Official 2015 NHL Playoff Thread

[Primis]

Refs having a mare as usual, Kronwall gets away with murder. https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/CDo9IbpW8AEJfd1.mp4

Thats game + atleast 5 games any day of the week, refs didn't even give him 2 min.

It's the playoffs, so no. That might be nothing, that might be 5 + game, it might be nothing but a 1-game suspension later, and it might be a 2- or 3-game suspension. It's incredibly inconsistent, as to the results of checks anymore, let alone in the playoffs.

Kronwall generally tries to back in to hit guys now, after he knocked Havlat out in the playoffs years ago. I think he was trying to that again this time but the angle wasn't quite right, so instead of going in back-first he went in 3/4 or so and caught him with the arm first instead of his behind.

I predict a 1-game suspension. Had DET won, it might have been 2 even. Had it been TB clinching, it would have been nothing. Spin the wheel, everyone....

[philou21]

Dammit Washington won!

[Peter_Doherty]

I worded it wrong, i meant that it SHOULD be 5+ games. DoPS is a joke so he probably wont get a single game. The biggest joke are the 2 refs on the ice that didn't even give him 2 min when he should have been sent to the locker room...

The problem with DoPS is that they (the NHL in general) have talked for years how they want headshots out of this game and yet they back off the suspensions... Hits like this Kronwall-hit is EXACTLY what they want gone, headshot? check, elbow up? check (might have been more arm then elbow though), did he leave his feet? check.... That's the holy trinity for giving someone a concussion.

[CJ]

Ouch! What a nasty hit. Would give suspension, no doubt.

[philou21]

THat save by Mrazek yesterday was insane!

[Primis]

I worded it wrong, i meant that it SHOULD be 5+ games. DoPS is a joke so he probably wont get a single game. The biggest joke are the 2 refs on the ice that didn't even give him 2 min when he should have been sent to the locker room...

The problem with DoPS is that they (the NHL in general) have talked for years how they want headshots out of this game and yet they back off the suspensions... Hits like this Kronwall-hit is EXACTLY what they want gone, headshot? check, elbow up? check (might have been more arm then elbow though), did he leave his feet? check.... That's the holy trinity for giving someone a concussion.

https://gfycat.com/DeliriousPortlyCassowary

Why yes, the fan mob mentality *is* incredibly hypocritical on these hits. Leaves feet? Check. Head point of contact? Check. Elbow up and out? Check.

Nobody cared of course.

[philou21]

Kronwall's one looks more vicious to me. Looks harder and he launch himself a good two feet before hitting Tampa's player and the elbow no matter what would've hit the face.

Palat skates lift indeed, which is wrong but to me the Wings player when he suddenly breaks puts himself in a precarious situation and on top of that he leans a little bit just before the hit. If it wasn't for that it could've looked like a clean shoulder to shoulder hit or Palat would have even missed him.

[batdad]

THey are both vicious and both should be punished.But then again....I don't mind if Primis and Peter decide to fight and argue amongst themselves. We could even create a thread for their whines and complaints.

[Peter_Doherty]

Primis - I agree, that's a bad hit aswell, not as bad but bad... Palat should have gotten 5+game and a few games suspension IMO... This was just the first time i saw that hit

[sluice]

Just noticed that I'm first in our Bracket Challenge league.

I was right with 4 predictions (including # of matchs)

[Peter_Doherty]

They actually suspended him for game 7, i still think it's not enough but atleast it's something

[Primis]

Primis - I agree, that's a bad hit aswell, not as bad but bad... Palat should have gotten 5+game and a few games suspension IMO... This was just the first time i saw that hit

Of course it was the first time you saw that Palat hit.

The Kronwall hit is everywhere and was replayed a billion times even though it was just last night. Nobody anywhere even mentioned the awful Palat hit on Glendening though. Nobody is showing replays of that, or posting articles about it on blogs and websites. That's not even the only one: Killorn had a dirty, late hit on Datsyuk, and has also had one or two incidents of cheap-shotting Wings players this series. Have you seen any of those though? No, of course not.

Because the media drives this, and the DoPS reacts to the media. And the media whips the fan into a frenzy as they so choose.

That's my whole point. The hit is not what's being punished here, the fan and media reaction to it is. If the media ACTUALLY gave a %^&%* about player safety, they would have shown the Palat hit on Glendening, and condemned it in the same manner. They don't though. They don't actually care about player safety, despite EVERYTHING they say. They care about narrative, and Kronwall presented them with a wonderful opportunity to whip fans up because the Lightning are kind of a media darling right now. They're fairly young, have some interesting players, and then there's the "Yzerman's team against DET" thing that has value only the one way (that way being if Tampa wins).

This is *partially* why the DoPS is so inconsistent: they suspend the result (not injury result or not, but the size of the resulting *media storm* surrounding it). And the media knows its role in this and relishes it.

[CJ]

Both should get suspended but Kronwall longer cause he's a "repeat offender".

