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Ducks Not Happy That Gaustad Wasn’t Suspended
by Paul on 02/27/09 at 10:23 AM ET
Comments (6)
from Dan Wood of Ducks Blog,
The fact that Sabres center Paul Gaustad avoided supplementary discipline from the NHL after delivering a controversial late-game hit that left center Ryan Getzlaf with a broken nose and facial cuts basically has the Ducks mad as hell and unwilling to take it anymore.
“I’m not happy,” Ducks general manager Bob Murray said after Gaustad was in Buffalo’s lineup for Thursday night’s 2-1, shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C. “If we’re going to be suspended for blows to the head, then they have to look at the other teams when our guys get hit. This just astounds me that Gaustad is not getting something for this, because that was on purpose and deliberate.”…
Colin Campbell, the NHL’s senior executive vice president of hockey operations, Murray said, “told me they looked at it and they didn’t feel it was worth anything. They felt he hit him with his helmet. I don’t care if he hits him with his helmet, his elbow. Whatever it is, we’re supposed to be protecting our players from hits to the head.”
more and if you missed the hit, watch it below…
Filed in: NHL Teams, Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Paul+Gaustad, Ryan+Getzlaf,
Comments
Also, isn’t it kind of odd that the Ducks are described as being “mad as hell and unwilling to take it anymore”, which is then followed by the quote “I’m not happy”? Wow, that really echoes Peter Finch’s rant in Network!!!
Posted by Garth on 02/27/09 at 12:01 PM ET
I’ve seen the Ducks taking shots at heads, even stomping on a player in recent years and no suspensions. There is nothing here. If they had done it, which they have, it would have been a “tough style of play”.
Posted by jmiller on 02/27/09 at 12:25 PM ET
From what you can see in the video it looks like Gaustad was looking at the puck and not expecting Getzlaf to turn towards him. Gaustad turned towards the puck at the same time and they collided. I think that Gaustad’s helmet/forehead is what hit Getzlaf in the face and caused the broken nose. There is no suspension from a collision when neither player really saw it coming.
They are just picced off that they are fighting for a playoff sport and got the unfortunate loss of their best player.
Posted by Geoff from Canada on 02/27/09 at 01:05 PM ET
Granted, I’m a biased Sabres fan, but it looks like both players suddenly changed directions, which makes sense considering where the puck is. Looks like a collision to me.
Posted by Kate from www.willfulcaboose.wordpress.com on 02/27/09 at 01:35 PM ET
I agree with the majority of posters here. It looks like Gaustad changes direction to chase after the puck and turns into Getzlaf, who has hit back to the play but is looking over his shoulder. Additionally, two Duck players and Gaustad collide; how do we know some of the damage wasn’t done by Getzlaf running into his own player? It also seems highly unlikely that Gaustad would lead with his head/face out of his own personal interest. Seems like a non-issue to me, and I can’t believe the Ducks, of all teams, continue to harp on it. If that’s worthy of a suspension, then they’re in a lot of trouble - unless they’re just making a stink about it to set a reference point for the next time one of their players does something untoward, so they can use it as evidence against a suspension at that time.
Posted by Dan from Pittsburgh, PA on 02/27/09 at 03:26 PM ET
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Did I miss something? I can’t see anything on that replay that says “suspendable hit”. What’s the suspension supposed to be for? Is there a better angle?
Posted by Garth on 02/27/09 at 11:59 AM ET