Kukla's Korner Hockey
Steve Downie and Chris Kunitz Each Get 1-Game Suspensions
by Alanah McGinley on 04/19/11 at 12:38 PM ET
Comments (37)
via Bob McKenzie’s Twitter:
One game for Steve Downie.
Update: 1:40pm ET: Also from McKenzie—
One game for Chris Kuntiz.
Video of the incidents is below:
added 3:44pm, NHL release on suspensions below…
TORONTO (April 19, 2011) – Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steve Downie and Pittsburgh Penguins forward Chris Kunitz have each been suspended for one game for separate incidents in Game Three of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal last night, the National Hockey League announced today.
Downie delivered a hit to the head of Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy at 5:39 of the first period. A delayed penalty was being called on the play but was nullified when the Penguins scored at 5:46.
“Downie left his feet and launched himself at the head of his opponent and he came from a considerable distance, with speed and force, to deliver the check,” said NHL Senior Executive Vice President Colin Campbell.
Kunitz was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing at 10:49 of the first period.
“Kunitz delivered an elbow directly to the head of his opponent,” said Campbell.
Both suspensions will be served tomorrow night (April 20) when the Penguins meet the Lightning in Tampa Bay for Game Four of the series.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Pittsburgh Penguins, Tampa Bay Lightning | KK Hockey | Permalink
Comments
Kunitz deserved more, plain and simple, but I had a feeling that the scales of justice would impose suspensions of equal length…
Posted by shazam88 from SoCal on 04/19/11 at 01:43 PM ET
Kunitz got off too easy.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 04/19/11 at 01:53 PM ET
Exactly what I expected, but I still think Kunitz should be out for two.
Posted by Bosephus from Behind enemy lines, Denver, CO on 04/19/11 at 01:59 PM ET
I love the way Chris Kunitz usually plays the game. I’ve always said the last few years that he was the player I respected the most on the Penguins and that I would love the Red Wings to get him some day. However, his elbow was much worse than Downie’s hit. Kunitz should have gotten 2-3 games off minimum.
Posted by BTCBen from Pittsburgh, PA on 04/19/11 at 02:05 PM ET
I think both should have gotten four. Call a spade a spade.
Posted by ProjectMayhem on 04/19/11 at 02:07 PM ET
So stomping on a guy’s foot is twice as bad as trying to put his lights out?
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/19/11 at 02:12 PM ET
In isolation, Kunitz probably had the worst of the two hits last night. But considering Downie’s history… the fact they got equal suspensions is alright with me.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 04/19/11 at 02:12 PM ET
Kunitz would’ve been 2-4 games during the regular season most likely.
I’m curious to see what happens to Downie the next time he makes the same hit. By my count that was #2 of this series. I clearly remember two he made during the season against Pittsburgh.
Posted by NathanBC on 04/19/11 at 02:12 PM ET
So stomping on a guy’s foot is twice as bad as trying to put his lights out?
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/19/11 at 02:12 PM ET
Eh, I actually think it is in some cases, considering when you stomp on someone you’re doing with shoes that essentially have fat chefs knives attached to them.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 04/19/11 at 02:13 PM ET
The Downie hit was eerily similiar to the Torres hit, and I dont think he should of been suspended.
Kunitz on the other hand was an attempt to injure, and 1 game is not enough.
Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 04/19/11 at 02:14 PM ET
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/19/11 at 02:12 PM ET
Haha, I was talking about that the other day. Stoll gets 1 game for driving a guy’s head into the boards from behind, injuring him during the first period, and Ryan got 3 games - boil it down to 1 game for injuring the brain, 3 games for injuring tendons in the foot.
Posted by NathanBC on 04/19/11 at 02:15 PM ET
So are the Certain posters still convinced the Cooke suspension for the 1st Rd. of the Playoffs was RECTUM Campbell dick swinging?
Posted by Evilpens on 04/19/11 at 02:16 PM ET
Posted by Evilpens on 04/19/11 at 02:16 PM ET
All things considered, I’d say the failure to live up to the standard we were all hoping he set with the Cooke suspension is a big disappointment.
