As expected, the Chicago Blackhawks got off to a quick start Friday night against Detroit. The Red Wings had a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals, but Chicago was playing at home in a conference final game for the first time in 14 years.
After jumping to a 2-0 first-period lead, the Blackhawks got a controversial five-minute power play. Detroit's Niklas Kronwall stepped up at the Chicago blue line to lay out forward Martin Havlat, who had his head down trying to find a loose puck in his skates.
Here is video of the hit.
I'm all for policing the game and erring on the side of caution. Really, I am. But this is getting ridiculous.
Kronwall may have been guilty of charging, but that's highly debatable. Saying he was guilty of interference, as determined by referees Dave Jackson and Dan O'Halloran, is simply an unacceptable stretch of logic. Yes, Havlat looked to be completely out of it, even well after the hit. Yes, it's unfortunate for him and the Blackhawks, and no one wishes an injury on a competitor at this time of year.
None of this, however, means that Kronwall deserved a penalty. He committed to throwing a hit, and he did so without knowing that Havlat would render himself vulnerable by putting his head down trying to play a puck that got lost in his skates.
Instead of the "nothing" he probably should have gotten, Kronwall received a five-minute major penalty and an early shower. It probably won't be any more than that, but you never know what will happen with the NHL's Wheel of Discipline.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-22-2009 @ 10:40PM
Josh said...
After the calls in the Ducks series, I am not surprised that this was called a misconduct. And I will be surprised if he isn't at least fined for this legal hit. I won't deny that it was a rough hit and there was unneeded force in it but he didn't break the rules so there shouldn't have been any punishment. Maybe a 2 minute minor for roughing just to send a message that hard hits like that wouldn't be tolerated. But nothing more.
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5-23-2009 @ 5:05AM
ronnwells said...
I think you better watch the replay that kind of hit was never allowed in hockey , he gave him a forearm smash(thats what they used to call it in wrestleing) and got him right in the jaw with his elbow, not only should he be fined a suspension is in order on this one you could see his intent was to hurt
5-22-2009 @ 11:18PM
espadon58 said...
The game of hockey has change so much that I can't watch it no more.They should be playing with little dress to show some skin for the sissy's in the stand.
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5-23-2009 @ 12:15AM
Bill Ramsay said...
As a Blackhawks fan, I do know that this was a clean hit. As far as saying that you cant watch h ockey unless they wear sissy dresses--thats taking it a bit to far. Havlat had his head down--YES--did he see Kronwall--well if you watch the video--he HAD to see him coming. I think Marty thought he would have the puck and dodge Kronwall. Hockey cant be played with your head down and Kronwalls lucky he didnt get into it with Big Buff...but I think a 2 minute interference would have been enough and than the Hwaks could have had revenge if the possibilty came about...but Im glad we won(they) and I hope this will be just as good the next few games but for you Detroit fans..your team is just too good but watch out..the Hawks are the next dominant team on the horizon and you guys are getting too old..give us maybe 2 more years and we will see...great game..glad Marty is ok---tweet tweet chirp chirp...twinkle twinkle little STARS
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5-23-2009 @ 1:25PM
Ryan said...
I totally agree that it was a clean hit and should not have been called for anything but a good old time hockey hit. Im a wings fan and if would have been the other way i would still feel the same way. These sissy's that say other wise shouldn't watch CONTACT sports. He didnt leave his feet till after contact. Thats why the #1 rule in hockey is to KEEP YOUR HEAD UP!
5-23-2009 @ 12:27AM
Jason K said...
I agree with the announcers that it wasn't interference, but I wouldn't go so far as say it was a clean hit. He clearly left his feet.
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5-23-2009 @ 12:49AM
Bob said...
Had you watched the whole video you would have seen that Kronwall didn't leave his feet until after contact, which make it a clean hit & a "No Call".
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5-23-2009 @ 3:36AM
rwing said...
Gee, seems I remember a SOMEWHAT similiar hit in the Red Wings@Ducks series....that being Brown leveling Hudler into a bloody mess. But what did Brown get...a 2 minute interference penalty, and that one WAS a dirty hit. Kronwall's hit was a hard, but CLEAN hit, and what does he get--a 5 minute major as well as a game misconduct. Seems that YET AGAIN, there is a different set of rules by the refs. when it comes to Detroit. Hope the Wings SHOVE it down BUTTman's throat when it's all said and done.
