Mike Brown's hit on Hudler

[Yak19 303]

Man poor hudler too. Did you see his reaction when he first saw all the blood? Little dude was in shock for a sec. His hands just straightened and stiffened and he had a horrified look on his face. That s***s always scary especially when u get hit in the head because for a sec u don't know what just happened and all u can see is blood everywhere. I got hit with a slapshot right in my cheek bone and at first i didn't feel anything and i could barely hear. Everything got hazy, then everything just went red and my hearing slowly faded back in

He was thinking it was something to do with his eye, im sure of it. Anyone would have panicked.

[under_par_00 45]

Little Hudler didnt know he was bleeding until he put his hand in the pool of blood. Then his reaction was "WTF"

I think the hit was clean, just looked like a direct headshot because of how small Hudler is.

This is what a clean hit looks like:

[#19forPresident! 1]

So, I saw this on a ducks board and I'm wondering is this a rivalry/my team is right, yours is the spawn of satan, or if any wings fan can clarify why that wasn't a dirty hit? Any way you look at it to me, he straightened his arms right into hud's face...and it could have been avoided.

These things are always "he said, she said". And players' respective camps are always going to defend them regardless. Carlisle defended Pronger's hit on Holmstrom in 07' to the death for crying out loud, and that was about as close to a clean hit as motor oil is to lemonade. So it didn't really surprise me when he defended Brown. And on the flip side I'd certainly expect Babcock to call this dirty which he did. Some fans are the same way, but opinions will vary. I say let people talk, that's what makes places like LGW interesting right? In the end it's up to the league not the fans anyway.

IMO if the league wants to call these things consistently it will certainly be a suspension, but the tough call is on how long to suspend him. Brown knew what he was doing and he took it too far by following through on Hudler's head instead of pulling up. While it doesn't excuse it, Hudler is guilty of leaving himself vulnerable. Having said that, leaving yourself open for contact is not suspendable, and it's Brown's responsibility to adjust his approach. He could have taken Hudler well out of the play without the injury causing force he used, he was clearly trying to send a message in response to Hudler's elbow earlier on Beauchemin, and crossed the line in doing so.

Just my .02

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

I think the hit was clean, just looked like a direct headshot because of how small Hudler is.

I don't think fizziks is really an excuse for delivering a head shot. He's in control of his own body, he was either aware of the danger or reckless, and in any event some penalty was deserved. I was angry originally but after looking at it again it doesn't seem too bad, other than the blow to the head being something that the league has taken a stand on.

[MTU_Huskies963 398]

Little Hudler didnt know he was bleeding until he put his hand in the pool of blood. Then his reaction was "WTF"

I think the hit was clean, just looked like a direct headshot because of how small Hudler is.

This is what a clean hit looks like:

If you see the reverse angle you can tell where Brown's stick is then watch the follow through, and it more of a cross check to the face. You don't get cut in the face by a clean hit, and then bleed like that. I am also not buying the visor cutting him.

[LeftWinger 5,153]

bottom line, was it an elbow, shoulder or stick? It was a hit to the head, period. League is trying to get rid of hits to the head, suspend him....

[Jersey Wing 1,521]

Was Hudler admiring his work? Yes

Should he keep his head up? Yes

Two things are apparent, Brown took a long run at him and #2 it was a head shot where a body shot would have done. According to the NHL rulebook Hudler is under no obligation to be 6 feet tall. That must be taken into consideration before the hit.

It's funny the Ducks of all teams who along with their fans revel in their borderline dirty reputation then complain when somebody starts calling them for such plays. Sometimes reputations get you called in this league, it's always been that way. Carlyle was crying about Detroit before the series even started trying to minimize the Wings getting anywhere near the Ducks netminder. Now he cries about Franzen and Brown.

Wanna know why the Ducks and their fans are really upset? Unlike San Jose the Red Wings can make Anaheim pay for running around like they do. Once Detroit clicks on a few more powerplays the Ducks will be forced to play a style of game they're neither familiar with nor good at and that's what Carlyle fears most.

[Theophany 110]

I think the end of the stick got him on the follow through as he was going down.

More likely that something on the inside of the helmet cut him.

[HomeNugget 2]

This:

"I don't want to see hitting taken out of the game, I love hitting in hockey," Orr told TSN, "but if someone puts his shoulder into a player's face, if he puts anything -- an arm, an elbow, a glove -- I think that player should get a penalty. Definitely, it should be a penalty. We are having players getting knocked unconscious before they even hit the ice and carried off on stretchers. How can that be legal? When did hitting someone in the head with your shoulder or any part of your body become part of the rules? Anything above the neck, it's wrong.

