Joe Thornton Suspended Two Games

[Thrillhouse]

TORONTO – San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton has been suspended for two games and will forfeit $77,419.36 in salary as a result of delivering an illegal check to the head of St. Louis Blues forward David Perron in NHL game #176, last night, the National Hockey League announced today.

The incident occurred at 5:26 of the second period and Thornton was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct under Rule 48 for Illegal Check to the Head.

Thornton will miss games against Tampa Bay (Nov. 6) and Anaheim (Nov. 9). He is eligible to return Nov. 11 against the New York Islanders.

Thornton's fine is based on his average annual salary and is calculated under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

[Thrillhouse]

I think overall the rule is pretty bleh but I've been fine with the suspensions they've handed out so far. I get it's hard for the refs to get it right, the game is so fast, but when you have instant replay and decide that's a suspendable hit, I don't even know what to say.

[bigjohnson]

about what I expected

[Viper207]

How about we just make everyone the same damn size so no one gets hit in the head? He didn't intentionally try to decapitate Perron, he just went to put a shoulder into him. People get hit, and sometimes they're out of position, that's just hockey.

[swimmer]

No Hitting League

[lakingsfan19]

Anyone have a video of the hit?

[Thrillhouse]

Vote: Logan Couture vs Alex Pietrangelo Nov 4, 2010

YouTube - Joe Thornton hits David Perron;...

[bustoff]

Thornton was still pissed off about his penalty against Oshie and Perron was in his tracks. For anyone that says Perron embellished the hit, your out of your mind. Anybody would be stunned after a hit like that. Watch the replay and you'll see his head snapped back pretty hard. I don't like to see the suspension, but to put the blame on Perron is bullsh!t. To me it just makes the remaining Blues-Sharks game that much more enjoyable.

[jarrelle10]

Originally Posted by bustoff

Thornton was still pissed off about his penalty against Oshie and Perron was in his tracks. For anyone that says Perron embellished the hit, your out of your mind. Anybody would be stunned after a hit like that. Watch the replay and you'll see his head snapped back pretty hard. I don't like to see the suspension, but to put the blame on Perron is bullsh!t. To me it just makes the remaining Blues-Sharks game that much more enjoyable.

The blame is on Perron. I have watched the clip a few times before commenting on this. He is clearly looking back for the pass and at the last second, he picks his head up and Thorton hits him. I think these suspensions are a bunch of crap.

Hold the player that gets hit accountable. Why are these young players taught to play heads up hockey anymore? The first thing they taught me in peewees 20 years ago was "Keep your head up or you will get hammered".

If I played these days, I would skate up the ice with my head down the whole game knowing that 1) no one could hit me because it would be head contact and 2) if they did, my team would get a PP out of it.

[dumby]

Good to see Joe playing with passion again. Hard to penalize a guy for beeing taller.

[CubsJunkie]

It's such a vague rule. Technically, Thornton hit him in the head, but since Joe is half a foot taller than Perron, his shoulder hits him in the head. Plus Perron had his head down. I don't care for this suspension.

[DARCY T]

this rule makes me cry

[bobberino]

Originally Posted by DARCY T

this rule makes me cry

Exactly, NHL and NFL are killing me with this sh!t...

[T800m101]

I can see the NHL banning open ice hits in the future. Am I the only one who sees this?

[gdameo]

it was a suicide pass to perron

that's stupid rule honestly...thornton is NOT known as a dirty player, he's big player....it's not his fault because perron is small and his head is up where thornton's shoulder is. What the hell is Joe supposed to do? Let perron skate pass away him and try to score? wtf?