The only thing missing from this clown is a big red nose.

In a not-at-all suprising move, Colin Campbell, the NHL’s chief disciplinarian, has decided not to suspend Scott Walker for his vicious cheap shot to the face of Aaron Ward in last night’s Game 5. Instead, Walker has been fined $2,500 for the punch that has most likely, pending x-rays, left Ward with a broken orbital bone. 

So, let me get this straight: Scott Walker is the instigating third man in on a scrum in the last five minutes of the game, and he gets slapped with a $2,500 fine and no suspension. 

Sounds a little fishy. Why don’t we check the NHL rulebook?

(NEW for 2005-06) A player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at any time in overtime, shall be assessed an instigator minor penalty, a major for fighting, a ten minute misconduct and an automatic one-game suspension. The length of suspension will double for each subsequent offense. In addition, the player’s coach shall be fined $10,000 — a fine that will double for each subsequent incident.

That’s weird. I could’ve sworn that said a one game suspension. I didn’t see anything about a $2,500 slap on the wrist (Walker makes $2.5 mil a year).

Did I miss someting here? Isn’t that an exact description of what Walker did last night? So why doesn’t he get the penalty that the actual rulebook requires? 

Now, I don’t mind the rough stuff in hockey. Actually, I love it – the fighting and the facewashes are some of my favorite parts of the game. So when it comes to handing out penalties and suspensions for that stuff, I couldn’t care less if they didn’t do anything. I would love it if the NHL simply let the players police themselves in most cases. But if Bettman and Campbell are going to review cases and penalize players and teams, all I ask for is a little consistency. I mean, c’mon! You’re telling me that Lucic protecting himself from an onrush after the whistle with a 2-handed cross check is worse than Walker drilling a defenseless Ward in the face? Seriously, Colin Campbell? Injuring a guy with his hands down is worse than protecting yourself? 

The league has been saying all season long that it wants to send a message that dangerous antics won’t be tolerated. Then they go out and ruin any credibility they once had (not much), handing out random suspensions for some incidents and completely ignoring other, often worse, altercations. This postseason the NHL disciplinary officials look as if they literally make up rules as they go along. The only message Bettman and his NHL cronies are sending is the usual one: 

We have no idea what we’re doing. 

Fortunately, the consequence of this most recent failure of consistency is that Scott Walker will play in Game 6. Has to. Has no choice, even though I would bet my life savings that he’s spent the last half a day hoping and praying for a suspension. No such luck, Scotty.

Before the ruling came down, Canes coach Paul Maurice (who wasn’t fined $10,000, by the way) was asked what he thought the result of Walker’s punch would be. “Scotty’s probably got some sore knuckles,” he said. Then, when asked about the decision, Carolina’s classy GM Jim Rutherford had this to say: “We are satisfied with the league’s ruling. After our team received several punches throughout the series leading up to Game 5, it was a matter of time before one was going to be thrown back.” (quote from Boston.com Bruins Blog) 

Congratulations guys, you just started a war.

Stick those two comments on the bulletin board, Claude, and make sure Mr. Thornton and Mr. Lucic get a real good look at it. When the puck drops in Raleigh for Game 6, sore knuckles are going to be the least of Scotty Walker’s problems. 

See you tomorrow night.

In Game 5, the B's brought the fight back to the Canes

Oh, what a win. 

The Bruins looked like themselves again in Game 5 in Boston. They came out flying and hungry, putting in work on the forecheck and on defense. Simply by playing a physical game and protecting the puck, they opened up the ice and were able to find the back of the net 4 times. Instead of stooping to Carolina’s level, the Bruins played their game the way it’s meant to be played and they won big. 

While the Bruins did score 4 unanswered goals, the real story of Game 5 was the toughness they displayed on both ends. When I heard Claude Julien say that the healthy scratch would be a game time decision, I immediately started praying that Shawn Thornton wouldn’t be the guy. Sugar is an essential piece of this Bruins roster and he brings a game-changing attitude to the ice.

Sugar 22 goes to work.

Maybe he’s not a sniper like Ryder or a dangler like Wheeler, but the guy goes out every night and gives everything he has in his tank. Guys like that set the tones in must-win games and he did it again last night. Between Thornton, Mark Stuart and the Serbian Nightmare Milan Lucic, the Bruins legitimately intimidated the Canes. They were flying around hitting people, playing blue-collar hockey, and it worked the same way it has all year. Forechecks led to offensive puck possession which then led to goals. And all the while, you had Timmy Thomas back in net completely shutting down anything the Canes threw at him. You simply can’t say enough about the job Tank has done during these playoffs. The whole team played with courage and toughness and by the time the final horn sounded, the Bruins looked like themselves again. 

The Carolina Hurricanes are another story. Instead of playing with courage and toughness, the Canes came out slinging cheap shots and cowardice. They put on an absolutely pathetic display of crybaby antics, slashing guys after clean hits (thank God Z is okay), running their mouth and, worst of all, showing intent to injure. Scott Walker’s sucker punch to the face of Aaron Ward in the third period couldn’t have been more of a cowardly move. Not only were Ward’s gloves still on and his hands at his side, Walker was the third guy in! He wasn’t even involved in the original scrum around the net – he flew in trying to act like a tough guy but instead revealed to the hockey world that he is, in fact, a gutless baby.

How's the view from the ice, Scott? Get used to it buddy.

Should Walker be suspended for his cheap shot? Probably. Do I hope he isn’t so that Thornton or Looch can have a go at him? Absolutely. There’s no predicting what will happen given the NHL’s wildly inconsistent disciplinary policy, but I’ll cast my vote for letting the players police themselves. I’d much rather see Walker peeled off the ice after a good tune up than have him watch Game 6 from a comfortable seat. Either way, Ward is still most likely out with a broken orbital bone in his face, so the Canes come out on top regardless. That fact alone should light an even bigger fire under the B’s and even if Walker sits, I’d like to see the rest of the Cane team pay his toll. 

In any case, I’m just glad the series finally has some fight in it. I said after Game 2, the Bruins need to find something or someone to hate for them to play their best. Between Walker, Jussi Jokinen, and Eric Staal, there are plenty of targets for that hate now. Let’s hope the Bruins can sustain their competitive fire going back to Carolina. This series is far from over. 

In the words of the great Kevin Millar….

Do not let us win Game 6.