FLAMESTR

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Calgary, AB • Canada • 55 Years Old • Male

The NHL Continues to Embarrass Themselves

I guess I am going crazy again. I am amazed by Mr. Campbell’s knowledge of what is a penalty and what isn’t. I love the hitting, but this is really getting maddening. Again, I really do not care who wins the cup, but we have to stop running goalie interference. The League has to protect the goalies better. How is a cross check to the neck not called? These incidents have been the biggest story in the playoffs this year. The players continue to push buttons, simply because there is no fear of repercussions. I am sorry; if the players know that there is going to be no penalty, or suspensions for that matter, where is the motivation to stop it?

The latest incident is the worst by far: the crosscheck by Kunitz to Varlamov’s neck. I am sorry, that is no hockey play. It was done on purpose, without any thought for the welfare of the Caps’ rookie goalie. There has to be some respect, somehow the wellbeing of other players has to take precedent over winning - doesn’t it? Seriously, when do we stop?

The answer has to be within the players, because there is no legislation in the League to scare them straight. The League has decided that players can demonstrate restraint and police themselves. Let me ask - how is that working for ya? You may think I am being facetious; but seriously, who is ruling this roost? There is no law. The inmates are running the insane asylum. Can there any sanity in the logic of the suspensions run by the league? Somehow someone with some logic has to step in, because this will just add on to the incidents.

Many people love this game for the players like Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby; who, by the way, put on quite a show, as both players score hat tricks in one of the best games I have ever seen. But unfortunately, the hit by Kunitz brought more ink than the game itself. You see, that is what bothers me most about this the violent hits and dirty plays; they garner more publicity than the game. We have to show fans that there is talent to this game, but continuous bonehead plays by the players continue to distract from the real part of the game. So Mr. Campbell, the ball is in your court: are going to do something about it or continue to make excuses for the players? These one game suspensions, or none at all, are not going to cut it, nor are they going to slow down the incidents.

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