NHL Thread

[philpritchard]

Kessel slashed Scott on the leg twice. I have no problem with that, given the situation, and I would have no problem if Orr or Mclaren received the same treatment if they went after another team's star. Sure, it was a bitch move... but how are Scott's actions in any way defensible? This situation wasn't caused by Rolston leaving Scott on the ice or by Carlyle putting his best players out or by Kessel talking to Scott at the circle... it was caused by Scott being an idiot.

[Peeps]

kessel's intent was to injure. plain and simple. the fact that he slashed him while he was engaged by kessels teammates makes it even more despicable in nature. then after its is almost calmed down he goes over and spears him (i know they are using the term spear here and while it wasnt that vicious it was more than a poke so i am not sure what word to use, jabbed?)

[shinkdew]

kessel's intent was to injure. plain and simple. the fact that he slashed him while he was engaged by kessels teammates makes it even more despicable in nature. then after its is almost calmed down he goes over and spears him (i know they are using the term spear here and while it wasnt that vicious it was more than a poke so i am not sure what word to use, jabbed?)

This is really the only problem I have with Kessel. It's one thing to slash a guy so you don't have to fight, it's another thing when you continue slashing him after he's already fighting with other guys.

[philpritchard]

kessel's intent was to injure. plain and simple. the fact that he slashed him while he was engaged by kessels teammates makes it even more despicable in nature. then after its is almost calmed down he goes over and spears him (i know they are using the term spear here and while it wasnt that vicious it was more than a poke so i am not sure what word to use, jabbed?)

This is really the only problem I have with Kessel. It's one thing to slash a guy so you don't have to fight, it's another thing when you continue slashing him after he's already fighting with other guys.

That's why I'm ok with him getting a game or two (or three, which would cover the rest of the pre-season and allow the league to "make a point"). The first slash, in my mind, was completely acceptable because of the circumstances. The second was not. The "spear" was nothing. Giving him a couple of games for the second slash seems fair.

[MattA75]

Carlyle is a moron for putting Kessel out there. He had the last change and had to know Scott wasn't out there to score goals.

why put your fighter out after one of your guys already got his clock cleaned in a fight unless you're just looking to be a dink? And is there any bigger dink move than a guy like Scott going after someone like Kessel?[/quote

Why would you put your first line out whenyou know there is going to be anothebfight? I'm not saying what Scott did was right, but what Carlyle did was just as stupid.

As Carlyle said after the game, he put that line out specifically to prevent a fight. He assumed Scott wasn't going to jump one of those guys.

Then he's an idiot. A Sabre just got his ass kicked and Rolston leaves Scott on the ice so his answer is to have his best player on the ice? Scott's a goon, that's what he is paid to be, it's not a secret. You asked whatI would think if that were Vanek? I think he would have let his teamates deal with it and get the hell awY from there. I'm pretty sure Kessrl isn't the first scorer to be instigated, or jumped as people are calling it. Kessel used his stick as a weapon while his teamates fought the big bad guy then he fought a smaller guy. I don't feel bad for him at all. Besides, Toronto definitely gets the worst result with the suspension and susequent cap problem.

Like I said, one of Buffalo's many vaginas got his ass kicked in a fair fight, so Buffalo's answer is to have the biggest goon in the league go after Phil Kessel? What a bitch move...seriously. I don't blame Kessel at all for the first whack, the only thing more bush league than leaving Scott out there was Scott going after Kessel.

But hey, good luck with that Sabres team...at least with Florida and Tampa in the division now, you might not finish in last place.

[MattA75]

a bruins fan talking about disgust with another team

Phil isn't a Bruins fan, and neither am I, so I'm confused who you're talking about

[MattA75]

kessel's intent was to injure. plain and simple. the fact that he slashed him while he was engaged by kessels teammates makes it even more despicable in nature. then after its is almost calmed down he goes over and spears him (i know they are using the term spear here and while it wasnt that vicious it was more than a poke so i am not sure what word to use, jabbed?)

I don't disagree, but does anyone believe that Scott wasn't looking to "injure" Kessel by fighting him?

[Peeps]

injure by bruising sure

kessels injure was much more malicious (imo)

[philpritchard]

injure by bruising sure

kessels injure was much more malicious (imo)

Really? Scott's intention (to fight an unwilling Kessel) had much more malicious intent than Kessel's (slashing the ankles of the aggressor). If Kessel slashed at the head or something, then sure, but he didn't.

