GDT: Detroit @ Vancouver - Dec 21st

[suitman19]

The only problem with what you are saying Matt is that you can't really see Kronwall leaving his feet in 'game time action'. It was that close - to having at least one foot on the ice. we all have the advantage of seeing multiple replays at great angles - the refs do not have that DURING the game.

While leaving you feet is a penalty and I understand that - it was not called during the game. And while Shanahan does see it from all of the angles - he also took into account the delivery aspect of the hit and possibly the fact that I do not believe that Kronwall has ever been suspended for a hit.


As far as calls that should have been made - there are at least a dozen every game - but the refs even take the circumstances into account at times. Just refer to the Edler SH goal - he deserved a penalty for impeding Zetterberg's path to Hansen... but because they were short-handed it MAY not have been called.

 

[tiger tiger]

Sometimes it's tough for the officials to catch the player "leaving the ice" because some players are so good at doing it at the last second. Kronwall is known to be one of those players. He's able to push the limit of the rule by jumping at the last second, and also turning his body to hit the opposing player. By jumping, he still uses his body as a projectile for contact, but avoids the head as the primary point of contact.

Kesler was in a bit of a vulnerable position as he lost the puck in his skates when the hit was made. Although replays show that his head would not have hit the glass, it could have hit the boards which has less give. Suppose if Kesler lost his footing and Kronwall's butt slammed Kesler's head into the boards. Kronwall would most likely escape suspension, but it's a borderline reckless play because Kronwall takes his eyes off his target and projects himself. This play is also dangerous for him too. I don't think it's deserves any suspension, but there should have been a penalty.

If Kronwall nailed Kesler and kept his skates on the ice, I'd be cool with it. Even if Kesler was hurt by the hit, as long as it was clean and within the rules. Leaving your feet for any sort of hit should be an automatic roughing or charging penalty, especially if at least 2 strides are taken before to make the hit. I consider it no different from flipping the puck over the glass in your own end and getting a delay of game penalty. It should be automatic.

I liked what Bob McKenzie said. If you want to get rid of headshots or borderline hits, make the call for serious infractions during the game with 5 min major and a game misconduct. In a close game, players would less likely to do something like that because it could potentially hurt their team more. The team would have to kill off the penalty and play the rest of the game with 5 d-men.


But overall the game was one of the best skill games I've watched in a long time. I loved how the Canucks exploited some hole in the Wings system and set guys pretty much in alone twice. Then the Wings call a timeout and close that hole. The Canucks tried it one more time, but Helm and the far defensemen shut down the play. Wings never got caught on it again. Awesome! Loved seeing that! You can be sure that if the Wings and Canucks meet in the playoffs, that hole still won't be there.