[Peter_Doherty]

Primis - I agree with just about everything you said, DoPS is a joke.

[MontySteelers]

Was at the Calgary Vancouver game. Absolutely nuts. Most exciting game I have ever seen live!

I bet that was amazing....I think I woke up half of Sheffield at around 5am when Stajan scored

[Primis]

Both should get suspended but Kronwall longer cause he's a "repeat offender".

Actually, that's not accurate. He is not a repeat offender. He may have been suspended a lot of years ago (mid-2000s) when he was fairly young for something else, but under the current terms guiding "repeat offenders" he has never been disciplined by DoPS. The DoPS has looked at hits of his before, but nothing ever came of them. This is the first one DoPS has not deemed a "full body hit". Again, remember he's been backing in to guys for years now so that even a guy gets contact to the head it's pretty evident that it was not the initial point of contact and more a result of "aftermath" of the collision.

Again though, the media wants you to THINK he's a repeat offender who has gotten disciplined before, because that helped drive their desire to see him suspended.

[batdad]

I think it is funny in so many ways...that the media is considered pro TAMPA and anti Detroit. Who would think that could ever happen? It is even worse than the media being perceived as pro Calgary over Vancouver because they show the borderline bad Canuck hits, and never once showed that so many of Ferland's hits were head shots, jump shots or charges or all 3 of the above.

But to hear that the great Detroit is not getting the utmost bestest media onside for a round vs Tampa is funny. Only Yzerman could make that happen. FOr years Detroit has had the media wrapped around its finger. So cannot say I feel bad for them.


That being said...I had seen the hit, saw it live (palat) and reacted the same way I always do...why is the tv guy not saying anything? We had Rick Ball for the series and he is usually on top of stuff like that. Garrett not so much unless it is Vancouver, but Baller is pretty good so I was shocked it was missed as a point of conversation.

Those hits with guys coming around the net and being surprised are making a comeback. They had been gone for awhile but I have seen a few this year.

[Primis]

I think it is funny in so many ways...that the media is considered pro TAMPA and anti Detroit.

I'll stop you there, because you're kinda' on the wrong track. It's not pro-Tampa and anti-Detroit exactly. A *lot* of media wonks picked TB to come out of the East, and they get crazy over defending those "picks". They don't want to look bad, and anymore it's the era of media types shouting "SEE I TOLD YOU SO! LOOK AT HOW AWESOME I AM!". And as I said, there's also the other storylines of TB as a young rising team and Yzerman downing his former club. I don't think DET is in a position where too much of anyone is seeking to knock them down exactly, DET's not in a position of strength.

Until now, there also has been no DET storyline at all. To be honest with Kronwall and now Zidlicky out, now it's the first time anything resembling a narrative has been in place for DET. DET beating TB in Game 7 without 2 of their veteran d-men would absolutely provide a narrative for the team.

It was the same thing in CGY/VAN. Everyone wanted CGY to win that series because of the absurdity of it, and the media bias shone through brightly. The media also desperately wanted Winnipeg to win and tried to spin everything they could as a positive for the Jets, but a sweep is a sweep and the media then didn't let their disappointment no be displayed when it was done. Byfuglien's actions were attempted to be swept under the rug as much as possible, though unsuccesfully. ANA has had no real narrative, and the writers don't want to write about them. Media certainly favored OTT's storyline over anything for the Habs as well.

This isn't imagined or a ridiculous conspiracy. It's just the media doing a poor job of neutrality in reporting a series, and them shoving a narrative down everyone's throat and shaping how the league handles things. It's absolutely no accident that Palat's hit was not seen by anyone. They didn't want it to be, because there's no DET story for it to further.

[batdad]

I was talking general history. In Canada, the Red Wings have always had the media behind them. The Red Wing model, the great coaching, scouting and drafting. The classy way to play the game, the outstanding development system. The media (which were actually correct for the most part) really harped on this especially in regards to how bad the Leaf organization is. Every team that drafted a guy late got compared to the Red Wings....

It is something that is interesting to me that this season the Red Wings have not been a story, other than will Babcock resign there or leave?

I get that in this case the media is doing exactly what you said, it is just interesting to me that for the first time in what two decades? ... Detroit is not being seen as the greatest thing since sliced bread....and in fact have been a complete non-story.

I also get it is not a conspiracy...in fact nothing ever is. It is just the way the media are handling it that is very different from how this would have been dealt with in the past. The wings would have had the credit...not to say the Kronwall thing would not have been harped on, it would have...as he has been in general the exception to the media reporting all things great out of Detroit. Two, maybe even one year ago Tampa would be the heel and Detroit would be the good guy. That has switched this season. It is just an interesting point.

Buffy was not swept under the rug up here, he was definitely painted as the heel. In Van-Cal....Ferland was the great emerging superstar as you say...the next Cam Neely. Whereas the Canucks were painted as chicken and old. Sam Bennett was great in the series, yet so too was Bo Horvat. Bennett was painted as the next coming of Messier, and HOrvat? Well he was nothing.

