Crosby Fights in Defense of Malkin

It is really getting rather annoying that players in general seem to freak out so much after clean hits. Every big, yet clean, hit seems to lead to a fight or at least other players going after and trying to attack the hitter. I can see after dirty hits, but why after a clean hit? I guess at least Crosby was "fighting" with someone who knew there was a fight going on this time.

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I'm no Penguins fan, but that was a nasty (legal) hit, and Evgeni Malkin is the luckiest guy on the ice tonight, because his neck isn't broken. The way he landed could have ended in tragedy.

That said, I hope they threw the book at Crosby for his attack on Ballard. I don't think a 5-minute fighting major, plus 2 for unsportsmanlike conduct was enough. Attacking someone for a legal hit has got to end, and I'd say that whether it was Crosby doing the attacking or Donald Brashear, from my favorite team.

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ATTACK?!?! That wasn't an attack. Crosby challenged Ballard, Ballard accepted, they fought. They both agreed to it.

Now, is fighting after a clean hit stupid? Sure. But this wasn't an "attack." Get real.

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I'm a big Penguins fan but this is horrible. Why the announcers are giving Crosby credit for sticking up for his teammate is beyond me. Ballard is supposed to hit people, why should he have to drop the gloves for this?

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This was far from an attack, but its still pointless. Going after Claude Lemieux for rearranging Kris Drapers face, perfectly logical. Going after a guy because someone was foolish enough to have their head down, cmon. Again, this is in general, saying I don't like Crosby would be an understatement, but this is far from the only time this happens, so I can't exactly single him out for this.

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it wasn't a bad hit at all. what the hell was crosby thinking?

they've got helmets on for a reason

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Hahahaha, holyyyyyyyyyyy crap, is Crosby out of his mind?!?!?

Nice escapist drag down, btw. Ballard clearly looked like he was getting ready to put the hammer down on the kid after a couple solid shots.

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Lets Bitch about everything Crosby does, especially when he does the right thing! It was a legal hit (for now, maybe not next season) but it was a hit that was capable of inflicting a serious injury to a team mate. He is doing the right thing by standing up for his team mates, it doesnt matter if the hit was legal or not, its about whether you are willing to let the opposing team set the tempo and manhandle your team or not. It was a statement of solidarity and team-play. This kind of hit\fight scenario happens in like one out of every five games in the league and the lead-in hit usually isnt so dangerous, but it only comes up when ppl want to get their daily bitching about crosby out. He's better than 99.5% of all other players on the planet, he may not be the best but hes damn close. Bitching about him is beyond old, on and off the ice he usually does the right thing (save ringin some south bells) and at least he has the moxie to stand up for his team mates and himself.

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Sidney Crosby as team captain was sending a message not only to the opposing team but also to his team mates. The hit by Ballard looked legal. That said, Crosby was only letting Ballard and mates know that he wasn't going to let anything more absorbing like a dirty hit be the next hit to happen to his team mates. Possible a good move to be heard by Playoff opponents. Crosby isn't team captain not only because he is a fantastic hockey player, but one of the most intelligent players to play the game.

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