Haley & Islanders Beat Down Pens

Micheal Haley fights Craig Adams. AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Haley & Islanders Beat Down Pens

Feb 12, 2011 2:15 AM David M Singer

The New York Islanders wanted revenge last night, and they got it in every form in a wild 9-3 fight-filled win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

A little over one week ago the Isles were humiliated by the Pens. They were shutout 3-0 in Pittsburgh. Rick DiPietro was one-punched to the ice by fellow goaltender Brent Johnson. DiPietro will miss time with injuries from that fight. Blake Comeau took a blind-side hit from Max Talbot and hasn't played a game since.

It took almost 10 minutes, but the fun started to begin for the Islanders. Travis Hamonic opened up the scoring. A couple of minutes after that Michael Haley dominated a fight against Craig Adams. After another couple of minutes the Islanders increased their lead. After it rose to 3-0 Eric Godard challenged Trevor Gillies. At home and always willing, the heavyweights swung away until they were each tired enough to skate away with little intervention from the linesmen. The Islanders added one more goal for good measure.

A few minutes into the second period John Tavares scored his 20th of the season. 30 seconds after that Haley netted the first goal of his NHL career. It was at that score, 6-0 when wild went to a new level in the post-lockout era.

Matt Martin threw a from-the-side sucker-punch at Talbot. While Martin tried to get more of a fight out of it, everyone paired up. Pascal Dupuis and Josh Bailey locked up, each earning their first fighting major in the NHL. At the same time, Michael Rupp took a bout against Hamonic.

From there, it looked like the game might simmer, the teams exchanged a pair of goals and few penalties were called. But it was far from over.

Almost fight minutes into the third Gillies played the boards high against Eric Tangradi. Gillies was sparked, trying to get at Tangradi and players on the ice paired off again. Haley got a hold of Talbot, taking down another Pen. Haley wasn't done there and started chirping with Johnson, who was far out of his crease, observing the action at the other end of the ice. Haley started skating toward Johnson, who was shedding his equipment. They lock up and as the punches are starting to come Godard rushes in from off the bench.

That wasn't the end for Islanders going after Talbot. Later in the period Zenon Konopka did his best to get at the marked man. No majors were called, but the video is below.

There was still one more bout to be had. Joe Vitale took an easy decision over Andrew MacDonald. Another pair of players both picking up their first NHL fighitng major.

Suspensions

They're coming...

Godard: an easy automatic 10-game suspension.
Martin: his sucker-punch will earn him 6-8. While Talbot wasn't hurt, that was a Bertuzzi-esque scenario. He might sit 10 games.
Gillies: his elbow and antics will possibly cost him 3.
Haley: he may get 2 for the dual fighting major, but it's not a given. He may see no supplementary discipline in his direction.
Dan Bylsma: currently suspended due to Godard until the league rules on it. He might miss a game, but it's doubtful given the circumstances of Godard's bench-hopping.
Edit 10:00 am: clarification - Bylsma is not suspended automatically.

The numbers

I've seen a large variety of total PIM counts from the game. I'll recount tomorrow when it's more final. The fighting majors seem to be proper now, so fight counts should be correct.

Next time

Apr 8th is the next and last time the Islanders and Penguins play this season.

Elsewhere

There were a trio of fights in the Colorado-Columbus game. Jared Boll dropped the gloves twice, giving him 18 on the year, two behind FM leader George Parros.

Brandon Prust and Eric Boulton went in Atlanta, and Brad Staubitz fought Brad Winchester in St. Louis.

Videos added

Joe Vitale vs Andrew MacDonald Feb 11, 2011
Brent Johnson vs Micheal Haley Feb 11, 2011
Maxime Talbot vs Micheal Haley Feb 11, 2011
Brad Staubitz vs Brad Winchester Feb 11, 2011
Daniel Winnik vs Derek Dorsett Feb 11, 2011
David Koci vs Jared Boll Feb 11, 2011
Michael Rupp vs Travis Hamonic Feb 11, 2011
Pascal Dupuis vs Josh Bailey Feb 11, 2011
Maxime Talbot vs Matt Martin Feb 11, 2011
Cody McLeod vs Jared Boll Feb 11, 2011
Eric Godard vs Trevor Gillies Feb 11, 2011
Craig Adams vs Micheal Haley Feb 11, 2011

Prust-Boulton to be added later today.

