Not surprisingly, the topic of the day was Jarret Stoll’s one-game suspension for his hit on San Jose’s Ian White in Game 1 last night. White left the game immediately after the hit and is not expected to play tomorrow night in Game 2. Stoll had a disciplinary hearing with NHL vice president Colin Campbell and others this morning, and shortly thereafter the suspension was handed down. Stoll practiced with the Kings today in a gray jersey, along with injured winger Scott Parse, and after practice, Stoll talked about the suspension, as did assistant general manager Ron Hextall (Dean Lombardi did not attend practice and has not returned a phone message). But first, here are Terry Murray’s thoughts on the suspension, as well as Jason Demers’ hit on Ryan Smyth, in which Demers left his feet and appeared to hit Smyth in the head…
MURRAY: “My thoughts on the hit, or the league’s decision, is that we will accept the decision made by the league and get through the next game. But I want to say this. If Jarret Stoll gets suspended for that hit, then Demers’ (hit) is five times more severe, on Ryan Smyth, than what Jarret Stoll did on White. He meets every criteria that you could read about, from league memorandums. Every coach, every player, every management (member), every owner knows about it. If you travel distance, you launch yourself two to three feet off the ice and thrown an elbow at a person’s head, that is a suspension, big-time suspension. I was behind the bench when Philadelphia played in Ottawa and Steve Downie got suspended for 25 games. There is no difference in the intent of that hit.”
Question: Is it your thought that Stoll got suspended because of the result, the injury to White?
MURRAY: “I don’t know what Colin Campbell is thinking. I don’t know what other people think. They base their decision on what they’re viewing, what the circumstances are, who the people are. All I know is that that other hit is five times more severe, more intent, traveling distance, launching yourself two to three feet off the ice and a blow to the head. That is a major, long-term suspension.”
And here’s what Stoll said after practice…
STOLL: “Obviously, I’m disappointed and upset with the decision. I don’t want to miss any games, whether it’s regular season or especially the playoffs. I’m really disappointed with the decision but I respect it, and I respect Colin’s decision, to do what he did and give me the game.”
Question: What did you say on the conference call?
STOLL: “I just explained what I was thinking and what I did and the play. I was honest with them. I told them what I thought, and I think that was the best way to go about it.”
Question: What did he [Campbell] have to say?
STOLL: “He didn’t say much. There were three or four people on the call that were doing the talking. He said he would get back to us fairly soon. He acknowledged that what I said was honest, and that was pretty much it.”
Question: How tough is it to miss this playoff game?
STOLL: “It hurts, for sure. Down 1-0, that game was there for us in Game 1. We didn’t get it, obviously, but guys have got to step up. It’s really tough to miss a playoff game, for sure.”
Question: Do you think it should have been a suspension?
STOLL: “That’s not my call, that’s their call. They made it. It’s out of my hands. I respect the decision, like I said.”
Question: What are your thoughts on Ian White and his injury?
STOLL: “I hope he’s OK. You never want to see a guy get knocked out or have a concussion or miss any time. I missed a lot of time with a concussion years back, and I know what it feels like. I definitely don’t want to put anybody in that situation. He’s a good player. I played against him in junior. I know a lot about him and I just hope he’s all right.”
Finally, here are Hextall’s thoughts on Stoll’s suspension…
HEXTALL: “That’s a tough one. Me, personally, I’m disappointed in the decision, but we’ve got no choice but to live with it. That’s kind of where I’m at with it. … What I saw on the play was that Ian White hit his head on the dasher. To me, is that reflective of Jarret Stoll, or is that reflective of where he hit the boards? When I look at it, Stolly didn’t take a stride after the faceoff dot. He turned his feet at the goal line and then went in to pin the player. That’s what I saw. He hit his head, obviously, on the dasher. It’s a physical game and things happen. So I’m disappointed.”
What line was White on?
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mrbrett7 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:35 pm
@NealyBoy, He’s a defensemen.
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NealyBoy Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
@mrbrett7, Do you know if he’s good? I’ve never heard of him until the hit.
