Saturday Night Hockey: Buffalo Suspensions, Toronto Maple Saps

Buffalo Wild Wings Things

Just as went through suspensions last week, there are more to deal with. I might have to have a "Suspension of the Week" feature if it continues. Just like last week, there was a Sabre that is on the giving end of a head hit. To the video:

Yes, everyone's favour punching bag, John Scott, was the deliverer of the hit. It was a bad hit, as Scott chicken (albatross might be more accurate) winged Loui Eriksson, resulting in a concussion for the Bruins player. I'm not denying that Scott should be suspended. It was a hit to someone's head, there he should sit for a couple games. I do have issue with the outrage over this.

Almost every hockey team operates like this:

• Top two lines are filled with the most skilled guys
• Third line is mostly blue collar, with some skill
• Fourth line is everybody else

Players usually have a specific role on a team, and based on their skill level are placed were that role and skill are most beneficial to the team. In Scott's case, he's a big guy (6-foot-8!) that can fight and intimidate the opposition. Since he does not have much skill, he'll be that fourth line guy that is in the lineup half the time. He'll be someone who will play (at most) 6-7 minutes a game and deliver a few hits. Any offensive output is gravy.

The outrage from the hit is exponentially greater since he had a previous incident (in a loose sense) in the preseason when he attempted to grab Phil Kessel. There are many people in that incident that can take blame for it. Scott's only blame is that he felt the need to stand up for a teammate that was injured the previous shift. It just happened to be Kessel of all Leafs players that was lined up across from him.

My point is ultimately this: This should be like any other suspension. John Scott should just be another guy earning a 5 game suspension just like every other player. But because of the role he fills and the Toronto incident, he is treated like the most monstrous thing the NHL has ever seen despite having a clean record (under the CBA). It is a joke how the NHL is handling this. Scott's hearing isn't until Hallowe'en. By that time, he would have missed three games since hitting Eriksson plus a fourth that night.

We saw last week Michael Grabner get suspended for only two games for close to the same thing. It wasn't a clear sticking out of the elbow, but it was still a guy with no rap sheet mistiming a hit and got all head. Is anyone wanting to kick Grabner out of the game for that? I'm guessing no.

In the end this will be the perpetual cycle of NHL suspensions. A guy filling top minutes will only miss a few games while the guys scraping by will feel the heft of the Shanahammer. One thing is for sure though, the minute a guy like Crosby or Ovechkin or Stamkos picks a guy's head, any suspension would be a miracle.

I went through the Kaleta suspension last week, and news of his suspension being upheld by Commissioner Bettman was released Thursday. It will be interesting if they now go to an arbitrator to try and get it reduced.

Poor Poor Toronto

As a Habs fan I should feel pure hate for anything Toronto. But since A) my dad is a Leafs fan, and B) I like other Toronto teams (Blue Jays and Raptors*), I do feel for Toronto sometimes. It was bad enough that the Jays decided to erect a statue of Ted Rogers outside the Skydome.** Ted Rogers, a guy who was in no way involved in the Jays two World Series wins and devalued the Skydome so he could by it for pennies on the dollar.

Not to be outdone, Rogers (with the help of Bell) has decided to try and one-up itself by raising a banner in the ACC to Bon Jovi. Bon. Freakin. Jovi. The closest thing he has in common to Rogers is that they both own(ed) a hockey team.*** I understand wanting to celebrate him, and I understand it's an arena event and not sports-related, but a banner is still overkill. Have a wall dedicated to him or something else. Banner just feels wrong.

Side note: If it has to be a banner, is Bon Jovi really the first band you're honouring? Not Rush or The Tragically Hip or any other Canadian band? Stupid Rogers (and Bell)

*Teams only liked since the Expos and Grizzlies moved (THANKS! MLB and NBA)
**I know what it's called, doesn't mean I have to acknowledge the current name. See below for another example.
***I've seen Pucked, that time spent will never come back.
***I also tried to avoid the obvious "Living on a Prayer" reference

Lineup Notables

Edmonton Oilers vs. Phoenix Coyotes

Junior Team: Taylor Hall (knee), Ryan Smyth (groin), Sam Gagner (jaw), Jesse Joensuu (back), Ryan Hamilton (knee), and Steve MacIntyre (knee) are all out. Jason LaBarbera is in net.
Phoenix: Lauri Korpikoski is out. Mike "Diver" Smith starts this afternoon.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Pittsburgh: James Neal (upper body), Beau Bennett (lower body), and Tomas Vokoun (blood clot) are out. Marc-Andre Fleury will start.
Wendel Clarkson: James Reimer might start.

San Jose Sharks vs. Montreal Canadiens

San Jose: Martin Havlat (groin), Raffi Torres (knee), Adam Burish (lower body), and Dan Boyle (neck) are out while Brent Burns (mouth) and Tommy Wingels are questionable. Antti Niemi gets the start.
Montreal: Max Pacioretty (hamstring), Daniel Briere (concussion), Brandon Prust (shoulder), George Parros (concussion), Alexei Emelin (knee), Douglas Murray (upper body), and Davis Drewiske (shoulder) are out. Carey Price starts.

Winnipeg Jets vs. Dallas Stars

Atlanta: Chris Thorburn (lower body) and Jacob Trouba (upper body) are out while Jim Slater is questionable. Ondrej Pavelec will probably start.
Dallas: Ryan Garbutt is suspended. Kari Lehtonen is in net.

Washington Capitals vs. Calgary Flames

Washington: Jack Hillen (leg) is out. Brayden Holtby is expected to start.
Calgary: Mark Giordano (lower body) is questionable. Karri Ramo might start.