Wings Get Hit, Throw Down, Win Late

The Wings-Ducks series started off with a bang last night.  In a game that featured a little bit of everything, Detroit was victorious, with captain Nicklas Lidstrom scoring with just 50 seconds left in regulation.

Mid-way through the first period Mike Brown crushed Jiri Hudler.  Hudler just released a pass, and Brown caught him with his head down.

It’s a hit that’s going to be debated about.  Brown was given a major for interference (yup, that’s a real thing), and ejected; but was the call based on Hudler being bloodied and needing to be helped off the bench?  If you time the hit, it’s easily less than a second after Hudler had the puck, and finishing checks is what all coaches preach.  Or, despite not having a rule about headshots yet, will the NHL react and suspend Mike Brown?  The league has shown it’s not gun-shy about handing out suspensions to players like Brown.

In the second period, scrums continued and Jonathan Ericsson accepted a challenged from Corey Perry.  Ericsson’s not a frequent fighter, but has shown he can handle himself.  He landed a couple of strong shots while whipping Perry around before the linesmen (quickly) stepped in.

Update 430pm: In case you haven’t heard, Brown will not be suspended.

Hype, hype!

Caps-Pens starts at 1PM ET today.  It’s going going to be a good one.

The Blackhawks and Canucks drop the puck at 9PM ET.

Videos added

Corey Perry vs Jonathan Ericsson May 1, 2009
Adam Mair vs Jay Leach Dec 13, 2008
Chris Neil vs Troy Brouwer Dec 10, 2008
Jared Boll vs George Parros Dec 7, 2008

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#1 - henry on May 02, 2009 at 03:00 PM

thought it was a late dirty hit,there was no need for it!!!if you actually watch it in slow motion you can see brown bring his elbow up on the hit.i think it was intentional.if it was a player who doesn’t have the reputation of playing dirty,but brown is by far one of the dirtiest players in the game.when it comes to fighting,hitting or or even scrums in fron of the net.i would put him up there with komirsarek,but worse then avery.avery is more a agitator then being dirty.but hartnell is pretty dirty as is ryan hollweg,so yeah i would put brown at the top of the list for sure…sorry just venting

#2 - zeke from ventura, CA on May 02, 2009 at 03:28 PM

maybe a lil elbow, but he was on a straight path to the lil chicken wing. so i’m glad they didn’t suspend him. overall i’d say good hit and totally not intentional. just hockey man!

#3 - TomW from San Jose, CA on May 02, 2009 at 03:36 PM

When you go back and look at the video, Carlyle is right - barely a second ticked off the clock, and the two players’ momentum was already in each other’s direction.  How many of YOU can stop on a dime like that?  As David pointed out, “finishing checks is what all coaches preach.”  Guaranteed, if it had been Chris Pronger on the receiving end of an identical hit, it would be THE highlight reel play of the next decade in Detroit, and everybody knows it.  I concur with David that it was the blood on the ice which influenced the officials, not the hit itself.  How the NHL follows up will be very telling.  Brown already sat out essentially all of Game 1.  Sitting him for Game 2 should be a maximum penalty, and then perhaps only to keep the drunken Wings fans from rioting.  Anything beyond that, and perhaps the league is tipping its hand that it WANTS Detroit in the Cup Finals for its own purposes, and rolls its eyes at the possibility of a California team representing the West.  Anybody who has seen the young Mike Brown play this year will realize he is far from a dirty player, but he’s a tough SOB.  He manhandled the Sharks on the PK and was a factor in the early exit of the Presidents Trophy winners.  And when all is said and done, that probably explains the posturing of Wings personnel more than anything.  They’re actually afraid of the kid playing a role in tarnishing their entitlement.

#4 - david william larue esq from san diego on May 02, 2009 at 03:38 PM

dirty dirty dirty.

i don’t see the controversy at all. hudler had long passed the puck.

classless.

#5 - tattooed kingpin from Detroit on May 02, 2009 at 04:09 PM

Tom, you are officially an idiot. Youre right. There going to suspend Mike Brown so detroit can win the series just to keep the Californian teams out of the Finals. That is just retarted. Ive heard a 2 year old talk more knowledgeable than you.


Idiot.

