December 31st, Torres was suspended for two games for charging Minnesota's Nate Prosser. Two days before that he was fined $2,500 for elbowing Colorado's Jan Hejda.
So not only is he a repeat offender, but he's already been talked to twice this year.
The hit on Hossa was charging (he left his feet), interference (late hit, well after Hossa lost the puck), targeted the head, and caused significant injury.
Torres is just a dirty player on a team I happen to enjoy watching. Always hated the guy. Needs to be out for at least the next round, if they make it that far. It's akin to Cooke, for me.
Honestly, the NHL needs to set a precedent. It seems like every game there's a play that needs to be reviewed.
If they really want to make a difference and make players realize they're serious about this, they need to throw down some massive bans. These little one and two game suspensions don't mean a thing to a third/fourth line player like Torres.
So APPARENTLY the NHL's head office in Toronto called the United Center during the intermission and talked to the referees about what happened on the hit. They said they didn't see the hit, but just saw Hossa hit the ice, hence why there was no call.
So um, this might end up being pretty big. I've never heard of the NHL calling the arena during the game to talk to the referees.
So APPARENTLY the NHL's head office in Toronto called the United Center during the intermission and talked to the referees about what happened on the hit. They said they didn't see the hit, but just saw Hossa hit the ice, hence why there was no call.
So um, this might end up being pretty big. I've never heard of the NHL calling the arena during the game to talk to the referees.
They just started it this year for just the playoff/finals
Apparently Torres just knocked Hossa out of the game. Stretcher on the ice for Hoss, Torres left his feet, targeted the head, and hit him late...and Torres doesn't get a penalty.
I'm one of the biggest hockey fans you'll meet, but this league is turning into a joke.
In fairness, Neal didn't really accomplish the devastating/injurious hits he appeared to be aiming for (also he is a 40-goal scorer and guys who score goals get fewer game suspensions). Besides, a one game ban is pretty much a "rest of the season" thing anyway for the Penguins. So the count stands: Asham-4 Adams-1 Neal-1
I don't think those are unreasonable. Well, not moreso than anything else Shanahan has done.
Backstrom was also suspended for one game for his cross check to Peverley's face.
Weird thing about the Torres hit is it actually makes me like Cooke a little more, because clearly, it actually IS hard to stop targeting guys heads with your elbow, jumping into hits, or blindsiding guys.
The linesman clearly saw the Torres hit, but I guess he didn't feel it was worth a major penalty. which is the only circumstance other than too many men or a high sticking double-minor where the linesman is even allowed to say anything to the ref.
It's hard to penalize intent in a lot of cases, because sometimes intent isn't as obvious as Weber/Neal/Torres. I don't completely hold it against the NHL for ignoring intent, but there's a place for it sometimes.
I couldn't even imagine the shittiest of local tabloids in Pittsburgh photoshopping rival players into stuff like that. At least the journalism in my city has a little integrity, if no one else does.
I hope the Penguins come back and win this series. I also hope the Rangers lose 3 straight games where they had a 5 goal lead. Hell, after last night's game I hope no body ever wins, anything, ever!