Konopka going after Talbot

Comments

You gotta be kidding,Tangradi will probably not miss more than one game(Has to make it look good).He was doing what all Pens do when in trouble-play dead--ha ha ha-He knew he was in line for an ass kicking so he did what came naturally--lay on ice,he was'nt even hurt-please!.Godard was the biggest chicken on ice,he certainly does'nt throw heavy punches.He nailed a totally defenseless Haley three times from behind and did'nt even hurt him.Can you imagine three Probert punches from behind he would have killed someone.Hey, Campbell you piece of **it there is no intent to injure there.In addition,Mr.Wang if you don't sieze this moment and continue to improve team and make sure skilled players are well protected you are a complete moron.This has brought new enthusiasm to the team and maybe some more fans in seats.You can't build a team around skilled players only,you have to have TEAM toughness--Period.The early Isles would have been nothing without the Howatt,Nystrom,Gillies,type players.Wake up Isles mgmt.you are asleep at wheel.
Posted by tillie 01 on 2011-02-13 13:33:27 Sorry Jobro815 from Florida... I mistyped "Philly" in my last sentence. At least my Western PA posts include some facts and common sense instead of just biased, clueless opinions. Spell check that!
Posted by lal25 on 2011-02-13 12:58:58 And... I forgot one more point for the educated hockey fan (Isles fans can skip this). The referees who officiated this game should be suspended or demoted. Yes, they threw a bunch of guys out of the game. What they should have done (which you see in other professional sports) is speak to each coach when it became obvious that Capuano was more interested in thuggery than hockey. This would have prevented much of the 2nd and 3rd period assaults by the Isles. The reason the league switched to two referees (I remember the days of one referee and it was even uglier... usually behind the play) was to curtail some of the cheapshots. There's a great video clip at: http://thepensblog.com/pensblog-news/tpb/video-watch-trevor-gillies-taunt-injured-eric-tangradi.html from some ignorant pig Isles fan squealing like a school girl as Gilles taunts a guy (Tangradi) he just hurt with a chep shot and then tried to hurt further. I used to think Phill fans were the most ignorant piggish... now I'm not so sure.
Posted by lal25 on 2011-02-13 12:48:56 It's comical to see most of the comments from western Pennsylvania, have any of you had a typing or grammar lesson? I was texting back and forth with a buddy from Pitt all game, neither of us could believe how things escalated. He knew Pitt had it coming, and I knew the suspensions would play out as it did. There's such a huge pro-Pens bias right now in the NHL it's beyond belief. I was particularly glad for Crosby and Malkin not being there, because anyone who hits them would be gone long-term.Too bad Cooke was suspended, I would have loved to see Haley destroy him. Cooke is the dirtiest player in the NHL right now, since Avery strapped on his fake angel wings for Totorella.
Posted by Jobro815 on 2011-02-13 12:23:46 i now get why penguins fans don't get old time hockey... they have only been fans of hockey since 2004 they probably don't even know who gordie howe is. The good thing about being a penguins fan is that if they ever miss the playoffs the fans can automatically switch to the next bandwagon. So the islanders sucked this year, the whole team is hurt and we're in the middle of re-building the team how did anyone think we were gonna do.
Posted by Port on 2011-02-13 12:12:27 And I forgot the fines... Isles fined $100,000 - it should have been at least a million and Capuano fined as well for orchestrating it. If the NHL wants to curb this type of ignorant pig Isles show, they need to get serious with the repercussions.
Posted by lal25 on 2011-02-13 11:17:02 Pens had it comin'. Call it cheap shot (as any p*ssy would call it) or retaliation from last week. The Pens truly suck and are overrated. They deserved every bit of last night with more to come in April.
Posted by YoPhilly! on 2011-02-13 11:10:08 From reading the blogs it's pretty obvious... NY Isles fans are are ignorant pigs, and not very knowledgeable about hockey. If the a penguin would have tried to sucker punch a guy from behind or elbow a guy in the head and then try to punch him when he's defenseless I would be no less critical of those players. The check by Talbot on Comeau was a clean hit. Comeau happened to get hurt. The fight between Johnson and Dipietro was a clean fight. Johnson won.Talk about NY cry babies. Gilles received a 9 game suspension - good. Martin received 4 games - bad - should have been 10. Haley received no suspension - bad - should have gotten 5 games. Capuano received no suspension - bad - should have gotten 5 games. Goddard got 10 games for protecting his goalie from the thug Haley - automatic. I was not opposed to fighting in the NHL, but unless the NHL is going to come down hard on this display of goonery by the Isles, maybe the answer is to ban fighting altogether. Of course, this would not give the ignorant pig Isles fans anything to look forward to!
Posted by lal25 on 2011-02-13 11:07:28 Typical N.Y. idiots on here come playoff time when you are watching the Pens , come back on here and play with yourselves while watching dirty C*** suckers take cheapshots... Gillies is a piece of s*** and has no place in the NHL. Plus you Cu* guzzling Butt whores Isle fans and pens haters that want to be like us its still not to late you can come buy a sidney crosby jersey and sneak into a game. the fans were so impressed they actually sold a game out this year. Why didnt they target anyone that can fight on the PENS? everyone knows who can fight and who can't getting your ass beat is one thing as long as you went toe to toe but getting hit from behind.... Cooke and talbot finish checks thats why you hate them? the cooke hit last week the guy looked back at him and then turned his head.
Posted by POLE on 2011-02-13 02:54:54 Colin Cambell's favoritism was so obvious in his statement...blamed everything on the Islanders, picking out Gillies and Martin, and saying that Godard was "aiding a teammate." Yeah, no favoritism here huh? The Islanders are punks though, favoritism aside. I've played hockey from bantam through college, and going after a goalie or a guy on the ice, or sucker punching a guy...that's bush league.
Posted by Big Robb on 2011-02-13 01:20:41 And I hope it happens again in april. and no I'm not an isle fan. RANGERS
Posted by Ron Rafferty on 2011-02-13 01:10:33 Godard 10 games, Gillies 9 games, Martin 4 games, Islanders fined $100,000. That was a costly fight.
Posted by Michael t on 2011-02-13 01:09:23 Ha Ha Ha... the dirty sh#theads got what was coming. too bad Cindy Crosby wasn't in the game so he could get his DIRTY pu$$y a$$ busted too!!! the same goes for Candy-a$$ Malkin!!!
Posted by Ron Rafferty on 2011-02-13 01:07:01 This whole thing was ridiculous i was watchin this and had to make shure i wasnt watchin slapshot i think its mostly the islanders fault and then gillies taunting tangradi from the box like an a** that he is and that cheap shot on talbot that was bs i guess the islanders feel were 28th in the nhl so we dont have a chance at the cup so why do we give a rats ass and theyre coach stands there like a lump what the f was that all the pens did was play defensive and i couldnt believe what i saw it was sickining and i cant wait till april
Posted by emily on 2011-02-13 00:36:15 Do Islander fans understand the difference between a fight and a cheapshot? I have no problem with any FIGHT that occurred. Haley vs Adams-Haley kicked ass, fine. Godard vs Gilles-Godard with close win. Engelland vs Kenopka- oh wait, Kenopka pussed out and Isles scored on insuing play. Martin vs Talbot- CHEAPSHOT. Gilles vs Tangradi- CHEAPSHOT. I really think Godard should have stayed on bench because Johnson would have kicked Haley's ass..but we will never know. Gilles standing over Tangradi and trainer talking smack- BUSHLEAGUE. Maybe at the trading deadline when the Isles are once again 30 pts from a playoff spot the Pens can come and take some more players to make their playoff run (Billy Guerin)
Posted by mullinyown77 on 2011-02-12 23:59:40 The way a hockey game should be.
