# The Stanley Cup Playoffs Thread
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [April 11, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925 "2011-04-11T02:46:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 27
### Author:  [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/521 "2011-06-14T18:25:04Z")
Nah, it’s all just further support for **Omniscient** ’s claim that the Canucks are the dirtiest team in the league. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Fred\_Garvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred_Garvin)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/522 "2011-06-14T18:58:24Z")
> [@This\_Just\_In\_2](#):
>
> **Horton hit = Was admiring his pass, looking away from player. Rome hits him a 1/2 sec too late,** Horton hits his head on the ice which probably does most of the damage.
>
> Injury - a severe concussion. Some report Horton already chomping at the bit to play but will probably not do so because it would be ‘politically’ incorrect in the post concussion days.
> Penalty - 5 minute major, ejection from game. Suspension for 4 final round playoff games!
> Raymond hit = Unable to get out the way. Body folded over and his head was stuck into Boychucks knees. **Boychuck pushes him 10 ft+ into the boards**. Boychuck has no intention to play the puck.
>
> Injury - Fractured vertabrae. Unable to play for 4-6 months (well into next season!)
> Penalty - none given.
> Gotta love the free pass the Bruins get for the dirtiest play all playoffs. Second dirtiest all season (I’ll give top honors to Chara’s hit). Hold a guy down and slam/crunch his tailbone into the boards.
>
> I hope Mason Raymond has a Stanley Cup to help with his recovery.
Posts like these usually bring a smile to my face, but the comments I bolded were exceptionally funny. Thanks for making my day.
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/523 "2011-06-14T18:59:46Z")
I also enjoyed the moment earlier in the game when Tim Thomas skated up to a Vancouver player and speared him in the crotch. After the whistle. This was not long after Boychuk broke Mason Raymond’s back with a play that was astoundingly dirty.
Seriously, this is a damned dirty series on both sides. This “The Canucks are the dirtiest team ever” stuff is ridiculous.
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### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/524 "2011-06-14T19:08:44Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> I also enjoyed the moment earlier in the game when Tim Thomas skated up to a Vancouver player and speared him in the crotch. After the whistle. This was not long after Boychuk broke Mason Raymond’s back with a play that was astoundingly dirty.
Ah, but you’re talking Tim “The God” Thomas. His moves are not to be questioned. His play is holy in it’s purity. Because he’s omniscient, he knew that the player (the spear-ee) was going to say mean things about him in the future. Therefore he was totally justified in his spearing actions.
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### Author:  [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/525 "2011-06-14T20:23:59Z")
> [@Fred\_Garvin](#):
>
> Posts like these usually bring a smile to my face, but the comments I bolded were exceptionally funny. Thanks for making my day.
What is so funny?
Rome’s hit was clean but late. Result = 5 minute major, ejection, 4 game suspension.
Boychuks hit was late and he held Raymond down in a vulnerable position. Result = … crickets chirping in distance …
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### Author:  [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/526 "2011-06-14T20:30:22Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> Ah, but you’re talking Tim “The God” Thomas. His moves are not to be questioned. His play is holy in it’s purity. Because he’s omniscient, he knew that the player (the spear-ee) was going to say mean things about him in the future. Therefore he was totally justified in his spearing actions.
Here here! I also am fed up with Timmy’s pass on everything. [Articles like this. “Just give the Stanley cup to Thomas.” makes it obvious who the media darling is.](http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/1008641--just-give-the-stanley-cup-to-tim-thomas-neither-team-deserves-it?bn=1)
Whatever, Thomas is a dirty player just like all the other Boston goons. Witness how he regularily leaves his paint and slashes, spears or otherwise interferes with other players - something I have no idea why he gets away with since he’s a freaking goalie.
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/527 "2011-06-14T21:10:23Z")
> [@This\_Just\_In\_2](#):
>
> What is so funny?
> Rome’s hit was clean but late.
Let us be absolutely fair in discussing the facts. Rome hit Horton in the head. It was not a freak accident; he brought his shoulder into Horton’s head of his own accord. According to the rules that is not a “clean” hit, and for that matter I don’t think head shots have ever been considered entirely “clean” even when they were technically legal.
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### Author:  [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/528 "2011-06-14T21:31:55Z")
> [@Quint](#):
>
> He didn’t think the hit was fine. He thought it was late, and therefore illegal and dangerous. That’s exactly what he said, and a lot of people agree with him. All this conspiracy/coverup nonsense is a little tinfoil hatty dontcha think?
Not saying exactly that it’s a conspiracy or a coverup. The quote given by Murphy (without cite) said it was an interference penalty. Based on the quote given, he’s full of shit. If there is more to the statement or a cite containing full remarks, I’ll retract my statements. I’m just working with what I’m given.
> [@This\_Just\_In\_2](#):
>
> Horton hit = Was admiring his pass, looking away from player. Rome hits him a 1/2 sec too late, Horton hits his head on the ice which probably does most of the damage.
