Well, it's 7:04 AM Central time, about 10 hours after the conclusion of the Pens-Canadiens game. I've been out of bed for about 10 minutes now and started a pot of coffee so I'm as about as relaxed as I'm going to get today and there's probably no better time to comment on the games most notable, and I hope controversial, play; the hit on Chris Letang by Montreal's left wing Max Pacioretty.
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| Pacioretty in a more fitting pose. |
In OT after Jordan Staal had scored to pull the Penguins even after overcoming a two-goal deficit, Kris Letang, the Pens' top defenseman, was caught with a blindside hit in the Penguins' offensive zone, a la Hall-of-Famer Scott Stevens. Letang lay motionless and bleeding while I hit the ceiling screaming expletives. Which wasn't the first time I had so reacted to idiotic calls by the officiating team of the night.
No penalty. Let's look at it from fifty-seven angles... Was it a head shot? YES, THE GUY'S NOSE WAS BLEEDING FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! Did he use his shoulder? SO WHAT IF HE DID, HE HIT HIS HEAD WITH WHATEVER AND I THOUGHT WE WERE STOPPING THAT?! It seems Captain Sidney Crosby was arguing with the officials that it was an elbow that put Letang into the middle of next week for a few moments... BUT HE HIT HIS HEAD, DAMN IT!
Back in the day, before ANYONE was interested in concussions, that hit was considered a great, potentially goal saving play. TODAY, now that the NHL TALKS as if they're interested in preventing head injuries and PROTECTING THEIR STARS and whatever the nice-sounding phrase of the day is, it should be an AUTOMATIC MAJOR penalty with an AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION. What if it had been Crosby? No matter, if this activity is let go eventually it WILL be Crosby* probably against the goons from Boston or Philadelphia.
In fact, an officiating team that FAILS to make this call should ALSO be suspended and I think the NFL should do likewise.
Now, about the game...
Letang was bloodied byt not concussed before he knocked the wind out of the Canadiens by returning to score the OT game-winner.
Near the midpoint of overtime, Letang stuffed the puck under Montreal goaltender Carey Price through the paint and into the back of the ice. The Canadiens protested the puck had been frozen but the officials had at that point gotten at least one call right.
Sideny Crosby continued in good form scoring two mor epoints for a total of eight in his first four games back.
Pacioretty apologized toLetang after the game and explained that he went for the cut-across-the-ice hit because Letang was free to shoot on goal.
As of late last night, the was NO INDICATION FROM THE NHL WHETHER THE HIT WOULD BE REVIEWED for supplemental action.
Letang lauded Pacioretty's post game apology and Pacioretty said he remains sensitive to headshots after receiving one from Boston's Zdeno Chara last March. Pacioretty was taken from the ice on a stretcher after that hit by chara who was NOT suspended.
With this vicotry the Penguins are now 14-6-4 (30 points).
They trailed 3-1 before right wing Pascal Dupuis's sixth goal in the second period.
Jordan Staal's 12th goal, which placed him second onthe club and one behind right wing James Neal, changed the scope. He scored while skating with Malkin who assisted and has quietly accumulated eight points since Crosby's return.
That comeback feeling is there, that we're never really out of a game and there's always an opportunity to win games," Staal said.
With Malkin (22 points) climbing in the scoring race, and Neal and Staal each top-15 scorers, and Letang (19 points, p;u 8 rating) a Norris Trophy candidate, that comeback feeling is easy to have for the penguins.
* Prior to Crosby's comeback game NBC showed the hit he received last January against the Washington Capitals. I got a chance to go through it frame-by-frame with the DVR and it WAS an intentional hit, no doubt about it, particularly since Green intentionally skated right past Crosby as his head was turned and looking the other way.
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