Smith Got Shaw'd
I can't believe this is a suspension. Shaw was trying to go around Smith and accidentally clipped Smith. If it had to be penalized then two minutes. That's it. Instead, Smith goes down flopping like a fish out of water, stays down when the trainers came out, DID NOT go to the quiet room, and stayed in the game. The goalie-contact debate is a two-way street for me: I'll admit I'm a goalie sympathizer so I should be celebrating the suspension, but I also believe that if a goalie is clearly out of the net to play the puck then they should be treated like a third defensemen. My solution would be to put a "second crease" in, so whenever goalies are handling the puck out it then they are fair game. Back to the suspension though, it was excessive and unnecessary especially since Phoenix played around with Smith status until game-time.
One more thought: NHL GM's did want harsher punishment for players who even touch a goalie after the Lucic-Miller incident, so I get how that factors in, but it was still a bad ruling.
Backstorm Crosscheck
It was ruled a match penalty, so the one-game is automatic and needs no explanation. This one is on the refs, since the match penalty for something that happens every time there is a scrum is (again) excessive.
James Neal Will Run Wild On You!
First off, I laugh at everyone how says the Couturier hit was blindside. Unless your legality blind then how do you not see a guy come at you when your body is square to him? And what was Couturier doing admiring the puck anyway? And (the biggest question I have) why was Couturier back on the bench 1 minute after going to the dressing room. Can we officially call the quiet room a myth now?
As for Giroux, it's hard to say that wasn't a charge, but Giroux ducked it...then he goes down like he's still trying to learn how to skate.
Another thing I laugh at: Crosby is still getting that diving/whining reputation. Here is a fun fact: Crosby played junior in the QMJHL. Couturier played junior in the QMJHL, Giroux (you guessed it) played junior in the QMJHL. Maybe I've been spoiled with growing up watching the WHL, but the QMJHL is a diving league. Crosby reputation, because he is the star of the league, is going to be mentioned time and time again. Why Giroux (becoming a star of his own) gets off for ducking a hit then falls down I don't get. Why Couturier isn't getting ripped to shreds for faking an injury I don't get. Congrats Flyers, you just made the Broad Street Bullies roll in there graves (even though they aren't dead yet).
I realize the suspension was based on intent. Since Neal has prior discipline history it's understandable. Intent is a funny thing though. Unless the defendant (Neal in this case) admits intent, it's hard to prove.
Side note: Can't believe this is the only video with both incidents.
I'm Asham-ed of Schenn
The suspension is understandable, the length is questionable. Asham really could have handled it differently. I will give Shanahan credit for pointing out in the suspension video that no contract was made with the head...until the back of the head punch. Still, no discipline history, no head contact, four games is a bit much. Should have left it as a match penalty (automatic one game) and leave it at that.
As for the headline I used: Brayden's antics during the series is ruining the good name the Toronto media has made for the Schenn's.
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