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mrbrett7 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:48 pm
@NealyBoy, He’s part of their top 4. He’s decent…not super, but he does hurt their ability to move the puck out of their zone.
Scott Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 7:20 pm
@mrbrett7, Where can I find the Demers hit on Smyth. I think it was also pretty tacky that the announcers were pointing out that Murray was purposely going after WIlliams shoulder. That’s pretty bush league.
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mcsorleyfan Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
@NealyBoy, he’s top 4, I believe.
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NealyBoy Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
@mcsorleyfan, Oh ok, thanks.
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Paul G Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 7:24 pm
@mcsorleyfan, he’s a 3rd pair damn….im from toronto and i remember him on the Leafs before he was traded to Calgary for Dion Phaneuf (and other players were involved)
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ya BS plan and simple…
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Yeah Murray!! Let the league know how stupid they are!!!
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Something tells me Demers is gonna have a long night tomorrow. Heh, heh, heh….
It’s good to see TM riled up for a change. Sometimes I wonder if he has a pulse, but this is definitely a good sign. Hopefully, the boys get back into the mindset they had after Deano got nailed for $50,000 and change the psychology of this series tomorrow night.
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Bluecoconuts Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
@Capt Jam, something tells me he wont because he, Murray, and Eager all ran away from Westgarth when he challenged them… Eager was such a big man, the next shift he went to fight Clifford who’s 30 pounds less than him… Murray just left the ice (end of the period) with his tail between his legs and stopped targeting Williams shoulder, so one can guess what Westy told him.. And Demers didn’t seem to do anything after the hit to Smyth.
Either way, I lost respect for San Jose after that game. Their entire team is apparently afraid to fight Westgarth so they have to run away like girls and continue to target smaller guys on our team.
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Capt Jam Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
@Bluecoconuts,
I wasn’t really referring to fighting. Fighting accomplishes very little in hockey; but if you repeatedly put a body on an opposing player, mixed a whack of the stick here and there, then you’re making their day miserable.
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408KingsFan Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:05 pm
@Bluecoconuts, You just now lost respect for San Jose? They are the biggest sissys in the league. And the refs buy anything their selling
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tornado12 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
@Capt Jam, yeah, I like this side of TM, but it goes to show just how much this suspension hurts us and our chances of winning the next game. JS is an integral part of our probably one and only scoring threat line. Also, not surprising DL didnt return Rich’s call. He is probably so upset that he doesnt want to say something to get him fined again!
This year does seem to have had alot of calls go against us from the league office on down to the on ice officials. Obvisouly my vision is skewed, but I just dont remember seasons past having this much!
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Capt Jam Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:48 pm
@tornado12,
Deano usually returns Helene’s calls first. LOL.
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Capt Jam Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
@tornado12,
This year? Calls have been going against the Kings since 1967.
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johnjuan Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
@Capt Jam,
Thank You.
Sorry I didn’t catch the Demers hit because I was watching the Versus/Sharks feed and according to the Sharks announcers their team didn’t do one thing wrong and the Kings should’ve been whistled for at least 75 more penalties. that seemed like pretty fair and balanced reporting.
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fsd1 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
@Shakes, u got that right!
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mrbrett7 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
@Shakes, Same here…good god they are AWFUL.
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danlikespez Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
@Shakes, lol
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SKF Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
@Shakes, Hayward moved to San Jose?
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tornado12 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
@SKF, its Hazy North
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Kings x Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
@tornado12, The bald guy is the best!
Kenny Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
@Shakes, Its all over the internet just youtube their names and it will come up and u will see it
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Cynic Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
@Shakes, Sounds like the Sharks announcers moonlight as the Nashville announce team.
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FiG17 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:22 pm
@Shakes,
Same here. I had absolutely no idea that it even happened until this morning. It makes me really upset, that was all kinds of messed up (if it was allowed, I’d use a much more colorful word for “messed,” but you get my point) and they completely overlooked it.
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Maybe it’s because Smyth wasn’t injured, but replays clearly show that Demers leapt off of the ice to throw an elbow to Smyth’s head. Pretty clear cut that he wasn’t just finishing a check.
