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See now you're making big assumptions as to if giving a head injury was Gillies "intent". Or was it simply to lay a smack down on a player against the boards and see who wants to do something about it. Cause that never happens right? Of course everyone knew Tangradi had a head injury at the time of the incident and he couldn't have possibly been laying down longer to draw a bigger penalty? Cause that never happens either right? I'm sure Gillies said to himself "I think I'll go cause a head injury" as he hit the ice that shift. Get real folks. esteef

Yes, look at that stand-up guy throwing punches after the game is over. He's not THAT type of player though. esteef

Pacioretty had a big hit on a Boston player earlier in the game, dove to draw a penalty and f***ed with Chara last game after scoring in OT. But I'm sure the Bruins, the stand-up guys they are, put all of that aside when they are on the ice each shift. Chara = guilty esteef

Your pussification of the game is a joke. Yes, if you run your mouth, especially to a fighter, they might just knock you the f*** out. This is a surprise to you? Gillies knows Tangradi won't drop 'em so he takes advantage on a hit. That's the way the league has made it. And players taunt all the damned time after hits, fights, whistles, etc. Also not a surprise. esteef

Maybe Tangradi was running his mouth from the bench and Gillies didn't like it. Maybe Tangradi tried to run someone. He damned sure did something cause Gillies was clearly pissed at him. Again, I don't know what he did, I wasn't there. Whatever he did, Gillies took exception and exacted his style of punishment. The villifying of every action from enforcers simply because they are enforcers is what's disturbing. esteef

No, I'm suggesting that no one knows why he went after him, including me. esteef

Clearly he doesn't see the stantion. esteef

Or that you may be a nice guy. esteef

Something Tangradi said or did before? I wasn't on the ice so I can't help with your loaded question. esteef

Don't like the hit. Looks like Chara not only knew who it was but tried to take a little extra piece of him against the stantion. Sit him a couple and move on. esteef

Gillies enforced, some people here don't like it. Big shocker there. esteef

Enjoy! esteef

What a goal! esteef

The kid laughing to the left is funny! esteef

The dude behind the sharks box is funny! esteef

FREE GILLIES!!!!!! esteef

That's what's so funny, by the rules, he would've been better served grabbing Clutterbuck and drilling him in the face a bunch of times because that would've looked better than taking advantage on a hit. esteef

If repeat offender even plays into it at all, Matt Cooke's minimum suspension should've started at 20 games years ago. He is the definition of a repeat offender with way more infractions (called or not) than Gillies yet he gets puny suspensions. But hey, he chips in pucks every now and then so he's all good. Das Boooools***. esteef

Most concussions happen from hits not punches. Let's get hitting out of hockey. esteef

I watched the Ducks feed last night and the announcers (as horrible as they are) actually gave quite a bit of props to Pavs last night all throughout the game. Even mentioning how Hossa had said Pavs had better hands and was less predictable as a playmaker than Cr*sby. Just FYI, other people around the league are finally starting to "get it". esteef

Tell me about it! esteef

Gillies is a career 4th liner who was brought up to check and provide energy (and knock the s*** out of people ). His point totals are irrelevant. esteef

"Since the lockout, however, the league is trying to tame the frontier justice. The problem is that their solution - the ill-named "instigator" penalty - actually punishes the enforcer and NOT the instigator, the guy running around and stirring the pot. Not surprisingly, those guys are stirring harder and faster than ever, with no end in sight." Couldn't have said it better myself. Oh wait! Great column by the way. More good stuff..."The current "fighting has no place in our game" moralizing from the league is complete hogwash, frankly. It's self-serving, and allows Bettman and Campbell to sound correct while actually doing things that are the exact oposite of helpful. The goon who does nothing but fight is bad for the game, they say; well, what about the goon who does nothing but endanger other guys' health and careers? The enforcer would be far less necessary if you cracked down on the behavior he's there to punish! Heck - enforcers might even need to be able to carry their weight for 8-10 minutes a night. Wonder of wonders, if you curtail dirty play, you might just improve the quality of the hockey being played. Once you get past the tribal instinct of "my team good, all others suq lulz !!!one!!1!" the fans get that; they know punishing the enforcer more than the troublemaker serves, in practice, to protect the troublemaker. That's the real reason why dirty play is on the rise." esteef

My thoughts exactly. If there was no instigator rule, Gillies would've likely grabbed Clutterbuck and whooped his ass, instead he delivers a quick (and cheap) hit and hopes to get away with it. Oh well... Sign him Kenny! esteef

Diiiiiiiiiiiive!