Say this as much as you like. Still not true. Rome didn’t even move in for the hit until he saw the pass go across. He saw the player didn’t have the puck. He knew he wasn’t paying attention, and he did it anyways. Shoulder to head. There is no way that that hit is in any way legal or the fault of Horton. He had no reason to expect a hit coming. He didn’t have the puck.
And before I get jumped on it, the hit on Raymond was shit too. Boychuk could’ve damn well pulled up on that hit and not run him into the boards. I should also say that I don’t understand how you can jump on Boychuk and give Rome a pass. Rome knew his man didn’t have the puck and wasn’t paying attention and popped him in the head anyways. Boychuk knew his man didn’t have the puck and was in a horrible position and drove him into the boards anyways.
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### Author:  [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/529 "2011-06-14T21:34:05Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> Let us be absolutely fair in discussing the facts. Rome hit Horton in the head. It was not a freak accident; he brought his shoulder into Horton’s head of his own accord. According to the rules that is not a “clean” hit, and for that matter I don’t think head shots have ever been considered entirely “clean” even when they were technically legal.
Don’t debate me, talk to the NHL. Mike Murphy, who decided on the 4 game suspension says:
“If it was immediate, after he’d released the puck, it would be a legal hit,” said Murphy. “We have them all the time – because it was a north-south play.
Rome wasn’t penalized for the type of hit. It was judged a legal hit, but it was late and Horton got a concussion.
Rome isn’t a dirty player. If his shoulder went into Horton head (debatable) it wasn’t intentional.
The NHL analyzed this one in committee, and you’re going to try and correct me when I repeat their conclusion that the style of Rome’s hit was legal?
In contrast, no one is looking at Boychuk’s hit on Raymond. Why is it given a pass? Why can’t it be reviewed? The favoritism and bias of the NHL for Boston is just disgusting. Raymond is a good kid with a great future, a top 6 forward. He doesn’t deserve to have his back messed up with no one giving it attention.
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### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/530 "2011-06-14T21:35:11Z")
> [@RickJay](#):
>
> Let us be absolutely fair in discussing the facts. Rome hit Horton in the head. It was not a freak accident; he brought his shoulder into Horton’s head of his own accord.
No, he did not. That is your opinion, one that is not shared by the NHL or most other observers.
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### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/531 "2011-06-14T21:37:39Z")
> [@This\_Just\_In\_2](#):
>
> What is so funny?
> Rome’s hit was clean but late. Result = 5 minute major, ejection, 4 game suspension.
>
> Boychuks hit was late and he held Raymond down in a vulnerable position. Result = … crickets chirping in distance …
Well, not exactly crickets. The classy Boston fans were yelling “Diver, Diver!” at Raymond as he lay on the ice with fractured vertebrae and a potentially career ending injury.
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### Author:  [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/532 "2011-06-14T21:42:40Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> No, he did not. That is your opinion, one that is not shared by the NHL or most other observers.
Have you even watched the video? Rome’s shoulder makes direct contact with Horton’s head. Clear as day. Shoulder to head.
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### Author:  [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/533 "2011-06-14T21:51:16Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> No, he did not. That is your opinion, one that is not shared by the NHL or most other observers.
Most? Really?
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### Author:  [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/534 "2011-06-14T21:53:28Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> Well, not exactly crickets. The classy Boston fans were yelling “Diver, Diver!” at Raymond as he lay on the ice with fractured vertebrae and a potentially career ending injury.
There is a [photo](http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/1008527--canucks-raymond-out-four-months-with-broken-vertebra?bn=1)in the Toronto Star with Raymond laying on the ice, before the trainer comes out but after the whistle (since Boychuck is standing next to him, where he stopped after going back for the puck after skating away a little bit and returning after the hit). In this photo, there are four grinning Boston fans, one of which is smiling as he appears to take a photo of Raymond on the ice, another appears to be giving a thumbs down, and one guy is raising his hands in the rock-on gesture. I will give them the benefit of the doubt - they couldn’t have known the extent of the injury and this was even before the trainer came out - and maybe these four men feel terrible about what happened, but seeing the photo today just left a very bad taste in my mouth. I suppose this is more a criticism of the Toronto Star for choosing that photo than Bruins fans, but coupled with the “Diver!” chants… urrgh.
Yeah, I don’t really have a point. I just disliked the photo, I disliked the NHL and the ref’s reactions, I dislike the seeming constant stream of severe injuries in the league this year, I dislike the fact that some “fans” _were_ cheering once it became clear that Raymond was actually injured.
When can we get _hockey_ back, because this SCF sure as hell ain’t it.
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### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/535 "2011-06-14T22:07:28Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#):
>
> Have you even watched the video? Rome’s shoulder makes direct contact with Horton’s head. Clear as day. Shoulder to head.
Just went and watched it again. I’m still not seeing it. Rome had Horton lined up, and when Horton started to turn, he lowered his body somewhat. It looks like Rome was aiming for Horton’s chest all the way. It’s certainly not a clear cut head shot.