Eh, I actually think it is in some cases, considering when you stomp on someone you’re doing with shoes that essentially have fat chefs knives attached to them.
I don’t know how many people suffer long-term depression and mood swings as a result of having a limp for a few weeks.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/19/11 at 02:23 PM ET
Posted by NathanBC on 04/19/11 at 02:15 PM ET
Well said.
The clown-car joyride continues for the NHL disciplinary office and the NYC brass that signs its paychecks.
Posted by Leo_Racicot on 04/19/11 at 02:25 PM ET
Sure makes you wonder how the idiots that make these decisions would have handled things if these were two isolated incidents in seperate games last night.
Posted by Leo_Racicot on 04/19/11 at 02:26 PM ET
I don’t know how many people suffer long-term depression and mood swings as a result of having a limp for a few weeks.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/19/11 at 02:23 PM ET
Sorry, that was shorter than it should have been (yeah, that’s what she said…)
Bobby Ryan’s foot stomp was terrible, awful, and nothing resembling what a human being should be doing with blades attached to his feet. I don’t want to minimize the fact that I’m thrilled they gave Ryan two games for such a dangerous and stupid move.
That said, Giving Neal half as much for a play that had the potential to be extremely more devastating was a failure of the league’s.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/19/11 at 02:27 PM ET
J.J. from Kansas I said at the Time! It was the Perfect storm for RECTUM Campbell, Matt Cooke a Serial offender so he could REALLY nail Him & stick it in Mario’s Face for his release to the Media
Posted by Evilpens on 04/19/11 at 02:53 PM ET
I don’t know how many people suffer long-term depression and mood swings as a result of having a limp for a few weeks.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/19/11 at 02:23 PM ET
No need to clarify, JJ, I don’t disagree with you entirely. Certainly, concussions and head injuries impact a person’s life in some really unfortunate ways.
But I do think there’s a difference in the immediate impact that a blade can have.
This is admittedly a simplification… what’s worse—punching someone in the face, or stabbing someone in the leg?
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 04/19/11 at 02:54 PM ET
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/19/11 at 02:27 PM ET
I see what you’re saying and I’m as disgusted with NHL discipline as anyone, but I still think it’s hard to say the league is wrong to punish skate-related incidents more seriously than headshots. An elbow to the back of the head or jaw can’t sever a limb or slice a jugular. Remember that two men in the last 20 years have been within inches of on-ice death from skate-related incidents (though both were accidents).
While Bobby Ryan’s kick of the plastic guard on the top of whatshisname’s skate seems kind of harmless, theoretically, he could lose a toe if Ryan kicks him just right.
Posted by steviesteve on 04/19/11 at 02:55 PM ET
Posted by steviesteve on 04/19/11 at 02:55 PM ET
In fairness, wasn’t it after the hit on Savard that doctors were credited with saving his life for icing down his spine while he was still lying there to prevent swelling from possibly killing him?
I know specifically hearing about the advances they’ve made in responding to these kinds of hits, but I’d say it’s a good chance that first-responders have prevented hockey players from losing something more valuable than a toe.
I should probably amend my original statement to read simply that one game for what Neal did is simply not enough, given the consequences with which they’re playing. I don’t want to turn this into a competition of who was in more danger.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/19/11 at 03:02 PM ET
In fairness, wasn’t it after the hit on Savard that doctors were credited with saving his life for icing down his spine while he was still lying there to prevent swelling from possibly killing him?
First I’ve heard of this and it sounds a bit bunk, to be frank. The only time I’ve heard of a professional athlete dying of a concussion is with boxers and it had to do with bleeding in their brains, not swelling in their necks. If you needed ice on your back after suffering a concussion and die if you don’t get it, you’d have an epidemic of people dropping dead outside after-hours clubs every weekend.
Posted by steviesteve on 04/19/11 at 03:48 PM ET
That said, Giving Neal half as much for a play that had the potential to be extremely more devastating was a failure of the league’s.