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mrbrett7 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
@vplaza, That’s exactly why. I’ve been complaining all season…suspend the action, NOT the result!
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CB14 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
@mrbrett7, “I completely disagree with this post” Sincerly Colin Campbell.
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mrbrett7 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:48 pm
@CB14, hahahaha…nice!
loskingpride Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 7:16 am
@CB14, “According to rule 137.2a, Under any circumstance where the Los Angeles Kings have a chance at winning a playoff series or the Stanley Cup, on ice officials and the league have all rights to screw them over.”
Sincerely,
The NHL.
Kingsfanone Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 7:29 am
@CB14,
As it is potently obvious that I only intend only good for my….errr….this league, and as dictator of said league, any chance for the Los Angeles Kings to succeed & advance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs shall be hereby stymied.
I have spoken.
Gary Bettman, Ruler
KingsFanintheD Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 10:27 am
@CB14, you guys need to get off the nhl is against the kings. over the course of a season and playoffs, we get the same crappy level of officiating as every one else
Exactly what I said to Mr. Sharks in the last thread, If white doesn’t duck, he gets pinned like a million other plays that happened in the league last night.
And I found this interesting by TM “They base their decision on what they’re viewing, what the circumstances are, who the people are.” Should that have been a question mark (?) after that comment??? If not, then TM is basically calling out the NHL on their APPARENT bias!!! I like!
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MURRAY: “There is no difference in the intent of that hit.”
Jason Demers’ hit on Ryan Smyth
http://youtu.be/_dz_16c7Tvw
Steve Downie’s hit on Dean McAmmond
http://youtu.be/322zqTkL0-c
You decide.
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danlikespez Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
@wavesinair, thanks for posting. Shows you how dangerous that hit on Smyth could have been if he hadn’t seen him coming…
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:48 pm
@wavesinair, Pretty much the same, only the second didn’t involve the boards.
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number 6 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:13 pm
@wavesinair,
Waves, I had missed that last night (missed little bits of the game) so was wondering what this was all about. Even after everyone’s description I couldn’t believe it when I saw the video. You Must Be Kidding Me.
How great!!! Smyth scores a perfectly good goal in Ottawa, sorry -illegal stick (not). And then almost gets decapitated….. Aw come on. THAT!? That’s not a penalty. Yeah…. right.
Do I seem a bit angry? So THATs why TM was steamed. Don’t blame him a bit.
Oh, must be polite here too. Thank you for posting it.
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GreyPaws Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:13 pm
@wavesinair,
great post, thanks for the links. Downie looked like he was traveling with alot more speed when he hit mcammond, but there is no question about what Demers was trying to do, and if intent is the criteria then demers should have gotten a suspension. At the end of the day its sad that some professional athletes have so little respect for their peers.
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number 6 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
@wavesinair,
Just looked at the Downie hit. Don’t agree w TM that Demers was as bad. But if Downie got 20 then, then,….
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hapakid50 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 9:50 pm
@wavesinair, good posts… damn, the veteran SMYTH saves his hide by seeing the hit coming and protecting himself. that mc cammond hit was gnarly, you see him get hit by Downie then his body’s corkscrews into the boards too..just cause he was nt hurt he doesnt get at penalty or suspension? or at least a review? KINGS get no respect, smallest violin song, but i’m not gonna pretend it doesnt exist… Just acknowledging it and moving on…btw, who is this Demers kid? hitting a respected 1000 game veteran taking liberties?? NHL please protect the players,wait, please just do your job… thanks…
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what’s a bit scary about the demer’s hit is smyth’s foot almost gets caught under his body when he fell backwards. it could have been worse with smyth out due to an injury……..demers should have been suspended as well imho.
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nking11 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
@neva,
Yea, theres a youtube video of it and it looks like smyths leg could snap right off.
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Lombardi’s probably so steamed he doesn’t trust himself near a phone!
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mcsorleyfan Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:47 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, I was thinking the same. Trying not to cost himself another boat, beamer, name your 50K luxury item.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
@mcsorleyfan,
I think Jim Fox would’ve covered it $10 at a time! Foxy has Deano’s back!