Posted by yesone on 2011-02-12 22:39:02 Tell Johnson to go to Billy Smiths fights to learn how to fight with all those pads on--HA HA HAAAAAAAA.They are on internet.
Posted by tillie 01 on 2011-02-12 22:25:57 In one breath you say Haley got whipped by the goalie and then you Pen fans justify that dirtbag Godards action.I was sitting in lower section even with goal line for Johnson when Haley came down.Let me tell you Johnson was shitting a brick and didnt want to drop his gloves and thats why Goddard jumped off bench and cheap shotted Haley three times.
Posted by tillie 01 on 2011-02-12 22:19:32 So the Isles feel disrespected by other players so they go out and disrespect every unwritten rule of conduct amongst pro players i.e. sucker punch, charging/elbowing a guy from behind, continuing to punch a guy on the ground, instigating with a guy outside of your weight class, position player fighting a goalie... Stay classy NY. I do not know what game some of you people watched, but I did not see the Islanders really win many fights, unless you count hitting someone from behind and elbowing someone in the head then throwing punches lol. Gillies is a little @#$% for that and Haley for going after a goalie and getting his butt whopped by that goalie lol. Haley could hardly beat Talbot and Talbot is a horrible fighter, Engellend or Godard would have killed him, Rupp or Asham too, wish Asham were healthy.
Posted by meknowfighting on 2011-02-12 21:22:37 I was not opposed to the fights. Pens hold thier own with anyone. Jumping Talbot was lame, but I think old Haley found his comeuppance at the hands of Godard and Johnson. HaHa And saying Johnson should be willing to fight guys wearing 50lbs less gear than him because he fought another goalie is nonsense. DP was a willing combatant who happens to have a glass jaw. Since he was also a willing goalie fighter, perhaps it should be open season on him, too. Maybe Godard should tie up with him. Or Engelland. Then he'd been done for real. "But the Pens are Dirty!" Waah. Need a tissue? Isles are bums, plain and simple. Wanna use last nights score to salve the wounds of an embarrassing season? Be my guest. But don't talk about how the Isles beat the Pens in fights, cause you got two wins against guys who don't fight, and cheap-shotted a couple more. The rest of the night you spent icing your vaginas. Think we won't fight in April? HaHa Yeah, okay. Say your prayers and hope you can retain a shred of dignity, cause Pens are coming to your house, and they are going to pound you senseless.
Posted by Hooligan on 2011-02-12 21:10:18 hahahaha, You guys COULD'T win even if you were healthy, the fact that garth snow is still your general manager is a joke, have fun writing all day on this post in your parents basement.
Posted by cary on 2011-02-12 20:52:38 Wow, I never thought I'd see such a huge bunch of Sally's on a message board from "hockeyfights.com". The Pens deserved what they got. They've been running at the Isles all season long...and to call Martin's shot "Bertuzziesque" is laughable. There is no comparision. Grow some skin people, among some other things...oh, and WAY TO GO ISLES.
Posted by Robert on 2011-02-12 20:49:14 "It's not like the Islanders went after their top skill players..." Yeah, check the fight numbers on Tangradi. They went after the cheap low life dirty players... Gee, that sounds familiar you hypocrite. I think that Tangradi ate an elbow when he wasn't looking, huh!
Posted by hossasux1 on 2011-02-12 20:21:52 You Idiot--The Isles have had more injuries then any time in league this year!!!We are not the ones whining about the fights.It sucks to be the people that travelled from the Pitt area and there were many and get **it thrown back in your face.Isles will rise again if Wang sells team and someone thats interested in the team and not shopping centers takes the reins.
Posted by tillie 01 on 2011-02-12 20:20:55 You islander fan's are a bunch of pussy's. Your team fights an injury depleated penguins team, your going after ahl players the penguins brought up cause of injury's. Your team plays like an ahl team, from the from office to head coach to the players, a bunch of classless losers, have fun sucking for years to come, maybe Garth Snow will sign Haley for a 20 year contract and you guys can stay losers even longer, good ridence.
Posted by Cary on 2011-02-12 19:57:17 Its not like the Isles went after their top skill players say like Tiger Williams beating on Mike Bossy(a little history for ya).They fought the low life dirty players that slash you and elbow you when your vulnerable and unable to defend yourself.Time to drop your gloves and stop hiding behind your goons.In addition I'm not so sure the Isles players would have left the bench to help DiPietro,once you establish you want to be part of the party in ref.to fighting you should be on your own.Godards 3 cheap shots on Haley should never be forgotton by Isles.Its amazing Haley does'nt have a broken jaw after being hit several times by Godard from behind while Haley was fighting Johnson.
Posted by tillie 01 on 2011-02-12 19:38:31 the fights that pit won in the voting didn't matter rupp and dupuis rolling around with bailey and hamonic means nothing (thumbs up to hamonic for going with a guy much bigger and experienced then him) and godard and johnson double teaming haley isn't a real win. what matters is talbot on his back on three occassions after martin, haley and konopka went after him, what matters is talbots teammate tangradi crumbling to the ice injured because of the check he (talbot) threw a week ago. What matters is that max talbot and the rest of the nhl will think twice before they try bullying the islanders. Everyone here is like oh round 2 is coming... yeah right, the nhl will be all over the next game before it even happens. but i'd love to see that. Jermy Yablonski is in our system and he's probably one of hockey's toughest right now. I'd be surprised to see anything more then Godard vs Gillies and maybe Martin vs one of pits middleweights I love when everyone comments about gillie and haley and how in a few years they'll just be washed up and they'll never win a stanley cup and so on. I'm sure if they never play another game they'll be more than happy with their career. They made it to the NHL something none of the people on this board will never do and i'm sure they're living the dream whether they make a living in the NHL or the ECHL. However Haley showed lots of talent both in juniors, the AHL all season and last nights game i'd say he has the potential to be a steve ott at best at worst a solid defensive middleweight fourth line grinder. Gillies on the other hand has become one of the NHL's best enforcers with wins over guys like Matt Carkner and Paul Bissonnette and a 9-3-1 record over the past two seasons (losing only to Boogaard and Godard, adimitingly two of the NHL's toughest tough guys). He'll have a home in the NHL or atleast AHL until he retires.
Posted by Steve on 2011-02-12 19:28:49 I think the beatdown more or less referred to the score and the picking on of a couple of nonfighting penguins. Noone of the islanders team could beat godard or england. Aside from the godard gillies fight, which the islanders lost, The islanders picked on the weakest links. lmao
Posted by guru71 on 2011-02-12 19:20:25 Its funny how people talk about the Pens getting beatdown but the roster was basically minor league players who are not fighters. Embarrassing game on the part of the Islanders. Bunch of bottom-feeding parasites. Quit being a drain on the league you bunch of clowns.
Posted by Matthew on 2011-02-12 19:06:39 Again check out point 17 and again I am a NY fan, but to see the comments against Pittsburgh is ridiculous, has anybody seen our gargage?????? As mentioned the isles have awoken a sleeping giant, I am now worried that this will set the islanders team back for years while we watch the pen hoist 3 cups in the next 5-7 years. Our coach looked stupid behind the bench. Even Letang when after one of our players which would have been a fair fight but oskopo escaped and hid???? Come on NY be a big city and keep us proud, this has nothing to do with the Steelers, we started all this and the Pens will finish us at year end and they will not go after our weaker players with their goons, Haley, Gilles, Martin, Konopka---your careers will end as has beens drinking under one of our bridges. Even though i would hate to see this, if I was Tavares and Grabner asked to be traded to a winning organization such as the Pens, Red Wings, Hurricanes or Tampa Bay.