[Peeps]

if you watch the video, kessel clearly pushes scott first, scott chases after him for a split second and is then engaged with others

as others have said, the first slash i have no problem with (though i thought he should have just turtled, would have been a bit more gracious) the fact he slashed him while he was engaged is what is deplorable. he should get minimum 5 games regular season and forefit the paycheck.

you cannot use your stick as weapon like he did.

[philpritchard]

if you watch the video, kessel clearly pushes scott first, scott chases after him for a split second and is then engaged with others

as others have said, the first slash i have no problem with (though i thought he should have just turtled, would have been a bit more gracious) the fact he slashed him while he was engaged is what is deplorable. he should get minimum 5 games regular season and forefit the paycheck.

you cannot use your stick as weapon like he did.

Kessel pushes him first? Watch it again, maybe? Kessel reaches up and literally puts his hand on Scott's arm. That's all. No push. No shove. No tug. He puts his hand on Scott's arm and Scott responds by dropping the gloves and chasing after him.

[vegman]

All Scott did was challenge him to a fight, Jesus. Kessel didnt have a problem fighting Flynn right afterwards.


Matt, were you hayched from an egg or do you hate vaginas or something?

[philpritchard]

All Scott did was challenge him to a fight, Jesus. Kessel didnt have a problem fighting Flynn right afterwards.

Of course he didn't have a problem fighting Flynn... it's a fair fight. Maybe I'm misreading it, but anytime someone makes a comment like this it's usually to imply that the player should have accepted the challenge or not fought at all. Like I've said before, if Orr dropped the gloves and chased after Vanek, what would you think? "Pfft, he had no problem fighting Kulemin afterwards!"

Matt, were you hayched from an egg or do you hate vaginas or something?

[vegman]

All Scott did was challenge him to a fight, Jesus. Kessel didnt have a problem fighting Flynn right afterwards.

Of course he didn't have a problem fighting Flynn... it's a fair fight. Maybe I'm misreading it, but anytime someone makes a comment like this it's usually to imply that the player should have accepted the challenge or not fought at all. Like I've said before, if Orr dropped the gloves and chased after Vanek, what would you think? "Pfft, he had no problem fighting Kulemin afterwards!"

Matt, were you hayched from an egg or do you hate vaginas or something?

That's exactly what I was saying. Either fight or don't fight but don't slash with your stick, fight someone else then go back and poke the first guy in the chest with your stick while he's tied up with another guy and a ref. Like I said in the original post, that's a punk move. If Vanek is challenged to a fight, my guess is he'd just turtle or grasp the guy but I wouldn't get all bent about it, it's hockey not badminton. The only thing I really get bent about is dirty hits, which the Sabres have received their fair share of.

[philpritchard]

That's exactly what I was saying. Either fight or don't fight but don't slash with your stick, fight someone else then go back and poke the first guy in the chest with your stick while he's tied up with another guy and a ref. Like I said in the original post, that's a punk move. If Vanek is challenged to a fight, my guess is he'd just turtle or grasp the guy but I wouldn't get all bent about it, it's hockey not badminton. The only thing I really get bent about is dirty hits, which the Sabres have received their fair share of.

I'm sure we mostly agree, but I'll reiterate:

- First slash is fine. Kessel is trying to get away, so it can be considered a defensive move (and it was to the leg... meh). I think it was one of the better options.
- Second slash is bad. Scott it tied down and Kessel is obviously just pissed at that point.
- Fighting Flynn is fine. By that point, everyone had paired off and they happened to end up together. It was a fair fight. Kessel let up when he noticed Flynn was bleeding, too.
- The poke in the chest was stupid of Kessel, but it was pretty much nothing. It was the kind of thing that happens dozens of times a game and no one would have noticed it if it hadn't been for the events that lead up to it. It just seemed like a weird time to trash-talk.

Goons always talk about playing based on "The Code". Even Scott said he went after Kessel as part of "The Code" to get revenge after Devane beat Tropp in an "unfair fight." Maybe he should just tell Tropp not to willingly engage a guy who's a lot bigger and better at fighting than he is next time.

[Peeps]

That's exactly what I was saying. Either fight or don't fight but don't slash with your stick, fight someone else then go back and poke the first guy in the chest with your stick while he's tied up with another guy and a ref. Like I said in the original post, that's a punk move. If Vanek is challenged to a fight, my guess is he'd just turtle or grasp the guy but I wouldn't get all bent about it, it's hockey not badminton. The only thing I really get bent about is dirty hits, which the Sabres have received their fair share of.

