Penguins-Bruins Shenanigans

So it’s been nearly a decade since Todd Bertuzzi jumped Steve Moore.  A trial date has been set for next September. And with that, hopefully, the NHL can put one of the ugliest incidents behind itself… and get started on the next one.

There’s a whole bunch of shit that went down in the Penguins-Bruins game last night. It starts with a solid hit by Brooks Orpik onLoui Eriksson on the first shift of the game. Eriksson would leave after that. Orpik was not called for a penalty. It’s a questionable hit, as Orpik has Eriksson lined up, but the puck ends up going behind Eriksson, and when he turns around to reach for it, he gets hit by Orpik. It’s a hit that definitely falls in the grey area, and I can understand arguments both for and against its legality. Orpik was later challenged to a fight by Bruins enforcer Shawn Thornton, but declined. A little over five minutes later, Thornton decides he wants a piece of Orpik whether he’s willing or not.

With the play blown dead for a Penguins penalty (I’ll get to that, but don’t wanna break up the narrative), and a gathering of players in the Penguins zone, Thornton comes skating in, grabs Orpik and takes him down to the ice with a slew foot and proceeds to land two punches to Orpik’s face. The trainers and stretcher are immediately called to the ice, and Orpik is stretchered off the ice (not a team you wanna be on, but the all-stretcher team’s got a solid D with Boychuk, Boyle, Kronwall, Robidas, Trouba and now Orpik). Apparently Orpik is okay, and will fly back with the Penguins. So thankfully Orpik isn’t in as bad of shape as it appeared he would be.

Now, the penalty the caused the play to be blown dead. Brad Marchand is trying to skate the puck out of the Bruins zone when he gets tripped up by Sidney Crosby, which goes uncalled. However, while Marchand is on the ice, James Neal skates by, and knees Marchand in the head while he’s down. Thankfully, this one gets called. It’s a dirty play, an attempt to injure, a completely unnecessary and avoidable play, a play for which Neal will, very rightfully, get suspended (he’s got a hearing set for Monday), and a play that would surely be more widely discussed were it not for Thornton’s freak-out.

As dumb and disgusting as Neal’s knee was, Thornton’s takedown and knockout of Orpik goes to another level. A Bertuzzi-Moore, MartyMcSorely-Donald Brasher, Chris Simon-Ryan Hollweg level. It has absolutely nothing to do with the play that’s going on, which isn’t because of Neal’s penalty, and has everything to do with Thornton losing control, and taking violent retribution. Now by all accounts Thornton is an ideal enforcer. He hasn’t been suspended before, and generally plays within the lines. He even has some skill, as his 83 career points are nearly as much as the 7 other enforcers who played tonight combined (Brian McGrattan, Matt Carkner, Zac Rinaldo, Jay Rosehill, Frazer McLaren, Matt Kassian, and Cam Janseen sit at 97 career points. Interestingly, Rinaldo also had a freak-out today, fascinating how that seems to be completely forgotten now). Thornton seems genuine in his post-game comments and deserves kudos for facing the media. None of that, nor anything that might have precipitated his actions (i.e., Orpik’s hit on Eriksson), can remove or alleviate any blame for Thornton.

This was an absolutely disgusting play, there’s not much more that needs to be said. There is no defending what Thornton did (on that note, there’s no defending what Neal did either). It’s the kind of play that makes you cringe and ask, ‘is this really the game I love? How did it come to this?’ It’s obvious that plays like this have no place in the game, and I think that opinion is almost unanimous (expect for all those sadists out there). Thornton should get a long suspension (whatever is considered long), and during that time we should all consider what it is we love about hockey. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m ashamed when plays like these (Thornton’s and Neal’s), along with the others listed above, occur. There’s no way to explain the egregious violence and having to make apologies for the sport’s recklessness and violence just gets more and more difficult. This isn’t what I enjoy about the game, and it is outright sickening that stuff like this keeps happening. Will this be the time we learn? Or will we have to keep having these same conversations?