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Watch parties in San Diego for tomorrow? Anyone?
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RyanSD Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
@NealyBoy, I’m in SD. I’d like to know. Thought I was the solo kings fan down here.
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NealyBoy Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:13 pm
@RyanSD, I live in Imperial County but I will be in SD this weekend. Any good places in Downtown or Mission Beach/PB that allow minors?
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RyanSD Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
@NealyBoy, I only know of one “hockey friendly” bar downtown. The Stout Pub. Only downside… It’s a Canucks bar.
DBB Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
@NealyBoy,
Cheswick’s in Ocean Beach is a very hockey friendly bar. It used to be the official bar of the San Diego Gulls. I also recommend Nick’s at the Pier.
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Denis McDanel Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 8:33 am
@NealyBoy, Not the only Kings fan down here…been a Kings fan forever and will be for life. Unfortunately, my wife works at OC Tavern, so I’ll be watching it there.
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I don’t have the energy to complain about how much the kings get shafted anymore, Demer’s, just, aw forget it… I quit
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nking11 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
@nking11,
‘K’ings… I slapped myself for that one
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bleedblueking Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
@nking11, im not watching any other playoff games not involving the kings for this reason
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Both hits deserved penalties in the game and both deserve one game suspension. For the league to have reviewed the WWF like hit on smyth and to have not suspended Demers one game just goes to show you the lack of consistency in toronto. Might as well call them don king an bob arum.
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Kings x Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 4:52 pm
@Kings x, Smyth should have acted hurt to get the call
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George Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:13 pm
@Kings x, There is a problem with that thought, we cant be fake, and we dont like to act, like vancouver, san jose, anaheim, etc, etc
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Kings x Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
@George, I am not one for diving like a lot if the players do, but the artform of embellishing versus having your best face-off guy gone for one game in the playoffs could mean the difference between winning and losing the series. Play to win
I think the hit on smyth was completely illegal and at a minimum should have led to a game misconduct.
However in studying the nature of the two hits, the one made by stoll had the recipient’s head facing the boards with stoll’s elbow directly behind it. And with the one made on smyth the two were facing eachother when contact was made which means smyth saw it coming. But still, demers left his feet and used his elbow and should have been disciplined.
One penalty called whilst the other is ignored smacks of “crony hockeyism”..
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Pay the fine in pennies.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
@Buster,
Betcha they don’t take cash…
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For all those in need of some In-N-Out Burger diversion, I offer this demolition:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/04/sudden-demolition-of-historic-in-and-out-burger-eatery-raises-ire.html
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number 6 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:18 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
Oh Bako. I owe you one. Remember what I said when JW went down? And you said you hoped if he even came back and scored one goal. Well, it’s OK. I can man up.
But probably nothing you can do to rebalance this ridiculous travesty that is the nhl’s system of judgment. Not saying Stoll didn’t deserve the game. So what about Demers then. Wonder if that’s Jacques Demers son. It could figure. Jacques calls for a stick measurement and this guy calls for Smyth’s helmet measurement.
Don’t mind me…. just babbling on…. cause I wish the kings predicament this year wasn’t so difficult in the playoffs.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
@number 6,
Actually (now don’t get mad at me…), I think the madness of losing Kopitar to an injury that, if he were a horse they would’ve just shot him and got the torture over with–just before the playoffs when you can’t do anything but just deal with it–is the best thing that ever happened to this team.
Here’s why: If the Kings lose 4 of 6 and earn the Sharks WITH KOPITAR, then lose, nothing is learned, nothing progresses. This way, it’s win-win…
1): The Sharks win this series, 4-0–Everybody just goes DUH!, then gets on with their lives. The Kings had no chance, yada yada, poor babies… But look what gets exposed: No depth at center, no depth with scoring, management HAS to do something, Yes?
2): The Sharks win this series, 4-3 or 4-2 where every win has the Kings taking a bite of Shark meat before they go down… Suddenly, some player or players has/have to step up and be super when it counts the most. No more kid-boy excuses, no more easy way out, no more looking at Kopitar standing around during the PP waiting for him to do something–because somebody actually DID something and probably learned about his own skills in the process.