Now that being said..the reports on Calgary = Vancouver were fairly accurate. Calgary worked their butts off and Vancouver looked old and slow with the exception of Horvat. Even Hansen went missing with his speed (Turns out playing with a groin injury). Vrbata was chicken out there. Ferland WAS A WRECKING ball.

The bias of the media is just interesting to me, as it seems much more dominant than it has been in the past. Craig SImpson vs Harry Neale. Jim Hughson vs Bob Cole.

at the same time it is hilarious to me that CAlgary fans thought Hughie and Simmer were biased to Vancouver in the series. Which was not the case at all.

Losing Zidlicky should help your team. I kid I kid

Anyone vs Detroit in media in the past, Detroit was always the good guy, save for the media of the other team they were playing. The change to heel (not really heel but not the story) is interesting. Kronwall always would get reported and harped on, but in the past the Palat hit would definitely have been the bigger story. Just pointing out the reversal of hockey media and move away from how awesome the Wings org is to...the other side in so many ways. Not saying out to get Detroit, just saying...interesting and kind of a breath of fresh air.

[Primis]

It is something that is interesting to me that this season the Red Wings have not been a story, other than will Babcock resign there or leave?

I get that in this case the media is doing exactly what you said, it is just interesting to me that for the first time in what two decades? ... Detroit is not being seen as the greatest thing since sliced bread....and in fact have been a complete non-story.

There has not been much interesting in DET this year, even to Red Wing fans. Holland made no notable moves, it's the same group of good forwards but terrible d-men. Mrazek has made a pitch to be a story but all of us in Red Wings Land saw him coming from a couple years ago when he dominated the AHL. Nyquist and Tatar were briefly a story, but for some reason the media in general is not excited about Tatar (he's a heck of a player to watch, works his tail off and has all kinds of moves). There's admittedly not much compelling in Hockeytown, and might not be until Pulkkinen or Mantha hit the NHL full-time, or one of Marchenko/Sproul/Ouellet surprises and become a first-pairing d-man. This in many ways has kinda' been a "lost" season in DET. It hasn't been bad, or good. It has just.... been. Holland stood pat and.... surprise... got the same result as before.

The bias of the media is just interesting to me, as it seems much more dominant than it has been in the past.

Absolutely. I don't know what it is. I honestly think it's maybe because of the parity now, so the media's darlings become all the more apparent. I honestly have had less interest in the NHL in general this season, and I think the parity and the media's reaction have been part of it. The media seems to be scrambling more than usual for stories/narrative this season though, and they react poorly to anything that stands in their way. Maybe that's why I haven't found mch of anythign on NBC SPorts terribly appetizing, whereas I'd normally watch if no Wings were on.

5 of 7 Canadian teams making the playoffs didn't help either, let's be honest. That skewed coverage further.

Losing Zidlicky should help your team. I kid I kid

No you don't. He's been atrocious and while I'm sorry he's out with a concussion, I have been wanting to sit him *healthy* and the Wings will NOT miss him. At this point Wings fans don't feel bad about Kindl in there instead. Marchenko and Kindl are both in now. Fans don't like him for some stupid reason, but the Wings also miss Franzen a lot. I just wish they could sit Glendening too, he's in way over his head. In ideal situation Grand Rapids is not an issue and you call up Pulkkinen and Mantha for looks here too. But the Griffs are in their own playoff desperation mode.

[steviewhy]

Agree with primis, seriously batdad we are not missing Zidlicky tonight. If nothing else years down the road it may help us to get this kid Marchenko some game 7 experience.

[batdad]

Umm...it was a joke. It is not like I think Zidlicky is good. LOL

[steviewhy]

OH okay, lol

[steviewhy]

Great shot by Coburn made the difference, I had a feeling this screen name would be prophetic

[Primis]

Great shot by Coburn made the difference, I had a feeling this screen name would be prophetic

Bad puck luck for Wings. That and their tendency to pass instead of shoot hurt. They carried the play much of the game, and Bishop was still pretty sketchy, but they couldn't put one home. It was clear by halfway through the 2nd period that if DET didn't score real soon, TB was going to late and that was going to be the end of it. Been a Wings fan far, far too long to not see that setting up.

I'm still boggled by TB having 2 guys 6-8 feet offsides and the officials all missing it though. Thank God nothing came of that. That's a very "Only The Red Wings" kind of thing to happen. A puck off netting goes in. PIT plays with 6 skaters for a good :40 and nobody notices. Refs blow a whistle and then can't explain why. Those are the kind of things that generally end up in a goal against or a waved-off DET goal, and then the officials smile and shrug.

Will be interested to see still who all was hurt. Abbdelkader and Glendening both had hurt hands, that seems obvious. Beyond that thoug, I'm curious of some other certain players were hurt, or just played awful for no reason.