A Bloody Start

Didn't take the Anaheim Ducks long to send the message that they intend to be just as rough and nasty against the Detroit Red Wings this spring as they were in 2007, which is why this should be a terrific, if potentially ugly, series.

Mike Brown's vicious blindside hit on Jiri Hudler left Hudler in a pool of blood and should, if there's any consistency in Colin Campbell's world, land Brown a five-game suspension just as it did Washington's Donald Brashear for his hit on Blair Betts of the Rangers last week.

Back in 2007, you may remember, Chris Pronger's hit-from-behind on Detroit forward Tomas Holmstrom saw Holmstrom cut for 13 stitches and Pronger suspended for a game. Anaheim won that series by wearing out an already banged up Detroit team, and with Kris Draper and Brian Rafalski already missing from the Red Wing lineup, you can see that will be the Anaheim approach again.

Sadly, the chorus on Hockey Night in Canada - on this night P.J. Stock, Ron MacLean and Kelly Hrudey - all agreed that the Brown hit was clean, declining to address the obvious reality that it was late and a hit to the head. Hrudey's usually the sensible guy over at HNIC, but that's the CBC hockey approach, get everybody agreeing with MacLean - the only guy in the world who believes taking hooking out of the game was a bad thing - and Don Cherry and do everything possible to remove dissenting opinion from the program.

When they went back to the game - surprise, surprise - analyst Garry Galley said he agreed with the boys back in the studio. Galley didn't even think it was a penalty. All on the same page, like always.

Over at TSN, at least there was common sense and a difference of opinion. Darren Pang thought it was a head shot and probably suspendable. Tom Renney went further, suggesting there was premeditation for an earlier elbowing penalty taken by Hudler on Francois Beauchemin. Bob McKenze said he doubted there would be a suspension, and said the league still hasn't made it clear whether a blindside shoulder hit to the head is legal or illegal.

Now, putting my conflict of interest on the table, I work sometimes for TSN. Preferences for style and personality aside, wouldn't you rather at least hear a discussion of different points of view?

Again, Hrudey has made himself the top HNIC analyst by being willing to think a little differently, so hopefully he'll get back to that soon. And Stock? Well, he's the worst in the business, with his delivery wretched and opinions generally idiotic.

All this said, its the contrast between the styles of these two teams that makes this series interesting. Anaheim plays that physical, intimidating style, and the Wings won't back down and will continue to move the puck, make plays and score goals. I'm no fight guy, but watching Jonathan Ericsson (a Swede) ragdoll chronic backstabber Corey Perry was darn fun to watch.

It's a battle of will already dipped in blood.

Comments

[Down Goes Brown]

"...declining to address the obvious reality that it was late and a hit to the head."

It was late, but was it too late? "Late" hits can be perfectly legal, and the NHL rulebook doesn't actually define how long a player has to finish a hit. It didn't seem any later than, for example, Mark Bell's hit on Alfredsson that the league deemed legal.

As far as being a hit to the head, there's no rule (yet) against that specifically, is there?

The hit was vicious and clearly intended to cause an injury. But it seemed to be clean, as far as the rulebook is currently written.

[Clawson]

Damien...I am a little disturbed that you, as somebody who constantly goes against the grain and argues that he is allowed to have a different opinion about certain issues, are publicly lambasting another professional for his having own opinion and not differing from others. I feel that this is highly unfair to Kelly Hrudey, PJ Stock and the other CBC announcers that you are insulting about having an opinion that is different than yours while you often have different opinions than others.

[DamienCox]

Damien here. . .Hey Clawson, try reading before commenting. . .I have no problem with the opinion, just the consensus. . .just as its not that Cherry gets to state his opinions, but that HNIC makes sure no counter opinion is ever heard. Disagree with me if you want, but disagree with the point I made, not the one you made up.

