It was a dirty hit.

Phaneuf has no need to even make a hit there, in that situation.  That he went ahead and did anyways with no regard to the situation is a good example of why he’s coming under such intense scrutiny in Calgary for his sub-par play this season.  He has no self-control, and he did himself or his team no favors by taking a stupid penalty and getting kicked out of the game in the 1st period.

Posted by Primis on 01/22/09 at 08:55 AM ET

I like the announcer’s explanation that Umberger moved.  Him moving changed the check from a hit from behind into....a different hit from behind.  Either way, Phaneuf was staring at his numbers, going in for the hit.

So yeah, could definitely be classified asa dirty hit.

Posted by Garth on 01/22/09 at 09:32 AM ET

It’s funny how we all see each questionable hit slightly different.

I think he deserved the misconduct—refs need to make calls like that on every questionable hit if players are ever going to learn to be more careful.

But I am tempted to give Phaneuf the benefit of the doubt here. I do think he made a bad decision going for the hit even though all he could see were numbers, but his body language on the hit (the way he coasts into it, for example) sort of makes it look like he got caught in between making the hit and thinking, “I shouldn’t do this”.

I know, that’s just a totally subjective judgment call. With that said, if he were fined and/or suspended for a game I don’t think it’d be a bad thing. If the league is serious about getting all questionable hits out of the game, they would fine and/or suspend even marginal hits to make a clear statement.

Bottom line—good to know Umberger is okay. It would be nice for Phaneuf to give him a call and own up to making a mistake, something like that.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 01/22/09 at 09:39 AM ET

It’s a pity one of the league’s upcoming d-men is turning into such a dirty player.  It’d be nice if the league could be proud of a guy like Phaneuf and add another good young player to their marketing campaign… but you just can’t promote the style of game Phaneuf has appeared to embrace.

He’s young yet though it really doesn’t help that Keenan’s his coach.

Posted by HockeyinHD on 01/22/09 at 09:47 AM ET

Nathan -

I don’t think he “ran” Umberger or anything—I totally agree he coasted in somewhat and didn’t make it nearly as bad as it could have been.

But look at the video again.  He didn’t need to make any hit at ALL on the play.  That’s why it’s so bad… why is he hitting the guy when he could be getting the puck?  That’s it though, Phaneuf made no move for the puck, and by making the hit he was putting himself out of position to not only stop Umberger should he get away, but also to even get at the puck at all.  He’s a defenseman for god’s sake, he’s supposed to think about these things, it’s his job!

Yet he fired away anyways.  I don’t see ift as a “hockey play”.  It was a selfish play.

And while you’re watching the clip of the CGY announcers above (so of course they’re going to make excuses for him), I can tell you (because On The Fly showed it during alive look-in) the Jacket announcers did not see it as anything but a dirty hit from the get-go and were not happy with it, and were glad to see him tossed.

Posted by Primis on 01/22/09 at 11:21 AM ET

You are right, Primis, I don’t disagree with you at all I guess. I just hate to jump all over Phaneuf—he’s not Pronger (yet). That said, the NHL would do well to fine him or something now, in an effort to prevent him from becoming a Pronger-esque player.

I can’t watch the video with sound, so I can’t comment on the homer-ish-ness of the commentary.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 01/22/09 at 11:43 AM ET