So....Cross-Checks to the head

[jmatchett]

Alex Semin landed a pretty mean blow to the head of an Avs player (sorry, can't remember who it was). He got a fine. Briere (repeat offender, goon, blah blah, let's stick to the case-by-case here) cross-checked a player in the head and got a multi-game suspension. I'm not defending Briere, as I think he got what he deserves. But I also think that Semin got off easy. He was given a small cross-check to the midsection by the defender, but he retaliated with a pretty nasty cross-check. Like I said, he has no past history, but I still think a deliberate hard cross-check to the head of a player who has his back turned is worthy of more than a fine.

 

[Hama]

Alex Semin landed a pretty mean blow to the head of an Avs player (sorry, can't remember who it was). He got a fine. Briere (repeat offender, goon, blah blah, let's stick to the case-by-case here) cross-checked a player in the head and got a multi-game suspension. I'm not defending Briere, as I think he got what he deserves. But I also think that Semin got off easy. He was given a small cross-check to the midsection by the defender, but he retaliated with a press nasty cross-check. Like I said, he has no past history, but I still think a deliberate hard cross-check to a player who has his back turned is worthy of more than a fine.

Key point being for Semin - it hit the guy in the back first before the stick rode up and hit him in the head. If it hit him in the head directly - it would be guaranteed 2 games based on similar suspensions. Direct force blows are clearly going to be worth more.

And until the PA and/or the competition committee OK's a set schedule of suspension for offences, this is what you're going to get - inconsistent application of discipline

 

[Metrags]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTNPRqKVaP0

Deserved a nice suspension IMO.

Even after seeing the replay. I didnt even see what provoked the 'check'.

I really dont understand how this isnt a bigger penalty, past history or not.

 

[newfiecomicguy1]

Semin deserved a suspension. The NHL needs to be consistent.

 

[plubers]

That should be 3 to 5 games for the cheap shot!

 

[Metrags]

Key point being for Semin - it hit the guy in the back first before the stick rode up and hit him in the head. If it hit him in the head directly - it would be guaranteed 2 games based on similar suspensions. Direct force blows are clearly going to be worth more.

And until the PA and/or the competition committee OK's a set schedule of suspension for offences, this is what you're going to get - inconsistent application of discipline

I thought that at first as well (that he cross checked the back first).

But as is the rule with all headshots/cheapshots, intent to injure does not really have to be there. He may have intended to only knock him over by throwing an illegal crosscheck to the back (crosschecking has always been a penalty), but it ended up hitting Liles' head instead.

Semin needs to be more disciplined than that, especially when it was relatively unprovoked.

 

[lumm0x]

Any intentional and malicious stick to the head should be a suspension.

Maybe the league is looking at the Caps performances as of late and deeming that punishment enough though.

 

[timber09]

It's hard to tell by this footage but CBC showed this on Saturday and the After Hours panel agreed that this should not be a suspension as Semin hit JML in the back and not in the head. Will have to see if I can find that.

Liles got in a couple of whacks and turned around - Semin was frustrated and drilled him - they certainly could have suspended him but they didn't...oh well...they have certainly suspended for less but I'm OK with this no-call.