3): The Kings actually win this series (don’t care how many games it takes)–Confidence soars through the roof, the team as a whole realizes this is actually a TEAM game and proves it, etc… Then next year, Kopi IS back, the young studs are coming in, and the team realizes it can win.
It wasn’t going to be this year, unless forces much bigger than all of us take this team by the scruff of its mangy little neck and carries it to the final. I always pointed to 2011-2012…
I like the way this mongrel of a team is growing up, myself…
About Demers: (forgive the repost)
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
@Socal Shark,
Don’t you love our posters?
But consider this: If it weren’t for the fact that Demers DID do his little helicopter act right in Smyth’s face, thus causing Smyth to pull back to let him slide unceremoniously to the ice. Smyth could have caught him, or he could’ve let him fall face-first into the boards (laughing the whole time, I imagine, under his breath). The only thing, though–Demers might have been hurt with the latter, and Smyth might have received an unsportsmanlike penalty for mortally embarrassing him with the former. Personally, I would have preferred that he caught Demers. I would have scored that a 1.5 at the Olympics figure skating competition…
Consider the lack of penalty call a way to just let the whole humiliating episode pass into the cold, cold night…
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Demers left his feet and went for the head…it’s that simple…he should be out also….
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The NHL is applying double standards. I guess Ryan Smyth would need to be taken out in a stretcher for the league to consider suspending Demers but if a Shark is in the wrong place, at the wrong time, a King gets suspended. BS
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number 6 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
@Rod,
You know what? This is really sad, but you know the allegations that came out about the nba and certain refs? I’m Not talking about refs here, but it does start to make you wonder if there is a minimum of cronyism going on on some level. If there is that would be sad.
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I thought the hit on Zues’s a couple of weeks ago was way worse than either Stoll or Smith situation.
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friarking Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
@KC23, yeah, even the Clifford hit in that game was worse than the two and Cliffy didn’t get suspended.
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BobKnob Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
@friarking,
Cliffy’s hit was not worse. His player saw him coming and turned into the boards at the last second anyways.
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The new NHL Standard… TURN YOUR BACK AND DUCK WHEN YOU SENSE A HIT COMING. YOU ARE THEN EXEMPT FROM CONTACT.
And you’d better not get up and keep skating!
And did anyone factor in that White was wearing a 1995 CCM helmet without a visor?
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CheezyPoofs Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
@RyanSD, Stop with the logic. It’s confusing me.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
@RyanSD,
…But did you warn them about the CONCUSSION they are about to get?
No?
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It’s amazing to me how inconsistent the NHL is for handling out punishments for “hits to the head”. If the hit results in an injury, it should not factor into the punishment. Only the INTENT should be punishable. In Stoll’s case there was no intent to injure Ian White. Stoll’s intent was to check and pin the player to allow him or a teammate to retrieve the puck, that’s all. Unfortunately Ian’s head was in a position (low near the top of the boards) that resulted in the injury.
Demers hit last night and the Ribeiro hit on Handzus in the Coyote’s game at Staples were by far more along the lines of “intent to injure” then the Stoll hit. NHL, wake up and start showing some consistency in how punishments are handed out, DO NOT take any resulting injury into consideration, only INTENT. This is a fast paced, physical, tough sport that results in injuries from time to time. Players should not be surprised by suspensions (or lack thereof) once plays are reviewed. Get it right and the deterrent factor will begin to have an effect.
Go Kings!
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Go Kings Go!!!
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I wanted to make sure that Russell go this response. Sorry for re-posting and the length. In spirit of fairness, I have included the exchange in total.
Sebastian says:
April 15, 2011 at 8:50 am
I have a feeling he will get at least one game. The intent does not look like it was there, but bottom line be comes in at a player from behind and drives his head right into the boards with his right forearm. The hit directly targeted the head…its much easier to see form the alternate angle (not showed on the video above).