Posted by Hockey Fan1989 on 2011-02-12 18:33:50 tillie 01, thanks for the compliments on the bullet points. The Isles crossed the line twice with the Martin sucker punch and with the Gillies successful intent to injure Tangradi. The Godard / Haley / Johnson incident is first the fault of the referees for allowing Haley to go after Johnson. Godard did what he needed to do. If that were Godard going after DiPietro, do you really think that the Isles would not have responded the same way? Please rewind back to the DiP / Cooke incident. DiP hit Cooke and three Isles ganged up on Cooke in the corner. Unfair odds are ok in this situation, but not when its Godard trying to stick up for his goaltender? How many times does Talbot need to fight in a night? He got jumped by Martin, He fought and lost to Haley and fought and lost to Konopka.
Posted by hossasux1 on 2011-02-12 17:40:29 You mean Godard --The Coward who punched Haley three times from behind.Shame on you Jack Hillen!!!
Posted by tillie 01 on 2011-02-12 17:13:02 What the Isles did last night was a complete violation of the code in hockey. The code is the only reason fighting is allowed to exist in this sport. So all of you people ranting and raving about "old school hockey" should really think about what you are trying to promote. Attacking players with fists from behind and attacking defenseless players is not physical or tough. It is classless, despicable, and cowardly. If you want to see this on a regular basis then i assure you, the league will ban fighting all together. No one wants to see that, but it will happen if more games like this continue to happen. The Islander organization as a whole should be punished for this. Being the Islanders is punishing enough, but i really feel a message has to be laid down for the reckless actions that were commonplace last night. Suspend the coach, fine the team, perhaps even take away one of their coveted draft picks. It would send a proper message to this mickey mouse organization.
Posted by TL17 on 2011-02-12 17:09:07 Ok I was sitting in the 200 section last night and I would agree that a couple of the ballerina Isles either came up with a draw or slightly on the short side.However,In the fights that counted the Isles were the winners.I was impressed with the Pens overall toughness as a team something the Isles need to improve on.As a player if your not putting 25+ points up a year you better be tough or you have little value to a team.Rupp fighting Hamonic is fine but certainly not even.Unlike the Pens fans WE don't whine about every fight we lose.Haley and Martin are keepers because they can actually play hockey.Martin was caught up in game when he blindsided Talbot,because he would have easily crushed him in a fight.Don't know if Talbot would have obliged offer.Gilles is Not a dirty player and has great respect for honor of game.You don't hear other players bitching about him like they do with Pen players.Just a fact!!!
Posted by tillie 01 on 2011-02-12 17:07:50 @HockeyFan1989: "you did not see the pens going after our player tavares" No, but Orpik ran Grabner into the net in the second, and Kennedy went after Moulson about halfway through the third (while the Pens were on a power play). Let's not pretend that the Pens were doe-eyed innocents savagely beaten by a rampaging horde of barbarians. Neither side's hands are clean. As for the Isles, this was three years of frustration coming to a head. Every TSN article that uses the term "lowly Islanders", every goalie pair laughing their heads off - it all came out in furious catharsis. It was the hockey equivalent of Ralphie from A Christmas Story beating the snot out of Scut Farkus.
Posted by AlanSmithee on 2011-02-12 17:05:41 The Pens definitely got handled on the scoreboard, but I'm not sure why everyone is saying they got dominated in the fights. If you look at the voting, we went 5-3, with one of the losses bring a fight with only one combatant. Pens definitely gave up the goals, but how did the Isles get revenge by getting beat up? hahaha. Bums. Better put on the foil for April, ladies. I gotta feeling Pens are gonna dish out beatdown round 2.(3?) And we might win on the scoreboard then, too.
Posted by Hooligan on 2011-02-12 16:46:45 i don't get why the sucker punch is so "disgusting" comeau wasn't looking when talbot gave him a cheap hit talbot didn't deserve to see the man coming you don't pay back a weasle by going toe to toe with him you fight fire with fire. We could have used Chris Simon out there last night, embarrass the Islanders this is what you get
Posted by ? on 2011-02-12 16:45:06 How about Haley tko of adams.Watch a little AHL hockey fight video you amateur.
Posted by tillie 01 on 2011-02-12 16:27:24 1st to the idiot who asked why Cooke wasnt dressed-he was suspended 4 games. 2nd, I would love to have a list of Talbots dirty hits. Just because Cake Blowmeau wasnt prepared to take a hit doesnt mean its dirty. 3rd, 2004 wasnt what created Pens fans. You must now have heard of a guy named Mario who happened to be on back to back winning Cup teams in early nineties. Here is a tip, google Lemieux then scroll through list and you should find what you are looking for. 4th, Cooke needs no defending. It is a fact he skated down towards Isle's goal, DiPietro threw and elbow, then minutes later needed a phone # to a plastic surgeon. I love Penguins haters. Must mean we are doing something right. Lastly,Detroit is America's toilet so if you can find something to be proud of go for it
Posted by mullinyown77 on 2011-02-12 16:26:19 yeah watch the video you piece of **it.Godard sucks and he suckered Healy 3 X.Through that talentless hack out of league.Cooke should have gotten 15 games.I guess you know more than Danekyo and Roenick.Pens are going to get embarrassed by Rangers tomorrow.Johnson 6ft.4in.and cant fight Haley by himself.Certainly no Billy Smith who fought Kelly from the Flyers straight up.Put on yours skirts put your tail between your legs to protect your genitals and go back to that dump you call Pittsburgh.
Posted by tillie 01 on 2011-02-12 16:24:18 And as for the "who's laughing now"? That's what you are going to be coming from. You are a talentless-hack organization that has sniffed the playoffs since Brian Trottier was on your team. We will have forgotten about this by the playoffs, while your 2011 highlight reel will be a short, 10 minute clip of this game. Congrats
Posted by Ryan on 2011-02-12 16:15:02 I don't know, there are some silly comments in here. I have no idea where Talbot being characterized as cheap is coming from? I can't think of a single dirty play he has done. The hit on Comeau was in the hip, and the diver fell. If you want to fight him, fight him. He obliged three times with guys well out of his class. But that doesn't justify running a twenty year old kid with an elbow, punching him while down, and then taunting him while the trainer attends to him. I understand why people hate the Pens; they're shoved down your throat. But Bertuzzi'ing Talbot and trying to kill Tangradi makes no sense. Haley is a good fighter, but he definitely didn't prove it by going after Talbot and Johnson. Real tough guy there. So, congratulations on your Stanley Cup NYI. You destroyed the league's favorite team and gave the 600 fans in attendance a free WWE show. Lol at the suspension predictions too. Martin & Gilles will get 10-30 games, easily.
Posted by TheHammer24 on 2011-02-12 16:12:19 good old hockey last night not the crap the nhl has given us since the lockout its about time people played with emotion. i love the penguins fans "oh you'll be laughing in april when we make a stanley cup run" yeah right you couldn't beat a team that is half emergency call-ups from the ahl in fact that "minor league team" stomped you both physically and 9-3 on the scoreboard. Martin, Gillies and Haley did right, doesn't matter how long their suspended for talbot will think twice before blind siding another islander. If Gillies is gone for too long i hope they call up Yablonski that guy would rip Godard apart
