Chara's hit on Pacioretty

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Was a scary thing to watch, but it wasnt suspension worthy. Definately a penalty, but it wasnt like he crosschecked him into the partition or anything it was a shove. Hopefully Paciorettys okay, I think a big thing in all of this is Chara and Paciorettys history. Dont forget after Pacioretty scored the OT winner the last time they played Boston in Montreal him and Chara got into a bit of a scuffle.

[Gordie Howe hat trick 110]

[under_par_00 45]

I really hope Pacioretty is OK though. On TSN they were saying that he was concise in the hospital and able to move his limbs.

Hopefully he is back for the playoffs.

[jollymania 162]

that wasn't worth a suspension, if the 100s of other stanchion hits that have occurred in the nhl weren't worth a suspension then why this one?

[Guest Shoreline]

This angle was already shown in the Bruins NESN feed and I think at least once in the Habs RDS feed too. I'm confused why I had to sign in to Youtube to view the RDS feed.. it's just a hockey hit with a guy lying on the ice. No blood, no guts, no gore, no killing, no boobs.. I don't get it.

Not much justification for the hit. It's a penalty, possibly a major for interference.. dunno what it was called on the ice I just know it was a major.

Chara was late but also he was following through on a hit, certainly a hit he wanted to take thanks to a game I did see where Pacioretty shoves Chara from behind for no reason whatsoever right after scoring a winning goal not long ago during this season. That's just unfortunately the intensity of a game. Somebody got injured, it was a penalty, but we don't have to hang every person that commits a stupid penalty. The major is enough. I don't think he should be suspended at all, even though the NHL will likely, out of political correctness, hit him for a game to a few.

This should also spark debate in the NHL of where panes of glass and stanchions are placed because honestly this is a dumb place for one.

Edited March 9, 2011 by Shoreline

[eva unit zero 271]

Those of you saying that Chara knew he was hitting him into the stantion are crazy. At the pace this game is played, Chara was simply trying to not allow Pacioretty to get by him and grab the puck. This was not a dirty hit. Interference maybe, but Chara certainly did not plan for this to happen.

I remember my days playing hockey, I hit someone the exact same way. It was not on purpose, I had no idea the stantion was there, but it was one of the biggest hits of my hockey career

*The kid I hit was not injured

You are stupid. I don't call posters names like this often, but you earned it. Chara and Pacioretty both raced both the puck and took swats with their sticks. Pacioretty knocked it up-ice, with Chara trying to knock it back into the zone. Pacioretty then raced past Chara along the boards, and Chara moved up next to him and slammed him into the boards, and with Pacioretty skating at full speed, put him into the boards and also the stanchion.

Definitely suspension-worthy. It was obvious Pacioretty did not have the puck and Chara would not be able to gain the puck by hitting Pacioretty. It was a dangerous hit and could even qualify under the head-shot rule because Chara pushed him in such a way so that Pacioretty's head would be the direct point of contact with the stanchion.

[WorkingOvertime 536]

He was against the boards, he could have just rubbed him off, but as soon as the stantion came up he literally shoved him into it. Chara is not a dirty player, but clean players have been known to have mental lapses.

But this thread is going to go the same way as all dirty hit threads go, pro enforcers don't see anything wrong, anti-enforcer see's the world falling down and then the general masses see it as dirty (the poll on HFboards is 60% to 40% calling for a suspension).

I don't think this one is so black and white (enforcer v. anti-enforcer). The play was certainly dirty, but it is largely a question of intent. I think McKenzie has it correct in saying, "The hit was late. It was interference. It caused injury and while the design configuration of the boards and glass played a pivotal role in the severity of the injury, the responsibility is still with the hitter. So two games is my call. No one will like it. Works for me.". Full link here- http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=357203

[edicius 3,269]

Watching that video over and over again...this is a tough one. And I'll admit that my judgment is skewed from not having seen the hit initially, but instead hearing about it on NHL Home Ice this morning (they both said that it was an unfortunate hit and they don't think Chara should be suspended; also that an identical hit happened in the BUF/PIT game, but with less dramatic results - any truth to that last bit?).

