THN's Costello: Laperriere's hit on Lidstrom not dirty

[Yzermania19 1]

From Mlive's Red Wings Snapshots -

The Hockey News's Brian Costello made a comment regarding Colorado Avalanche forward Ian Laperriere's hit on Detroit Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom that shows a poor grasp of physics:

February 24, The Hockey News: It didn't occur to me that anyone would find fault with the Ian Laperriere hit on Nicklas Lidstrom until a colleague sent me a video feed of the incident with the subject line: Foul or fair? The shoulder-to-shoulder collision looked, to me, so clean and so, well, hockey, I just assumed the colleague was inviting me to lunch.

More (with link to article on The Hockey News' web site) - The Hockey News's Costello is outraged...that anyone could call Laperriere's hit on Lidstrom 'dirty'

*note* - sorry about the misspelling of Lidstrom's name in the title of the thread - I didn't notice it until I posted the article...

Edited February 25, 2008 by Yzermania19

[Izzy24 44]

It wasn't dirty.

[zata40 3]

It was not a "dirty hit" but the hit did deserve 2 min for elbowing IMO.

[Zion 93]

You spelled "Lidstrom" wrong.

[Izzy24 44]

It was not a "dirty hit" but the hit did deserve 2 min for elbowing IMO.

I concur.

[StevieBoy 2]

I agree...not 'dirty'. The statement that it was a 'shoulder to shoulder' hit isn't completely accurate as he obviously got his elbow up into his head area a bit and while that is technically 'dirty' it's borderline enough and happens every single game. This one went bad for us but if we but out hits like this then hockey players might as well be choir boys.

[Mudvayneowns91 0]

Yeah, the 2 minutes would have been nice, but not really dirty. I think Downey beating his ass was retribution enough. Lappy went down like a little girl.

[interminded 1]

Lidstrom himself said it wasn't dirty.

Phaneuf's hit on Kopecky.... now, that was a dirty hit.

[zata40 3]

Yeah, the 2 minutes would have been nice, but not really dirty. I think Downey beating his ass was retribution enough. Lappy went down like a little girl.

<----- he went down like a turtle

[cirov19 1]

The original hit was clean, he unnecessarily used his elbow. If Nick says there was an elbow, and the replay shows an elbow, then I would have to believe that an elbow did connect with Nick's face. Laperriere is dirt, though anyways, even if his hit was not.

Edited February 25, 2008 by cirov19

[Yzermania19 1]

You spelled "Lidstrom" wrong.

I know I did and I apologized...read the whole post.

[seeinred 1,488]

I forget who wrote it, but in some article someone said it was a borderline hit in a game that's full of them. It wasn't completely clean, but it wasn't overtly dirty either. I think it might have been Ansar Khan, and I agree 100% with that sentiment.

[Mudvayneowns91 0]

<----- he went down like a turtle

haha, that's great.

[toby91_ca 620]

Not even close to a dirty hit. I can see a potential for a penalty to be called, but if it was mean, I wouldn't call a penalty. I see the eblow coming into contact with the chin as being a result of Lidstrom falling back towards the boards and head coming down as Lappy's arms extend as they would in delivering a normal check for the most part.

Either way, call it a penalty if you want, it's borderline, but don't call it dirty just because it resulted in an injury.

[wingslogo19 281]

Lidstrom himself said it wasn't dirty.

Phaneuf's hit on Kopecky.... now, that was a dirty hit.

Agree with you on that one, and of course no call was made

[Mors 201]

Lidstrom himself said getting the elbow up was unnecessary...he had the mark on his face to show it. Not necessarily dirty, but uncalled for...

[therock48880 14]

Lidstrom himself said it wasn't dirty.

Phaneuf's hit on Kopecky.... now, that was a dirty hit.

Perfectly said. It should have been a two-minute penalty and an ass kicking. We just had to settle for the ass kicking.

Phaneuf should be suspended a game.

[therock48880 14]

Laperriere is dirt, though anyways, even if his hit was not.

I don't really agree with that. He plays hard, agitates things, fights when necessary, but he isn't dirty. To be honest, a guy like Maltby is worse in my book because he will never fight back. Lappy knew he was going to lose to Downey, but stood there anyways. The Maltby's of the world would have been running away. Sure, he turtled at the end after receiving several good lefts, but he TRIED to fight first.

[irishtemper14+25 11]

no suspension needed, it was a clean hit on our top guy and as a good man says "fair justice is fair justice"

[Superman54 91]

When Lids gets hit...Its a dirty hit!

[Skiing - Puck 0]

I honestly don't think the hit was dirty. Lindstrom was just in a bad position.

[union drone 0]

<----- he went down like a turtle

It's such a natural look for an Avs player, too.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Hit itself wasn't dirty at all and I don't blane Laperriere whatsoever for going for the hit as he plays a pretty rugged game obviously. I question whether he could've controlled his elbows better when hitting Lidstrom around the head. Ah well, it is in the past and Lidstrom should be back soon enough and no point in holding any grudges towards Lappy or whatever, it's over and done with.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Hit itself wasn't dirty at all and I don't blane Laperriere whatsoever for going for the hit as he plays a pretty rugged game obviously. I question whether he could've controlled his elbows better when hitting Lidstrom around the head. Ah well, it is in the past and Lidstrom should be back soon enough and no point in holding any grudges towards Lappy or whatever, it's over and done with.

But if you question Lappy's elbows being that high, then you're admitting that the hit was suspect. I think it was dirty and that he knew what he was doing. Whether he intended to injure Lidstrom or not isn't the question. If a player intends to elbow a guy in the head but doesn't intend to hurt him, then he's an idiot. What did Lappy expect by getting his elbows up like that? I just hope his payback isn't over the next time we face him. If Lidstrom missed time due to injury, then so should Slappy.

[LidsFan 68]

If his elbow had not been high then I would of had no problem with the hit. But it is because of his elbow that Nick hit his head. Had Nick not hit his head on the glass he would not of hurt his knee and would still be playing. So I do have a problem with the hit. But Downey is my hero for taking care of business and protecting the team.