The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs have lived up to expectations early on, highlighted by fast-paced, hard-hitting, end-to-end action and down-to-the-wire results. TSJ can’t get enough of this stuff.
Yet overshadowing all the excitement was yet another gruesome headshot, this time delivered by Ottawa’s Andy Sutton, who laid out Pittsburgh’s Jordan Leopold during the first period of Game 2 of the Senators/Penguins opening round series Friday night.
Amazingly, despite Leopold getting brutally concussed on the play, there was no penalty called. In TSJ’s opinion, the video speaks for itself. It’s evident that Sutton – who’s coming in like a freight train – delivers a little extra shot with his elbow, turning out the lights on Leopold before his head even hit the ice.
After all the discussion and recent rule changes over headshots, I’m absolutely shocked that the referees elected not to give Sutton anything – not 2 minutes for charging, nor for elbowing, or even a possible match penalty and game misconduct for intent to injure. Watch the replays – that wasn’t a textbook ‘clean’ hit by any means. And it can’t wholly be Leopold’s fault or responsibility because he had his head down while crossing centre ice.
You don’t need to be an “expert”, as Sutton sarcastically fired back at a reporter in his postgame rant, to realize that the Sens defenceman was attempting to inflict serious damage with the hit, which indeed included an elbow to the head.
The word is there will be no further discipline or suspension by the league on Sutton. So what gives? Is the NHL really serious about eliminating headshots or not? Based on their deeming Sutton’s play a ‘clean hit’, it sure doesn’t appear that way. And there’s no doubt the Penguins will now look to take matters into their own hands moving forward after the league dropped the ball – again.
With payback on their minds, look for Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke to rear his ugly head again and deliver a cheap shot to either Jason Spezza or Daniel Alfredsson. Why? Because after the referees and NHL failed to come to the defense of their fallen teammate, in the Penguins’ eyes, justice must still be served.
TODAY’S POLL:
TSJ wants to know – In your opinion, after seeing all the replays, how did you judge the hit by Sutton on Leopold?
its hockey!…why suspend him?
You have to send a message that targeting the head with blind side hits is going to cost you. He came in on an angle on purpose so we would not be in Leopold’s sites and as TSJ pointed out delivered the extra elbow which is probably what yielded the concussion. Even if he freight trained him with the shoulder maybe he breaks a bone or gets the wind knocked out but he doesn’t have a career threatening concussion to deal with. This looked a lot like Stevens on Lindros but more deliberate and the elbow speaks for itself. When I was in Atom hockey they taught us to hit with our shoulders so I don’t know where he picked this crap up.
The slo mo’s at the end of the video tell the entire story. He even left the ice which I thought was a penalty on it’s own. There is sending a message and there is intent to injure.
He had the elbow cocked in advance (clear on the slo mo) and then releases on his head which goes through it with the impact causing the gate to slam open… what more do you need Campbell?
Nice attitude Sutton. Not “you never like to see anyone get hurt” or any apology at all. What a loser.