Steve Downie and Chris Kunitz Suspended

[Mike Tython]

TORONTO – Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steve Downie and Pittsburgh Penguins forward Chris Kunitz have each been suspended for one game for separate incidents in Game Three of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal last night, the National Hockey League announced today.

Downie delivered a hit to the head of Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy at 5:39 of the first period. A delayed penalty was being called on the play but was nullified when the Penguins scored at 5:46.

"Downie left his feet and launched himself at the head of his opponent and he came from a considerable distance, with speed and force, to deliver the check," said NHL Senior Executive Vice President Colin Campbell.

Kunitz was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing at 10:49 of the first period.

“Kunitz delivered an elbow directly to the head of his opponent," said Campbell.

Both suspensions will be served tomorrow night (April 20) when the Penguins meet the Lightning in Tampa Bay for Game Four of the series.

[pesadillamal]

Horrible. Downie left his feet but there seems to be a pretty clear consensus that he didn't make contact with the head. Kunitz threw a blatant elbow. How do they get the same?

[RetardedChimp]

Wow. Another inconsistant ruling.

[Mike Tython]

Originally Posted by pesadillamal

Horrible. Downie left his feet but there seems to be a pretty clear consensus that he didn't make contact with the head. Kunitz threw a blatant elbow. How do they get the same?

Lovejoy even said post game that the contact was to the chest and not the head. It's just Campbell being Campbell.

[Killah_punk]

Does this really surprise anyone?

[Big Violence]

I agree with the suspensions. Both hits were dirty but don't deserve more than one game. You can say Downie's hit wasn't a direct hit to the head BUT it was a blatant attempt to injure IMO, and I'm sure that's what they looked at.

[Wadubbin]

I don't have a problem with Kunitz only getting one game.It's not like he's a repeat offender,and has a history of doing things like this.

Downie getting suspended is crap.It was a 2 minute charge.He left his feet,and didn't hit the head.It was a clean hit other than leaving his feet.But why would anyone be surprised at Campbell's rulings and justice system anyways?A pretty good series that has had some good hitting just lost two of the better hitters for a game.Let's just put Sesame Street costumes on them all,and have them recite their ABC's and 123's

[RetardedChimp]

Originally Posted by Big Violence

I agree with the suspensions. Both hits were dirty but don't deserve more than one game. You can say Downie's hit wasn't a direct hit to the head BUT it was a blatant attempt to injure IMO, and I'm sure that's what they looked at.

You really don't feel that someone going blatantly out of their way to throw a blind-side elbow directly to the head deserves the same as someone throwing a shoulder-to-chest hit who happens to leave his feet?

I think I know already, but I'll give you the benefit of hte doubt. Explain a little more please.

Legal 'attempts to injure' should not be punishable.

[ChiefJunior]

Originally Posted by RetardedChimp

You really don't feel that someone going blatantly out of their way to throw a blind-side elbow directly to the head deserves the same as someone throwing a shoulder-to-chest hit who happens to leave his feet?

I think I know already, but I'll give you the benefit of hte doubt. Explain a little more please.

Legal 'attempts to injure' should not be punishable.

What is a legal attempt to injure?

[nyislesfan45]

Kunitz takes his hand off his stick and delivers a blatant elbow....how the **** does that get the same as the other?

They should've said the rest of the first round. I've watched the league suspend Islanders for half their ****ing career for a non-suspendable hit then see ONE game for a blatant elbow.

I don't care if it's the playoffs, you suspend someone without bias, based on the play at hand. Downie gets one for the name on his jersey, Campbell is an idiot.

[RetardedChimp]

Originally Posted by ChiefJunior

What is a legal attempt to injure?

A hard check that doesn't break the rules. I put "attempt to injure" in quotes for a reason.

Yeah, if you want to argue semantics checks are just a way to 'seperate the player from the puck', but I think it's pretty naive to think that the players throwing the check don't want the opponents to feel it.

[NickDoh]

The league had honestly been on a decent streak. Sad to see this ruling, especially when it's VERY easy to look at both side to side in the same game. Bad decision.

[JeanLaRose]

absolutely retarded... no way on earth Downie should have been suspended... god the ****ing hockey media is whipped into such a frenzy over this bull**** that we're probably going to see every big hit (my favorite part of the postseason) result in a suspension at tihs point.

[Dick Cheney]

What a fukcing boneheaded play by Kunitz. I just don't see what is going through players' minds on a hit like that. The hit did not do anything except get him suspended. I have always liked Kunitz and never considered him dirty, but that was the definition of a blatant elbow. I'm surprised he didn't get more, honestly.

Downie is a repeat offender, so I can't say I'm surprised by his suspension either. It was definitely a charge, but I don't really think it was suspendable.

[Viper207]

Campbell must have had his head up his arse, as he clearly thinks it's April Fools Day.