[Rick Gross]

Here's how the Red Wings win. Anytime a stick comes within five feet of them, they fall to the ice like they've been shot, and up goes the arm. They're the biggest divers in the league.
Ken Holland wants to keep these cheap penalties in the game because he has a great power play. If you ask me the game has turned into a joke. And if you ask me Hudlers at fault for that big hit he took. He was too busy admiring his pass. Until hitting is taken out of the game, which I fear guys like Cox will be crying for next, cutie pies like Hudler better keep his head up. Or he'll get it again.

[mikediver]

seems you have no problem with a Swed throwing a hay maker in the middle of a little shoving with a linesmen in the middle either

[Mike]

Damien. You are dead right about HNIC. Cherry was talking a while ago about attendance suffering in Detroit because the Wings aren't physical. I looked up attendance figures; Detroit outdraws his beloved Bruins, a very physical team. I suspect the economy has had a bigger impact on selling tickets in Detroit compared to Boston. MacLean, as usual, sat there as Cherry's yes man. What ever happened to HNIC presenting other views?

[j vallace]

I couldn't agree with you more Damien. CBC HNIC has been a joke for a while now and watching the post game show how they tried to find anything against the red wings victory made me sick. Maclean spends so much time up Cherry's rear end that he makes no sense what so ever. As far as the hit goes i will say Hudler should keep his head up especially against the fourth line of the biggest cheap shot team in the league but the hit was vicious. Just because someone is jaywalking doesn't mean he deserves to get run over.

[Matt]

Cox is totally right - and especially about PJ stock! I have been steadily moving away from CBC and to TSN concerning the quality of commentating.

[PleasegetridofallofthesehackTOsportswriters]

PJ Stock might not be Bob Costas but he doesn't deserve being dissed by the likes of you.
The hit was mean and vicious but in the playoffs,mean and vicious is rarely called. Late? Not even close. The hit was like FedEx in that regard. Shot to the head? Somewhat. Hudler is a shorter fellow than Brown and was ducking down. The hittee does bear some responsibility for his own welfare (admiring the pass is a no no to anyone who has played contact hockey or heard Don Cherry talk about playing contact hockey).
Perry's hit on Cheechoo during the previous series was a much more vicious attempt to behead someone.
AS for you laying the smack down on PJ;I like PJ. He has energy and his comments show a heck of a lot more insight into the game than anything you've ever written (I suppose that's because he's played the game).
I don't like Ron much and really dislike his newly found arrogance. You seem to have much in common with Ronnie (what with the apparent lack of respect for PJ and a high proclivity for taliking out of your A@#).
Damien,you wouldn't last 2 shifts in a contact game so please stop whining about men competing against men.
Poorly written comment? Yes. Absolutely. I like to speak the native language when visiting foreign countries.

[D]

I am just wondering the idiot that posted about the Wings diving did he watch the game last night and if you did tell me how come you are not all over Pronger for taking a dive he is after all the premier of CANANDIAN hockey is he not. In regards to the Brown hit, who cares if it was late or not it was to the head, that and as he hit him he extended his arms that is called intent to injure, you are can disagree all you want but when was the last time you got hit to the head, did you enjoy the experience???

[Steve C.]

No surprise that you're a fan of Hrudey. But it's a bit ironic given your complaints about the 'consensus' on HNIC. Hrudey is the most 'AGREEABLE' guy they've got there! He's the closest thing they have to boring 'yes man'. I've been trying for years to be interested in his commentary and I've pretty much given up. He'll be let go sooner or later and I'm sure you'll chalk it up to 'not towing the line' when in fact it'll be because of the opposite.

You appear to be taking blind swings everywhere now. Going after Stock, MacLean and yes, even Carlton the Bear. Wow. Stock is too easy to target, but if you listen to his 'wretchedness' closer he's actually more in line with your own 'anti-violence' stance. He's the one who speaks out more about suspensions etc.

Complaining that HNIC's approach to "get everyone agreeing with MacLean..." and then immediately following that sentence with an example of how he stands alone in an opinion...well, that's hilarious.