I hope I’m wrong, but I know if it was Doughty or Johnson getting nailed like that, I would definitely want there to be a suspension.
The hit on Smyth was very different, yes the guy jumped like Jordan at the slam dunk contest, but it was not a blind side hit. Both plays should have been penalties, but only one is serious enough to warrant supplemental discipline.
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scvking Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 9:09 am
@Sebastian,
So you are saying that they should disregard the video angle that shows it to be a clean hit, and only consider the one that appears as though Stoll targeted the head? I don’t quite see it that way. Yes, last night the angle we saw looked questionable, at least. This one however clearly shows that it was a shoulder hit that was clean, and the additional contact occurred when White ducked to the right as Stoll’s momentum tracked that direction as well. Are we saying that Stoll should be responsible for how White chose to manuever? How White chose to “protect” himself actually created the contact that you claim is direct targeting by Stoll. I don’t buy that. This video angle is clearly showing a clean hit, so why would the focus be solely on one that gives the appearance of a bad hit?
I mean, this one shows it to be clean, but that one over there makes it look questionable, so by all means, let us only consider the inconclusive video?
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Russell Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 12:44 pm
@scvking,
So you are saying that they should disregard the angle that clearly shows Stolls shoulder putting white’s head to the board from behind and consider only the one that looks like it was a clean hit? Your bias is making you see one video as more real than the other. I’m sure the NHL will look at all angles. If they deem it to be a bad hit they’ll act accordingly. Stoll is not a dirty player at all but in my opinion it was a bad hit that resulted in White getting hurt. And I’d have to say that the angle that is clearest is the CSN camera that was 2 feet away on the other side of the glass when the hit occurred. Your sarcasm doesn’t make any point when you literally are hypocritical in your response. And blaming white for his positioning… are you serious?
@Russell,
I seldom comment on this blog because of the responses that I see to a variety of the comments posted here, by various people. People imply things that are not correct, toss out words that have no validity, and attempt to be “right” for ego purposes.
There is a lot going on with the Stoll hit, and emotions in the aftermath of the game.
What I understood from Sebastian was his feeling that one angle should take precedence over another angle. My point is that one angle shows this, another that. There is a larger and unknown body of evidence that will be looked at to determine what course of action the league would take.
I have posted at least a few comments today re the hit, and I have stated that during the game, the angle made me feel that the hit was questionable, at least. I stand behind that comment. I also said that after viewing the video that Rich posted earlier, that my feeling was different, and that I felt that it was a clean hit. I processed the only two bits of information available and made a determination as to what I felt was the correct response.
For you to say that I blamed White for positioning is just idiotic. Here is my point—there were two points on impact, one from Stoll’s shoulder into the back of White, not his head, and not in a way that would have been a penalty for boarding. White was turning the same direction as Stoll was skating, and the second point of impact was when Stoll raised his arm to absorb the impact fom the boaards, which is also where White had moved to. Some may view that as an elbow directly targeting White’s head, but I do not agree with that. I blamed White for his positioning? No, sorry, just stating what actually took place.
Sorry you see bias and hypocrisy when you want to try to win the argument. What bias? What is the hypocrisy? If wanting the right call to be made is bias, so be it. If staing my opinion on a message board that is different than yours, that is bias in your opinion? My bias is in that the NHL seldom gets these things correct. The Stoll hit wasn’t even the worst hit of the game, yet the one we are debating is the Stoll hit?
You kind of lost it with the “NHL will look at all angles. If they deem it to be a bad hit they’ll act accordingly.” If only it was that way. The NHl is laughable at this kind of thing.
I saw the comments after from the SJ locker room and I was appalled. Both the coach and boyle were obviously lobbying for punishment, even though they had no moral argument when consideration is given to the Demers hit. Tell me, which hit was more egregious? Which one should have resulted in punishment? How is it that Stoll makes what many feel is a legitimate hit and is suspended, and Demers violates every priniciple of conduct in this regard and gets nothing? Yet, I am the one you want to single out as a hypocritical? And the NHL will act accordingly?
