[I’m my own]

I was hoping my would clue you in that I was teasing you about "anti-Crosby" mentality.

Okay, let's talk Crosby. To be serious for a moment, player's should be held accountable for the actions - whether it's the officials calling penalties, Shanahan fining or suspending someone, or other players taking matters into their own hands to enact their own revenge. All of that is part of hockey. Crosby can be a [censored] - plain and simple. That's why he is so polarizing. If he dishes it out, should needs to be able to take it. In almost every case, he brings a lot of his "problems" on himself. My problem with Schenn is NOT that he did what he did (I'm sure Crosby deserved that and more); it's WHEN he did it. If he would have done it during play or even a few seconds after the whistle blew, I'd have no problem with it; however, it was well after that.

The whistle blew when Schenn cleared the puck because he iced it. The announcers also mentioned a penalty on Schenn just as the icing whistle blew, which means there was only a window of a couple seconds between when Crosby made the hit and when Schenn retaliated to get called for the crosscheck.

While there is no real timetable for retaliation on that (remember how long between retaliation on Steve Moore for his hit on Naslund), it certainly was "a few seconds after the whistle blew", literally, when Schenn gave Crosby the business for his unnecessarily late and utterly disrespectful hit.

What I don't like is that he attacked Crosby from behind. Very cowardly and I'm surprised no one jumped Schenn for that. Man up and cross check from in the chest dammit

[Sian Ennis]

Breire out indefinitely after a clean be very unnecessary hit, this is going to be an ugly series. As for the Schenn thing I'm okay with it. He pushed Crosby he fell, nothing more nothing less. He served his penalty end of story.

[Julia Schwalbe]

Breire out indefinitely after a clean be very unnecessary hit, this is going to be an ugly series. As for the Schenn thing I'm okay with it. He pushed Crosby he fell, nothing more nothing less. He served his penalty end of story.

What was unnecessary? It was a clean hit. Part of the game, no? Maybe it was at the end of a game that the Pens weren't going to win, but that doesn't mean you stop playing the game. Briere should keep his head up from now on. When the game takes on that tone, you should also be aware of that fact plus be aware of who is on the ice.

[Amanda savory]

Schenn didn't really serve his penalty, and it's voided because the Pens scored.. oddly.. since happened following the goal, not before.

The unnecessary part was the retaliatory and headhunting nature of the hit on Briere, indeed the game was pretty decided at that point, everyone on the ice and even the announcers knew it was a retaliation since Crosby made a big show out of Schenn's crosscheck as if it were out of the blue and for no reason. This is part if hockey. It's also why refs/linesmen and the instigator rule are terrible substitutes of enforcing.

[ZzZz]

Haha, this is hockey! Every fan sees what they want to see. My read? Schenn pushed Crosby to the back. Crosby sold it like hell as he pretty much always does. He was no way hurt. You can see this kind of checks to the back ALL THE TIME in front of the net defensive plays. Do the forwards fall to them? No. No-one falls to that puny a check. Except for Crosby. He's the soccer player-like film star of ice hockey and I don't appreciate this side in his game. At all. He falls down and immediately searches for eye contact with the ref, begging to give Schenn a penalty. I don't even know why his team mates bother to "defend" him after insignificant pokes like that. Perhaps they just have to; part of the game, team work and yada yada. I don't think they like to "help" their filming captain themselves.

But yeah, I see the Vitale hit as "redemption" to that check on Crosby, and have to admit, it was a very nice hit! I'm undecided whether the Flyers/Briere deserved it or not, but the injury part is not good. Still, a player with a chance to hit like that -- why wouldn't he finish the hit? Vitale followed his hockey instinct there for sure (although I'm sure he originally took that burst of speed just to target Briere, which kinda lowers the hit's value in my eyes). Maybe it wasn't wisely done -- the game was particularly over, and you should always think for what good contra what bad that kind of hits can do to you. A pro: you can light up the audience and your team. It was too late for that. A con: You can quench your animalistic thirst for hitting and overally releasing some pressure and cause an unwanted(?) injury. Too bad this hit had more the latter than the former. :/

Nutshell: Crosby faked and wanted to penalize Flyers. Vitale avenged him -- whether because he wanted or it's just a hockey convention -- and finished a, yes, clean, but pretty unnecessary hit on the smallest guy on the ice.