Might it have been an accident? Sure. And we've seen that apparently, accidents aren't suspendable anymore (at least when you're attempting to punch Ott). But watching it again and again, Chara certainly seemed to be aware of where he was on the ice and he definitely gave Pacioretty a good shove right as they were passing the stanchion. Seeing as how suspensions are often doled out depending on results and not necessarily the actions themselves, I'm sensing a suspension upcoming. However, because it's Chara, I'd be shocked if it was any more than a game or two.

[edicius 3,269]

@TSNBobMcKenzie

As per @DarrenDreger, NHL disciplinary hearing with Zdeno Chara via conference call at 12 noon today. Mike Murphy presiding.

[matt198913 932]

I think it's a 2 gamer at most. Speed of the game is so fast out there but you have to be aware of the surroundings.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

Sickening. Figured this game would have something in it that would cause some sort of discussion today. Didn't expect it to be this and from a player I actually really liked before this. Stupid, pointless hit at a time in the game where they are getting bent over and smacked. Real nice Z and he will get some games for this, no question. This is a chance for Campbell to do something about a hit from a star instead of one of the goons in the league. Now, we wait.

[WizardOfOz30 1,886]

Those of you saying that Chara knew he was hitting him into the stantion are crazy. At the pace this game is played, Chara was simply trying to not allow Pacioretty to get by him and grab the puck. This was not a dirty hit. Interference maybe, but Chara certainly did not plan for this to happen.

I remember my days playing hockey, I hit someone the exact same way. It was not on purpose, I had no idea the stantion was there, but it was one of the biggest hits of my hockey career

*The kid I hit was not injured

I think my way of thinking about this hit is that Chara knew that he was hitting Pacioretty into the boards at the bench, he should have stopped there because you know that your going to hit the glass eventually. But he stayed on him until he reached that point and it did look like he shoved him again there. Hopefully there is no lasting damage to him.

[Blaayze 25]

Chara certainly seemed to be aware of where he was on the ice and he definitely gave Pacioretty a good shove right as they were passing the stanchion.

This is exactly my point. When you have played hockey for that long(professionally no less), you have to be able to know where you are on the rink at all times. Especially being a defense-man, you literally need to know the ice frontwards and backwards. It was a dirty hit at best. Ugh, one of those times when you wish you could go back to standard definition.

[stevkrause 1,247]

It was a pretty brutal impact and hopefully Pacioretty makes a speedy recovery!

It's tough, because had that been anywhere else on the ice, he probably wouldn't have even been hurt, as he would have rolled off and into the glass... I don't think this is suspension worthy AT ALL and just a VERY unfortunate event, basically wrong time, wrong place...

I think what needs to be looked into more, is the "padding" on the ends of the glass... the protection level is downright laughable and they're basically like the "padding" they used to use in gym glass, where someone would fall 2 feet off the rope and damn near break their tailbone... with all the impact absorbent foams and technology we have, you would think they would have a better solution in PROFESSIONAL sports arenas by now...

[mjlegend 155]

Yep. I don't see how Chara could explain this away. It's not like he couldn't see the stantion the entire time. He obviously knows what's at the end of the bench (hockey rinks aren't exactly a mystery).

But hey-- Colin Campbell's clearly established that heavy suspension are only for scrubs. I'd be surprised if Chara gets more than 1 game.

Only one suspension in his career so far, and also one automatic instigator penalty taken away in last year's playoffs.

Chara gets off with a warning, Pacioretty will be lucky to get out of this without a serious neck injury.

This is why in games the league knows will be intense, hard-hitting and borderline dirty, they should put a "Pierre McGuire buffer zone" between the benches, so if this hit happens again, McGuire the only one hurt.

[Opie 308]

Some of the B's reporters on local shows were saying that if this happens on the other side of the rink it is 2 for interference. I don't see the intent to injure here. I see an interference, Chara was beat, tries to body Pacs into the boards and the stanchion is there.

I don't see a suspension coming, would it surprise me if he got 1-2 games, no because I understand the heat of a rivalry/bad hit argument.

I just personally think it was bad luck and bad timing.

[WizardOfOz30 1,886]

It was a pretty brutal impact and hopefully Pacioretty makes a speedy recovery!

It's tough, because had that been anywhere else on the ice, he probably wouldn't have even been hurt, as he would have rolled off and into the glass... I don't think this is suspension worthy AT ALL and just a VERY unfortunate event, basically wrong time, wrong place...

