# NHL: The Playoffs **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 8, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187 "2012-04-08T17:26:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/121 "2012-04-17T18:10:25Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > …word is that Mario’s seeing red. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near that locker room right now. No doubt. In fact, I happen to have a transcript of what he said: > [@](#): > > what happened [Sunday] night [in Philadelphia] wasn’t hockey. It was a travesty. It was painful to watch the game I love turn into a sideshow like that. > > "We, as a league, must do a better job of protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of our players. We must make it clear that those kinds of actions will not be tolerated and will be met with meaningful disciplinary action. > > “If the events relating to [Sunday] night reflect the state of the league, I need to re-think whether I want to be a part of it.” He’s serious. He won’t stand for that nonsen… what’s that? Oh dear. I’m getting a report that this is actually what he said when it was his team getting pummeled and not at all relating to the game this past Sunday. Fair enough. Mr. Lemeiux, would you care then to express your outrage about your team endangering the safety of players and ruining the integrity of the game during this past Sunday’s game? Mario Lemeiux: ::crickets:: Yeah. Thought so. I’m not much of a smack talker or an “I told you so” kind of guy, but man this whiny douchebag has it coming. Even homer journalists and bloggers in Pittsburgh are expressing their embarrassment in the team and its actions, and I, for one, feel vindicated after catching so much crap around here for calling this Penguins team what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/122 "2012-04-17T21:37:48Z")
Out of curiosity, is anyone besides me thinking that the playoffs this year seem nastier overall than most if not all previous? It seems to me that “playoff hockey” is turning more and more into pathetic thuggery with each passing game. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/123 "2012-04-17T21:57:49Z")
I absolutely feel that way. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/124 "2012-04-17T23:13:40Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Out of curiosity, is anyone besides me thinking that the playoffs this year seem nastier overall than most if not all previous? It seems to me that “playoff hockey” is turning more and more into pathetic thuggery with each passing game. A little bit more this year, but I think it’s due to close rival matchups. If it was Flyers/Leafs and Pens/Panthers, that wouldn’t be such a mess. We haven’t seen too much craziness with Rangers/Senators. Even out here in LA with the Kings/Canucks, the Canucks are closer rivals to the Kings than Anaheim or even San Jose is this year. ---
**Author:** ![Fred\_Garvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c67d28/32.png) [@Fred\_Garvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred_Garvin)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/125 "2012-04-17T23:35:07Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Out of curiosity, is anyone besides me thinking that the playoffs this year seem nastier overall than most if not all previous? It seems to me that “playoff hockey” is turning more and more into pathetic thuggery with each passing game. To be honest, outside of the Pens/ Flyers matchup and the Weber incident, I don’t see much difference. The issue with Weber was more the lack of punishment more than the actual event. And the Pens situation is just totally off the charts. I cant recall seeing anything as bad as this in recent years. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Understander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3da27b/32.png) [@The\_Understander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Understander)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/126 "2012-04-17T23:57:08Z")
Even later to the party, and just to say that if I have to sit through one more last minute sixth-attacker tying goals, I’m gonna have a heart attack. Counting the ill-fated Game 7 last year against the Canuck, that’s three straight OT playoff games for the Blackhawks. Put the Coyotes away early tonight, boys. Also, if Andrew Shaw is suspended for even one game because of Mike Smith’s Blake Griffin impression, I WILL find your house, Brendan Shanahan. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/127 "2012-04-18T00:10:22Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > We haven’t seen too much craziness with Rangers/Senators. That’s a joke, right? There have been two suspensions in that series already… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/128 "2012-04-18T01:04:57Z")
> [@Enfant Terrible](#): > > Also, if Andrew Shaw is suspended for even one game because of Mike Smith’s Blake Griffin impression, I WILL find your house, Brendan Shanahan. I guess you missed the news. He was suspended for [THREE games](http://sports.yahoo.com/news/blackhawks-shaw-gets-3-game-191905284--nhl.html). What a fucking joke. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/129 "2012-04-18T01:26:39Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > That’s a joke, right? There have been two suspensions in that series already… Ooop! Meant Wings/Preds. Welll, maybe a little rougher than usual. ---
**Author:** ![Tazmanian\_Devil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@Tazmanian\_Devil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tazmanian_Devil)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/130 "2012-04-18T01:53:28Z")
Rafe Torres of Phoenix may join Andrew Shaw on the unscheduled vacation list after he took out Marian Hossa tonight, and Hossa had to be stretchered off the ice. Torres left his skates to deliver the hit, and he has a history of problems with the Hawks: [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/hockey/nhl/wires/04/17/2040.ap.hkn.blackhawks.hossa.injured.0179/](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/hockey/nhl/wires/04/17/2040.ap.hkn.blackhawks.hossa.injured.0179/) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Understander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3da27b/32.png) [@The\_Understander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Understander)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/131 "2012-04-18T01:55:42Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I guess you missed the news. He was suspended for [THREE games](http://sports.yahoo.com/news/blackhawks-shaw-gets-3-game-191905284--nhl.html). What a fucking joke. Didn’t hear it until the pregame. Leave it to a Dead Wing to screw the Hawks. You’re right, absolute joke, and then the punch line tonight … NO PENALTY AT ALL on that flying cheap shot on Hossa. Really. Four officials saw nuttin’, huh? What is this I don’t even. I take it back. They saw enough to give the Coyotes a power play. Thank YOU, Kaner, for shoving it up the refs asses. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/132 "2012-04-18T02:03:31Z")