"Hey, I got hit a lot when I played and I didn't get hit in the head with checks," said Orr, the legendary defenceman who is now the head of his own player representation firm. "Players didn't always hit like that. To me, that's not part of bodychecking. I mean, don't you have to be responsible for your actions? If you hit a guy in the face with your stick by accident, you're going to get a penalty. Two minutes, four minutes, five minutes, something. If you go to bodycheck a guy and you hit him in the face or head, and injure him, that's legal? That's fair? That's not a penalty? I'm sorry, I don't think that is right. It should be a penalty."

[XxGoWingsxX 0]

This:

See, even bobby gets it and he played in the good old days AND he's old...so i'm sure his vision isn't perfect but even he could see it was dirty

[norrisnick 1]

Was Hudler admiring his work? Yes

No, he was making sure his dump in actually went deep so he'd know whether he had to switch to backcheck mode or not. I highly doubt "Damn, that was a nice bankshot off the boards" was going through his head. Hockey is a fast pace game and it can switch from offense to defense and back in an instant. You have to be aware of where the puck is and where it's going. Which means sometimes you have to look at it. Which means sometimes you aren't aware that the guy that was 40' away the last time you glanced his way is about to explode into your head even though the puck is miles (figuratively) away. Brown went a looong way to hit Hudler late. Should have eased up, but I guess he decided to get his money's worth.

Should he keep his head up? Yes

Hudler is short, he can't help it.

Two things are apparent, Brown took a long run at him and #2 it was a head shot where a body shot would have done. According to the NHL rulebook Hudler is under no obligation to be 6 feet tall. That must be taken into consideration before the hit.

You forgot a third. The puck was long gone (Hudler at our blueline the puck was at theirs when he got hit).

It's funny the Ducks of all teams who along with their fans revel in their borderline dirty reputation then complain when somebody starts calling them for such plays. Sometimes reputations get you called in this league, it's always been that way. Carlyle was crying about Detroit before the series even started trying to minimize the Wings getting anywhere near the Ducks netminder. Now he cries about Franzen and Brown.

Wanna know why the Ducks and their fans are really upset? Unlike San Jose the Red Wings can make Anaheim pay for running around like they do. Once Detroit clicks on a few more powerplays the Ducks will be forced to play a style of game they're neither familiar with nor good at and that's what Carlyle fears most.

[norrisnick 1]

EDIT - Anyone else think the late hit on Hudler by Brown may have been "payback" for Hudler's elbow to the head of Beauchemin ?

No. It was a 4th line jobber that wanted to take a skill guy out of the game. Be it by injury or intimidation. Obviously he understimated Hudler.

[Superted 0]

Nothing wrong with the hit itself. Certainly wasn't Pronger-esque. It WAS a tad bit late though, but we're talking microseconds. All in all, a double-minor and not a major penalty. I can see why the Ducks fans are pissed about it ... but you can't deny the fact that at least a minor penalty should've been called, auto to double-minor for the reduction of Hudler's red blood cell count, and the PP goal would therefore still stand. Brown doesn't deserve a suspension.

As for Franzen, I must admit at the time I thought he could've done a better job at avoiding Hiller. Not that it mattered, because the goal was scored a split second beforehand and he didn't interfere. But then after seeing the scrum on Ozzy by the Ducks towards the end of the game I didn't feel so guilty.

Oh and speaking of that scrum near the end I had NO idea you could fit 11 players in the crease... I learnt something today

[#19forPresident! 1]

Oh and speaking of that scrum near the end I had NO idea you could fit 11 players in the crease... I learnt something today

Yeah I was wondering how many cheap shots people were pulling on each other under there.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

On the Franzen-Hiller hit:

Was it a message, Johan?

"I hope the goal was," Franzen told CBC after the game. "I didn't mean to run him over. I had nowhere to go. That just happened."

[norrisnick 1]

Nothing wrong with the hit itself. Certainly wasn't Pronger-esque. It WAS a tad bit late though, but we're talking microseconds. All in all, a double-minor and not a major penalty. I can see why the Ducks fans are pissed about it ... but you can't deny the fact that at least a minor penalty should've been called, auto to double-minor for the reduction of Hudler's red blood cell count, and the PP goal would therefore still stand. Brown doesn't deserve a suspension.

As for Franzen, I must admit at the time I thought he could've done a better job at avoiding Hiller. Not that it mattered, because the goal was scored a split second beforehand and he didn't interfere. But then after seeing the scrum on Ozzy by the Ducks towards the end of the game I didn't feel so guilty.

