Penguins' Craig Adams Suspended One Game, Dan Bylsma Fined

[Thrillhouse]

NEW YORK -- Pittsburgh Penguins forward Craig Adams has been suspended for one game and Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma has been fined $10,000 for Adams' actions in the final five minutes of Sunday's Eastern Conference Quarterfinal playoff game against the Flyers in Philadelphia, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.

Adams instigated a fight at 15:18 of the third period. He was assessed a minor penalty for instigating, a major penalty for fighting and a game misconduct.

Both Adams' suspension and Bylsma's fine are automatic for violation of NHL Rule 46.12 – Instigator in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time (or Anytime in Overtime), and as outlined by NHL Rule 46.22.

The fine money goes to the NHL Foundation.

[Humpzilla]

So what Adams did is worse than what Weber did? Uh, right Shanny...

[cookie monster]

Originally Posted by Humpzilla

So what Adams did is worse than what Weber did? Uh, right Shanny...

It did say they are automatic suspensions and fines so I dont think Shannahan had much of a choice here.

[chilly666]

its automatic...its not a matter of it being worse or not in this case

[DevsFan30]

He never should have been given an instigator in the first place.

[Wadubbin]

Originally Posted by DevsFan30

He never should have been given an instigator in the first place.

Your setting yourself up to be ridiculed by all the Flyer fans for this kind of remark....It was automatic.Nothing that could be done...

[HardHitt3n]

Originally Posted by Wadubbin

Your setting yourself up to be ridiculed by all the Flyer fans for this kind of remark....It was automatic.Nothing that could be done...

+1 lol

[thekidd21]

Originally Posted by DevsFan30

He never should have been given an instigator in the first place.

how so? explain what u saw....

[Wadubbin]

Originally Posted by DevsFan30

He never should have been given an instigator in the first place.

Originally Posted by thekidd21

how so? explain what u saw....

And so it begins

[Isles4life]

This was the easy ruling for Shanahan. It's an automatic 1-game suspension unless they choose to rescind it, you can't compare it to the non-suspension of Weber. And given the negative press this game got, there's no way this one was going to be rescinded by the league.

I'm much more interested in what happens to Asham and possibly Neal as well.

[gthompson75]

It is only an automatic suspension based on your name and roll with the club, If your a goon its automatic if your deemed not be a scrapper the rule does not apply. Example when Shane Doan jumped some guy for a dirty hit a few years ago the league came out and said this rule did not apply because Doan was not put out solely to fight. I doubt Adams was out to solely fight as he really sucks at it anyways and is more a checking center then anything. So if it had been Crosby there would have been no suspension. Sad that your name and pay grade dictates how the league handles you from their front office. M-I-C-K-E-Y................

[Killah_punk]

What a loss for the Pens, there goes there chance to get back into the series.

[Humpzilla]

Originally Posted by Killah_punk

What a loss for the Pens, there goes there chance to get back into the series.

Correction: There's goes our chance to see someone get TKO'd.

[OilersHockey]

Originally Posted by DevsFan30

He never should have been given an instigator in the first place.

Um, two facts to preface my next thought: #1 I am in no way a Philly fan #2 I HATE the instigator rule

However, I digress...

Adams had his gloves off and threw FOUR punches to Hartnell while he covered up and turned his back to Adams. Adams was IN NO WAY involved in the initial altercation with Crosby. He came over and began throwing without any provocation from SH whatsoever.

Hartnell then bolted to get away, get his gloves off and potentially square off.

How in God's holy and precious name is that not the DEFINITION of an instigator penalty?

[Merlin401]

Originally Posted by gthompson75

It is only an automatic suspension based on your name and roll with the club, If your a goon its automatic if your deemed not be a scrapper the rule does not apply. Example when Shane Doan jumped some guy for a dirty hit a few years ago the league came out and said this rule did not apply because Doan was not put out solely to fight. I doubt Adams was out to solely fight as he really sucks at it anyways and is more a checking center then anything. So if it had been Crosby there would have been no suspension. Sad that your name and pay grade dictates how the league handles you from their front office. M-I-C-K-E-Y................

Exactly. Its "automatic" but can easily be rescinded if you've sucked enough dick or whatever it is you need to do to be in the league's good graces. Officially I believe they rescind if its a "bad call" or if it "was a natural instinctive reaction in the context of the game". To be fair, I mean this was kind of the most obviously premeditated instigator penalty because the play was already completely over and the teams were separated but suspending someone for an instigator penalty in the playoffs is pretty lame indeed.