Nichol’s Time Off and a Broken Sugar

Dec 22, 2006 7:23 PM David M Singer

Alright, so after finding a way to finally upload the vids, my connection is now restored. Always works that way.

Both “fights” from last night are now available for download. Spacek vs Nichol was a fight per se, but it was certainly a highlight clip. Nichol received a nine-game suspension for his actions. I expected a few games, but that’s a bit much. I know, I know, they don’t want the Bertuzzi-Moore incident to repeat itself (nor do I), but this isn’t on par. It was an immediate reaction from Nichol to something that just happened to him.

More than that: what I am wondering is if Nichol received 9 games or 1+8? Nichol received an instigator with less than 5 minutes left in regulation. It’s an automatic one-game suspension. The rule was created to prevent players looking to go out and fight, for whatever reason, at the end of a game. However, the suspension can be lifted by Colin Campbell. Last year, when we all thought Shane Doan was picking up an instigator-related suspension, we became aware of Campbell’s power over the situation when he lifted the suspension. These were his comments:

“The key to the whole rule was that it would be automatic - no appeal by the team. But I would review every instigator in the last five minutes to see if it would pass the litmus test.

“And that would be, is this guy a two-shift guy who was out to send a message? Was it a tough guy doing his thing and leaving his calling card?

Nichol isn’t Doan, but he’s not a two-shift guy either (he averages over 12 minutes a game). He wasn’t on the ice to send a message, and it wasn’t premeditated. There was no additional fine announce for Nichol or Preds’ coach Barry Trotz, so one would think Nichol’s suspension isn’t be related to that rule, but who knows.

Why does it matter? Besides the fines that normally come along with the rule, if Nichol were to find himself in that situation again (receiving an instigator with less than five minutes left in regulation), the “automatic” part of suspension would double.

The clip was put up as a Youtube preview on the videos and is also after the jump.

Don’t forget about the Eager-Murray scrap, it was a good one.

We did Brandon Sugden signed bobble head giveaway a little while back. Alanah, formerly of VCOE, now of CandB, was one of our winners and she received Sugar in pieces. Like her, I’m just not sure if there isn’t something fitting about it, but I’d still break out the glue.

Dec 21 2006 - Spacek vs Nichol - Vote!

