What the Puck?
Has the NHL gone the way of the gladiator this season? Skate stomps, hits from behind, flying elbows, slashed throats, and faces driven into turnbuckles!
Last night we saw Minnesota Wild's Kurt Foster and San Jose Sharks Torrey Mitchell race to prevent an icing. While battling for the puck, Foster had a step on Mitchell and the two crashed into the boards behind the net. Foster suffered a fractured tibula on the play, and is recovering in a San Jose hospital following surgery to repair the broken bone.
Mitchell will not receive any further disciplinary action from the league as a result of the play.
I'm not sure he should either. After watching the play a few times, there was obviously contact between the pair, but I'm not sure Mitchell intentionally tried to injure Foster. In any case the debate is already being raised that the no-touch icing rule be brought into effect.
Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh
Comments
I don't think he should get any punishment. Something almost exactly like this happened to me in high school: when somebody goes down in front of you there's just nothing you can do except try to protect yourself.
I actually got one of my 2 career ejections for that.
Posted by: jeff | March 21, 2008 02:24 AM
Well, I think Mitchell maybe helped Foster fall by the bit of contact there, but I don't think there was anything illegal about it. Unfortunate, but not suspension worthy.
Definitely has been a weird season for hits and injuries though. Both Ryan Smyth's and Zednik's injuries seem like prime examples of just bad, dumb luck on the ice this year.
Posted by: Stache | March 21, 2008 06:27 PM
Jeff did you go to the box and feel shame?
Posted by: Cap | March 22, 2008 12:48 PM