I'll bet if they all said "ragdolling Perry sure was darn fun to watch" you wouldn't even notice the consensus. Turns out it IS the opinion you have a problem with, admit it.

Sometimes a consensus of opinion can indicate that it is RIGHT.

[Brad Mitchell]

"...but that's the CBC hockey approach, get everybody agreeing with MacLean - the only guy in the world who believes taking hooking out of the game was a bad thing..."

Cox, you really need to get someone to check over this stuff before it's made public. I mean... seriously, if that were truly CBC's "approach" then Maclean wouldn't be the "only guy in the world" to feel that way about hooking, would he?!

Also, when comparing Hrudey and Stock, please remember that Hrudey has been doing this for years, unlike Stock.

[kushiro]

"Also, when comparing Hrudey and Stock, please remember that Hrudey has been doing this for years, unlike Stock."

My question is: Why do these networks (CBC, TSN, etc) keep hiring people with absolutely no broadcast experience to do on-air work? It's bewildering how professional journalists have to go through years of training just to get a shot at a broadcasting gig, but the athletes just go right to the desk. Shouldn't they at least get a few months of learning the ropes? And are there no graduates from broadcasting programs or experienced journalists with sports knowledge?

[Terrible Ted]

I agree with most of what you say Damien. A head shot is a head shot and it needs to be stopped. There should be no justification under any circumstances by anyone. I do think PJ Stock brings a certain energy to the CBC broadcast though. Although he is a little bit lacking in his approach I think he offers more to the braodcast than Mike Milbury who seems to do little more than mock Al Strachan at every opportunity. This guy is such a joke. Terrible coach, brutal GM, horrible hockey analyst. Get off the air Milbury. Charles Wang says he regrets buying the Islanders? I wonder if he regrets hiring Milbury. I wonder how different things would have been if he had of hired a capable GM?

[Mikey V]

Damien you're a little quick with your opinions sometimes. If you would have waited to hear Don Cherry's comment on Saturday night, you would have heard him say it was a cheap shot. He wasn't in agreement with Maclean, or the rest of HNIC analysts. I know you don't like Don Cherry or his opinions, but at least wait until he gives them before you judge them.

[Peter]

i guess Brown should have stopped and pat Hudler on the back for making a nice pass. this is not bantam hockey, this is the play-offs and it meant to be mean and tough. next time Hudler won't admire his pass and watch out more. and BTW what about Kronwall's hit on Carter? that was an deliberate elbow to the head and intend to injure. how come nobody's talking about it? oh, yeah, it was by a Detroit player...

[Jeff]

I thought you were against all the violence? Yet you like someone getting rag-dolled. Hypocrite.

[bobbyshow]

How many steamboats was it before Brown made the hit on Hudler? I didn't get to two... How many steamboats are allowed, again?

[Marijan Kalman]

I wrote to you in April, NHL is going to do everything to make Anaheim win because they don't want Detroit domination. It came strait from the decision office.This is not officiating, this is joke. Anahiem should be penalised on every third shift for interferience and holding.They wante'd to dissalow yesterday first Detroit goal but someone in the office got a call on time not to be to blant.Are you journalist in Canada pretending that you don't know what is going on, or you don't have contacts in the right places!!!!!

[Tincup Canuck]

Hudler had is head down admiring his drop pass and Brown started the hit whie he still had the puck. Brashear started the hit after Betts had already dished the puck. Keep your head up son!

[KeithT]

Brown had his arm perfectly tucked against his body. It was a clean hit, not close to late. Get your head up, Hudler.

[Shawn Therien]

I don't think this was as bad as Brashears. Brashear started charging after the pass (from a standstill basically), whereas this one happened fast and wasn't as much of a blindside hit. Still a cheapshot in my opinion, but not worthy of a big suspension or anything.

[Shawn Therien]

Too add to my comment, Hudler was actually facing Brown until he passed the puck, and had a chance to see Brown coming, whereas Betts never had a clue.