything else but these incidents…
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I made a comment yesterday that Rob had not attacked this year and simply let the play come to him. Did he read my post ?? lol. That is the type of game and tempo this team needs to play in order to get to the next level. Haven’t enjoyed a Kings game like that in 7 years. I hope this trend continues. If it does, the sky is the limit.
GO KINGS GO
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I just watched it again at normal speed and I have to point out, if Scuderi had hit him below the knee, he would not have been able to get up.
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If the refs didn’t consider it bad enough to call a penalty, then the NHL shouldn’t levy any type of punishment. It was borderline dirty because of how low Scuderi went, but in my eyes not quite over the line.
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I voted for fine. If I believed he intended to go as low as he did (and we all have to admit that it was a pretty low check) I probably would have voted for suspension. Where I don’t believe he’s that type of player, I’d still have to fine him for not being careful with players knees, ya know?
As for his comments above, I completely agree. The team played remarkably after that moment.
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Nothing for the simple fact that Chimera hit Fro in the back of the head…thats intent to injure
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If Mike Richards of the Flyers received neither a fine nor suspension for his vicious hit on Florida’s David Booth, Scuds certainly deserves the same non-call. Although Colin Campbell has been known for his double standards……………..
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Scuderi should be suspended for not dropping his gloves and not answering for the questionable hit. It’s always good idea to just answer the bell during the game, and everybody involved will forget about it next time they play.
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I’m the odd one on here, but that was worthy of a suspension. I didn’t even think a person could get that low and still be on 2 skates.
It was not a terrible hit, but that was pretty low.
If the same thing were to happen to a Kings player, we would all be expecting him to be suspended and looking for 3-5 games.
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The question is, if Scuds is suspended, who fills in for him? Harrold? This would be an excellent opportunity to try out one of the big stay-at-home D-men out of manchester…
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“Rob had not attacked this year and simply let the play come to him.”
Well, since his partner is Johnson, he probably has to stay back a bit more to compensate for JJ jumping up into the play.
It’s unfortunate…it’s the kind of play that looks really bad because of the angle of his head hitting the ice, and lord knows the howling would be even louder if he’d hurt himself seriously, but I don’t think there was intent to injure. No way. Is Campbell in one of his “Let’s Send a Message ZOMG” moods or not? Different question entirely.
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Scuderi is responsible for his body no different than his stick – that was a dangerous hit that represented a real threat of injury. I like the guy and I don’t think he meant any harm, but it warrants a suspension.
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It was a very low hit which led to an injury and could have been much much worse. I’d give him 1 game suspension and move on with it. Again, if that same hit is put on a King I would expect some sort of disciplinary action from the league.
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PuckHead27:
“I just watched it again at normal speed and I have to point out, if Scuderi had hit him below the knee, he would not have been able to get up.”
YES, I believe the referees made the correct non-call…
just an unfortunate incident….
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OT: Can anyone confirm that Los Angeles is going to be hosting the 2010 draft? Kyle Woodlief on the Red Line Report mentioned it like it was a done deal and I have not up till now heard anything about this.
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If Chimera didn’t get up bleeding, it would have been a non-issue…
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He’ll get a 1-3 game suspension.
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Real7, Jim read and printed the the rule for clipping during the telecast last night and it states AT the knee. It doesn’t need to be below the knee.
So, they’re going to take some action for sure. Hopefully, just a fine.
And, no, it wasn’t on purpose. They still need to enforce the rule and take action or it will give actual dirty players a green light to do this more often on purpose.
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Slow mo shows Scuds lost his edge and probably went lower then he would have normally if he had his balance. That eliminates intent to injure.
With that said, I’m not finding any examples from hipchecks like that ever being that serious of an issue, (as say headshots are now) to where they were officially addressed. If there is a problem, then Czar Campbell should address it NOW as no rule is in place, so no fine or suspension should be handed out.
Of course, Campbell will make his decision by flipping a coin, or by some emotional outburst decibel meter, I haven’t figured out which yet.
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I’m in 100 percent agreement with Puckhead27.
Scuderi got low, but he tagged Chimera in the thigh at the point of impact, and then Chimera went flying. No penalty. Glad he wasn’t hurt. What an impact!
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No suspension. I’m not going to compare it with other things but I say it wasn’t bad enough for that.
On another topic…Did ANYONE besides Jim Fox think that Nash deserved a penalty shot? Holy soft calls Batman!
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No suspension, a fine maybe but he did hit him above the knees… the injury was caused by facial impact to the ice…. but IMHO, an injury should be a determining factor in suspensions… The NHL needs to straighten these things out… go to a stanard 1 game, 3 game, 5, 10 etc… First offense is 1 game.. and your second offense, I do not care what it is, is 3 games.
You can add on extras like leaving the bench is an auto 10 game. But take some of the superstar double standard out of the system
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Nothing should happen. This is hockey, not badminton. Scuds got a little low there but there was no intent to injure and the point of contact was above the knee.
He’ll probably get a game.
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I was at the game and thought it was an OK play. However, that night Jim Fox detailed the hit with diagrams, dropping down by the hitter is not allowed, and it seemed pretty clearly “clipping”–something I haven’t seen in 20 years of watching the game.
From their actions on the ice, it did not seem like Scuderi (and the other Kings) thought he had done anything wrong at the time. So I’d guess he and they did not know the rule. IMO, if Scuderi does not duck down, its a clean hit for sure.
Perhaps this is one of those forgotten rules, forgotten because the rule was strictly enforced in the past and so the players stopped doing it. Seems like a very dangerous play so I’d reluctantly say enforce it before it becomes more common and someone gets badly hurt.
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I think the hit was low…but not “dirty”. To be classed as “dirty” would require intent…I don’t think Scuderi had any intent to injure on that play. Looking at Scuderi’s record tends to indicate and support this view as well, unlike some others who have received suspensions. I do believe he will be a “marked man” by the Columbus organization and we will see some crap the next time these two teams get together.
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i love how bias Kings fans are. lol. i think the hit was low but he hit him in the thighs. it was not dirty but what do i know i just worship the Kings and will follow them to the ends of earth. Awesome start! GO KINGS GO
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