Matt Martin hit on Keith Ballard.. DIRTY

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

Martin needs to be suspended, a lot of games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSrSPwT84F4

[cnot19 191]

I am gonna go ahead and drastically disagree with you about suspending him "a lot of games"

I only saw it once quickly but I think it's clean. Ballard ducked and spun away from martin I didn't see anything suspension worthy

Edited December 10, 2014 by cnot19

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

It looked dirty as a mere result of Ballard's own actions and the result of the hit. If he had taken the hit (already passed up the puck) instead of spinning away and ducking down (why? Just why?) He would have been hit clean. In my opinion Ballard did it to himself. I hope he is ok though.

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

He shouldn't be suspended any games. That was just a bad break. Otherwise, the entire Wild team would be a lot more upset. They were right there when the hit happened in front of their bench. I don't see them getting that riled up.

[MabusIncarnate 5,344]

It really looked like Martin was going in to finish his check, and last second for whatever the reason Ballard spun around and decided to put his face in the direction of the boards instead of letting Martin hit him on the side. It looked like he lined him up for a clean hit, elbows were down, leading with the shoulder, and Ballard's reaction movement caused it to be a dangerous hit. If he would have just taken it where he stood, it would have been just a check.

In my opinion, Martin shouldn't get a suspension. I don't think it was dirty with vicious intent, I think the reaction to the incoming check was the worst part of the scenario.

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

He shouldn't be suspended any games. That was just a bad break. Otherwise, the entire Wild team would be a lot more upset. They were right there when the hit happened in front of their bench. I don't see them getting that riled up.

Actually you don't see in the video but a couple went after him right after the hit. Also his next shift they went after him and got into a fight...

[55fan 5,133]

It looked dirty at first, but when you see the replays, you have to wonder how much Ballard put himself in that position.

Koivu was pretty upset that there was no penalty, but Brodziak administered justice the next time Martin was on the ice. (I use the term "administered justice" loosely- it was a pretty even fight, with Martin getting the better of it, but it's the thought that counts.)

The Wild were down 3-0 when this happened, and scored soon after on a PP, which started their comeback.

Nino (former Islander) scored the GWG and the Wild won 5-4. Ballard was taken to a hospital, but seems fine. So, assuming that Ballard is actually ok, it seems that all's well that ends well.

[gcom007 1,465]

It looked dirty as a mere result of Ballard's own actions and the result of the hit. If he had taken the hit (already passed up the puck) instead of spinning away and ducking down (why? Just why?) He would have been hit clean. In my opinion Ballard did it to himself. I hope he is ok though.

That sure is what it looked like to me as well. It looked a lot like an unlucky break that resulted from Ballard awkwardly trying to scramble away. Hopefully he's alright, but it's hard to look at that as an incredibly vicious hit.

[hillbillywingsfan 792]

If only it were Suter or Parise it would of been much better...... ....But in all honesty ......Ballard put himself in that position period. There shouldn't be no games missed or fines.

[dragonballgtz 273]

The only thing that you might fault Martin on is when Ballard shifts, so does Martin. Based on the angle of the video @ 2:46 it looks like when Ballard turned Martin was going to miss most of the hit, but then Martin shifts as well to make sure he hits him.

[Guest DeGraa55]

I agree with most. Wast really dirty.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Scary result.

[Guest DeGraa55]

Scary result.

Ya no doubt. I hope he is ok. Seeing him just lay there twitching on the ice..just wow.

Anyone have an uodate at all?

[WhiteLightning91 105]

Disagree OP. Not suspension worthy. Simple circumstance of a bodycheck gone wrong. No fault involved. Ballard went awkwardly into the boards and then hit his head on the ice due to turning at the last second. If Martin had malicious intent when hitting Ballard, he would have delivered the hit in a more chaotic, out of control manner.

Edited December 10, 2014 by WhiteLightning91

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Its unfortunate he got so hurt.

But he spun away to avoid the hit, and got his body low which put his head right at martins elbow level, which was down and his head went into the dasher.

I don't think hell get suspended.

[cnot19 191]

I would not be happy if he were to be suspended

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Ballard should have taken the hit he knew Martin was going to finish the hit, he made it way worse by trying to avoid it. Glad he is okay that looked damn scary.

Martin shouldn't get any games for this, it was a clean hit.

[kipwinger 8,492]

Why did Jakub Kindl...err...I mean Keith Ballard bail on that hit? Take it like a man you Thai Ladyboy.

Edited December 10, 2014 by kipwinger

[WorkingOvertime 536]

Scary result, but not suspension worthy IMO.

[Hack & Whack Rule! 160]

Ballard tried to roll and duck away from Martin. If there is any suspension, it's based on the result, not the action. How many times have people seen a penalty or a suspension that came about not because of the action, but the end result? Everyone hates it. Ballard should have taken the hit, but avoidance is an understandable reflex. As for the fact that a couple guys went after Martin, so that means it was dirty, is quite the stretch of the imagination. It happens all the time with clean hits these days.

[Rivalred 630]

He rolled and ducked into the elbow... Last second course correction that ended up in failure

Edited December 10, 2014 by Rivalred

[13dangledangle 957]

It was certainly hard to watch but I agree with the majority here that Ballard unfortunately put himself in that scary scenario.

[WingsallTheway 383]

I agree with most posters. Although Martin isnt exactly the cleanest player in the league, I give him the benefit of the doubt here. This is an unfortunate result of avoiding a hit which Martin read he was going to do. Ballard shouldn't have dipped low like that, placing his head/neck towards the boards.

We saw the same thing with Dekeyser last season when he broke his wrist, its a textbook thing avoiding hits and if you don't do it right this can happen.

[vladdy16 2,154]

Nothing new to add, but yeah, Ballard's duck and run is what got him hurt. Martin didn't change direction or body position at all.

[dragonballgtz 273]

Nothing new to add, but yeah, Ballard's duck and run is what got him hurt. Martin didn't change direction or body position at all.

I disagree with the last statement, You can see Martin adjust to make sure he hits Ballard, but it's not his fault that Ballard turned in a way that made a shoulder to shoulder hit, into a forearm/shoulder to head hit.