Steve Downie and Chris Kunitz Suspended

[canuckfan]

Downie's history had a big part to play in his ruling, you can be sure of that. Seeing still pictures of his hit on Lovejoy, and seeing where his feet are at point of impact, and there are some flashbacks to the McAmmond hit. Good thing there was no contact to Lovejoys head or he would have got more than the 1 game.

Downie gets a game as a reminder the NHL is still watching him and to reign it in a little. Kunitz got 1 game for being stupid. No surprises here.

[Big_Fat_Dan]

I think Campbell comes on here before he makes his decesions, then thinks 'i know what will piss those HF.com users off, another pointless and unjust suspension'.

It's been said many times before, but the beautiful/tough game of ice hockey is in serious trouble.

[T800m101]

What an absolute disgrace, Kunitz should have gotten a 10-game ban for that Matt Cooke impersonation.

[grits207]

One step forward, two steps back for the NHL. Campbell actually got one right yesterday by not suspending Torres and sure enough he follows it up the next day with two BS suspensions.

Kunitz's hit was as blatant a head-shot as you will see, if the league is going to throw the book at anybody it should be him. Downie's hit on the other hand was just a great, clean hit.

It makes me sick to see the media get on their high horse every time there is a big hit. Now there is a growing sentiment from the bleeding heart types that players should be punished for hits that are deemed "too violent" regardless of whether or not the player actually broke any rules. At this point there are only a small handful of people in the media who still consistently defend real hockey (Nick Kypreos, Don Cherry, Kelly Chase etc.). Pretty ****ing frustrating.

[pens33]

Originally Posted by RetardedChimp

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.

The word "legal" should've been in quotes too. He definitely left his feet, and he was correctly called for a charge. I'm not saying he should've been suspended, but it definitely wasn't legal.

[Big_Fat_Dan]

I was talking about the Downie hit by the way.

Kunt Titz should of of got a few more games thou. That was a little naughty.

[BrianTheAdsFan]

If Kunitz is taken out for the entire series, there is a damn good chance Tampa takes the series as if there wasn't one before.

Can't have that with Crosby's comeback right around the corner.

Make it one game on the road instead as Pittsburgh has a 2-1 lead in the series.


The Downie suspension was complete **** as there wasn't anything illegal about it that already wasn't called in the game.

[FightingIsGood]

Well, I can't say I'm surprised at these rulings. Kunitz should thank Allah that he had an incompetent buffoon ruling on his suspension. He should have sat for the rest of the series. As for Downie, he has a record...from FOUR years ago! That shouldn't have even entered Campbell's mind. The only thing illegal about that hit was that he left his feet. There was no elbow and no hit to the head, so there should have been no suspension. But you see, that would require common sense, which Campbell doesn't have.

[yatyas]

I think they should just take hitting and fighting out all together. This sport is too violent for the American Left Wingest, the homeless and orphaned children, oh and the Media. I would rather watch golf, tennis and yard darts on TV anyway or maybe an intense ping pong match, so I can teach my children the values of anti-violence, not standing up for yourself, not working hard to earn something, not being a team player and of course not defending what you believe in, hey maybe even to cry when someone pushes you or you get a booboo.

I agree with Campbell, Bettman and the rest of the Anti-hockey world and media. Ban all contact in all sports, I mean in football these poor guys becomes vegetables once they retire from helmet to helmet contact. It's time the government steps in and decides what we all watch and what sports we play and how we live our lives. I know I for one am tired of making decisions and want that done for me by someone who has spent billions on committies who have done extensive research on the topics that affect me and my children. If the government and the internet say it's right then by golly I believe them.

Downie, Kunitz, Torres, Bertuzzi, Cooke, and many others should be banned from the NHL and sent to Lybia as punishment.

[Sukoshi84]

The NHL Does it's best to make sure the Pens will still win the series, as well as doing it's best to be inconsistent dildos who are out of touch with Reality and it's Fans. Downie should have gotten nothing, while Kunitz should have gotten more considering it's a BLATANT elbow to the HEAD!

Campbell you're an absurd and retarded CUNT!!!!

[DevsFan30]

What a joke.

Not one elbowing to the head suspension has been for fewer than two games this year. NOT ONE!

This was a very similar action to the Volchenkov elbow that got 3 games.

Tampa Bay really got hosed in this exchange. Kunitz's action was far worse than Downie's.

[duckpuck]

I have seen Detroit's Kronwall make many, many hits just like downies - leaving his feet. The hit on Havlat comes to mind but there are many others. Kronwall has never been suspended, but Downie is. Hmm.

[SyrCrunch11]

that hit on havlat was clean, he was airborn from contact...its all about the penguins getting the best chance obv so thats why kunitz gets a game

[grits207]

Originally Posted by GCBC00

Downie: Didn't think Downie would get any games due to Seabrook coming back to play and Steve only recieving a minor penalty. Although Seabrook is out tonight, he was able to take a shift or two more, until he got labled again by Downie.

I think you're confusing Steve Downie with Raffi Torres

[slavv]

Kunitz should've gotten much more. Compare it to the one that got Matt Cooke tossed for numerous games, and that wasn't nearly as bad as this one by Kunitz!

Campbell has no kind of organized system when handing out the suspensions. H e is all over the place. Very similar to Stern of th NBA, an absolute joke....