I think what needs to be looked into more, is the "padding" on the ends of the glass... the protection level is downright laughable and they're basically like the "padding" they used to use in gym glass, where someone would fall 2 feet off the rope and damn near break their tailbone... with all the impact absorbent foams and technology we have, you would think they would have a better solution in PROFESSIONAL sports arenas by now...

But it wasn't anywhere else on the ice. Chara knew where he was when he made that hit and should have done a better job controlling it. I have never played hockey, but I think that a professional player should know how to deliver a safe hit so that he can accomplish what he wants without risking real injury to the other player. I guess for me it's all about that last shove before Pacioretty goes down.

[Guest stinky fish taco]

bad luck for pacioretty. no suspension needed.

[e_prime 1,936]

Still not seeing the intent.

Oh right, it's not visible.

[stevkrause 1,247]

But it wasn't anywhere else on the ice. Chara knew where he was when he made that hit and should have done a better job controlling it. I have never played hockey, but I think that a professional player should know how to deliver a safe hit so that he can accomplish what he wants without risking real injury to the other player. I guess for me it's all about that last shove before Pacioretty goes down.

With how fast the game moves (for the record, for how fast it seems to move on TV, multiply that by 1000 and MAYBE that's about as fast as it actually happens on the ice), there is NO WAY it even processed in his head where they were in relation to the stanchion... all it was, was a rub out, with an unfortunate result and the over-reaction to an injury is off-base...

Still not seeing the intent.

Oh right, it's not visible.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

Edited March 9, 2011 by stevkrause

[HankthaTank 1,100]

Simply put, if this is someone else say, like a Cooke. We are calling for his head, especially with the result after.

Just sayin'

In a dark/damp cave just outside of Philadelphia - Chris Pronger is watching the replay over, and over while thinking to himself "gee - maybe I should try that?"

Literally LOL'd

[Hockeytown_Ryan 119]

Decided to pop over to the Bruins board. Some members actually praising the hit and getting angry that there was even a penalty.

Still sour because their team can't close out a playoff series???? shameful

I don't think Chara meant to do that; it's just an unlucky situation. No suspension should be given.

INTENT....is not a factor in actions.... he did it, it happened and now he must take any further suspension that comes with it ( if one is handed out)

Those of you saying that Chara knew he was hitting him into the stantion are crazy. At the pace this game is played, Chara was simply trying to not allow Pacioretty to get by him and grab the puck. This was not a dirty hit. Interference maybe, but Chara certainly did not plan for this to happen.

I remember my days playing hockey, I hit someone the exact same way. It was not on purpose, I had no idea the stantion was there, but it was one of the biggest hits of my hockey career

*The kid I hit was not injured

Again..planning or INTENT to hurt someone or not... Sit his ass down for a few games.... he deserves it.

as you said .. Interference.....that is a penalty...he knew he was interfering .... He is a D-man he knows the criteria

[Chris Avram 18]

I can't believe people are acctually saying this was not dirty! I mean come on! If this was Datsyuk we wouldn't be debating if it was right or wrong! Chara IS a dirty player and he should miss rest of season plus playoffs. This league is ridiculous... one day someone will die on the ice and its not going to be Colin Campbell or other ******* who are going to justify, but the police will. This was clearly intentional! This is not hockey! Players have no respect for each other.

CANCEL

[stevkrause 1,247]

Simply put, if this is someone else say, like a Cooke. We are calling for his head, especially with the result after.

Just sayin'

Literally LOL'd

I know you're just playing Devil's Advocate, but if it were Cooke, his reputation would imply intent, whereas Chara, although physical, has never been a dirty player and lets up a LOT on hits where he could probably quite literally kill someone... apples to oranges...

I also audibly laughed at that reply

[Hockeytown_Ryan 119]

Still not seeing the intent.

Oh right, it's not visible.

Does there need to be intent to injure someone?

"I Didnt Mean It" defense only works for 8 yr old who put gum in their sisters hair...... Man up and take responsibility for your ACTIONS!

EDIT* Ill Debate the " I didnt mean it " defense on Demers too. he had plenty of time to NOT throw that punch!

Edited March 9, 2011 by Hockeytown_Ryan