Dang I missed that. Orr not there? I hope he's not ill. Man that guy could play.

It was announced a month or two ago that both Orr and Esposito will not be there. It surprised me because Orr is such a gentleman and the quintessential ambassador of hockey.

So the Habs scored the first goal just like yesterday. I'm hoping history repeats itself.

Other than a few moments and Rask, the B's would have done better if the Alumni played today. :(

Man, Gallagher and Pacio were really clicking today.

The Boston/Ottawa lovefest continues in a few minutes. A lot of numbers were taken in the last game. This will be Marchand's first game back after 3 games on the bench. Ottawa's coach claims no retribution to Marchand but that doesn't mean we won't have a few "discussions".

Here we go...

Montreal is on a down spiral so a win tonight against the Bruins would be good :D:):D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHQaJW7QHoQ

fixed it for ya :D

Speaking of slew foot?
Video: Possible slewfoot by Habs’ Gallagher on Bruins’ Trotman – ProHockeyTalk

Apparently Dennis Wideman can't help himself either
20 games for attacking an official
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nj4PoDrqv-E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

ugly business, blindside a ref? temp insanity?

He's appealing the suspension and that's pretty much his defense. He claims he concussed and didn't see the ref and was startled when he saw he was there so he shoved him. They didn't pull him for concussion during the game and was only diagnosed as having a concussion the following day. I can't imagine the league buying that fairy tale. They've got to protect the refs. I think the best he can hope for is to get the suspension dropped to less games.

That is a tough one to defend. I think his bell was rung and that the linesman moving back up ice wasn't where Wideman thought he was. Some things on the video indicates Wideman was surprised that the linesman was in front of him but hammering him from behind certainly looks very deliberate.
There have been a few shots at the officials in many leagues and sports. I think the NHL was obligated to lay down the law on this one.
Probably reduced to 10 after the appeal.
If he was concussed, it doesn't speak well for the Flames medical team. Should have had him off the bench pronto after the incident.

The Wideman incident is truly repugnant. Maybe he was concussed but I'm not buying that it caused him to lash out at whatever was in front of him.

he looks concussed in that picture. looks like he's gonna drool.

I don't doubt that his bell was rung. The problem is that the video really looks like a temper tantrum. Keith Jones (NHL analyst and former player) states that when concussed, you usually become less likely to attack and go into defensive mode. If this is true then Wideman did the exact opposite. Lastly, the final nail in his coffin is that the team didn't list him as concussed right away. That makes the following day diagnosis look like they are building an alibi.

20 game suspension...wow!

Sorta like shooting a cop. The NHL doesn't take too kindly to cross checking the linesman from behind.

Can you blame them?

Not in the least.

Although there may have been mitigating factors to this whole incident, personally I believe the NHL has to send the strongest of messages with regards to any physical abuse of the on-ice officials. Wideman will have the chance to give his side of the story at some point in the process. Having said that, I believe his suspension should be upheld - but that is just my own point of view based on what I saw & my perception of his actions. I hope the outcome of all of this is present concussion protocols are reviewed & possibly modified/updated.

Cheers
JB

Edit: Geez - somehow my favourite pi$$in' post - 'rat-face' is no longer the issue - not to detract from the importance of the current subject matter & the turn this conversation has taken.

March doesn't do enough bad stuff to keep this thread off of page 20 so we have to keep it alive with all the criminals that do things as bad or worse? SmileWavy

Bad Brad just saves it until he can no longer help himself and that badness comes out!

Now this is the kind of fines that make a player sit up and notice that their conduct on the ice is not acceptable!

FLAMES’ WIDEMAN SUSPENDED 20 GAMES
New York (Feb. 3, 2016) - Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman has been suspended for 20 games, without pay, for conduct violative of Rule 40 (Physical Abuse of Officials) during NHL Game No. 742 in Calgary on Wednesday, Jan. 27, the National Hockey League announced today.
The incident occurred at 11:19 of the second period.
Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Wideman will forfeit $564,516.20. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

Oh and just for the sake of argument, the referee was unhurt! Now didn't someone on this thread claim that even though a player engaged in behavior that was disrespectful/reckless and endangered an opposing players health and well being that because there was no injury there should be no suspension?

Wideman deserves a suspension but the NHLPA and the Flames have filed an appeal. Will see what happens. Wideman has played over 800 NHL games without prior incident.

So why was Prust only fined $5k for intentionally spearing another player in the groin?

Exactly what I am saying.

Because the league was glad someone finally speared BM in the plums....

If you genuinely believe that then you are no better than the man you condemn. The difference is that he makes a lot more money for his indiscretions than you do.

First, I did not condemn him.

Consider a couple of things...

If the spear was actually bad, he would have got a harsher penalty. Prust is no angel so if it warranted more would he not have received more?

Yes, I do believe the league was smiling when he got a little of his own medicine, and had to hand out some "punishment" to the perpetrator. Do I think a spear in the nuts deserves more than a 5K fine? Absolutely, and I am sure you do too. So why was the penalty no more severe? Tell us why...

I am not sure what indiscretions of mine you are referring to, and really not sure why you would think my economic situation is relevant here. Why do you want to make it personal?

He's done that numerous times in this thread. He's a Bruin's apologist. That's all you need to know.

"finally speared BM in the plums" sounds like a condemnation on Marchand and it sure did sound like you were glad to see it happen.

Seems to me that the tenor of your response was totally different and had a lot of back peddling.

My response was addressing what appeared to be your happiness at him being speared. If I am right in that then, I am OK with condemning your approval of such an attack. My statement to your indiscretions was that you appeared to approve of Prust's behavior. Marchand is paid a lot of money for being an agitator. Hey, maybe you got paid to post your statements. If so then I retract my comment.

Sil: "Bruins apologist" I love it. Changed my title. Thank you.

P.S. I am obviously in mourning over the recent shellacking from the Kings.

Back peddling? Please...

Yes, I didn't mind seeing him speared gently in the groin (good sell job on it too). Same goes for most of the fans of the game.

Does one of your Bruins jerserys have his name on the back by chance?

I'm sure he has BM's face tattooed on his bicep. If Marchand were playing for any of the other clubs in the East, our boy would be railing against his antics.

I guess it takes one to know one as far as making it personal. That's all you need to know too. SmileWavy

You're just jealous.

Jealous? Of what? LOL. I have never been so much a fan of any given team that I make apology for the poor behavior of any of that team's players. Your emotional attachment to the team makes you blind to the failings of its players.

Yeah, when you proved yourself not capable of rational discussion on the issue, I just came down to your level. Feels good down here, not having to think, or anything.

That's what we fans do. People hated Devil Scott Stevens when he crushed guys coming across the middle but they would have loved having him wear their jersey.

Honest fans.

The word 'fan' comes from 'fanatic', or 'fanatical'.

He would be called a 'rash' if he were rational.

HA! Sorry Joe but this is funny. Untrue perhaps...but funny. SmileWavy

Not to get too far off topic with the Scott Stevens' thing - but he got away with more than a couple of hits that would have been penalties & subject to disciplinary action in accordance with present day rulings. Granted, the majority of his hits were of the clean & "open-ice" variety but some, unintentional as they may have been, would now be considered 'head-shots'.

Cheers
JB

No doubt and no argument against your comment. The sport has indeed changed. I must admit that I do miss the days of a great hip check against the boards. Brad Park threw some beauties!

Call me anything you like but late for the rapture.

The good old days:
Terry O'Reilly
Brad Park
Jeremy Roenick
Mario Lemieux
Derek Sanderson

there are so many and that's not counting Gordie, Terrible Ted...