Now, is this what a Flyers fan sees or what really happened?

[Shae Munro]

What was unnecessary? It was a clean hit. Part of the game, no? Maybe it was at the end of a game that the Pens weren't going to win, but that doesn't mean you stop playing the game. Briere should keep his head up from now on. When the game takes on that tone, you should also be aware of that fact plus be aware of who is on the ice.

In the last minute of the game that was already over the Pens sent out their enforcers to go a hurt somebody. I'm not saying you have to stop playing but that hit wasn't necessary. It doesn't matter who is on the ice something is either necessary or it's not. It was just plain stupid of Byslma start something like this, the Pens have far more to lose then the Flyers would in a 7 game series of hard hits. You know the players not he Flyers are going to want to get some revenge and who better to hit then their best player and captain who also happens to have some serious concussion issues. I'm not saying that's right but why do something so meaningless?

[Cesar Gomez]

This is fun!

I love hearing how some of you label Vitale's hit "unnecessary" when it happened during play and was clean; yet you defend a gutless, cowardly hit from behind that happened well after the whistle blew. It any hit (or love tap as some would call it) was unnecessary, it was Schenn's.

[Ashley Clifft]

@ Miller: to set the tone baby!

I would've sent out my goons too. Philly has some idiots and as Bylsma I would want someone expendable to stand up to Philly's goons if they went on the ice. Besides, I don't think Briere was "targeted". Vitale would've crushed anyone doing that, but it just happened to be the smallest guy on the Flyers team unfortunately.

[Sammygirl]

This is fun!

I love hearing how some of you label Vitale's hit "unnecessary" when it happened during play and was clean; yet you defend a gutless, cowardly hit from behind that happened well after the whistle blew. It any hit (or love tap as some would call it) was unnecessary, it was Schenn's.

It happened down 6-3 with 1 minute remaining, ya think Bylsma and the Penguins were simply trying to play hard and win the game? No. They were getting the Flyers back for Schenn giving it to Crosby. It's called sending a message.

The difference is, Briere never did anything to necessitate being headhunted like that, even if it was a legal check. Crosby hit Schenn high well after he got rid of the puck, and he picked the wrong person to do that to.

What do you think happens to guys who go after Lidstrom the way Vitale did Briere? Or Yzerman? Or Sakic? Guys who don't chirp and stick their elbows up in people's face. They had/have had enforcers to defend them from the on-ice stuff like this that babysitter refs either don't see or don't/can't properly officiate. Consider other people who do stick their noses into that type of stuff like Crosby, or Forsberg, or Shanahan, or Lucic.. while they might have some teammates to defend them they are largely on their own to deal with the repercussions of their actions. The hit on Briere was very blatantly retribution for Schenn poking Crosby, but it was unwarranted as Crosby earned it with a disrespectful late hit, the hit on Briere was unwarranted, and a player that didn't deserve it at all (if he did, I'd love to see the video cuz I watched the game and saw nothing)..

The next time Crosby winds up hurt one shouldn't be surprised as to why.. it's been pointed out countless times. And as to why the instigator rule is worthless, you see the disrespect on the ice when you have enforcers suspended for defending teammates from dirty/unnecessary plays. A check is a check, but the on ice culture is known that if you go after guys who don't do that kinda stuff, they tend to have teammates who will go after you. Either the Penguins seem to think Crosby didn't deserve the crosscheck he got from Schenn (it seems more this than others), or they're just putting on a show for fans.

[Karine laverre]

I'm licking my chops for this series. I would agree that in general Sid the Kid whines and dives more than most players, because he can get away with it. I don't have much more to say, except, it's great to watch the debate here!

[no_excuse]

This is fun!

I love hearing how some of you label Vitale's hit "unnecessary" when it happened during play and was clean; yet you defend a gutless, cowardly hit from behind that happened well after the whistle blew. It any hit (or love tap as some would call it) was unnecessary, it was Schenn's.

Okay I admit What Schenn did wasn't necessary, that's why he got penalized. However it wasn't much of a hit, players get pushed just as hard during the play but Crosby being Crosby took a dive and looked for a ref.


