Buffalo Boy's Blog

This is exactly why the NHL will NEVER be a legitimate sports league in North America. Maybe only in Canada can you guys put up with bush league rules that only apply to the non-elite players but Zdeno Chara not drawing the one game instigator suspension from last nights game is laughable.

Why have the rule if the league gives themselves an out to enforce it? This leaves it wide open now for some nastiness next game and I hope Chara wears his mask because any chance Sabre players get to take a swipe at his ugly mug they should try to clip his nose clean off his face.

The high sticking infractions missed by the inept officials alone last night would have been enough to have Chara in the box for at least a full period of the next game.

My problem with this is that its a rule but it doesn't necessarily have to be enforced...Chara, Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin, Alfredsson, and Spezza probably would never be suspended, them and a select few other players around the league are the so called "elite" players. I guarantee that if it was Gaustad who threw the first punches hes sitting out on Monday, the league is full of crap just like its commissioner.  

Either enforce the rule or don't. The NHL is a bush league and always will be until it has the spine to really enforce rules. Otherwise, take the instigator rule out and lets see the players enforce it in game 6 on Monday. Chara's actions could have resulted in a serious injury, Gaustad wasn't expecting Chara to start throwing his meat hooks at him. We have seen the injuries over the years of playes who unknowingly get hit with punches whether from behind or square in the face, its not pretty. So the league set the standard,

I say they take the officials off the ice because now its in the players hands, the league failed to do their job and in the old days Chara's nose job would have to be re-done come Monday night. Its war and the league made it that way. Put you mask back on Chara you are going to need it Monday.