it was somewhat of a late hit (not super late compared to what constantly happens); would have Tavares accepted the upcoming bodycheck instead of trying to avoid it by pushing his upper body forward, the hit would have been a upper to upper (or hip to hip) hit. Nevertheless, Taveres's body moved soon enough that Pezzeta had time to slowed down and not force a contact that was going to be dangerous. He did deserve a penalty at least for sure. But I really don't think it's exactly a comparable situation to the Paré/Laine one.
In the Paré incident, people (Leaf fans) are blaming Laine for his extended leg position going between two Leafs, but he did NOT suddenly change his leg position; Paré is the one who moved his knee in Laine's way to block Laine's progression, in a position that mostly automatically results into severe injuries. Did he have time to specifically tell himself " im gonna injure Laine"? I really don't think so. It was at a minimum a brain fart "you shall not pass" moment with the worse choice of action possible. As a professional hockey player, he should have enough experience to not even go there, and for it referees should have made a call as well.
Arber Xhekaj, as much as I love him, got way too much excited / in revenge mode (but I can understand why of course). There was no reason not to have removed his gloves, and then proceed. He should have been suspended. There was no world in which Xhekaj was NOT going to fight him, so keeping his back turned, then turtling and not wanted to fight was stupid (and so was being all smiley during the post-game interview), and was not going to help his cause in the aftermath. Fellow MTL fans harrassing/treatening him, his family, and friends, is sickening though. If you are that kind of fan, you are not a hockey/MTL fan, you are a cultist and need therapy and social media d/c ASAP.
6 Comments
I'd agree, just a trip. Anytime a player tries to dodge the hit at the last moment they risk the leg contact.
What ever we got laine
I'd call it a hip check,
It’s a knee, favour will be returned
Its ok… its only John Tavares. If it was Patrik Laine look out…
it was somewhat of a late hit (not super late compared to what constantly happens); would have Tavares accepted the upcoming bodycheck instead of trying to avoid it by pushing his upper body forward, the hit would have been a upper to upper (or hip to hip) hit. Nevertheless, Taveres's body moved soon enough that Pezzeta had time to slowed down and not force a contact that was going to be dangerous. He did deserve a penalty at least for sure. But I really don't think it's exactly a comparable situation to the Paré/Laine one.
In the Paré incident, people (Leaf fans) are blaming Laine for his extended leg position going between two Leafs, but he did NOT suddenly change his leg position; Paré is the one who moved his knee in Laine's way to block Laine's progression, in a position that mostly automatically results into severe injuries. Did he have time to specifically tell himself " im gonna injure Laine"? I really don't think so. It was at a minimum a brain fart "you shall not pass" moment with the worse choice of action possible. As a professional hockey player, he should have enough experience to not even go there, and for it referees should have made a call as well.
Arber Xhekaj, as much as I love him, got way too much excited / in revenge mode (but I can understand why of course). There was no reason not to have removed his gloves, and then proceed. He should have been suspended. There was no world in which Xhekaj was NOT going to fight him, so keeping his back turned, then turtling and not wanted to fight was stupid (and so was being all smiley during the post-game interview), and was not going to help his cause in the aftermath. Fellow MTL fans harrassing/treatening him, his family, and friends, is sickening though. If you are that kind of fan, you are not a hockey/MTL fan, you are a cultist and need therapy and social media d/c ASAP.