Oh and speaking of that scrum near the end I had NO idea you could fit 11 players in the crease... I learnt something today

There is no double-minor for interference (unless you interfere twice). It's nothing, 2, or 5. I do believe the game is discretionary.

[Broken 16 381]

I didn't think it was a dirty hit. I didn't think there was an intent to injure. Aggressive? Yes. But it's the playoffs and they are the Ducks. What else would you expect. Hudler should know that he needs to keep his head on a swivel. Especially against the Ducks.

Having said that... there is a crackdown coming from the league concerning blows to the head. Players are responsible for their actions. No different than an accidental high stick, a blow to the head, intentional or not, is considered a penalty. Rightfully so, in my opinion.

I do find it amusing that Duck fans come here and brag about the "goonery" of their team then act like a 5 minute penalty is the some sort of travesty. You reap what you sow Duck fans. Bend over and take it...

Edited May 2, 2009 by Broken 16

[CUJO#31 0]

Looks like blood to me

Yeah...NO elbow at all, well just ignore ALL THAT BLOOD ON THE ELBOW...

Seriously, what are they putting in the Duck Kool-Aid these days?? You want to talk HOMER, there it is. lol

[Broken 16 381]

Looks like blood to me

Then you are color blind...

Even if that did look like blood, Hudler's head would have had to literally explode for there to be that much blood on his elbow. You're reaching. It was dripping from under his helmet, it didn't spray everyone in the vicinity.

Edited May 2, 2009 by Broken 16

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

To all the people shouting "keep your head up!" or the alternative "don't admire your pass!" you have to look at the puck to see where it's going so you know where to go. What Hudler did wasn't so much a pass as an off the boards dump in to a chasing Filppula. Hudler has to look at the puck to make sure it gets in or if he has to retreat to play defense. If he turns away from the play, the puck doesn't get in and is heading back to our end, he's screwed defensively. He got blindsided. Not only that he got blindsided late. Not only that he got blindsided late and to the head. There is nothing remotely clean about that hit. Nor should there be. It was one of those plays by Brown where he really should have the thought "this could end a career" running through his head.

. T. Lowe needs to respond to this. Of course he won't.

[Taosuntzu 0]

Looks like blood to me

Then you are color blind...

Even if that did look like blood, Hudler's head would have had to literally explode for there to be that much blood on his elbow. You're reaching. It was dripping from under his helmet, it didn't spray everyone in the vicinity.

That red liquid spilled on the ELBOW of Brown's jersey sure wasn't there before the hit.

[b.shanafan14 733]

Look at the Brashear hit and the Brown hit on Hudler side by side, there is very little difference. It was a hit that shouldn't have been taken. All of the acceleration of Brown's body isn't going for a "good body check" its going up and through Hudler's head, which is at a convenient height considering his size. Loved the Orr quote, because its true, this stuff, these head shots didn't happen in the old days, this is a recent trend.

I say at least a 1 game suspension. The s***ty thing about the way they enforce these shots to the head, which this definitely was, is that if Hudler was concussed and missed the rest of the playoffs, Brown would be suspended indefinitely, but since Hudler got stitched up and got back out there, some are saying the remainder of Game 1 he had to sit out was punishment enough.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Was there intent to injure on the hit on Hudler? Highly unlikely I think.

Could Hudler have gotten his head up quicker? Possibly.

Could Brown have not hit to the head? Probably so.

I don't blame him for playing physical hockey whatsoever, generally speaking, but you can't hit high.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Look at the Brashear hit and the Brown hit on Hudler side by side, there is very little difference. It was a hit that shouldn't have been taken. All of the acceleration of Brown's body isn't going for a "good body check" its going up and through Hudler's head, which is at a convenient height considering his size. Loved the Orr quote, because its true, this stuff, these head shots didn't happen in the old days, this is a recent trend.

I say at least a 1 game suspension. The s***ty thing about the way they enforce these shots to the head, which this definitely was, is that if Hudler was concussed and missed the rest of the playoffs, Brown would be suspended indefinitely, but since Hudler got stitched up and got back out there, some are saying the remainder of Game 1 he had to sit out was punishment enough.

Good point. Brashear's hit was much left to be desired in terms of being "clean" as well. I have no problem with physical play in the general sense, but you cannot hit high like what Brown and Brashear did. I'm assuming Brown is not a repeat offender, so at worst I would guess he'd be out a game at most (if any obviously).

[VM1138 1,921]

I don't have a problem that Hudler got hit, maybe Brown didn't react in time or just wanted to follow through. But he didn't need to use his stick or elbow. A hip check or something would've been much more acceptable. The Ducks ALWAYS resort to high hits. Scum.