The Ice Sheet: Instigator Won't Sideline Malkin for Game 3

Late in Sunday night's 3-1 Detroit Red Wings victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals, Pittsburgh forward Maxime Talbot helped set off a melee that could have very well wound up costing him and his teammates dearly if NHL disciplinary czar Colin Campbell had followed the letter of the law when it comes to the infamous instigator penalty.

How did it happen? With only 19 seconds left and Pittsburgh pressing to score with an extra attacker, Evgeni Malkin let go with a slapshot from the right wing faceoff circle that was handled pretty easily by Detroit goaile Chris Osgood.

Then, after the whistle had blown, Talbot jabbed at the puck, hitting Osgood in the chest. Whether Osgood was actually hurt or not, he fell to the ice, and his teammates came to his aid. In all the confusion, a clearly agitated Malkin sought out Detroit center Henrik Zetterberg, perhaps to exact some payback for the way he has been shadowing Sidney Crosby throughout the first two games of the series. The video is after the jump.

Red Wings 3, Penguins 1: Recap | Box Score
Red Wings Lead Series 2-0

When the dust finally cleared, Talbot got two minutes for slashing, while Malkin and Zetterberg both got five for fighting. Usually, a skirmish like this one in the waning seconds of a game that had already been decided would have mattered little, except for the fact that the officials tacked on two minutes for instigating for Malkin. And, as the rulebook says in section 47.22:

A player or goalkeeper who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at anytime in overtime, shall automatically be suspended for one game. The Director of Hockey Operations will review every such incident and may rescind the suspension based on a number of criteria. The criteria for the review shall include, but not limited to, the score, previous incidents, etc.

So what's next? In a rather swift piece of decision-making, the NHL issued the following statement:

Following that review, Campbell said: "None of the criteria in this rule applied in this situation. Suspensions are applied under this rule when a team attempts to send a message in the last five minutes by having a player instigate a fight. A suspension could also be applied when a player seeks retribution for a prior incident. Neither was the case here and therefore the one game suspension is rescinded."

NHL Hockey Operations also determined that Malkin should have been assessed a game misconduct for not having his jersey tied down.

So, did the Penguins get a lucky break? Sure they did. Just like the Wings did when Zetterberg wasn't called for covering the puck in the crease in Games 1 and 2.

Every Monday morning The Ice Sheet will take a close look at everything that's happened in the NHL since Friday night at 5:00 PM -- or if need be, anything else the author wants to bleat about. To read them all, click here.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

6-01-2009 @ 1:11AM

Josh said...

I don't think it should. There is a clause under this rule that says if this is the first infraction during the Finals for this sorta thing, then they don't get suspended. Has to be the second time. Also, the rule is intended to stop a coach from sending out his player to take on a player on the other team and injure him. Any coach in his right mind wouldn't send his best player out there.

If he is going to be suspended, it should be for using his stick as a weapon during a fight. Not exactly clear on the rule book but after the mess with Chris Simon, I am absolutely sure that there are rules against that in the rule book

Talbot should be suspended for spearing Ozzy after the whistle though. That was just uncalled for.

I also think something should have happened to whomever was holding Zetterberg back and letting Malkin go at him. Now, I am sure that could be construed as he was trying to break the fight up but if you are trying to break a fight up you get between the two people or pull your own teammate back. -Never- make contact with the other team. This isn't deserving of a suspension, I don't think. Maybe a slap on the wrist $5,000-10,000 fine for it at most. Honestly, I would even be happy with a slap on the wrist fine for Talbot.

Either way though, the Wings won. That's all that I really care about. Up 2-0. The two best Pens are taking cheap shots at the Wings now. The Pens are losing their heads like they did last year. Sad thing is that this year... they actually stand a chance and have outplayed Detroit in probably 40-50% of the series thus far.

6-01-2009 @ 11:28PM

chilly16 said...

When your comment is longer than the article no one reads it!

6-01-2009 @ 1:24AM

kennethbramer said...

Can you say..... BACK TO BACK !!!

6-01-2009 @ 2:48AM

xganarchyx said...

The NHL will never be credible until they enforce these so called "rules" to EVERY PLAYER, not just in select cases. The one example from this years playoffs would be Carcillo being suspended for what people call a "punch" to the back of the head of a Penguins player during a faceoff. It was the end of the game and it was going to be a victory for the Pens. The very next night, the Canadiens attack some Bruins players at the end of THEIR game, and NO suspensions. Be consistent and there are no problems. Pick and choose who you'll suspend when the same infractions occur, and it's just not right.

6-01-2009 @ 5:51AM

iluvtomc said...

I think it's really pathetic that a team acts so petty and desperate at the end of a game they have clearly lost and no hope of winning. Taking a jab at the goalie like that should've gotten him tossed!

6-01-2009 @ 6:22AM

hafttwo said...

hockeytown is the city of champions

6-01-2009 @ 6:55AM

toddsworld05 said...

AS IF the pens outplayed detroit, the fact is the pens have not faced a defense anything like detroits this post season and they are getting frustrated.WINGS WILL SWEEP!!! WOO HOO BACK TO BACK!!! YEAH GO WINGS!

6-01-2009 @ 7:36AM

kfogs1957 said...

The Wings play their "system" flawlessly, however it is naive to say tey have not been lucky. Fleury gave up two fluke goals that bounced in off of him in game 1. Osgood has two shots that hot the post, and he has no clue where the puck is. it just misses him as well and does not go in. This series so far has been decided on bounces, and that has nothing to with skill or woriking hard. In addition, the Wings have benefitted twice from covering pucks in the crease. All the breaks have gone the wings way si far, that is just being straight up and honest. Don't get upset, they are the class of the league, but sometimes you just are living right.The wings are "NOT" that much better than Pittsburgh. By the way, I'm a Flyers fan, I don't like Pittsburgh, but I I'm also objective.