Posted by Drake on 2011-02-12 15:14:58 For as much as people piss and moan about Sidney Crosby being a "whimp" or a "crybaby" or a "golden boy," or chant "Crosby sucks," you can't deny that he still puts pucks behind your goalie, again, and again, and again, and again. He will be competing for the Art Ross and "Rocket" Richard Trophy year after year, not to mention Lord Stanley himself. That, you can't deny. Congratulations Islanders, you got 60 minutes of "revenge" against a patchwork Penguins roster. So every year from now on, when you're watching Pittsburgh make deep playoff runs again and again, you can sit on your couch and talk about how you embarrassed the league by crying about Max Talbot, Matt Cooke, and Brent Johnson being dirty players. Guess what. The NHL is full of dirty players taking cheap shots every night, and if a team or player feels "wronged" by a cheap or dirty shot, they fight that player the next time the 2 teams meet and leave it on the ice. They don't start a premeditated brawl that sacrifices the integrity of the league itself and embarrasses everybody associated with it. Both teams should be embarrassed, for themselves, their organizations, and most of all for the league and the fans.
Posted by Iron Monkey on 2011-02-12 15:04:53 R all of u idiots? U guys comment on something u have no idea about. The Pens have been taking runs at the Isles all year long. A lot of other teams have as well and finally, for the first time in 10 years, the Islanders stuck up for themselves. It was long overdo. I do think some people (Gilles) went overboard. U people have to understand that enough was enough with the Islanders getting pushed around. I have had enough of it, and apparently so did they. And yes this was premeditated, but very much deserved. The pens r a chippy bunch of punks. The isles put it to them good. Good for them!
Posted by SadIslesFan on 2011-02-12 14:59:17 Not a fan of either team, but knowing the Pens they will be out for blood the next time the two teams meet. Hopefully the tough guys are ready for the Pens. In the next game when the Pens start all the fights, every Pens fan will be defending their actions as just some payback from the last game. That is exactly what the NY did last night. Of course, the Pens fans will not think they are the dirty ones the next game! Just after a little revenge. I watch a ton of NHL games and watching the Pens be one of the dirtiest teams in the NHL makes me want to puke. Take a look at all the slashes and other small things that set of the opposing teams. I don't think NY should have gone that far, but it will happen to the Pens more than any other team in the NHL because of their play.
Posted by GPA on 2011-02-12 14:56:13 Listening to penguins fan disect the game of hockey is quite amusing, considering 82% (fact) of all pen's fans became fans after the 2004 draft.Both organizations should be embarassed, but this was in retaliation to the pen's making runs at our players all year. Cooke making runs at dipietro all year lead to him getting his face smashed in. That's fine, he got his and all said and done. But the pen's bench laughing up a storm after that game was disrespectful and this is what happens when you embarass a team like that. You think the players are not going to remember the team laughing at them? Goddard deserves a 10game suspension for leaving the bench to fight. Don't even defend that action, pure non-sense that johnson and goddard are beating down on a player 2-on-1. Also, I don't agree with Gillies punching Tangradi while he was concussed, but it happened so quick that you really think that Gillies was able to confirm that he was hurt? Martin's suckerpunch was disgusting too, but don't act like the islanders are the only ones at fault. Pen's got what they deserved, old time hockey, deal with it. Players now would never survive in the old NHL.
Posted by LetsgoIsles72 on 2011-02-12 14:55:47 Okay , beautiful bullet points.I will give you gillies hit on tangradi,but with that being said I think he kinda turtled after the hit and its reported he was showing slight signs of a concussion(lets try and get the maximum suspension mentality).Gillies does not have a history of dirty hits and is always willing to fight the opposing teams heavyweight straight up.Johnson came out to blue line and certainly showed last week he can take care of himself.Look at Haley hes not the typical oversized unable to skate goon.Johnson much bigger than him and Haley just had a fight(pretty exhausting if youve ever been there)and Johnson had plenty of time to prepare before they fought.So whats the beef there?,Ricky D is not really a fan favorite and not that anyone wanted to see him get injured,**it happens.Last week Johnson skated into Isles end of ice so lets not paint him as a passive puddycat that got taken advantage of.I have no idea why Martin blindsided Talbot because that fight would have been no contest and he would have turtled anyway.The bottom line is the Penguins as a team are the typical bully team that just didnt like getting beat at their own game.I guess if the Pens are allowed to laugh at Dipietro getting his face punched in there is no love in hockey,thats what makes it great.There are even people in the media last night saying players should be arrested for such behavior.Hockey is a super contact sport and fighting is a part of it.Lets arrest all boxers,cage fighters also.(cmon)The Isles have had Asham,Godard and Rupp in their organization so please don't think we know what their pedigree is.The only different player in Isles lineup last night was Haley and Pen fans are saying,Isles brought up all their goons.Really?Haley plays with the heart of 3 players maybe thats what they meant.
Posted by tillie 01 on 2011-02-12 14:54:21 I love the game of hockey, but am embarrassed by the people on this thread claiming to be hockey fans, when in fact they are just as much a disgrace to the sport as that show last night. all hockey teams have a slight dirtyness to them. That is the sport. Everyone does it and it should be handled accordingly But there is a line. the other night, Johnson challanged DiP, and he accepted, like men. TWO goalies, not another player position picking on a goalie, not a heaveyweight picking on the goalie. Payback is on the hard hitting and the first two fights, and the scoreboard, which where the islanders showing they wanted revenge. Good for them. Stand up for their team. but Johnsons intent was not to take out his counterpart for the season, he was standing up for his team as the islanders started out doing yesterday. All this crap about the pens getting what we deserved is just that, crap. the cheap shots, the intent to seriously injure players and hitting defensless players while they were down is bull. That is beyond classless, you do not see the pens making cheap shots like that on any scale. Who puches a defenseless player who is face down from a hit made on him, and puches him in the back of the head?! Watch the pens fights and see that when the man goes down, no more fists. Challenge a man. And when these "fans" say that the pens hard hitters where no where and didn't even fight and that is "classless". How about because the Islanders hard hitters were too busy taking on the little men. And that is class right? If the Pens behaved the way the islanders did, they would be hung by all hockey fans, yet people are defending the islanderss. These islanders fans are saying that now the pens fans have to shut up and they can't say anything. HA, now I laugh. YOUR TEAM SUCKS, Islanders, YOUR TEAM SUCKS..haha, yeah, you won the sucker punch match, the bully match, but anyone who defends their actions, should be ashamed. I would not defend my team if they behaved that way..Gilles.. And guess what, the isles want to call pgh a cheap shot team and talk s**t, but youre even worse. you should have kept it on the scoreboard after the first two, and as a pens fan, I don't agree with the behavior of either team last night, but the isles definately took it to another level, and all the teams that suck can keep on talking about how the pens are nothing without our stars, but that just makes it so much better when we beat you without them. I don't like that each hockey game is becoming a chance for a team to intentionally injure another player and "hopefully" take them out for an extended period of time. Hockey is not really a "classy" sport, but it is still a sport, and there should still be a level of respect for the ultimate goal and the game. The isles and all the people defending them have neither. Yes, emotions were high, it seemed premeditated, but, the worst part is they are still defending themselves...REALLY? That is the worst part, so sad, so pathetic.