I'm sure we mostly agree, but I'll reiterate:

- First slash is fine. Kessel is trying to get away, so it can be considered a defensive move (and it was to the leg... meh). I think it was one of the better options.
- Second slash is bad. Scott it tied down and Kessel is obviously just pissed at that point.
- Fighting Flynn is fine. By that point, everyone had paired off and they happened to end up together. It was a fair fight. Kessel let up when he noticed Flynn was bleeding, too.
- The poke in the chest was stupid of Kessel, but it was pretty much nothing. It was the kind of thing that happens dozens of times a game and no one would have noticed it if it hadn't been for the events that lead up to it. It just seemed like a weird time to trash-talk.

Goons always talk about playing based on "The Code". Even Scott said he went after Kessel as part of "The Code" to get revenge after Devane beat Tropp in an "unfair fight." Maybe he should just tell Tropp not to willingly engage a guy who's a lot bigger and better at fighting than he is next time.

i totally get the code and all that and agree, the kid picked a fight he had no chance of winning. but the slashing still bugs the hell out of me, to me its indefensible.

when i played deck hockey (mind you as a bunch of 20-30 year olds) if i saw someone taking advantage of our star players with dirty hits and what not, i just went up to the other teams best player and retaliated. when they would bitch saying, hes the one doing it not me my reply was too bad youre better than him, my team can afford to lose me, yours cant afford to lose you. it usually got the message across and the shennanigans would stop abruptly

[vegman]

That's exactly what I was saying. Either fight or don't fight but don't slash with your stick, fight someone else then go back and poke the first guy in the chest with your stick while he's tied up with another guy and a ref. Like I said in the original post, that's a punk move. If Vanek is challenged to a fight, my guess is he'd just turtle or grasp the guy but I wouldn't get all bent about it, it's hockey not badminton. The only thing I really get bent about is dirty hits, which the Sabres have received their fair share of.

I'm sure we mostly agree, but I'll reiterate:

- First slash is fine. Kessel is trying to get away, so it can be considered a defensive move (and it was to the leg... meh). I think it was one of the better options.
- Second slash is bad. Scott it tied down and Kessel is obviously just pissed at that point.
- Fighting Flynn is fine. By that point, everyone had paired off and they happened to end up together. It was a fair fight. Kessel let up when he noticed Flynn was bleeding, too.
- The poke in the chest was stupid of Kessel, but it was pretty much nothing. It was the kind of thing that happens dozens of times a game and no one would have noticed it if it hadn't been for the events that lead up to it. It just seemed like a weird time to trash-talk.

Goons always talk about playing based on "The Code". Even Scott said he went after Kessel as part of "The Code" to get revenge after Devane beat Tropp in an "unfair fight." Maybe he should just tell Tropp not to willingly engage a guy who's a lot bigger and better at fighting than he is next time.

Kessell didn't have to slash to get away. His teammates were all over Scott in like 2 seconds so all he had to do was back away a little and he's home free. Slashing is BS. Maybe he should have just fought. Judging by the way he handled Flynn he might have done alright.

[philpritchard]

Kessell didn't have to slash to get away. His teammates were all over Scott in like 2 seconds so all he had to do was back away a little and he's home free. Slashing is BS. Maybe he should have just fought. Judging by the way he handled Flynn he might have done alright.

He didn't have to slash any more than Scott didn't have to go after the opposing team's star player.

Is that a sentence?

[vegman]

Kessell didn't have to slash to get away. His teammates were all over Scott in like 2 seconds so all he had to do was back away a little and he's home free. Slashing is BS. Maybe he should have just fought. Judging by the way he handled Flynn he might have done alright.

He didn't have to slash any more than Scott didn't have to go after the opposing team's star player.

Is that a sentence?

Posting from my phone is a bitch.

[philpritchard]

Kessell didn't have to slash to get away. His teammates were all over Scott in like 2 seconds so all he had to do was back away a little and he's home free. Slashing is BS. Maybe he should have just fought. Judging by the way he handled Flynn he might have done alright.

He didn't have to slash any more than Scott didn't have to go after the opposing team's star player.

Is that a sentence?

Posting from my phone is a bitch.

I meant my sentence. It sounds like it doesn't mean what I think it means.