Well done Detroit. Three guys follow the puck carrier leaving one man wide open in front of Howard and he scores. That is some fine defense right there. And watch the Dead Wing talk. Shanny screwed the Wings over by letting Weber get away with cracking Zetterberg’s helmet with the glass. Pretty much screwed the league too. Now there’s no telling what will get you suspended and what won’t. The only telling factor is if you’re a star player or not. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/133 "2012-04-18T02:05:43Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Well done Detroit. Three guys follow the puck carrier leaving one man wide open in front of Howard and he scores. That is some fine defense right there. The 2nd goal (I’m not sure which one you mean) was mostly on Howard, who pulled a real bonehead move by vacating his crease. When this team won their 4 Cups they simply never made these kinds of mistakes. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/134 "2012-04-18T02:13:52Z")
Devils blow an early 3 goal lead. To the Devs: It’s the score after 3 periods, not 3 goals. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/135 "2012-04-18T02:22:01Z")
The 3 goal lead is the new 2 goal lead. ---
**Author:** ![Tazmanian\_Devil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@Tazmanian\_Devil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tazmanian_Devil)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/136 "2012-04-18T02:41:35Z")
> [@Tazmanian\_Devil](#): > > Rafe Torres of Phoenix may join Andrew Shaw on the unscheduled vacation list after he took out Marian Hossa tonight, and Hossa had to be stretchered off the ice. Torres left his skates to deliver the hit, and he has a history of problems with the Hawks: [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/hockey/nhl/wires/04/17/2040.ap.hkn.blackhawks.hossa.injured.0179/](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/hockey/nhl/wires/04/17/2040.ap.hkn.blackhawks.hossa.injured.0179/) I’ll get the clown’s name right, yet. Raffi Torres. He should be gone for at least 5 games. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/137 "2012-04-18T02:47:48Z")
Shanahan is a joke. > [@soulmurk](#): > > No doubt. In fact, I happen to have a transcript of what he said: > > He’s serious. He won’t stand for that nonsen… what’s that? > > Oh dear. I’m getting a report that this is actually what he said when it was his team getting pummeled and not at all relating to the game this past Sunday. > > Fair enough. Mr. Lemeiux, would you care then to express your outrage about your team endangering the safety of players and ruining the integrity of the game during this past Sunday’s game? > > Mario Lemeiux: ::crickets:: > > Yeah. Thought so. > > I’m not much of a smack talker or an “I told you so” kind of guy, but man this whiny douchebag has it coming. Even homer journalists and bloggers in Pittsburgh are expressing their embarrassment in the team and its actions, and I, for one, feel vindicated after catching so much crap around here for calling this Penguins team what it is. Well, I’ll call and tell him that **soulmurk** demands that he speak immediately. I mean, you know, it’s not like he’s deliberately keeping silent, you know. You’re not much of a “smack talker” or an “I told you so” kind of guy"? Please, you’ve been bitching about the Penguins all year. You’ve been jumping up and down, eager to point to any little thing that went wrong with them so you could say, “See! See! Look at how evil the Pens are!!!” I don’t believe in being “embarassed to be a fan”, because I don’t just stop supporting my team when they lose. I may be embarassed by their actions, but not by their losing. Sunday’s game was disgusting, but it’s not going to stop me from being a fan. And stop acting like New Jersey’s as pure as the driven snow, because that’s bullshit. They’ve had their fair share of goons and dirty players as well. **Ike Witt** – Pronger really did that? Ugh. But then, why should I be surprised? ---
**Author:** ![Tazmanian\_Devil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@Tazmanian\_Devil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tazmanian_Devil)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/138 "2012-04-18T03:09:03Z")
James Neal suspended one game, Arron Asham gets four games. ---
**Author:** ![Fred\_Garvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c67d28/32.png) [@Fred\_Garvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred_Garvin)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/139 "2012-04-18T03:11:56Z")
[Asham gets 4 games, Neal 1 game](http://espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/2012/story/_/id/7826505/2012-stanley-cup-playoffs-arron-asham-pittsburgh-penguins-gets-4-game-ban-james-neal-1) Asham hits Schenn, who stays in the game, and gets 4 games. So much for “No Harm, No Foul”. But then Neal gets only a game for the Giroux, and nothing for the Couturier. (According to Shanahan 's video, he accepted Neal’s contention that he jumped to brace himself against an unavoidable collision). Unbelievable ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187/140 "2012-04-18T03:21:19Z")
> [@Tazmanian\_Devil](#): > > James Neal suspended one game, Arron Asham gets four games. No surprise there. I figured Asham would. Neal, that’s not usually like him. Mario declined to speak publically (it’s actually rare that he speaks to the media – he usually makes statements through Shero), but the words “embarassed” and “disappointed” came out. From the look on his face at the game though, I’d gather the team themselves heard a hell of a lot more. He looked like he was going to start breathing fire. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-the-playoffs/618187.md?page=8)