commadore183

f***. 2-0 Stars. Still on the PK.

I hope this doesn't become one of those long, long games with a s***load of penalties for both sides 4 minute pk for the Wings on the high-stick against Cheli.

Damn, Stars score. 1-0 Stars.

The bolded part is what is important in this discussion, the fact that Lidstrom and Datsyuk did not know about this loophole/exception/whatever until just hours before the activities began. That is what has everyone up in arms about. How hard is it for others to comprehend this point? I have no problem about them sitting Tuesday game out, but how this all happened just begged for a s***storm. This whole thing could have been avoided if Bettman would have used his head and not made any exceptions at the last minute. Hopefully in the next GM meeting, they'll make damn sure that the rules don't get changed like that at the last minute. God, Bettman makes it way too easy to other to call him a dumbass. He brought a lot of the hate on himself for how he handled this.

Spookshow Baby - Rob Zombie

Okay, I've read up to about page 19, so sorry if what I'm going to post has already been hashed about. As far as I know, these are the facts: 1) This new rule/understanding (however you look at it) was proposed by Bettman last February to the GMs to prevent players selected to the ASG from blowing it off without a legitimate reason. 2) The rule/understanding states that if a player doesn't intend to play in the ASG due to injury, the player must sit out either the game immediately before or immediately after the ASG to confirm the injury. 3) The GMs voted on the rule/understanding, and it passed (not sure what the total yea/nay was, but obviously enough to be instated). 4) Datsyuk and Lidstrom asked Holland to skip the ASG to rehabilitated their injuries (hip flexor and tendonitis, respectively). Holland agreed to their requests, knowing that they would have to sit the next game out. 5) Sometime between last Tuesday and Friday, Bettman and Crosby had a telephone conversation (who called who first, I don't know), with Crosby stating that he won't be attending the ASG due to an injury. It was at this time that Bettman said that Crosby can attend the festivities and not be suspended even if he didn't play in the ASG. 6) Holland found out through the media about this revision to the rule/understanding on Friday, too late for Datsyuk and Lidstrom to get on a plane and fly to Montreal. Holland, to me, appears to be upset about this sudden revision to the rule/understanding, nearly a full year after the rule/understanding was first instituted, rather than the two players would be forced to sit out the next game immediately after the ASG. The above is, basically, what I understand of the current situation. I think that what has many of us up in arms is that we didn't know about rule/understanding after it was passed AND that there was a sudden, last minute revision to said rule/understanding that we all just found out about Friday, as well as that it appears that this last minute revision favors Crosby. Crosby can make it to the ASG festivities because he is still in North America, a relatively short plane ride to Montreal, where as Datsyuk and Lidstrom are over probably over in Russia and Sweden, respectively. Datsyuk would have to suffer several hours in flight sitting in a seat due to his hip flexor injury (which make it painful to, say, lift your knee to your chest). In this case, the NHL royally f***ed this whole situation up on how they handled it, especially in the media front. Remember, the rule/understanding was that you would have to sit out either the game immediately before or immediately after the ASG if you did not play. On Friday, it was revised to you can attend the festivities and not be forced to sit the next game out even IF you didn't play in the ASG. That is the major beef here.

And the bolded part is what has many, if not damn near all of us, enraged over, is that Bettman sprung this on the teams YESTERDAY, not last week or last year (when they made the rule). Another thing is that you have to miss a game before or after the ASG to confirm your injury, but doesn't mention if you get injured in the before the ASG, like what happened to Datsyuk. Surely there should be an exception if you miss X amount of minutes in the game prior to the ASG. I hope Holland and the GM bring that point up in the next GM meeting. Again, many of us are pissed at the timing of this exception, not that Lidstrom and Datsyuk will be suspended, and what looks like favoritism towards Crosby, even if there isn't any.

Yeah, that ESPN article said that the rule was instituted last year after the ASG after a meeting with the GMs. Sucks that the first players to run afoul of the rule would be Datsyuk and Lidstrom.

Another thing that I know of is that the NHLPA doesn't have a problem with this as long as they are paid while suspended, as far as what I read on the other thread about this. Also, is this official that Lidstrom and Datsyuk are suspended, or is it just a rehash of what has been reported, ie that the two could be suspended for not attending? I wouldn't have a problem about disciplining the players if it was a fine, but a suspension is going too far, IMO. As far as I know, these two are rehabbing injuries, so there is a legit reason, IMO.

Apparently, that rule has been in effect for a while now. From what I gather, if the player/players don't miss the games before or the game after the ASG for an injury, they would be suspended. I could be wrong, so some other posters will correct me.

As others have said before me, if fighting is banned, you are going to see more cheapshots, not only by the goons, but by everyone retaliating to a cheapshot, as it would be the only way to make the goon pay if he doesn't get penalized for it. You would see more players swinging their sticks at others, or more elbows to the head, or more boardings, etc, as the team's enforcer would not be able to do its job without getting severely punished by getting ejected or whatnot, so if they are going to get ejected, they might as well make it worth while and knock the goon out. I hope it doesn't happen, but I'm afraid this might happen if fighting is banned and the goons run wild without tough officiating. Just my opinion.

6-3 after the D s***s the bed on the EN for the Wings.

Would be sweet if Mule was playing tonight I'll take Red Wings, Red Wings, Red Wings FTW!!!

Yeah, for everything that these refs call, they let THAT go? Amazing, get these guys to detox, stat!

We need a PPG here NOW!!!

5-3 Yotes. Here we go again.

Wow, that is weak. I can see it if they were throwing objects over the glass, but that is stupid. 4-3 Yotes.

Kronner in the bin for slashing. Wings PK.

You know, everytime I see that "Player of the Game" voting, I wonder if there is a way to flood their polls with something silly like "Lilja's jockstrap" or something along that line Or maybe "Blueberry Muffin"? God, I shouldn't be left alone with a computer sometimes

LAST MINUTE PPG!!! Tie game!!! Lidstrom!!!

Wings go to the PP. They have to take advantage of each PP they can get in this game, as it looks like it's going to be a penalty fest tonight

I prefer they go to detox myself Wings back to even strength.

And another Wings PK coming. How many penalties total in this period, as it seems like this is a penalty-fest now?

Well, there went the D on that play 3-2 Yotes.