Darcy Tucker taken off ice on backboard

[Donaldjr2448 43]

Three hits in 5 days!! WOW!!

Anyway, my viewpoint is this is the type of disrespectful hit! It didn't look all that bad, the end result was bad!

Ruutu did not need to finish that check, Tucker was out of the play and he just passed the puck. His back was turned, however it is not easy for a player to stop on a dime when he is committed to the hit, it wasn't like the hit was some 5 seconds after Tucker released the puck!

I'll say penalty sure, suspension probably, just because of the hit from behind!

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

I'm not sure Tucker was conscious when his right arm was moving, as the doctor had to suppress it down to the ice. Nonetheless, even though Tucker himself is a rather dirty player, the 3 game suspension Ruutu received is not enough for a blatant late hit and stupid+dangerous hit to the head. Ref quickly had his arm up noting a penalty and I'm sure Ruutu was rightfully thrown out. There's just no excusing this.

How do we define how many games is enough? remember pronger's hit from behind on homer? way more vicious and pronger's an extreme repeat offender. he got one game, ruutu get's 3 games. i'm ok with the 3 game suspension. it didn't look like there was intent to injure, ruutu was just a little careless.

[esteef 2,679]

Why was he suspended? IT WAS PHYSICS!!!

esteef

[zettie85 106]

Surprised there's not a thread on this already.

As far as hits from behind go, this wasn't that bad, but he drops like a ton of bricks.

For someone who thinks Richards should be condemned, this a ridiculous statement. Not that bad. Regardless if he put him self in that valnurable position hitting from behind of any kind is gutless. Maybe making a slight exception for guys who hit a guy quickly turning at the very last moment before contact. Hits from behind can easily be prevented and no matter who it is or how severe it should be a suspension.

[RedArmy 4]

as much of an ass Tucker maybe on the ice, that was a dirty hit... I don't think 3 days is enough of a suspension for something like this, I would say a few more games here needed

Edited October 26, 2009 by RedArmy

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

For someone who thinks Richards should be condemned, this a ridiculous statement. Not that bad. Regardless if he put him self in that valnurable position hitting from behind of any kind is gutless. Maybe making a slight exception for guys who hit a guy quickly turning at the very last moment before contact. Hits from behind can easily be prevented and no matter who it is or how severe it should be a suspension.

I think you misunderstood me.

I wasn't referring to the cleanness or dirtiness of the hit with "not that bad." It was clearly a hit from behind, illegal, and dirty. Rutuu had a long look at his numbers and rode him into the boards anyways and deserves his suspension. I could see even tacking on a couple games because it was such an easily avoidable hit. There was no last second turns of the body or anything.

It was just shocking to me how Tucker dropped cold from that impact. I meant that as far as hits from behind go, that wasn't nearly as vicious as some I've seen, but it was still lights out for Tucker, which just goes to show how dangerous they are.