wild/nhl

He did take the swing at the guy....it may not have been intended to hit him in the mouth, but you pay the price for making the decision to take the swing. He definitley isn't that type of player but maybe it will slow down the other guys in the league that are that type of player.

I was there, saw it from the blue line, watched the replay, and I disagree. Carver lifted the stick as Butch went to tap his hands (a practice done all the time by players). It was bad timing. It wasn't a baseball swing as Columbus Head Coach Arniel is whining about either. Nystrom’s icing prevent attempt two weeks ago was bad timing too with far worse results (broken leg) and no repercussions. I’m not saying Nystrom should be penalized, but this lack of consistency has created confusion. Butch is just as clean of a player as Nystrom, maybe more.

Calvert aggressively liftied his stick under Bouchards right into his own mouth. If you saw the replay it was a freak accident is all.

clinto - yes, he has to be responsible for his stick, there's no denying that. But he received a double minor penalty already - that should have been the end of it. Calvert initiate's the contact with Butch (watching the replay, that's why Butch was facing Calvert) and it's Calvert's own stick work that results in taking it to the face. So, for all that, PMB gets 2 games when his victim is the one who caused the hit to the head? What a joke. Since every high sticking penalty involves a stick to the head (by definition, right?), are they all going to require supplemental discipline in addition to the in-game penalty? This is getting ridiculous. PMB's situation seems to me to be similar to the head checks ... Shanny has determined that when a player moves prior to the check to put his head in a different position, the checker isn't going to be suspended for the hit that thereafter results in head contact.

A baseball swing? Are you kidding me? That is a ridiculous suspension. Making an example out of terrible example.

So our guy Butch gets suspended because the Columbus jackwagon lifted Butches stick into his own grill? Whatever. And then the Columbus' Coach Arniel tries to embellish it as a baseball swing? Thats simply laughable. I am beginning to think this Shanahan NHL Discipline Czar-Dufus is just another stiff like Colin Campbell was. When is Bettman gonna wake up and smell the Zamboni exhaust and start hiring some people with full-functioning brains in their heads?

That was one ugly cheap shot. Late in his career, Bobby Orr decried the increasing use of sticks over old fashioned fists. Bouchard's act is a disgrace.

PMB is far from a dirty player, he's the most mild mannered guyon the team. He'a shrimp, he's not going to start something he can't finish. No more Boogard to help him. He's just here to play hockey.

Since Calvert caused the high stick, why doesn't he get suspended two games, too?

Arniel didn't complain when Wiesniewski cheap shoted Clutterbuck in the preseason game but thinks the world is going to end over this.... This is the same coach who thinks Todd Richards is a power play expert. Bottom line is Arniel is an idiot.