Scott Walker Avoids Suspension

Carolina Hurricanes forward Scott Walker made some headlines on Sunday night for his one-punch knockout (pictured right) of Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward in the closing minutes of Boston's 4-0 win in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Walker was issued 17 minutes in penalties for the hit, including a two-minute instigator penalty.

Because the NHL is supposedly cracking down on late-game message sending and brawling, any player that receives an instigator penalty in the final five minutes of regulation -- or overtime -- is automatically suspended for the following game. The NHL's wheel of discipline, however, has decided to rescind that rule, as Walker will be available for Game 6 in Carolina on Tuesday night.

According to WRAL, Walker will be fined $2,500 while receiving no additional punishment. Here's what Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford had to say on the league's decision, via WRAL:

"We are satisfied with the league's ruling," said Hurricanes President and General Manager Jim Rutherford. "After our team received several punches throughout the series leading up to Game 5, it was a matter of time before one was going to be thrown back."

There was some speculation coming out of Boston on Sunday night that Ward might have suffered a broken orbital bone as a result of the hit, while Bruins head coach Claude Julien said he would be "disappointed" if Walker were not suspended. From Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe's Bruins Blog:

"In reviewing what I saw, I just didn't like what happened. I just don't think there was any need for that. He sucker-punched him once coming into the scrum when [Ward] was involved with another player. He dropped his gloves and sucker-punched him. I don't care what people say about Ward should have protected himself. He had no intentions of getting involved. We asked our guys to stay composed and not fall into that trap. He did just that. A guy with Walker's experience should know better than to sucker-punch a guy."

Immediately following the game, Bruins goalie Tim Thomas called the incident one of the worst sucker punches he had ever seen.

Once again it's impossible to figure out the NHL's rationale when it comes to player discipline, while it's difficult to take its stance on eliminating "message sending" seriously when it neglects what should have been an automatic one-game suspension. I suppose you could argue that Walker wasn't necessarily sending a message, but simply responding to his teammate, Matt Cullen, being involved in a skirmish with Ward just prior to the punch. That would be a fair point, but the bottom line is that he jumped into the middle of it and punched Ward squarely in the face, while the Hurricanes racked up 36 minutes in penalties in the third period, including two fighting majors, a 10-minute misconduct, and an instigator penalty that, by rule, should have resulted in an automatic suspension.

The Hurricanes currently lead the best of seven series 3-2, and have an opportunity to advance on Tuesday night on home ice.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

5-11-2009 @ 3:19PM

Glenn20 said...

Worst sucker punch I've ever seen. It was criminal. If the NHL doesn't take any action, then maybe the police should file charges.

5-12-2009 @ 9:40AM

dtenore said...

Um... no. Once you bring the police in, you ruin the game.
In game, or in their first meeting next season, Walker should simply get his on the ice: let Chara mow him down.

5-11-2009 @ 3:20PM

ptcards said...

what bullshit, he should have been suspended for the rest of the playoffs, never mind the 1 game. the nhl oficials have no clue. i guess its ok just to skate into someone and sucker punch them, un friggin believable

5-11-2009 @ 3:28PM

stupididiotiv said...

i hope the nhl will turn the other cheek when milan lucic retaliates

cknox1 said...

I can't believe they didn't suspend him for the rest of the playoffs. They suspended Lucic, and this hit was much worse. He's a wimp for coming in like that and taking such a cheap shot when someone isn't looking.

So much for the NHL sticking to their own rules. Walker is wimp, and I hope the B's retaliate and take him out for the rest of the season...but, wait, they'll get the suspension, right? Of course.....

Get with the program, NHL, if you make a rule, and apply it to one player, you have to apply it to all.......

5-11-2009 @ 4:13PM

Chappy said...

Just goes to show you that when it comes down to it, the leagues dictate who wins and who loses, not just in hockey. It happens in the NFL, NBA and the NHL. The NHL is failing to enforce their own mandated rules. Why did they suspend Lucic for one game for his cross check during the Montreal series and not this flagrant sucker punch? It's complete BS and I hope that the Bruins take matters into their own hands in game 6.

ty6wheel said...