Posted by Haylee on 2011-02-12 14:44:48 You're a Rangers fan? Why would you tell people that? It's liking bragging about have herpes.
Posted by arekay on 2011-02-12 14:36:29 Do people forget what Stall did to PRUST That was a cheapshot,How about matt cooke oh yeah he was suspended 4 games for a cheapshot,how about every game against pittsburgh tavarese gets run if this was crosby you guys would be screaming that someone get retribution.i think this game was great for the young islanders to stickup for each other hopefully the next time we play each other jablonski will be in the lineup
Posted by pat on 2011-02-12 14:30:19 ROFL look at all u PENS fans trying to make excuses.. you got the ISH kicked outta u one the scoreboard and on the ice physically. next time dont talk to much ISH like u pens fans like to do, im a ranger fan but man did it look nice to see the pens get shut down. awwww crosby isnt playing looks like ur team aint NOTHING without em than again he woulda just got a double ass whoopin if he was on the ice and we woulda sent em right back out with another bump on his head mUAHAHAHAA PENS SUCKK!!!!
Posted by tommy on 2011-02-12 14:26:25 3 points out of last dude, three points out of last. Sad
Posted by arekay on 2011-02-12 14:26:19 Dear Islanders fans: Your team clearly responded to the following: 1.) Max Talbot hit on Comeau. Was that hit really dirty? The concussion that Comeau received was clearly unfortunate. But was it really a cheap shot? 2.) Brent Johnson breaking DiPietro's face in a fight. Did DiPietro change his direction to initiate contact with Cooke with 16 seconds remaining in the game? Did Brent Johnson hit him with a cheap shot? Did Brent Johnson stop throwing and hold him from hitting his head as he fell? Yep, clearly classless on his part. So, the Isles clearly responded by summoning every goon that they could muster and got the antics under way by having Martin drop his gloves and throw a sucker punch at Talbot when he's not looking. That was really a classy way to retaliate for the hit on Comeau. So next Haley drops his gloves and pounds on Talbot. (I'm fine with this - at least he was looking this time.) Following this altercation, the ref's allow him to skate to and instigate a fight with Johnson. (This is a result of piss-poor officiating.) Godard should not be suspended for 10 games for leaving the bench. He was given no option due to the refs allowing Haley to instigate a second fight - with a goaltender nonetheless. The Islander organization should be brimming with pride following the actions of Mr. Gilles. Following the clean hit that he put on Tangradi from behind which he left his feet to deliver an elbow to the back of his head. While he was down on the ice, Mr. Gilles decides to check to see if okay by raining punches into his head. Following this, I'm sure that Mr. Gilles was standing in the runway screaming words of encouragement to Tangradi. This was to pay Tangradi back for? Mr. Bettman, you clearly have your hands full. Should you fail to deal with the behavior of the Islanders organization and the piss poor officiating crew with unprecedented severity, you can expect to have all hell break loose on April 8th. I'm sure that the Penguins organization can summon a few "never will be's" from WBS and Wheeling. The Islanders have set the bar for exacting revenge on a clean hit and clean fight. The Pens have no choice but to respond to several successful blatant attempts to injure. Mr. Capuano - buckle your chinstrap and healthy scratch every member of your team that has any resemblance of talent. If the Pens choose to respond in the same manner that you did, you just might get dragged off of the bench by some yahoo from the Wheeling Nailers and get your head punched in.
Posted by hossasux1 on 2011-02-12 13:43:44 Well I cant believe the defending of the actions taken by both sides in this ridiculous game we all witnessed Someone somehow has got to be accountable for all the cheap shots going on and we should start with what they call the players union. They if they were a real union would take control of this. When you see the superstars get hit like Crosby, Savard, Bergeron and on and on you call them sissy's how barbaric. There is nothing wrong with the tough guys being in the game but as long as they go toe to toe with each other. They should however take away the rights of the wwannabee tough guys and cheapshot artists to play They include the Cookes Averys of the league.Lets get back to real hockey and have the players respct one another just a little.
Posted by jack beattie on 2011-02-12 13:41:05 This game last night was so cash. I am a Ranger fan and I still love the fact the isles beat the pens like the little girls they are. The best is yet to come, when the pens stop winning this year because of all the injuries, we will see how filled that new arena will be. I bet all those 'die hard' pens fans wont show up!
Posted by efizzle201 on 2011-02-12 13:39:42 oh please...all you Pitt fans are just pissed because as big of a beat down you gave the isles a few weeks ago, we demolished you guys in every way shape and form.....you guys aint dick without madam crosby..... lick your wounds, because this minor league team beat your ass
Posted by JONATHAN SAPORTA on 2011-02-12 13:38:44 A little payback for the Pens. It was hilarious to hear then Pens announcers whining after the game. Even Jay Caufield. C'mon, Jay, you were a nut when you "played" so let these guys be a little crazy, too. Johnson calls out Haley to go and the result is Godard will get suspended. Way to go! Talbot has been dirty for years, so he should always be aware when he steps on the ice. Gotta tune in in April. All of the suspensions will be over by then.
Posted by Pens are girls on 2011-02-12 13:24:12 love the Isles beatdown of those cowardly Pen punks. Pittspuke such a bush league team
Posted by jocko jackamone on 2011-02-12 13:21:26 Ive been to Pittsburgh several time and thats where life really sucks.Women with Jack Lambert smiles and a bunch of coal mines and a bunch of old *hitty bridges.The weather is terrific also!! I love your beaches-lol.It was great watching all the Penguin fans in attendance last night sinking in their seats-kinda like the dirt bag players on your team.
Posted by tillie 01 on 2011-02-12 13:21:23 This is why hockey is a joke and non sport. Don't tell me its part of the game acting like clowns throwing cheap shots. Good job NHL promoting UFC on skates.
Posted by thomas on 2011-02-12 13:19:01 Isles really ran around when Engelland and Rupp were gone already. Godard is useless. Johnson would have done better by himself. Remember Asham, Kunitz, Cooke all injured. They picked on the Baby Pens but the Isles are the AHL anyway.
Posted by joe on 2011-02-12 13:12:28 Unless you're from Green Bay i would stay away from the football references. Nets---cant get Melo, Islanders----cant win Mets---payroll the size of the Yankees...record the size of the Pirates. Jets...Foot fetish Champs T=O=E=S TOES, TOES, TOES... can't get past the AFC championship game. Life sucks...Just go and become a Knicks, Rangers, Giants, Yankees fan and move on
Posted by arekay on 2011-02-12 13:09:27 Pretty pissed off on both sides. I'm a resident pittsburgher, pens fan, all that, but our team is looking like a joke right now. Malkin and Crosby are out indefinitely (Malkin's on the 8 month end of indefinite), we finally chew out some decisive victories like the 3-0 win against the Isles, and then we absolutely melt down last night. The fights made both teams look like a joke, and for the pens fighting to regain some of their pride when they're losing 9-3 looks really pathetic. Every game we lose someone from our Roster. What the hell.
Posted by Fenlain on 2011-02-12 13:08:21 And all you dumb ass Pittsburgh fans the game in April is at Isles.Bring you whole cheap shot team,did you see your post game interviews on your team website.The coach and players look like there about to cry.I say lets let the two coaches duke it out at center ice.Your coach is a gutless puke.How is Ben the molester doing these days?