I should probably amend my original statement to read simply that one game for what Neal did is simply not enough, given the consequences with which they’re playing.
Do you mean to say Kunitz?
Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 04/19/11 at 03:57 PM ET
Do you mean to say Kunitz?
Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 04/19/11 at 03:57 PM ET
Yes, sorry about that.
Posted by steviesteve on 04/19/11 at 03:48 PM ET
You know what, I should have googled first. I was thinking of Kevin Everett of the Bills and that was a completely different happenstance (broken neck)
However, I’m not sure that really matters in the context of the discussion, as a broken neck is a risk of a play like Kunitz’s the same as a severed toe is a risk of a foot stomp. We’re talking about the risks associated with each type of dangerous play, not specifically concussions, right?
Also, as alluded earlier, I’d much sooner give up a toe than suffer dementia.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/19/11 at 04:03 PM ET
Yes, sorry about that.
Here is my problem with that. You are like many others here, commenting on the situation after viewing the 30 second clip from youtube. If you had seen the game, and not just the video clip of the hit, you would know that it was KUNITZ. Also, the Kunitz hit came after the Downie hit. The game got a lot more heated after the Downie hit, and if the refs had handled it better by issued a double minor or a 5 minute major (which would have been justified considering the NHL has suspended Downie for 1 game after reviewing his hit), then the game would have been under control. When the refs let it go, things get out of control.
The fact is Kunitz illiegally elbowed Gagne. He should have been given 2 games, maybe more. But no matter what the NHL gave Kunitz, you would be asking for more. Don’t try to sugar coat your hate for the penguins.
Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 04/19/11 at 04:07 PM ET
Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 04/19/11 at 04:07 PM ET
Wait, I sugarcoated my hate for the Penguins because I accidentally said Neal instead of Kunitz or because you went into an alternate reality where they gave him more games and alternate-reality-J.J.-from-Kansas still complained about how it should have been more games?
Let me actually do the thing that pissed you off before you get mad at me for it, buddy.
Right now, the only thing you know for sure is that we both agree Kunitz should have been given a tougher suspension. My dislike for your team doesn’t really matter and I don’t think I’ve been playing that up much. Also, I hated Kunitz for being a goon long before he left the Ducks.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/19/11 at 04:28 PM ET
Also, I hated Kunitz for being a goon long before he left the Ducks.
Which doesn’t exactly make your commentary unbiased does it. The fact that you have a self-proclaimed “hate” for Kunitz does not exactly make you the voice of reason. It is one thing to have an opinion, its another thing entirely to constantly chime in on anything penguins from the negative standpoint. At some point people are going to stop listening.
Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 04/19/11 at 04:34 PM ET
Which doesn’t exactly make your commentary unbiased does it. The fact that you have a self-proclaimed “hate” for Kunitz does not exactly make you the voice of reason. It is one thing to have an opinion, its another thing entirely to constantly chime in on anything penguins from the negative standpoint. At some point people are going to stop listening.
Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 04/19/11 at 04:34 PM ET
Then feel free to stop listening at any time.
I don’t know where the concept that the commenters around here are supposed to be objective comes from. You’re biased as well, so we should all stop listening to you too, right?
Another edict from the arbiter of taste and class at Kuklas Korner, I guess.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/19/11 at 04:38 PM ET
Both got off too easy, and Cooke, even though he definitely deserved a very stiff penalty for what he did, got royally screwed. In the spectrum of the playoff reality, he would have only gotten a game or 2.
Posted by VAHockeyFan on 04/19/11 at 04:40 PM ET
You’re biased as well
Of course I am, but i don’t show up on the red wings threads and start pooping on your parade at every given moment. I don’t constantly think every Kronwall hit is deserving of a suspension and if suspended, proclaim it was not enough.
Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 04/19/11 at 04:41 PM ET
I don’t constantly think every Kronwall hit is deserving of a suspension and if suspended, proclaim it was not enough.
Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 04/19/11 at 04:41 PM ET
The world would be a better place if everybody were more like you, wouldn’t it?
This isn’t a Penguins thread. I generally stay out of Tony’s posts.
Also, it’s unfair to say that I constantly think every Penguins hit is deserving of a suspension as though I’m somehow inconsistent with my comments around here. You don’t deny that Kunitz deserved one - I don’t think you denied that Cooke deserved one - I certainly didn’t deny that Abdelkader deserved one. When Paul or Alanah post on the main page a hit that I feel deserves a suspension, I say it.
You’ve got a big problem with me. That’s your problem. Take your own advice and stop listening.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/19/11 at 04:46 PM ET
You’ve got a big problem with me
No, that is not true.
Did you think Kronwall deserved one for his hit on Havlat?
Did you think Bert deserved one on his elbow?
Did you think 17 games was enough for Cooke?
Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 04/19/11 at 04:49 PM ET
No, that is not true.
Did you think Kronwall deserved one for his hit on Havlat?
Did you think Bert deserved one on his elbow?
Did you think 17 games was enough for Cooke?Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 04/19/11 at 04:49 PM ET
Nice to know you care.
Kronwall on Havlat was a straight on hit on a guy who had the puck. It’s similar to the one Torres laid in that he didn’t play the puck and he hit a guy who didn’t technically have it on his stick. The difference for me was that Kronwall didn’t have a choice to play the puck because Havlat was between him and the biscuit. That wasn’t the case on either of Torres’ hits. All things considered, I think the five minute major and game misconduct that Kronwall received for that hit was sufficient, It was essentially a one-game suspension for a guy with no history (and we can argue back and forth on revisionist crap all anybody wants about how Kronner leaves his feet “all the time”, but Kronwall is the same hitter as Brooks Orpik, except Kronwall has never stuck a knee out on anybody.)
Bert did deserve one for his elbow. I didn’t feel it was intentional, but I felt it was stupid for him to have hit him like that. I also feel that it was a hit that plenty of other players in the league would not have bothered to turn their backs on to make sure that he hit him with the armpit. Bertuzzi could have done some serious damage to Johnson on that hit and he let up. One game for stupidity.
I really liked the Cooke suspension. As I said above, I was hoping that it was going to be come a standard with league discipline as far as suspending longer for these kinds of hits. Had they followed that up with suspensions to Erat, Hornqvist, and even Abdelkader, I would have been happy. I’m actually concerned that the Cooke suspension in the light of the disciplinary decisions since then has turned 14-17 games into too long. There’s no point of making an example out of the game’s dirtiest hitter if you’re not going to follow it.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/19/11 at 05:00 PM ET
You two SHUT UP! Good Grief and I mean Grief.
Posted by Yardog from Buffal on 04/19/11 at 06:18 PM ET
I don’t understand what the difference was between the Torres hit and the Downie hit. If I was a Tampa fan, I’d be pissed. It’s not like Torres didn’t have a history coming back right after a suspension. Kunitz should have gotten more. At least Downie can mask the fact that it may have been a hockey play. Kunitz went way out of his way to give that elbow to Gagne.
Anyway, what’s with all the elbows in the past month and a half? Combat that with the fact that the discipline has been all over the board, and it’s no wonder they keep happening.
Posted by pens fan in baltimore on 04/19/11 at 06:36 PM ET
what’s with all the elbows in the past month and a half? Combat that with the fact that the discipline has been all over the board, and it’s no wonder they keep happening.
I think you answered your own question.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/19/11 at 06:46 PM ET
Maybe JJ. I don’t know. The inconsistency just pisses me and everyone else off so much. I really hope they come out with a hard line stance next year, but I doubt it. At this point, it’s beyond a joke.
Posted by pens fan in baltimore on 04/19/11 at 07:47 PM ET
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This hurts the penguins a lot more… but it is justified. The elbow is exactly what the NHL is trying to remove from the game.
Posted by gretzky_to_lemieux on 04/19/11 at 01:42 PM ET