Anyway neither team was completely right in what they did but that's part of this great rivalry and why I can't wait to see the Flyers beat up on the Penguins come playoffs, provided they are healthy.

[Alexander Horton]

The fact of matter is that the Flyers won, and no matter how good the Penguins think they are, they have some serious flaws. The Flyers seem to have no trouble exploiting those weaknesses. If the Pens don't fix their issues, it's going to be a short series.

[Rachel Cafferty]

The fact of matter is that the Flyers won, and no matter how good the Penguins think they are, they have some serious flaws. The Flyers seem to have no trouble exploiting those weaknesses. If the Pens don't fix their issues, it's going to be a short series.

Which is fine by me. It seems Bryz is going to play this week and Grossman should be back by the playoffs. JVR could possibly return as well.

[Emmanuel Morales]

We President's Trophy again?

Also, being a Calgarian, it gives me great pleasure that the Canucks were the ones to seal the Flames fate. Those delicious sweet tears...

Now, Andrew Ebbett, what a comeback! This team is looking great right now. Minus, Sedin and Ballard, but once these guys get back on the ice, its looking to be another rioting aroma around Vancouver.

[Kerri Lee]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aywypSGFDwo

[Cartoon]

Went to the Worcester Sharks game on Sunday and got to drop the puck with my little brother. Got to talk to some of the players, hang out in the locker room, check out the training room and even talk to a player who's suspended who was working out during the game. They even let us sit on the bench during warm ups to watch them. They're some pretty cool guys, and all pretty friendly too.

Edit: The game got pretty ugly though. The other team, Springfield (Columbus's AHL affiliate) kept going after Curt Gogol for the entire first period, and one player eventually jumped him. Gogol didn't drop his gloves and the other guy started to try to wail on him. A mini scrum broke out and Sena Acolatse came to Gogol's aid. They ended up giving Acolatse and the other guy game misconducts. Eventually in the second period they ended up going after Gogol again and as Gogol dropped the gloves, the other guy wouldn't resulting in Gogol wailing on him. This lead to another scrum extremely similar to the first one except only Gogol got a game misconduct. Game was pretty crazy though, and definitely one I wont forget.

[Becky Cox]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aywypSGFDwo

AWESOME. JUST AWESOME. Respect for Ilya.

[sophie]

Two goals. Two goals is all Stamkos needs to get sixty, after getting two in the last minute + change tonight. I really want him to get it.

[evelina c]

The empty netter was nicer then the first goal he scored tonight!

[Juliet]

The empty netter was nicer then the first goal he scored tonight!

Yea, that was purdy.

Now the Buffalo fans have hope again. What an exciting season!

[Darrell Fawcett]

Yeah the Caps should be beating teams like Tampa right now. I say this as my Kings go into the 3rd tied with the Oilers

[Bigze Stacks]

Hell of a game for Rolie! One more season! And Stamkos is just unbelievable. Great game winning goal, and he showed guts with that empty netter as well. A few weeks, or even days, back I wouldn't have believed he is about to get 60. This is especially cool since no-one else seems to get even 50 this year! Actually, only three guys are over 40 at the moment, and there's a realistic chance for just one more (Neal) get to the 40.

Still, I don't feel they actually score too little in the game. Yeah, there are rounds in which all the games end like 1-0 or 2-1 or something between, and the most normal result I think is 3-2. Still it's pretty entertaining at the moment IMO.

I'd love to see the St. Louis - Phoenix series. Yes, STL is 3-0-0 against the 'Yotes this season, but still I think there's no telling which team would make it. STL have a better blueline, but neither team scores that much and have some great goaltending. Phoenix might have a chance to surprise them, IMO, unlike against Detroit or Vancouver.

[Danger Mouse]

Pittsburgh at Boston tonight. I'm hoping for a good game. I'm curious to see how the Penguins handle themselves after that emotionally-charged game against the Flyers. They better come out ready to play, or the Bruins will smack them around.

[lacy lake]

Bruins probably won't put up much of a fight. I'm pretty sure we're starting our AHL guy, Khudobin so don't expect great goaltending. Bruins have nothing but rust or momentum or health to gain and lose this last week, so we'll see what kind of squad they put out there.

[elliot mudd]

I'll do my damnedest to see the Bruins/Pens game tonight.