I enjoy a healthy debate, and I find others opinions are interesting at times, especially when they are honest and fair. Anyone can comment here, but when responding, just do so in that spirit.
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RyanSD Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
@scvking, Well said my friend. I could not agree with you more. You are a true fan of the game.
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scvking Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 7:03 pm
@RyanSD,
Much appreciated! You shoould be having great beach weather in SD this weekend. Enjoy it. I’m jealous.
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KingsFanintheD Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 10:32 am
@scvking, nice spin
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Thank you NHL for suspending our best center for the most important game of our season.. Down 1 game to 0, game 2 is a make it or break it pretty much for our hopes. Thank you very much. Hope Betman’s Sedin twins collide knee on knee in the next game and be out til next season. That will be justice.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
@Rob,
Take a deep breath and consider:
–Game two is not the Kings’ most important game of the year.
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Off topic for a second……The Kings have scored more then the Black Hawks,Rangers,Ducks,Bruins,and the Flyers so far in the play offs!!!!!
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:27 pm
@neil, Yea go kings
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Andrew Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
@KingsFanFTW, too bad we werent playing one of those teams. We would have this thing called a lead we heard so much about
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Neither Stoll’s hit or Demers’s hit were called penalties by the on ice refs. So many missed calls per game yet I know of not one disciplinary movement against these horrible officials.
In England football officials are disciplined for bad games by suspension and demotion.
NHL is bush-league garbage. Always reactive and always biased.
Ribiero on Zus. Ovie on Brown 2 years back. Malkin on Simmonds.
Were any of these disciplined? That scrub who ran Kopitar on Long Island. Bourque spearing Doughty. Nothing.
Reminds me of Muni breaking 2 Kings players legs and getting zero discipline.
NHL is run by a bunch of mugs. Absolute garbage.
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Off topic as well… just saw highlight of Brian Boyle hit on AO from Game 1. Monster hit. Then of course, there is always Dustin Penner. I know DL won’t always get it right. Absolutely no one does. But hard to watch the Caps (with Sturm who seemed delighted to be in the Kings room) – Rangers (Boyle) and then the Kings big acquisition seems big at this point in time only in physical stature, which is probably not all DL had in mind when he acquired him.
Pity. Hope that turns around dramatically……. and Fast!
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friarking Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
@number 6, At this point, It probably would have been a much better option to keep Sturm and our 1st round pick. Now DL is on the hook for Penner’s salary for this year and the next. I do miss seeing Sturm actually having a good time compared to Mr Mopey
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tuan jim Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
@friarking,
Not protecting Sturm was a calculated risk. It had nothing to do with our appreciation of his quality as a player. It was a business decision meant to free enough space to pick up the talent available. Everyone within the Kings organization was sorry to see him go.
Penner was a good deal at the time it was made, and I think it will prove to be a good deal for the team. Give it a chance. Give him a chance. TM’s system is not something Penner’s been used to for the past few years. And before his linemates went down he was either productive or useful defensively.
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Cristobal Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
@number 6,
Haven’t seen this hit, but I’m a fan of Boyle and watch him when I can.
DL has shown how horrid his decision making can be, as has TM.
How they stuck Fro with the lazy-tag was beyond me. How nice would it be to have Boyle right now. All it took was a year of steady minutes, some encouragement, and some work by Boyle and he sure looks like a steady 2nd line center who does all the little things right and who should be a captain or alternate for years.
DL was good on Williams, but he’s made a ton of huge errors.
Penner looks like another I’ll-advised waste of a move. Mark Parrish looks like Gretzky next to Penner.
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johnjuan Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 8:11 pm
@Cristobal,
Agree with both of you (6) and would add Moulson too but, I have not completely giving up on Penner yet. He may show up at some point.
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still off topic….am I the only one that finds it funny that when Westy actually has a shot on goal,this blog lights up like he is having a great game??? Has anyone ever played as many games during the regular season as Westy did and not score one goal…and then scored in the playoffs????