#6 - John Marshall on May 02, 2009 at 04:44 PM

Love the Wings but this was a clean hit. Not cheap, no elbow. Clean. Text book open ice hit executed perfectly.

#7 - Brad from Seattle, WA on May 03, 2009 at 01:57 AM

Brown has at least 3 if not 4 inches on Hudler, his elbow and shoulder go to his head (which is why Hudler was cut). While I think the on ice calls were sufficient this was a shot at the head which is what the league wants to cut down on. I think this is dirty as Brown could have still laid Hudler out without throwing the elbow/shoulder into his head. If you’ve played the game you know how to take someone out and how to injure someone. BTW I’m a Wings fan and Michigan alum (Brown played at UM) and cheer for both.

#8 - Brian P. from Chicago on May 03, 2009 at 10:02 PM

It was a clean hit, he was gliding in to hudler about to hit him right when hudler got rid of the puck. what made it look so bad is that hudler was low to the ice becasue he was turning. He got cut because of the shield on his helmet. It was a clean hit and that is why there is no suspension.

#9 - Louie P. from South Philly on May 04, 2009 at 12:30 PM

That was a clean hit!!! The only reason there was a penalty is because it’s the Detroit RedWings.  That team has a bunch of players that are cheap, like, Franzen, Holmstrom, Hudler, Maltby, Samuelson and Kronwall who leave their skates to hit people, especially when they are vulnerable, and never get a call against them.  If they knew the player could get up and kick their ass, and not have to give up a power play and sit in the panalty box for 17 minutes because of the STUPID instigator rule, they wouldn’t be so brave.  The NHL, (Bettman and his cronies), want teams like Detroit to keep winning, and teams like the Ducks to lose to Detroit and we all know why.  THE WINGS ARE A BUNCH OF WUSSIES!!!  They won’t fight, yet they constantly take runs at opposing player and facewash and jab and laugh, because they know they won’t get jacked-up.  They definitely have several all-world players, but if for one season the NHL stopped the instigator penalty I don’t think they would be as successful.

#10 - Maxwerm on May 04, 2009 at 03:09 PM

Clean hit in my opinion. If there’s no blood, there’s no ejection. Same with the Brash hit - no broken eye bone - no six game suspension. I’m also curious to know what the punishment would be if the hit was dealt by someone with a “cleaner” reputation. I think I know what the answer is, though.
They should either make a clearly defined rule or lay off the heavy-handed punishments. These guys chose the roughest game in the world as their profession, they should understand the occupational hazards.

#11 - Caps Tough Guy from Washington, DC on May 04, 2009 at 06:47 PM

Donald Brasher recieved 5 games for the hit on the Ranger player and 1 for touching Orr before the game.  Brashers hit was not as bad as Browns even though Brashers hit was late also.  In my opinion 5 games was unfair and way to much.  If Brown gets much less I will be pissed and will belive Campbell and Betts are the losers and sissy punks I thought they were.  Conspiracy to keep Detroit and other big market teams in the Cup finals.  Sorry but we took care of NY.  I guess they are hoping for Sidney the Fairy and the Penguins.

#12 - jake smith from southern maine on May 04, 2009 at 08:23 PM

Hey caps tough guy, u can stop complaining anytime u want.  All Brashear has ever done is scored a handful of goals, get a stick to the head by mcsorley, and get tko’d by belak…so, i think its about time he hangs up those skates of his.

#13 - Tom G. from New York on May 04, 2009 at 11:15 PM

Starting to develop a real dislike for the Anaheim Ducks, between Mike Brown’s cheap shot and Corey “visor fighter” Perry. This team is a bunch goons. I also think their coach is a little weasel too. I am also disappointed they (Ducks) won game#2 in 3ot’s. Red wings need to start standing up for each other.

#14 - Maxwerm on May 05, 2009 at 02:40 PM

Jake - And yet he’s playing on a premier NHL team, on his way to the Stanley Cup. There must be something about him that makes him valuable enough for him to keep getting signed . . . but, you’re right; He should hang ‘em up.

#15 - Rex from MN on May 13, 2009 at 04:20 PM

I’ll take Brash on my team, and right now the Wings could sure use him.  If Anaheim wins it will be because Detroit lacks a Brash-like force.  It is really strange that he got 5 games and Walker only got fined chump change.  Typical hockey brass decisions.

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