Phaneuf's hit on Kopitar last night

[dat's sick 1,002]

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He got a 5 min major and Game misconduct. Imo he should be suspended a while.

[55fan 5,133]

One thing that I HATE with a passion is how guys will pile on the offender whilst the victim is lying at their feet on the ice. Let the offender skate a little bit away from the injured party, and THEN nail his sorry rump.

As far as the hit, that elbow to the head looked suspension-worthy to me on my first view, but slowing it down, almost frame-by-frame, it looks more like it was an elbow to the helmet (which by that time was an empty helmet as it had left Kopitar's head).

It's hard to tell if it was his elbow that knocked the helmet off, or if it was the impact with the boards.

I know there are other factors to this hit, but for this moment, I'm fixated on the helmet.

I will admit bias since Kopitar is one of my fave non-Wings, and Phluffy-boy is one that I can't stand.

[PROBIE4PREZ 58]

Boarding is becoming a common occurance nowadays ... I like the idea of teammates scorning their own players on plays like this.. sounding off on them you know ? ... it might deter others in the future

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

The result was worse then the intent. He shouldnt have gone in at that angle and shoudlve gotten the 5 mins and game but I think anything more then 3 games is overkill. Kopitar's body hit the boards in an awkward way, and I dont think Phanuef meant to slam it with his elbow. Dangerous hit, but it turned out far worse then intended.

[dat's sick 1,002]

I think the key here is that Kopitar never touched the puck. And all Phaneuf had to do was touch the puck and it would have been icing. Instead he went straight after Kopitar. Whether it's an elbow or not doesn't really matter, it's a dangerous hit regardless.

[titanium2 867]

Wow, someone's angry he didn't make the olympic team.

[zombiewing 3]

Wow, someone's angry he didn't make the olympic team.

Burn!

[dat's sick 1,002]

Wow, someone's angry he didn't make the olympic team.

It was in his 2nd shift of the game too

Edited December 31, 2009 by dat's sick

[Guest mindfly]

That would've been icing in international hockey rules when the puck reached the end of the ice... dont let players injure themselves by having that touch-the-puck-first-and-there-is-no-icing rule there, it sucks.

[Tr!PoD#19 524]

One thing that I HATE with a passion is how guys will pile on the offender whilst the victim is lying at their feet on the ice. Let the offender skate a little bit away from the injured party, and THEN nail his sorry rump.

As far as the hit, that elbow to the head looked suspension-worthy to me on my first view, but slowing it down, almost frame-by-frame, it looks more like it was an elbow to the helmet (which by that time was an empty helmet as it had left Kopitar's head).

It's hard to tell if it was his elbow that knocked the helmet off, or if it was the impact with the boards.

I know there are other factors to this hit, but for this moment, I'm fixated on the helmet.

I will admit bias since Kopitar is one of my fave non-Wings, and Phluffy-boy is one that I can't stand.

That's alot easier said than done, trust me. I saw this happen so many times while playing hockey growing up, hell, I've even been the one to plow the guy over onto my injured teammate. Sometimes it's hard to control your emotions when you see a teammate get crushed like that.

You're right, though, it sucks when it happens.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Wow, someone's angry he didn't make the olympic team.

And he's only got four more years to think about it.

[Dominator2005 558]

Dirty hit - needs to be suspended for it.

This kind of hits are more dangerous than fights in NHL. Phaneuf is a PUNK!!!

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

But, he's not bitter.

[Rivalred 630]

That ******* really should of let up... If you watch the video carefully, it looks like Phaneuf's knee hits Kopitar's abdomen/chest pretty hard.

Edited December 31, 2009 by Rivalred

[jollymania 162]

Kopitar didn't touch the puck, that hit took 0 skill for phaneuf to make, he is very overrated as a hitter.

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

No touch icing. That is all.

[cjm502 165]

Phaneuf is a total piece of s***. Im hoping for a big suspension here.

[ltgator333 3]

No touch icing. That is all.

That hit was cleaner than some that get let go- that is to say the penalties and possible suspension are based off the result and not the act.

That said it goes back to the whole 'gentlemanly play' idea that Redmond's always going on about (Phaneuf could've laid up a little and made the play), which is disappearing from the game. So if you can't count on that, and you can't, no-touch icing is probably the way to go unfortunately (imo).

[Barrie 900]

The result was worse then the intent. He shouldnt have gone in at that angle and shoudlve gotten the 5 mins and game but I think anything more then 3 games is overkill. Kopitar's body hit the boards in an awkward way, and I dont think Phanuef meant to slam it with his elbow. Dangerous hit, but it turned out far worse then intended.

I agree, I don't think Phanuef was meaning to hit him that hard. From what I saw, I think Phanuef was only trying to hold on to Kopitar and they'd hit the boards together. Unfortunately Kopitar lost his footing making it look like a horrible hit. I do however, agree with the 5 + 10, and would be ok with a suspension.

The only way to avoid this is No Touch Icing, which I'm all for.

[stormboy 47]

That would've been icing in international hockey rules when the puck reached the end of the ice... dont let players injure themselves by having that touch-the-puck-first-and-there-is-no-icing rule there, it sucks.

No touch icing. That is all.

they had waved off icing several seconds before the hit took place, and both players heard the linesmen yelling it. no-touch icing would not have applied even if it were the rule. and kopitar and phanuef were not racing for the puck to negate or cause icing because there was going to be no icing in any case. thus, i don't think any calls for rule changes or bellyaching about the current rule apply here whatsoever.

that said, i think the call was appropriate and even perhaps a little harsh. i do not think there should be a suspension. the main thing here obviously is that kopitar never touched the puck. it seems to me that as the players were coming together kopitar lost his balance and was thus in a much more vulnerable position when he hit the boards. if he stays on his skates, it's a hard hit and certainly an interference call but no more.

i'm no fan of phanuef but this seems like a situation is, as someone else commented, worse in result than it was in intent. personally, i think that's an important distinction to make. a player shouldn't be suspended if a shot he takes breaks a defenseman's nose. that's an extreme example, but if that same hit happens 10 times maybe eight of them kopitar keeps his balance and walks away totally fine.

situations like this one, when both players are moving with a full head of steam, or going to create dangerous situations. but it's a full-contact game. i don't see any reason why this play in particular should suggest a rule change because of the fact that it wasn't even a touch-up situation, and i don't think phanuef should get suspended because kopitar lost his balance. major penalty? yes. game misconduct? i understand because kopitar got hurt. but no more.

Edited December 31, 2009 by stormboy

[Zetts 236]

I hate when people say that certain hits occur because of a lack of respect. But if there was ever an example of a complete lack of respect for another player, that was it.

[cjm502 165]

I hate when people say that certain hits occur because of a lack of respect. But if there was ever an example of a complete lack of respect for another player, that was it.

Its just because Phaneuf is a total ass-hat. A McCarty - Lemieux type beat down on this guy would make my day.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I hate when people say that certain hits occur because of a lack of respect. But if there was ever an example of a complete lack of respect for another player, that was it.

Agreed. That play only had one possible outcome. The only question is how bad the injury to Kopitar would be.

[RedWings Gone Wild 6]

Phaneuf is already one of my least favorite players.... and he really hasn't even done much to a Wing yet.... so it's pretty unbias hatred for the man.

[j.hoop 64]

Kopitar didn't touch the puck, that hit took 0 skill for phaneuf to make, he is very overrated as a hitter.

he's definitely overrated as a hitter. i hate phaneuf, and while he definitely deserves to be punished, sadly i think nothing will happen.

does ivanans still play for L.A.? why did he use his latvian taste for destruction on phaneuf?