Well, I know that Malkin used his elbow hard in Game 2, and that Ryan Malone maybe tried to go for a knee last night before scoring the insurance goal, but how did those Flyers only get two penalties?
They took numerous runs at Malkin all night. They were called on the attempted Knee to Knee hit that resulted in a 2 minute tripping call, but got away with an elbow, some obstruction and some interference and some holding and some slashing. The refs were really letting it go.
If that elbow in the first period connected with Malkin, it would have been a painful one. I would guess that it would have probably put him out for the game and maybe the series and resulted in a suspension to the Flyers. Kudos for Malkin lifting his head a moment before turning out the lights.
Will the desperate and dirty Flyers just go headhunting in Game 4?
plus the hit on sykora at the end of the game when malone scored, that was such a late hit and so obvious, but remember what everyone is saying is that the Penguins get all the calls,
plus the hit on sykora at the end of the game when malone scored, that was such a late hit It was so obvious that Downie was gunning for Sykora there. He skated from the area he gave up the puck right to him and plowed him at least 2 whole seconds after he had the puck, why the trailing ref didn't make a call is beyond me. I dislike both teams and thought it was a poor decision on Downie's part.
I hope they don't go head hunting - personally. IT will be really hard to hide it if they do. But our beloved Penguins have been guilty of similar treatment - you just talked about the elbow to the head. I saw a pretty close to boarding hit by Laraque as well....
This is going to be a physical and taxing series - there will be stuff on both sides that doesn't get called and it will be considered "Dirty Play." I expected it - and to be honest I am kind of happy its happening this way and the Penguins are STILL winning. All post season long "Can the young and talented Penguins take the physical punishment and play disciplined hockey?"
I hope to all that is good that they have answered those questions with their commitment to defense, the never ending speed and running, and the dominance in the Nuetral Zone. They took the puck away from the Rangers, they did it from the Senators, and now they are handing it to the Flyers. They have proven they aren't just a pretty little sweet smelling rose - they have deep roots and sharp aggressive thorns.
That 'knee' Geno took was BS. So was the 'hook' on Hossa. The refs haven't been too good this series, but they haven't affected the outcome at all, and that's key. The Pens clearly won the first three and in all likelyhood the series. Good luck against Detroit. We want a rematch next year!
The Flyers got away with a bunch of bad non-calls in the game last night, but I can't understand why you would call the hit on Malkin an attempted knee to knee when the guy went in for a clean hit and Malkin attempted to side-step it. There is obviously going to still be contact on that type of play, and it was a good non-call because the intent was for a clean hit. It wasn't the defenseman's fault that Malkin caused a potentially dangerous collision by trying to side step the hit.
Are you not allowed to attempt an open ice check in the new NHL?
Actually, I understand what you are saying, and you are indeed allowed to attempt an open ice check in the new NHL but you are still not allowed to stick your leg out.
Malkin did indeed sidestep away from the original hit, but when he did this, the Flyer player stuck his leg out to insure contact was made. This is the illegal, dirty part of the play.
It goes for all types of hits, either on the boards or open ice, that you are allowed to give a good legal check, but you cannot break the rules. Get the elbow up, its a penalty, board the guy, its a penalty, stick your legs out because the guy sidestepped you, its a penalty.