ETA: Want to see a head shot? Here is the hit on Crosby:[on January 1](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-vGuHLIPoc)
Crosby did not play the rest of the season.
Horton looked pretty good and seemed to be having a fantastic time in Game 6 when he was featured waving on the Jumbotron…
I suspect Boston is simply embarrassed to dress him for Game 7…
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### Author:  [@Fred\_Garvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred_Garvin)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/536 "2011-06-14T22:56:54Z")
> [@This\_Just\_In\_2](#):
>
> What is so funny?
> Rome’s hit was clean but late. Result = 5 minute major, ejection, 4 game suspension.
>
> Boychuks hit was late and he held Raymond down in a vulnerable position. Result = … crickets chirping in distance …
I actually enjoy homerism. I refer to it as “blind passion”. It always amazes me how some fans are going to see things totally different based on who they’re cheering for (or in the case of people who hate a team, who they’re cheering against). Even though there’s really no rivalry or previous bad blood between the teams, I knew this thread would eventually get nasty especially with a lot of Vancouver fans expecting this to be a quick and easy series. Throw in the fact that both teams can get very physical, there would be plenty of ammunition to throw around. And with hockey, it’s so easy for people to pick out or cherry pick certain plays throughout an entire game or series in an attempt to try and validate their point.
As for your particular comments, they just seemed really over the top. “ **Was admiring his pass** ”, “ **Boychuck pushes him 10 ft+ into the boards** ”. I just had to laugh. I apologize if my posted sounded snarky. In retrospect, it seemed a little disrespectful, which was not the case at all.
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### Author:  [@Fred\_Garvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred_Garvin)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/537 "2011-06-14T23:17:28Z")
> [@This\_Just\_In\_2](#):
>
> Whatever, Thomas is a dirty player just like all the other Boston goons. Witness how he regularily leaves his paint and slashes, spears or otherwise interferes with other players - something I have no idea why he gets away with since he’s a freaking goalie.
Could it be because the Canucks are slashing, hitting, interfering with him? You have to give Vancouver credit. They aren’t just standing around while Thomas stonewalls them. They are doing everything they can to try to get Thomas off his game. And they know that they are not going go away from most situations unscathed. If anything, the Vancouver skaters are getting the worst of it and they still go back for more.
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### Author:  [@This\_Just\_In\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/This_Just_In_2)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/538 "2011-06-14T23:18:58Z")
> [@Fred\_Garvin](#):
>
> As for your particular comments, they just seemed really over the top. “ **Was admiring his pass** ”, “ **Boychuck pushes him 10 ft+ into the boards** ”.
No problem, but for the record he really was pushed 10 ft into the boards.
[If you watch this video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTq_01WV4w8), you’ll see the puck bounces hard off the boards, deflects off Raymond’s skate and is well away from him. Raymond and Boychuk were heading for the boards, but Raymond turns into Boychuk and ducks, like he is going to try skating around him. Boychuk push him down further and directs him towards the boards. Raymond is now going backwards butt first with his head caught in Boychuk’s knees. Raymond’s tailbone slams into the boards at speed with Boychuk’s weight added in.
Raymond started the sequence skating perpendicular to the boards. Boychuk held him down and turned him into the boards, using his momentum to push him into them. To say he was pushed 10ft into the boards is not a stretch or play on words.
I am really upset about this play. You’re right, this series is emotional - but this play is really over the top nasty and the NHL and the media don’t give an excrement.
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### Author:  [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/539 "2011-06-14T23:20:05Z")
Interesting bit of trivia from[last fall:](http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=341367)
> [@](#):
>
> NHL vice president and league disciplinarian Colin Campbell is under fire for comments he made in a string of emails to then director of officiating Stephen Walkom.
>
> Posted on hockey website [www.mc79hockey.com](http://www.mc79hockey.com), and written by Tyler Dellow, the emails raise questions about Campbell’s impartiality, especially as it pertains to his son Gregory, an NHL player who was then on the Florida Panthers, **but now plays for the Boston Bruins.**
(my bolding)
I now seriously wonder if there have been some more recent emails from Campbell to officials… Or perhaps he’s become smarter and will not leave a paper trail. A few phone calls then.
Yes, I realize he’s “officially stepped down” as head disciplinarian, replaced by Brendan Shanahan. But he remains as Director of Hockey operation for the NHL - He obviously still wields influence on the officials.
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### Author:  [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-stanley-cup-playoffs-thread/577925/540 "2011-06-14T23:58:41Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#):
>
> Not saying exactly that it’s a conspiracy or a coverup. The quote given by Murphy (without cite) said it was an interference penalty. Based on the quote given, he’s full of shit. If there is more to the statement or a cite containing full remarks, I’ll retract my statements. I’m just working with what I’m given.
I linked to it in post #500. Regardless of all these shenanigans, we have a game 7 coming up. Stressful as hell, but let’s all try to enjoy it!!
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