I wish there was this kind of outcry when Mr Cook (who was a Pen at the time) ended the career of the Bruins best center and scorer. There was nothing but crickets then.

Orpik has had less than 10 fights and turtled his whole career. He was due a lesson. That said, Thornton has already admitted he was wrong and Claude Julian admits he stepped over the line. It takes some class to admit when you are wrong (something some people here never have done).
Really? Really? You know better than that. Marchand is all of 5'9". Neal is 6'2" March isn't afraid to go head to head but that is a bit of a mismatch. Neal kneeing someone in the head while they are down is chicken scheit. Thornton had enough and lost his temper but he should have pounded Neal. Lest anyone start whining about enforcers, I ask what Gretzy would have done without McSorely?

No doubt Thornton will get many games for the offense. Rightly so. I hope that Shanny takes into account that this is his first time offense. I suspect Neal will get off easy because all the attention is on Thornton.

BTW, that was quite a game. Personally, I liked the ending. :p

That's an unfair comment. The Matt Cooke hit was early on in the whole head shot/suspension debate. That hit is often referred to as the quintessential dirty head shot, and the suspension would be lengthy if it were to happen today.



Let's hope no one is comparing nose-face with Gretzky. There is no reason that Marchand can't fight Neal and win, Neal is not exactly a tough guy. Thornton can fight for Erikson, I have no issue with that, Marchand can look after himself.

And if Orpik's not a fighter so be it, there are lots of ways to 'repay'. All of which are more honorable then a slew foot followed by a sucker punch.

Wow, whatever you've been smoking, please put the pipe down.
Marchand is 5'9"
Neal is 6'2"
You can't possibly expect a guy to fight someone a half foot taller.
No one said any such thing. Not even close. Go back and read what I wrote.

Its about as honorable as doing a drive-by knee to the head from behind on a guy that is down on the ice (but I don't see anyone condemning Neal. I wonder why that is?)

BTW, I remember you going on and on about a Bruin you claimed turtles yet poor little innocent Orpik is a saint? He's the biggest turtle there is but you never say a word. I wonder why that is?

I have already said that what Thornton did was wrong. Its to easy to dog-pile on the Bruins than to admit there is crap in your own yard. No one admits when Neal, or Cooke pull the same stunt. I wonder why that is?

I know you love hockey and have a lot of knowledge of the game. I respect that. I just have no respect for your prejudice against anything with a 8 spoked B on the chest.

There should be some serious disciplinary action for that, but I have little sympathy for a meat-head like Brooks Orpik. He has bee responsible for his fair share of injuries resulting from cheap shots.

I have no hate on for the Bruins, none.

My point about Orpik is this: he won't fight, so if you want to get back at him it won't be by fighting. He will turtle, don't waste your time (and take an instigator penalty) trying to fight. Do it another way.

I think Marchand would/could kick Neal's ass. And should. But if he won't let Thornton drop the gloves and take him on the way it's always done.

Give Neal five games, give Thornton eight and it's all over.

And let's be honest: Thornton would get more sympathy if he had sucker punched Neal.

Neal is gone for 5 games. Don't think the Thornton suspension has been announced yet.

They should fine them their salary per game for each of the games they are suspended too. Proceeds to charity... A dent in the wallet may start to change their behavior on ice...

The union won't allow that. The league would be happy to fine them.

The only financial penalty is no pay for suspended games. Either way, the money means nothing to them long term.

Thornton has an in-person hearing, meaning he will get six or more games, no announcement until after the hearing (assuming he has chosen to attend).

Neal was 'five games or less', so that's a phone call and then they announce the suspension. It's one or two days faster.

If Marchand needs inspiration:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1386692158.jpg

Why did Thornton go after Orpik in the first place? His hit on Erikson was a clean hit. Brutal? Yes. Illegal? No. He should have gotten an interference penalty but a clean hit it was. So now goons assault players for legal hits??

Neil, yup a dirty play indeed. Even if Marchand is a dirty player himself Neil is a dick for what he did. And it is also costing him about $126,000 for the 5 games.

+1
True that.
I have wondered that myself. I wonder it was something Orpik was saying when Thornton pulled up to the group. He'll definately be on vacation without pay for a while. His only hope is for a lesser penalty due to this being his first offense.

Neal admits kneeing Marchand was ‘not the smartest decision’ | ProHockeyTalk
"I haven’t, like, seen the replay or anything, so I mean I hit him in the head with my leg or my foot or my knee or shin area,” Neal said, per Yahoo! Sports. “I don’t know. But I mean, he’s already going down, and I guess I need to try to avoid him, but I have to look at it again.”
When pressed, Neal added: “I mean, what do you want me to say? That I was trying to hit him? No, I’m going by him. I don’t get out of the way, like I said.

Talk about low class. Not even man enough to admit he was wrong. He needs to see the replay to know what part of his body hit Marchand's head? Really?

That is the reality now. A clean open ice hit frequently results in a fight or scrap. The NHL needs to end it immediately, but it continues.

Presuming Thornton was even thinking I believe he selected Orpik because of the Erikson hit.

I have to watch it again, but I'm not even sure it was interference. Erikson should have touched the puck, and you can't call interference just because the other player misjudges the puck, or intentionally does not touch it.

Thornton skated in from behind semi-slew footed Orpik and punched him, I don't think he heard anything Orpik was yapping about, he was too far away. Earlier in the game? Maybe.

Naw. Its been around for a long long time. If anyone even looked at Gretzky, McSorely was there to make the person pay. There is a long-standing tradition of protecting your star players from even legal rough hits.
The league has gotten softer. We are more aware of injuries, concussions, etc. Back then, it was part of the game...none one talked about it. They said suck it up and don't be a crybaby. Is it better now? For the player's sake, yes. I just wish that justice was served more equally. Shanny does a good job but the refs on the ice still are rather unbalanced. One game, anything goes: chop a guy's stick in half..play on. Next game, know a stick out of the guy's hand (not broken) and get 2 in the sin-bin. Of course, there are those folks who get "reputation penalties" (and most of the time rightly so). I wonder what Terrible Ted, Gordie, or Ron Hextall think about the game today.

Janssen: Orpik should’ve fought Thornton, then ‘everything would have quieted down’ | ProHockeyTalk
So maybe poor innocent Opik wasn't surprised and blind-sided. He was turtling and Thornton had enough of it. Thornton was still wrong but...

but what? If the guy won't fight does it entitle you to bash him when he's down? That's hockey? Orpik may be a "little man" in every way but that's his cross to bear.

I didn't realize fighting was a prerequisite for being a hockey player. Thanks for the enlightenment Joe.

What did Thornton get?

15 games because it was a retribution for an earlier incident (and that is with consideration that he has never been suspended in 11 years).
The B's play rough but that was was over the line. Orpik deserved to be pounded but not that way.
I figured 10 games was what he'd get but I agree that it needed to be severe to send a message.

Cue all the Bruins haters to dance and cheer. Let the gloating begin.

Wow pretty stiff. I'm still at a loss as to why Orpik deserved to be pounded? Again it was a clean hit.