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Hey guys,
I was sick last night so I DVR’d the game on Versus, but when I went to watch it today, I saw the 1st minute or so, up to the goal, and then it cut to the Red Wings Stanley Cup Summer, then snow boarding, etc. Never got to see anything on the game past that. Did anyone else have this problem? I want to make sure I don’t miss the game tomorrow. I was watching Versus HD on Verizon FIOS.
Let me know if it was shown on a different channel!
BP
By the way, from the one minute I saw, it was totally Browns fault. I love Brownie! And I saw all the JJ haters come out on the blog. But if you watch the high view replay, Heatly was Brown’s man from all the way in the SJ zone and Brownie let him beat him into the Kings zone. Yes, Penner could have picked him up, but it was Brown’s guy. JJ played it correctly. Just saying…
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Cristobal Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
@Mudfish4,
brown was behind everyone, heately included. The 4 players back need to be aware of what’s around them.
If Fro was on that line instead of Penner the rebound wouldn’t have ended up in the net.
But DL and TM don’t respect Fro.
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Mudfish4 Reply:
April 15th, 2011 at 6:13 pm
@Cristobal, I see your point and that’s why I said Penner could have picked him up. But if you watch the replay from back in the Sharks zone, Heately and Brown bump each other in front of the sharks net and the Heately takes off and Brown lets him go. But ultimately, it’s Brown’s responsibility to keep up with his check back into the zone. Yes, the other 4 should have read the play and if you look, Penner looks over the wrong shoulder. He looks to the right and see’s the D-man that pulled up to the right point which is where he went, when Heately was sneaking in behind him on his left.
Was the game on FSW or Prime Ticket? Is that why my Versus cut out on me? My guide showed baseball was on FSW and PT but maybe they didn’t update their guide after the team made the playoffs??
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I’m with TM on the Demer’s hit on Ryan Smyth. There is no way to read the language in the NHL rules and let that one go without a suspension of atleast one game for each infraction(Elbow, Charging, Intentional Contact to the Head, & Jumping).
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I’m watching the Penguin’s game and they are down
to 4 to 1. .Their HOMERS were advocating hurting TB players
Since the game seems out of reach..
What is wrong with this mentality ..What is right really?
that some actually want players
to suffer injuries in todays NHL,,
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This is what I know about a concussion symptoms. Your brain bumps in to the inner skull when your head is forced to make sudden (unexpected) movement. Direct impact to the head like a boxer’s punch causes a severe concussion but also a whiplash injury can cause the symptoms. So the initial contact point could be anywhere to cause the damage.
However, our brain can adjust to the expected impact. Occurance of the symptoms can be dramatically reduced if our brain overcomes pre-impact. White’s injury occured when the game was at it’s beginning. He didn’t take enough pre-impact before Stoll’s hit. On the other hand, Smyth took hit when the game was already progressed deep so he took some pre-impact before he got hit on his head.
It is rather difficult to determine what causes a concussion symptoms. Since the ice hockey is a contact sports, it is inevitable to suffer a concussion now and then. What the league can do for this issue is eliminating intentional contact around a head. And for that, Demeres’s hit was more punishable than Stoll’s.
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That’s great,,they punish bad luck and reward intent
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Hey, on the plus side, at least Doughty isn’t getting tossed for that “Genocidally vicious” knee late in the third. I mean he was obviously trying to break the other guys leg off, right? Jeez can’t we catch a break. Been arguing with Sharks fans all day on youtube watching the videos. They are such hypocrites, they rave about how “stoll leads with the elbow and how his eyes turned red and horns grew out of his elbow as he nearly decapitates White… but the Demer’s hit, oh no, what was wrong with that? Stoll is Satan!!” What a bunch of hypo’s. Fine a game yea it’s boarding, but he wasn’t trying to pull anything with it an the league knows it, that’s why he only got one.
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Hey Rich, I know we have had allot of bad calls this year alone but is colin really that blind and not suspending demers I cant believe the NHL could allow Stolly to be suspended and not demers who clearly was trying to injure smyth!!! cant they take a second look or is it just that its the kings and thats the way it is if so..pardon me but sound like they need to fire the whole office up there time to clean house and get fresh eyes up there!!! so very disgusted with the league right now!!!
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