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5-23-2009 @ 5:06AM
Josh said...
Are you an idiot? Unless we are remembering two completely different hits (which I doubt), Brown was head hunting and attacked Hudler's head. There is a difference from hitting someone's head (That's the round thing that sits on top of someone's shoulder, in case your brain wasn't able to figure that out) and hitting someone in the chest area like Kronwall did. Yes, it was nasty hit. But it was completely legal. He doesn't leave his feet until -after- the hit has connected which is not illegal. If he had dove through the air to hit him, yeah. Suspend him. If he had hit him in the head? Go for it. But he didn't.
Either way, you just made yourself look incredibly stupid for comparing those too hits.
5-23-2009 @ 2:10PM
Dr Huxtable said...
You're both idiots. Brown got the same punishment as Kronwall. Both hits were legal. In the NHL there is no penalty for a shoulder to the head.
5-23-2009 @ 9:05AM
John said...
gary buttmen bettman has turned the game of hockey into a wussy sport!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! oh my god cant have the stars hurt over little hits.
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5-23-2009 @ 10:32AM
Gus said...
It was a clean hit. It was legal. He was playing the puck and had his head down(the number one no-no in hockey). It was a bad call plain and simple and the ref. should be repremanded for a bad call that most definately change the outcome of the game.
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5-23-2009 @ 11:27AM
sel4more said...
One thing everyone's missing, and they missed last night on the broadcast. HE LEFT HIS FEET to deliver a hit or check, which is not legal. If you remember when the Coyotes Jeremy Roenick was hit by some goon in Dallas and got his jaw broken in the playoffs, the suspension and fine to the Stars player was for "leaving his feet."
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5-23-2009 @ 6:16PM
Josh said...
Except he didn't leave his feet until after the hit was given which is actually legal...
5-23-2009 @ 11:46AM
plaudenbach said...
sel4more,
Watch the tape. He didn't leave his feet until after the hit, which is perfectly legal. It was a clean hit. A vicious hit, but perfectly legal. If the 'Hawks and their fans don't like it, they should trade their skates for skirts and get outta the NHL.
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5-23-2009 @ 12:57PM
John said...
I think probably any team Detroit plays should just be given a goal or two at the start of the game and let Detroit play from there. Perhaps then and only then will the refs call the game fairly. NHL referees should be ashamed of themselves and just as a player is fined at times, so should these 3 blind mice when they do something stupid. If you want to make some serious money, don't bet on the games, bet on the number of bad calls the refs make. Do an over/under and have some real fun. If Detroit and Pittsburg play again in the finals, I'd be willing to bet at least one Detroit player is sent to the penalty box for "Invading the personal space of Crosby while he's trying to score".
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5-23-2009 @ 2:12PM
jrbneb said...
It is the some old bad officiating since Bettman became Commish. The league engineers the results they want.
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5-23-2009 @ 2:19PM
dgsmsu said...
Clean hit! Kronwall did not leave his feet until contact was made. Nuff said about that. What nobody has commented on was the hit Buff put on Kronwall...a smash hit to the glass....no call! Yeah, he got 2 minutes for jousting with Franzen but no call and no mention at all. That should have been the 5 minute major! I honestly do not believe the whistle blew for a penalty, (watch on Leino stickhandles and drops the puck back). The penalty was called after the injury was apparent. I really thought the Wings would be on a long power play. Interference? The puck was at his feet!
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5-23-2009 @ 2:20PM
chuck said...
I hope The NHL is not going too be messed up like Nascar is
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5-23-2009 @ 3:02PM
Chris said...
Umm has anyone forgotten that this is HOCKEY??!! It is a game played wide open and at full speed 100% of the time. Brutal hits and beautiful goals are a must. Granted noone wants to see a player on any team injured. But if you have ever played the game you know you don't put your head down!!! I am tired of the officials having a hand in how the outcome of a game is decided. NO WAY that hit deserved a 5 minute and a game!! MAYBE and I say MAYBE a roughing at most.
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