Posted by tillie 01 on 2011-02-12 12:55:42 To be honest I'm not really upset about the whole thing. I loved the game. I didnt feel like anything was realy dirty outside of dropping the gloves on Talbot from behind and punching Tangradi in the back of the head when he was already hurt from an elbow. I didn't feel like we were beaten down anywhere but on the scoreboard. But being 3 points out of first place gives you a different perspective than being 3 points out of last I guess.
Posted by arekay on 2011-02-12 12:55:28 How is Haley a thug, he leads his AHL team in goals and happens to be a gary Howatt clone in attitude.Your tough guy Goddard took free shots on him while he was engaged with another fighter real classy.Goddard going to get his!!!Shame on Jack Hillen and other Isles players for not making a better effort to help healy in the 2 on 1.Those type of players would not be on my team--Period!!
Posted by tillie 01 on 2011-02-12 12:45:53 Is Jeremy Yablonski the guy that wears the white gloves and hands out the Stanley cup?
Posted by arekay on 2011-02-12 12:44:56 If you want to put a blame on anyone for what took place in this game, you need to look at the NHL itself. After what took place in the last game between these two teams, and the comments that were made, why didn't the NHL do something before last nights game? Why didn't the assign veteran officials on the game last night? They assign David Banfield(who has only done 18 NHL games). At some points during the brawls, there were not enough on ice officials to handle everything that was going on. Hopefully when these two teams play again in April, the NHL will look in to a way to handle these situations better. Perhaps they need to look at assigning two linesmen who are not on the ice, but are able to come out and assist when situations like this happen.
Posted by Vince on 2011-02-12 12:42:32 I find it amazing how all the Penguins fans are coming on to talk about the injustice that was done against them. Pure garbage. God forbid someone actually stands up to the Penguins and pounds them in the mouth both physically and on the scoreboard. The video on Z above says it best. He stands over cheapshot Talbot with him pinned to the ice fist up and explains a few things to him. On top of that not a single zebra did a thing about it. They all just stood there and waited for him to finish. And for all you who keep saying that Haley should stay in the minors: You're all just pissed that a minor league player came up knocked you around and scored a perfect goal against the great Letang.
Posted by wargod2738 on 2011-02-12 12:42:01 You bunch of Pittsburgh *ussies.Yeah Eric goddard punching Healy from behind what a brave guy.Did you see Gillies stun goddard earlier.Did you guys teach Talbot how to turtle what a loser.How about tough guy Rupp going after Hamonic.What a bunch of cry babies.Johnson was certainly a willing participant until he realized he was gonna need some help to survive.Bye Bye Goddard enjoy your suspension.You guys will get to meet Jeremy Yablonski in next meeting.As Bart Scott said after kicking NE ass "Cant Wait"
Posted by tillie 01 on 2011-02-12 12:36:43 Haha the best part of seeing a a top tier team get straight up stomped on by one of the worst in the league is listening to the bitter fans piss and moan. I mean come on pit fans, you guys are complaining more than your pretty boy franchise star does right now. Your the one of the dirtiest teams in the league... you guys just got a taste of your own medicine 10 fold!
Posted by someguy on 2011-02-12 12:34:46 Gillies acted like a thug throwing a cheapshot elbow, punching a down man and taunting him like a little punk. The league should suspend Gillies rest of the year and make him get a new haircut. I wish Johnson would have punched Dipetro 15 more times now. Matt Cooke is going to end one of the Islanders career come April and blame Gillies/Haley for their thug actions!!
Posted by newbombturk on 2011-02-12 12:32:50 What is overlooked here is that Haley scored a beautiful goal in this game by blowing past Letang with a nifty skate to puck to stick move and then held on to it until Johnson was sprawled and then tucked it into the open net. I thought Haley was just a goon at first but this goal was NHL highlight reel worthy.
Posted by edsmo on 2011-02-12 12:13:13 here's the deal. Dirty hits are a result of the instigator rule and other "no contact" rules in hockey. Head shots are up because the dirty players typically aren't fighters (note how Goddard and Gilles separated themselves when they were done fighting). As long as cheap shot artists get away with cheap shots, you'll have what took place at this game.
Posted by hospodar on 2011-02-12 12:00:21 Go Leafs has it right classic old school justice. When you embarrass a hockey team and injure their players, clean hit or not, they get revenge. This is Dave Schultz-esqu payback. Schultz, Semenko, McSorley and Probert didn't always look you eye to eye. when you play like Talbot you should be ready for a sucker punch
Posted by Old Time Justice on 2011-02-12 11:44:40 I guarantee none of you have been to Pittsburgh or Long Island. So leave the trash talk out of it and just look at the game as a hockey fan. Haley, Martin, and Gillies were clearly trying to injure the other team. They got their revenge and then took it too far. Talbot needs to stop acting tough. End of story.
Posted by Ijustwokeup on 2011-02-12 11:40:50 Let's get this record straight. The Isles suck this year, I know, I'm a fan. What they did last night was simply putting their foot down on being a doormat for the rest of the NHL. Because the Pens (and Steelers) got smoked do you NOW come out and complain. Some weren't you're typical - "let's drop them and go" scenarios, but they also got embarrassed last week. What did you expect, tea and crumpets? As for Cindy Crosby, he's been out 15 - FIFTEEN - GAMES!! For a hangnail, err, concussion. Comm'on man.
Posted by StopBitchin on 2011-02-12 11:37:35 Who is laughing now? What the pens did when Talbit cheap shotted Blake Coumo and then laugh when DiPietro got leveled was bush league. The Pens were classless in handeling that situation and payed for it last night. The Isles don't scroe 9 golas in a month and the Pens give up 9 in a game. Karma has a way of coming around.
Posted by Mike O on 2011-02-12 11:36:26 If this is what the Isles fans need to do (trash a perennial playoff threat) to feel better about the state of their pitiful franchise, so be it. Call it what you want. There is no place in today's game for this kind of ridiculousness...or is there? Do I agree with the direction of today's NHL? Moot point. Will this raise viewership when the Islanders hit the Consol Energy Center in April? Absolutely. The bottom line here is that the officiating crew never had any semblance of control over this game. And even if they had attempted to stop this madness, would they have been able to?
Posted by hockeyfan101 on 2011-02-12 11:24:16 I am a NY fan, but thankfully during all that brawling Haley fight with Johnson(the pen goalie did not materialize)...johnson would of broke his face too,where was the islanders goalie(hiding)....you did not see the pens going after our player tavares........I think our islanders just woke up a sleeping giant!!!Penguins are the toughest team and the league and their heavyweights fight the heavyweights. Gillies is an embarassment taunting a guy with a cheap check form behind.
Posted by Hockey Fan1989 on 2011-02-12 11:17:26 I think a lot of you guys are seeing points from a tainted perspective. Either you are pens/isles fans or you absolutely hate one of them. Look at it from purely a hockey prospective. Let me first say all I have seen are the "highlights" I was watching my team "the Jackets" last night so I didn't see the play by play. What I see are 2 teams the completely forgot what the hell they were doing out there. It was unprofessional on both sides of the puck, and the dirty/cheap shots were all over the place. Hitting people when they are skating down the ice from behind, uppercuts while someone is INJURED in the feudal position. Skating 150ft to other side of the ice to fight a GOALIE, then you get tag teamed by 2 players. I hope that the league fines the shit out of everyone of them and suspends the ones that need it. Neither team was innocent in this game and neither was "just defending themselves" they were both out for blood. If that is what you want. Don't bother lacing up your skates just go to the octagon. This rematch everyone is hoping for in April, won't happen, the league won't let it. But that doesn't mean I won't be watching this time. On a side note, Blue Jackets are finally starting to play good hockey! Carry the Flag.