6-01-2009 @ 8:41AM

KING BOB said...

Hey yesreplica.. This is Hockey...Ya know..SPORTS...Go sell your junk somewhere else.. How cheesy can you get...GO WINGS

6-01-2009 @ 9:56AM

Puck said...

Even though the truth of the reasoning was veiled I'm glad they didn't suspend Malkin, I'd much rather watch him have a nervous frustration breakdown on the ice at the hands of the Wings defense.

Yeah, like Anaheim and Chicago before them, the Pens can probable play a better game then the Wings, but that level of better play can only be sustained for a short period of time...It's a 60 minute game that the Detroit Red Wings are proving they've been the best at for years now. And of course the best level of play by the Wings isn't all that lower then the Pens...thus 2-0 Wings...though Crosby's bound to enter the scoring column in Pittsburgh...anyone got a broom?

6-01-2009 @ 2:20PM

Tim said...

How about a fresh octopus?

6-01-2009 @ 10:40AM

b said...

As if I needed another reason to like Zhenya.

Until the Pens beat the Wings, DET sould be favored in every game of this series.

6-01-2009 @ 11:49AM

John said...

"Just like the Wings did when Zetterberg wasn't called for covering the puck in the crease in Games 1 and 2."

Or like when Fleury wasn't called for throwing his stick at the puck in Game 2?

No one ever mentions the lucky breaks the Pens have been getting, like Stuart knocking a puck into his own net, yet the Wings are considered lucky when Franzen makes a smart play, that Gretzky was always praised for, in banking a puck off Fleury.

The Wings are the better team, and all you Pittsburgh apologists need to stop your frigging whining.

6-01-2009 @ 12:16PM

qongquest said...

the NHL in Toronto have turned into cowards. its fine to change the start date from june 5th to may 30th despite 4 red wing players being injured, and its fine to have back to back games. but the NHL will not punish Malkin. the NHL is trying to draw more viewers to the game.
what a disaster. it was bad enough for hockey fans to watch refs making bad calls throughout the playoffs. showing favoritism toward pittsburgh from both the refs and the NHL in Toronto. then to carry it into the finals against detroit. now with malkin. there is no way more viewers are going to hang around. hopefully the hockey gods will take care of this. when the season ends the first coward that should be fired is bettman.

6-01-2009 @ 12:33PM

thetrutheh said...

In one playoff season, the nhl has become a disgrace. not the teams but those in charge.
bad calls by refs, and those in charge having no idea how to deal with some of the bad calls. arrogantly showing how they prefer one team over another. the one that calls it like it is, don cherry, they have a 7 second delay so they can bleep out what the league does not want viewers to know. yet they claim to want more americans to watch. forget it.

6-01-2009 @ 1:28PM

Malkins Lucky goal went in from in front of the net, the two Detroit Goals I referred to went in from behind or were caroms. No need to get defensive, but please be objective. I also think the Wings get more latitude from the officials, something pointed out by Pierre McQuire and Ed Olczyk regarding the non calls on Hossa ,Zetterberg, and the uncalled interference. But, of course being a Flyers fan I am apparently a Pens apologist. Come on guys, call it what it is. A game of bounces and breaks, and the wings are getting them.

6-01-2009 @ 10:23PM

jshedl10411 said...

Malkin did not score the goal. He was given credit. Brad Stewart of the Wings actually backhanded the puck. Watch the tape.

6-01-2009 @ 1:45PM

Yeah but kfog, when you say this:

"This series so far has been decided on bounces, and that has nothing to with skill or woriking hard."

You are dead wrong. You make your own breaks. Just like Pitt made their own break when they got the puck to the net when Stuart knocked it in. Just because Franzen is smart enough to throw the puck at an out of position goalie doesn't make it luck. The Stuart bounce of the boards in Game 1 was luck, but Franzen's was not, especially if you notice that if it doesn't hit Fleury's skate, Cleary was there to tap it in.

And to say the Wings get more latitude is a bit off base as well. Did you not notice all the calls that could have went against Pitt that didn't as well? Fleury throwing his stick, Crosby's cross-check to the head in Game 1, the Pitt d-man that hit Hossa twice on the same play well after the puck was 15 feet behind him etc. Pitt was setting those same "picks" all game, yet because they don't lead to goals, they don't matter? C'mon. The refs aren't calling much at all, and it goes for both teams. You're really gonna stand there and tell me Pitt has only taken 2 minor penalties in 2 games? (not counting those bush league antice with 18 secs left)

I'm not the only one being subjective here, look in the mirror man.

6-01-2009 @ 1:48PM

Oh yeah, and there is a great look at the Hossa "slash" on Dupuis here:

http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/a2y/comments/more_fun_with_hockey_sticks/

Oh wait, it wasn't a slash at all, Dupuis broke his own stick...oops

6-01-2009 @ 2:27PM

Lauren said...

I think that the first thing that has to be said is Mike Milberry is the biggest douche in television, and people lose brain cells as soon as he starts speaking. Secondly, the refereeing is pretty terrible if the guys from NBC are saying, on national television mind you, that the Wings were doing things that deserved penalties and that there should've been a penalty shot for the Pens in Game 1.

The Pens outplayed the Wings last night. They won more faceoffs, had more chances, had more shots, and were better in pretty much every category except one: goaltending. A second grader could've kept out that third goal. That said, it's coming back to Pittsburgh now, and if you're crazy enough to believe that the Pens are going to get swept, you are sorely mistaken. Also, let me know which corner you buy whatever you're taking.

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