Comments

it was a penalty on Spaceks part, obviously, because it was being called, but it wasnt a cheapshot, collisions like that are common in hockey, which is a collision sport, Spacek didnt even realize that Nichol was after him. the collision was barely more than incidental contact, its not like Spacek had intent to push him into the post and injure him.
Posted by case on 2007-01-02 14:40:16 nichols sucker punch was bare fisted and way worse than bert's.not that bert's was OK but moore started the whole thing suckering our best player..imagine if a vancouver player did that to Burnaby Joe. nichols is wining about how harsh his 9 games are I say he should get more than bert did. vancouver is always on the bad end of every back east decision,like replays we are 0 for the year..guys from other teams kick the puck in better than Pele could and nothing. to the boys upstairs back east...hello wake up..call it fair you goofs
Posted by doug from vancouver on 2006-12-29 05:14:37 "....Spacek got what he deserved.His team was beating the hell out of our team it was not like Nichol was going to make the game winning goal .He should think about it next time he goes and trips someone into the post...." Typical fan. Opinion based on what you'd like the truth to be. You're from Nashville. I'm sure your opinion is based on your own fan loyalty, and/or your media force-feeding you your fan loyalty. The truth is, Spacek and Nichol got tangled up together and the momentum of Nichol going forward and Spacek skating backwards to cover an incoming forward resulted in Nichol going into the net. He didn't "corkscrew" him. There wasn't a damn thing Spacek could have done to stop the momentum. Nichol came up behind another player and punched him in the face. He deserves his suspension. As for your point about how Nichol wasn't going to "win the game", first off, how do you know that the play wouldn't have mattered? Second, does that mean Spacek should stop paying altogether? Should he just let Nichol drive to the net with the puck? He's a fucking hockey player playing his position. Get over it. Nichol made a dirty play and got what was coming to him.
Posted by Ken on 2006-12-28 05:52:09 Spacek got what he deserved.His team was beating the hell out of our team it was not like Nichol was going to make the game winning goal .He should think about it next time he goes and trips someone into the post.
Posted by Ron on 2006-12-28 04:47:38 MrUnoHoo...have you EVER seen Nichol play? He doesn't back down from anyone...and he's all of 5'7" 175. You need to KNOW what you're talkin about before you start spouting stuff off. Idiot.
Posted by Phillip on 2006-12-24 02:39:58 What a Pussy move on Nichol part. Look at the replay people. Spacek was reacting to a player driving to the net. Thats another reason he did not expect any retaliation,because he DID NOT INTEND TO HURT NICHOL. Vagisil award of the year goes to Nichol. wh
Posted by LBNYC on 2006-12-23 21:18:46 The Nichol and Bertuzzi cheap shots are not even close in comparison. Nichol was pissed like any other player would have been. The one thing that should have happened is Spacek should have turned around and expect Nichol to come after him. Bertuzzi was out to hurt Moore. If I remember Moore fought earlier in the game after he was challenged. I agree on the Nichol's suspension, just not the length.
Posted by bill woodward on 2006-12-23 04:48:10 i think unfortunately it's one of those rare moments that happens caught up in the heat of the moment. i know for a fact that no matter who in the league did it, Nichol would've stood up for himself on that play. and at the same time i think given the chance, spacek would've understood, respected the situation all be it uncomfortable for a skilled europen, and tried a wrestling match after that. unfortunately to me it reminded me of the Domi punch on Ulf. Cheap Shot for sure, But Way 2 harsh a penalty. I say 2 games, and a lot of fear for Spacek along with a nice rematch between the teams!
Posted by taproot on 2006-12-23 04:01:13 Nichol totally got what he deserved. No matter what someone does to you you don't blindly hit him when he isn't looking. Spacek is not a fighter, he's Russian for Christ's sake! Nichol is a woman and deserves to get his ass kicked when he gets back.
Posted by mbaumann on 2006-12-23 03:22:22 you know, it's one thing to lay the beat down on someone but another to take a shot when they aren't lookin. all nichol ha to do was drop the mits and grab space and if spacek refuses you drill him in the face and let him turtle, at least he was facing you and knew it was comming but a shot from behind like that.....9 was perfect. Domi got 8 for dropping Ulf some years back
Posted by Jer on 2006-12-23 02:39:04 The league has no room for sucker punchs like that. I say give him 10 games off. Thats a pussy with a capital "P".
Posted by JJ on 2006-12-23 00:12:03 Rediculous. Sure it was dirty on Spacek's part, but but there is no need for that type of cheap shot in hockey. You turn him around and challenge him, not pull a Bertuzzi and be a puss.
Posted by Chuckflan333 on 2006-12-23 00:04:13 If you get knocked down and he's a fighter, you fight, if he's not, you take his number, and drill him later on. What Nichol did was cowardly and ridiculous. He's the type of player who won't stand up to tough guys but will sucker punch europeans who don't fight. He's got no guts and no class. He punched Ladislav Nagy around once, and when Shane Doan invited him to fight he turtled. He's a punk. That being said, yeah 9 games is a bit ridiculous. I thought 2-4 was fine.
Posted by MrUNoHoo on 2006-12-22 23:55:27 ya but if u want to get back at some 1 u dont cheap shot them when they arnt looking nichol is the pussy in this 1
Posted by matt on 2006-12-22 21:19:35 spacek got what he deserved your responsable for your action it is like the bertuzzi incedent steve moore tried to injured naslund ans was a pussy because he did not droped the gloves against todd
Posted by connelly on 2006-12-22 21:12:22 So what if he was looking away? Next time you throw somebody into a goalpost, expect them to get up and beat your ass. Nine games is ridiculous.
Posted by js on 2006-12-22 20:44:44

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