Posted by unprofessional! on 2011-02-12 11:15:07 Love the Penguin fans preaching! How come Cooke didn't dress last night, belly ache? Oh, no, wait, he almost paralyzed a guy this week. Penguins shouldn't have laughed and they shouldn't cry now. This was old school justice, plain and simple.
Posted by Go Leafs on 2011-02-12 11:03:31 Haley & Islanders Beat Down Pens. Your headline says it all. The Pens are a bunch of punks. Got their butts kicked and now you guys are crying like Cindy Crosby. Cooke runs players from behind and you guys are crying. I enjoyed the beat down Goddard jumps off the bench and Jumps into a fight to protect Johnson. For that he should get 40 games
Posted by Mars Bonfire on 2011-02-12 10:43:51 Pure Classless by the Isles. But what else can you expect from New York. Some of you rediculous and mindless Pens haters really need to actually watch the games the Pens are in before you comment. The Isles only did this trash when no Penguin tough guys were on the ice or already ejected (ie Godard leaving the bench, Rupp ejected, Engelland ejected, Asham injured). Martin, Gilles, Haley and Coach Capuano have no business being in the NHL. They should all face 10 plus game suspensions for this subsophmoric, WWE wannabe, lack of manhood display of cowardice. Next time man up and go toe to toe with Talbot and Johnson and anyone else you got a beef with. This was elementary school garbage and a huge black eye on an already tarnished league. Colin Campbell this is your chance to step up and try and salvage what little dignity this league has and maybe rebuild it.
Posted by Peter Long on 2011-02-12 10:43:16 Guiys, I watched every minute of this game as well as every Isles game all year, as painful as that sounds. This was payback for Talbots late and dirty hit on Blake comeau which caused a concussion and went unpunished by the league. Rupp also took liberties in that game, knowing Gillies wasn't dressed and there was no one to answer the call. What happened to DePietro, he deserved. The laughing and taunting after that knock out was what drew the ire of the Islanders.If you watch this game from start to finish, you'll see, the Pens were the dirtier team, hands down. They walked all over the isles last week and though they were gonna do it again. When martin went after Talbot, Rupp grabbed Hamonic and Dupuis grabbed Bailey and let them have it, Bailey, Hamonic.. not exactly fighters. I agree that Gillies beating Tandgreti when he was down was bush, and Haley going after Johnson was the same, but watch the game from start to end and tell me Pittsburgh wasn't the dirtier team.
Posted by junior093 on 2011-02-12 10:40:22 I love how some people ignore the fact that the Pens are widely known as one of the dirtiest teams in the league. All Talbot and Cooke do is take runs at opposing players, which includes many goalies. Last week, Talbot blindsided Comeau, and the Isles wanted payback. I agree that at times the Isles went a little over the top, especially Martin's sucker punch, but the Pens and Talbot got what they deserved.
Posted by mvigs on 2011-02-12 10:29:37 Seriously Mullinyown? You're actually defending the most classless hockey player in the league in Cooke? "initiated contact?" Waaaaaah. Pittsburgh got the beat down they deserved, though I agree Haley was a call up to instigate all this and should be sent back to the deep dark minor league hole he came out of. The worst thing about this whole game was that no one got a chance to knock out Cooke. Reminded me of a game in the 80s. Couldn't have happened to a better team.
Posted by Pittsburgh whiners on 2011-02-12 10:25:26 Damn good game. Pittsburgh thinks they're bad: they look intimidated. Weak. 9-3. Against the Islanders? Sad. Good for Islanders. They became a team tonight. I'd love to be there and help them pound the puke out of Dupuis and Talbot. Love to shut some of you little Pittsburgh pukes up to.
Posted by HellsAngels67 on 2011-02-12 10:18:55 So Johnson challenges DiPietro, DiPietro takes up offer, gets his face broken, and somehow that is considered a cheapshot? Does anyone remember just before his face was smashed that he initiated contact with Cooke? DiPietro is weak. The Islanders are weak. Talbot being considered a dirty player is rididculous. He put a clean hit on Comeau. Didnt even hit him in head. The worst team in the league may have won this fight, but still wake up the next day with no hope of a Stanley Cup for some time to come. Cant wait until April 8th.
Posted by mullinyown77 on 2011-02-12 09:43:37 I haven't seen a game like this since the 80s. Johnson was clearly having an off night and after giving up 6 goals it was clear it was the Islanders night. Then it got ugly. The Islanders started playing with the intent to injure. Martin tackled Talbot at mid-ice in the middle of a play and started swinging on him. Gilies clearly went to injure Tangradi (after Tang is checked he kinda doubles over and THEN Gilies attacks him .... most classless thing I've seen all year). The Islanders coach deserves a suspension. Either he told his guys to play like thugs or else he didn't bother to control them. Either way ... unless there is a suspension this will happen again.
Posted by Wakie on 2011-02-12 09:30:54 What is all the whining about? The Pens thought it was hilarious when they dominated the game and DiPietro got his face broken. Noticed there wasn't much laughing and high-fives on their bench this time around. Once upon a time, this is what happened in hockey. Humiliate a team, expect something to happen next time you see them. True, Gillies my have crossed the line, but the Pens had plenty of time to show some aggression and didn't. They never forced a fight when Islanders tough guys were running around picking on their non-fighters. Did they think Bettman would throw on his cape and save the day or what?
Posted by unknown on 2011-02-12 09:12:58 kablamo! who's laughing now? it was all fun and games when johnson leveled dipietro and flower and his boys were belly laughing on the bench. talk about class. payback is a b!tch. i'm no isles fan, but that was great to watch. the pens are as classless as they come.
Posted by idiotstupid2002 on 2011-02-12 08:27:37 i agree, this was all premeditated by the islanders. they should be heavily fined, and i don't see why the league should just suspend bylsma when jack had no control over his players. the penguins were simply defending themselves the whole game.
Posted by smllyshoo16 on 2011-02-12 08:18:35 Talbot is one of the worst cheap shot players in the league. The only reason they don't put him in the class of Matt Cooke or Avery is that he does have some talent. Both teams had just as many 'punks' and honestly they both are filled with 'wanna be' tough guys, ie Talbot.
Posted by ugenlk on 2011-02-12 08:17:46 Beatdown? More like premeditated assault and battery by the bush league Isles. A beatdowen is coming all right but in April when the scrubs come to the Burgh. Just pitiful the way the Isles coach is actually defending some of his players actions.
Posted by Donm8r on 2011-02-12 07:55:01 If this Haley is such a tough guy why didn't he drop 'em with one of the Pens toughies? Why, because he is a punk. enjoy your minor league career....on Long Island cause that is what that team is. What Gillies did was pure trash. What he did isn't being tough. The NHL should ban his useless a** because he doesn't deserve another big league paycheck. These teams play again. Hopefully those on the Isle enjoyed this little circus because the teams will meet again and the Pens will be ready for it. After that the Pens will make their usual Stanley Cup run and the isles will go back to their knitting.
Posted by upyours on 2011-02-12 07:33:46