Exactly what I was going to say.... We'll see what happens when Lucic hammers a Hurricane.

5-11-2009 @ 4:50PM

bfash said...

They will be carring the bodies off the ice on Tuesday. The NHL will be the one's to blame! Game 6 will be a real war. If the Bruins are winning late (+2 or more) look for more B.S.

5-11-2009 @ 5:02PM

jayd1564 said...

I can't wait for game 6. I hope Lucic waits till there is 6 minutes left in the game and whoops that dudes ass. The NHL screwed the B's again this playoff year.

5-11-2009 @ 5:07PM

countflock said...

I haven't seen a sucker punch like this in ages. I'll bet you a million dollars that if the Bruins take Walker out, the NHL will immediately suspend the “guilty” party. I feel sorry for the refs on Tuesday, because they will have a blood bath on their hands. As far as Walker goes, I hope he gets his on Tuesday.

Maybe this is why Vs. broadcasted the Indy time trials and NBC gave us golf instead of broadcasting the Detroit - Anaheim game. Wake up Bettman and NHL. You make pro wrestling look legit.

5-11-2009 @ 9:57PM

colin campbell jr. said...

After the Montreal series, I needed to watch something slightly less contrived, so I found my old VCR in the attic and busted out my tape of Wrestlemania 4. Eerily similar. Walker should have given Ward the camel clutch. Next season there will be steal chairs behind both goals. I guess my name should be Puppetmaster Jr. From the top rope!

5-11-2009 @ 5:11PM

I think there will be a bigger blood bath if the Bruins are losing badly with 6 minutes left. The Bruins would have nothinkg to lose if that is the case.

5-11-2009 @ 5:17PM

pittbulled said...

My view on this is had it been the other way around and the Bruins player was the ones who through the wimpy sucker punch there would have been a big suspension, in every major sport it has always been that way anti Boston,
It is a laugher that Milan Lucic was suspended in the last series for a hit that was far less severe and Walker wasn't even given as much as a slap on the wrist what a joke this league is, but I guess they don't care what Boston fans think.
The Bruins should not retaliate for this ratter they should let it fire them up and look at it as it is us against everyone else, it is what itis, rise to the occasion and show them why we are the B's.

5-11-2009 @ 6:23PM

Dr Huxtable said...

I think that I just shit my pants laughing.

"in every major sport it has always been that way anti Boston"

That's the funniest thing that I have ever read. Celtics get away with multiple cheap shots this postseason, no suspensions. Patriots blatantly cheat repeatedly, no punishment. That's what I call anti-Boston treatment.

5-11-2009 @ 5:47PM

StevefromSacto said...

Brashear gets 6 games for his cheap shot, and Walker gets nothing for his?
What a joke. Brash was guilty, his may have been worse, and he likely got some additional punishment because of who he is, not what he did. But having said all that, how the hell can you talk about cleaning up the game and then let Walker get off "scott-free" (had to get the pun in there!)

5-11-2009 @ 5:52PM

You can't be serious. The entire Western world with a couple of exceptions rooted for the Red Sox to win the World Series. And you're whining about everyone rooting against all the Boston teams. Give the conspiracy theories and the poor-mouthing a rest.

5-11-2009 @ 6:06PM

aaacuda said...

Carolina cheap shots....chara leg and ward free sucker punch..deserves the officials to look the other way when Lucic or Chara deck goofy nose brindamour or stahl..and crack their knees.

5-11-2009 @ 6:18PM

mspear1343 said...

If Walker had hit Donald Brashear his career would be over. But Brashear can trash a player during warm up and break a bone in face and only get a slap on the wrist. When it happened to Brasheer straight up it was a racists attack and a player lost his career for hitting a goon. NHL go figure.

5-11-2009 @ 6:24PM

Jwear said...

Laughable still calling this a sucker punch, have to wonder if we're watching the same game here.

Lucic's suspension should have been longer, considering he not only used his stick but put it into Lapierre's face after crosschecking the crap out Schneider.

Some of the comments here just reaffirm the assclownery of Bruins fans